This has happened quite often, that after exiting Limewire to reboot the computer that Limewire was unable to restart my downloads. I started off with version 4.4.4.1 and now have 4.6.0.1. It is quite heartbreaking especially waiting for 4 days for a film that was only halfway. Is there any way one can manually restart the downloads. It wasn't just one download, its the entire lot everytime. Could somebody please shed some light on what is happening. I would greatly appreciate any help.

What do you mean unable to restart downloads? Do you mean they don't begin by themselves or you get an error message saying unable to load old incomplete downloads? If the latter then try:

Try these: Fixes for Limewire & before next time you turn you computer off, make a copy of the download.dat & bak files which can be found in the incomplete folder. Then after rebooting & opening LW, if the same problem, close LW & replace those download.dat & bak files with the copies.

Otherwise tell us more details.

Thanks for replying, Lord of the Rings, when I say I am unable to restart my downloads, there in the LW program it is blank where my downloads used to be, but the incomplete downloads are still show in the incomplete folder, it just doesn't want to load up in the program.
I am using windows xp sp2, and as I mentioned previously the lastest version of LM which I installed about 2 weeks ago. Anyway, I will go through the points discussed in the fixes for Limewire. Hopefully it will work.

Normally if LW refuses to load old incompletes it will give a warning it can't load them. I'm wondering if your download window is hidden. Two options: 1. Click on the small arrows on the LW main window. If that doesn't work click it the other arrow. 2. Drag the partition up or sideways; see examples here: Example A (click on link) & also Example B (click on link)

I pressed the arrows, there is nothing. The old downloads are all gone. When I had gone into LW the other time there had been a window that popped up to say sorry Lime Wire was unable to load and restart all my downloads, and the box where the downloads normally were, was empty. Like I mentioned before its not the first time its happened but I thought that when I upgraded to the latest version my problems would be solved.

After you finish for the session, close LW & go to your incomplete folder (reiterating the above.) Duplicate the two files called download.dat & download.bak & move them somewhere else on the computer outside of the incomplete folder. After you've rebooted & opened LW, when the same problem occurs, close LW. Then go to your incomplete folder & delete the two files download.dat & download.bak & replace them with the copies you made (making sure the names are the same.) Now open LW again, is it the same problem? Does this happen everytime or just sometimes?

By the way did you try deleting your LW Preferences? (instructions above in the link 'Fixes for LW')


Can you give us a total desciption of your set up:
1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98, or XP SP1 or SP2, etc.)
2. What firewalls you have?
3. ram?
4. HDD space available?
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.)
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers?
7. Where are you trying to connect from (home, school, work, etc.)?
8. What version of Limewire (LW) & Java do you have? (Go to LW's menu Help>About LW...)

The problem happens sometimes. No I haven't deleted my LW Preferences. I uninstalled the previous version and installed 4.6.0 pro. I did delete everything in the incomplete download folder everytime I lost my downloads in LW,although this last time I left all the incompleted downloads.

I am new to LW, I have always used DC Plus and before that Kazaa. Never had the problem then.

Here is a total description of my set up

1. Windows XP home edition SP2
2. Not activated, but do have Nortons antivirus 2005.
3. Ram 511 MB
4. HDD space available 43.2 GB
5. Connection type - Broadband
6. Modem - Bewan ADSL ethernet, Router Linksys Wrt54G
7. Connecting from Home
8. LW version 4.6.0 Pro and Java 1.5.0_01

I wonder about Norton AV settings.

Even though your XP Firewall is disabled, may I suggest you configure LW's access thru it just to be on the safe side: http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtm

Might I suggest you delete your LW Preferences folder b/c it may be corrupt which is causing these issues. Instructions here: Fixes for Limewire

Also, go to LW's menu Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls & tell me what it's set to. Is it UPnP?

After LW's been open for at least 30 mins, do this test: Bug Report instructions & sample image Is it True/False?

The firewall settings cannot be displayed because the associated service is not running - this is the message I get when I check my XP Firewall settings.

If I delete my LW Preferences folder now, will it affect my current downloading? If you tell me it won't I will do it now.

LW's menu Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls is set to UPnP

The bug report is True

That's good about your test result. That means your router uses UPnP tecnology.

The download preferences are those called download.dat & bak in the incomplete folder (ie:different files in different location.) So deleting the main LW preferences folder will not affect them at all. But LW must be closed when you delete the Prefs folder. Follow the instructions in the link (there's an easy image to follow at bottom of that page) & you'll find it quick & easy to do.