How does the whole downloading process work?
 

Probably a stupid question? When I try to download a song (I have a modem) ,is it trying to connect with other Limewire clients who have that song already downloaded in their computer? If so and those clients do not have their computer on line, will I get the status report that I need more or awaiting more sources? If that is the case, do I have to wait forever until client has their computer on? Some artists I can download several songs with numbers under the # column then download another 5 to 10 songs that just keep bringing up the status need more or awaiting sources. This is very disappointing and frustrating! Is there any way to correct problem? I notice that others are always uploading songs from my computer, why can't I download those less popular songs? Also, if the status report says awaiting or need more sources; if I leave the computer on line all day or all night , will that song eventually start downloading or do I have to hit the resume button to get it to que and connect again? Is there any way to contact sources for a certain artist's songs so I can download? Or is everything downloaded/uploaded into one or more huge computers and we are all trying at the time to access the same songs and so we are betting a busy signal? Please explain how things work? Thank you for your time and interest.

Well there are no servers, you just connect to other peoples' computers. The results that you see are files that other users are sharing from their computers.
Usually, 'need more sources' & 'awaiting sources' messages mean that the host you were downloading from has gone offline, stopped sharing the file you want or has no free upload slots for you. The best thing to do is probably to start a new search. The network's constantly changing as users log on & off, add to their shared folders etc & so a new search can yield different results. The FAQ is pretty good for explaining heaps of things
http://limewire.org/wiki/index.php?t...sked_Questions

If you see a host who has a file you like, try to browse them... they might have more of the same. But... unfortunately Browse Host is quite unreliable . You have more chance of being able to browse a host if they have Chat enabled (you'll see a smiley) & if they're using LW. FrostWire (snow) or BearShare hosts are often easy to browse too. You could try to use Chat to contact a host who looks interesting, also you can try to Direct Connect. More info about that here
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showpo...63&postcount=3

This explains quite well how the Gnutella network operates
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnutella

:)