LimeWire OSX Not Functional for Many of Us

[brad_taylor]

Hi everybody - After much troubleshooting, I still cannot get LimeWire or its installer to start (both have previously worked, then mysteriously died). Looks like a lot of us have had similar problems. Here's the text of the message I sent to LimeWire Support. Since (judging from other posts in these forums) I'm not likely to get a reply, I figured I'd post it here too. Sorry for the length:

"LimeWire quits unexpectedly when started and cannot be run at all despite multiple attempts, logout-logins, and restarts. LimeWire Installer also repeatedly quits unexpectedly when started and cannot be run. Both have previously worked fine. Earlier versions of LimeWire and its installer have also worked fine for awhile, then exhibited same behavior. No other apps have exhibited this problem. I have read and followed your "Installing" and other FAQ info re Stuffit, etc. to no avail. My OSX is up to date (10.2.6). AppleCare tech support is unable to resolve the issue (and believe me, they gave a good try on three separate occasions). This is a "virgin" system (brand new Powerbook 17" with LimeWire as one of very few apps installed - no system tweaks, etc. in effect). Complete re-install of OSX temporarily resolved issue, then the identical problems shortly reappeared. I have heard of similar problems from several other users. While this version (and previous versions) of your app function temporarily, it does not appear that your software is actually OS X compliant. Since this was not freeware, I feel somewhat ripped off - much more for the time that I have spent trying to get the software that I purchased to work than for the admittedly reasonable purchase price. Please advise whether your software is actually OSX functional, and if so how, or admit that it is not and refund my money."

Any comments/ideas, people?

[mindracr]

hey, sorry you're having problems!

I'm on an Imac G4 running OSX version 10.1.5 with 384 meg
on a DSL line. I've used limewire for about 3 months and I'm
generally pleased, my first experience with p2p.

Some, most, downloads are slow - and some are simply
impossible no matter how long I wait or how many times I
try. But enough DO work that I am generally happy and
amazed with limewire, especially for the price.

Patience, lots of it, is a virtue I think.

[stief]

Hi brad

As mindracer said, it does work quite well on OSX (I mostly use an G3 iBook on cable), and the developers go to a lot of trouble making it work on OSX.

Sorry to hear about the Pro Support--it never worked for me, but these forums have: in fact, quite a few of the paid and volunteer developers have given me solutions through these forums.

Anyway, if you want to keep at it, quite a few of us are willing to help.

Could you offer some more info, like how you connect to the internet (cable, modem, direct or through a router), whether Apple ran you through the safe boot/repair permissions stuff, and which version of LW you are currently running?

Cheers

[brad_taylor]

Hi guys:

Thanks for the replies.

Mindracer - my problem is not with performance, it's with getting LimeWire and its installer to function at all. LimeWire will work for awhile, then one day, will start quitting unexpectedly upon opening. Upon attempting to re-install, the installer also quits upon opening.

Stief: re your questions:

".... like how you connect to the internet (cable, modem, direct or through a router)":
Through a router. I really don't think that this is a connectivity issue, though, as the installer probably isn't checking my connection when it first starts up, or even if it is, it shouldn't be in such a way as to cause it to automatically crash when opening.

".....whether Apple ran you through the safe boot/repair permissions stuff,":
Yes. In fact, after that didn't work, I ended up reinstalling OSX, after which LW installed and worked for a while, then began crashing on startup again (as well as the installer).

"...and which version of LW you are currently running?":
The version I'm currently [not] running is whatever the most recent one is - I think it's 3.5.7 (I downloaded it last Thursday). This problem, however, has persisted in every version of LimeWire (I update regularly) since I first purchased LimeWire Pro , which was in June.

[stief]

Here's a link to a version of LW that doesn't use the zero g installer
http://baghira.han.de/~jum/LimeWire.html (Jens-Uwe Mager builds this directly from the source LW makes available to all, and has generously offered it to all OSX users). That will allow you to see if it's an installer/ java problem (it uses the Java 1.4.1 update that came with one of the Jag updates. You just have to drag the app from the .dmg you download to anywhere on your hard drive.

