So you're seeing the firewall icon in LW (brick wall)?
Download a file from here & see what speeds you get
http://www.magnetmix.com/video.shtml

Has anything at all changed since your speeds have dropped (new ISP or plan, new hardware etc)?

What are your details (excuse any repeat questions)?

OS(Win XP etc)
LW & Java version (help > about LW & you'll see)
Firewall you're using
Modem/router brand & model
ISP
Connection type (DSL etc)
Where you connect from (home, school, student accommodation etc)
Are you sharing a connection with other computers
Is this your first try with LW
Have you tried other p2p apps & if so, do you have the same problem

ok...tried to download from the link you told me...0-3 kb/sec! Awesome! isnt' it?

No, nothing changed, no hardware configuration nothing. I still download files as high as 100k/sec (for example the setup of winzip from its homepage lets say)

So here are the details

Windows 2000, No service pack, but this was the case two months ago wasn't it...? I don't like service packs...they can alter a lot of things...for the worse

LW 4.12.6 and java J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 update 6 (the same I was using two months ago)


Firewall ZoneAlarm 6.1.744.001, (the same I was using two months ago)

Router Fritz.box fon

ISP...do I have to tell you this? it is a bit private I don't think that the ISP has stopped the limeware activity

Connection ADSL 1024

I connect from home, no other sharing computers and I don't try limewire for first time as I told you.

I tried e-mule once but could not find a lot of results so I uninstalled it. Limewire was the best two months ago.

Thank you in advance for your time

Priapos

If the magnetmix files download really slowly it's not a good sign. It can often point to an ISP throttling bandwidth for customers using p2p. That's why we ask people the name of their ISP...not because we're nosy.

You could try deleting LW's preferences folder while LW's closed. See points 2 & 3 in the thread below:
Fixes for LimeWire

You might want to update your Java as well, the latest version is update 9. See point 1 in the thread above. Just remember to use the offline installer for JRE.

How do you have your router set up (UPnP enabled, port forwarded or neither)? If you're seeing the firewall icon, you could enable UPnP within your router, if it supports UPnP. Then choose the relevant option within LW's tools > options > advanced > firewall config. Another option is to manually forward a port...the router's manual should have details.

Have you called your ISP to ask about throttling bandwidth (bear in mind that people at the helpdesk often don't even know that this kind of thing's happening)? Some research using Google might also turn up some info.

Thanx for the advice birdy. I will install latest Java. I understand your concerns about the router settting, however keep in mind that I didn't change these and the whole thing happened out of the blue, so it cannot be the router. IF it would be the router (needed lets say port forwarding) then it would not even connect at all. I think it may be possible that the ISP is putting a limit. I am wondering if they have the right to do this!

Anyway...I ll try to install latest Java and I may give them a call to see what's happening.

thanx again for your help

priapos

PS: I would never imply that you are nosy I just don't want to share this info with hundreds of people. I would not mind sending it just to you but I am new to this forum and I don't know how to send a PM. IF you have a list with ISPs that have restricted access to P2P then I can send you my ISP.