6/15/2012 -
Re: Java (TM) 7, Update 5/JavaFX 2.1.1, and Limewire version 5.6.2:

A new problem has arisen with the newest download of Java (TM) 7, Update 4 (and now Update 5), and JavaFX 2.1.1: I tried installing both Limewire v.5.6.2, and v.5.6.16, separately, and neither will even open with this new Java 7/FX installed on my Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit OS desktop PC (I am assuming LW won't run with Java 7/FX installed on Windows Vista or Windows 7 computers either, but that should be tested). Limewire v.5.6.2 has been running perfectly on my PC with previous, version-6 Java Runtime Environments (JRE) installed, up to and including the last one, Java (TM) 6, Update 33, which I currently have installed. However, even if you have this Java RE (Runtime Environment) 6 installed on your PC - if you ALSO have any newer version of Java installed as well (which would be Java TM 7, Update 5, that also includes a separate download of the new "JavaFX 2.1.1" program [both are listed in Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" after you install Java 7, and you must uninstall them separately] - Limewire will not open. When you click to run it, you get an error message box saying Limewire needs Java Runtime Environment 6 or newer to run, and an inquiry as to whether you want to be redirected to the Java download webpage to install the newest version. If you click "Yes", your browser will indeed automatically open to Java's newest-version download page. However, installing the new Java 7/FX causes LW not to see a usable version of Java Runtime Environment in order to run. You must be running Java RE 6 ALONE. Then you can use LW v.5.6.2 without any problems, as before - but that leaves you with Java (TM) 6, Update 33 ONLY on your computer. Running an older, outdated version of Java like this leaves one's PC open to security threats, as well as to the possibility that other things will have problems when trying to open and run with an old version of Java installed as time goes on. Also, Oracle assigns an end date to the "lifetime" of a particular version of Java, so Java (TM) 6, Update 33, is already scheduled to end in the coming months since it's an outdated version.

I am hoping someone can create a modified download of a useable version of Limewire that will run with whatever the newest JRE is that Oracle happens to release, now and in the future (i.e., indefinitely), so we can continue to enjoy using Limewire no matter what else is installed on our computers. Thanks to everyone involved for creating this modified download of Limewire. Please let us know when it is available to install.

Set Java 6 as the default via the Java control panel. This solved the issue for me on Windows 7. In that way you can have both versions installed.

At this point, Java 7 has not yet become the default Java to download from the Java site. I do wonder why and whether it is fully developed.
Why LimeWire will not run with it I do not know, one guess is the program was only set to use Java 6 and not 6+, a silly oversight. Presumably a mistake by the original LW 5 developers.

I will ask File_Girl71 if she can possibly check if this is the case with a simple + symbol missing, and redo a LPE version.

On my Windows XP PC, Java 7/FX cannot be installed at all, or LW will not open. Only after uninstalling Java 7/FX, and leaving just Java 6, Update 33 installed, was LW able to again run for me. Again, this leaves my PC with only an outdated version of Java on it, so need a modified version of LW that will run any newest versions of Java that come out from Oracle indefinitely.

I tried using File_Girl7's link to download Limewire v.5.6.2 before, but could not - the dialogue windows just kept switching between the download link window and some other window, and the installation would not run. Had to use the download link from "4shared."

I can tell you this issue only concerns LPE and the other LW 5 versions. LW 4 seems to run fine even with Java 7 set as the main Java on Windows XP.
But I see what you mean on XP, even if you set Java 6 as the enabled Java, if Java 7 exists on the system then LW 5 refuses to run.

File_Girl is very short on spare time but hopefully she might be able to help. But it might be some time away.

If I had her skills, I'd rip LPE apart and replace certain parts with LW 4's code lol. LW 5's upload technology is whacky and very buggy.
You would not want to see my bug report on LPE in the LPE thread or it would scare you. lol

Thanks "Lord." For all the bugs you mention for LPE, aside from this new Java problem, my v.5.6.2 works fine. Question: Are there fewer P2P files available for download these days since LW was closed, i.e., fewer search results, repeats of the same files with different names, files that actually turn out to be those LW legal notice audio tracks (are those attempts to track and catch LPE users)?

Should I contact File_Girl71 directly about this issue, and/or the download problems I had trying to use her link before (is contacting her even possible)?

It's probably also important to keep in mind that Windows 8 is coming out by the end of 2012. May need to do some testing to ensure LW will run on it since all versions/editions are old software these days.

Do you know if there is a way to set up in the Gnutella forum so I can receive email notifications whenever there are responses/updates to posts, even if I'm not logged in?

Thanks again

Click on User CP link in the top left corner of the forum page.
Once within User CP, you'll see an 'Edit Options' link in the sidebar.

Choose 'Instant email notification' from the dropdown menu within subscription mode section.

Finally, click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom of the page.

A big thanks and shout out to "birdy" from Perth, Australia - wow, help from the other side of the planet - amazing!

Did I understand you correctly, "Lord": LW v.4.18.8 works with the newest Java 7, Update 5/FX 2.1.1 installed (and NOT with JRE 6, Update 33 installed), especially on XP machines like mine?

Do you know if it will work with ongoing new versions of JRE in the future?

Any idea yet if LW - whatever versions - will run OK on the new Windows 8 OS when it's released at the end of 2012?

Given her schedule, is there anyone in addition to File_Girl71 who can tweak LPE 5.6.2 so it works with Java 7/FX as well?

Thanks

The gnutella user population is not as big as what it once was, but it's still large. There are companies that both spam search results and use other techniques. Advice might be worth blocking out those listed, but the Hostiles document itself does not work with any LW 5 version. I used LPE last night and was getting good search results, far better than the previous day which was quite poor. I was connected as an ultrapeer last night.

All LW 4 versions seem to work under Java 7. I tested on both Windows XP and Windows 7.

AFAIK LW 4.18 and upward were all 64-bit and 32-bit compatible. I cannot remember about 4.16. If an old app like BearShare 5 from 2005 and Gnucleus from 2004 can run on Windows 7, then I would guess the above LW versions should run on Windows 8 onward. Presumably Java will keep the same abilities for its later versions, if not then a variant of LW would need to be recompiled in a later Java.

I sent File_Girl71 a PM after I posted yesterday and pointed to this thread. But you can also if you wish.

File_Girl71's 4Shared link seems to work fine for me, but you need to be a member of 4Shared to download using their services. Use the blue Download Now button, not the green one that downloads their desktop program. Then wait 20 seconds before the free download option appears. iFileIt the alternative link, is a free service and no membership required but you need to disable your browser's adblock if you use one for the iFileit site. If a free member of iFileIt there's no wait time and no reCAPTCHA test which was put in place to throw off bots.

About notifications: you can also manually subscribe to threads using the Thread Tools drop down menu at top of the thread. The default is to be subscribed to threads you create yourself or threads you post to. But Birdy explained about the email notifications; there's a separate option for email notifications to threads and another for private messages lower down on same option window.

If I were aware of someone else who had the java programming skills, the interest and the time, I'd be nagging them. lol
I would not dare to ask either of the Phex devs to help.