I guess you know how to do a clean install (search for anything containing "limew" to also find the preferences folder. Search for the invisible "zerog" file to get rid of that pref).

I have also just installed Java when I get some problems I can't explain. Here's the link: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120197 It's a 30 MB download, so I tend to keep it around, but only takes a few minutes to install.

Well, there's a few more options to consider.

[brad_taylor]

Thanks Steif:

I'll try your non-Zero G version. I'm a little paranoid about reinstalling Java - will this be safe for my other apps? Regarding the clean install, I actually got an email reply from Zenzele at LimeWire who also suggested doing an uninstall - reinstall. I have tried this to no avail a couple of times (with different LW versions) already - see Zenzele's email and my reply below.

Zenzele wrote:

"Brad,
>
> Please try the following:
> -Uninstall all versions of LimeWire, using the Uninstaller in LimeWire's
> folder.
> -Delete all LimeWire aliases and installers from your desktop and Dock, and
> remove all instances of the installer from the download manager of your
> Internet browser.
> -Reboot your computer.
> -Go back to the LimeWire Pro download page, and download the installer to
> your desktop.
> -Reinstall LimeWire Pro.

I replied:

"Hi:
The email reply I got from Zenzelle suggesting uninstalling was nice to get (thanks Zenzele), but unfortunately, uninstalling LimeWire via your uninstaller application is not an option, as it also "quits unexpectedly" immediately upon starting it. I could, of course, manually uninstall by removing the app and all its references one at a time (I presume I'd have to log in as Root to get rid of any kernel extensions), but this wouldn't make any sense. I have already nuked LimeWire to the furthest possible extent by erasing and reinstalling OSX. As I said in my original support request, this only temporarily fixes the problem, after which it soon resurfaces. Please advise how I may fix the underlying problem rather than patching up your application's bugs with drastic "fixes" that only resolve the problem for a few days.

Thanks,
Brad"

[stief]

Hmm--we don't hear of the pro support working here much of course (never did for me). Glad zbell is active, and thanks for the info.

Noticed though that the recommended uninstall leaves the old preference folder alone, and doesn't mention cleaning out the incomplete folder (if you don't mind losing those). btw--no need to log in as root to remove anything LW, unless you installed as root once.

The fact that your problems are with the installer bother me--it's pretty robust. trap_jaw, who really knows the code, has recommended using the international installer to get around some english installer situations. Still something with your set-up is in conflict. If you were on OS 9, I'd think it was an extensions or memory conflict. Any chance you've added something like an extension to your system?

Getting rid of the zerog pref used to be a pain because it's invisible (used to be able to boot into OS9 to get at it), but I think if you trash it from the search window 10.2.6 takes care of that problem now. BTW, the full name is .com.zerog.registry.xml (the dot at the beginning is what makes it invisible in OSX).

I know what you mean about being reluctant to reinstall system components like java. FWIW, I get pretty paranoid but have't been burnt yet by the java update, and have used it successfully six or more times to assure myself a problem wasn't java-related. But my G3 iBook and I haven't seen your installer problem. Nor have the folks running G4's that I've heard. Can't recall many users with that sweet 17" G4 though.

(RAM maybe? if you have the extended warranty, it comes with a diagnostic CD--email me if you need to know more here)

So, keep us posted. If you have more info, let us know and something you say might trigger some new ideas.

Cheers

[sula]

have you tried running the installer in classic? it's my understanding that limewire isn't compatible w/ os 10.2.xxx. (at least i haven't found any reference to it being compatible above 10.1.xx, but i haven't looked all that hard yet...). i've been having the same problem, and just figured out this may be the reason as i was reading your post. i'll try it myself and see if it works......

[ajutagir]

Hi,

I'd like to figure out what's going on if possible. Has anyone else been having this problem?

Avi

[zoubly]

I have OSX 10.1.5.
Limewire worked well until I got the newest versions of Limewire.
I succeeded in installing them but the program always froze to Loading Core components.
When I returned to Limewire 2.8.6 , it worked well.
I thought the newest versions of Limewire were only compatibles with jaguar.