Limewire won't access browser or preview videos
 

I have Win XP SP2 .I have never had any problems with Limewire until today. Earlier today it was working fine but now when I click Preview nothing happens. When I highlight a video I already have downloaded and click Launch, nothing happens. This only began happening a few hours ago. I also tried to access the FAQ from Limewire and it didn't bring up my browser. The taskbar icon also isn't showing up and I have it set to always show. I right click on the taskbar and go to properties and customize to make sure it's set to Always Show and the icon isnt limewires icon anymore,, its norton antivruses icon. Ive been reading forums and websites and guides and havent been able to find the solution. So if anyone here could help me out I would greatly appreciate it.

So far I haven't heard about such a problem. But if I had personally that problem, I would start to try several things:

The first would be to delete the " .limewire " preference folder when LW is completely closed (i.e. also in the system tray -after restarting LW the configuration popups will show up) as described in Point #2 & 3 in Fixes for Limewire:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=36420

If that had no success, I'd uninstall all Java on my computer and use the JRE offline installer of the newest Java version to re-install it:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp

And if that didn't do the trick, I'd uninstall Norton to see if that makes any difference.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../Smilywais.gif

Thank you for your suggestions. I don't seem to have a preference folder in my.limewire folder. My java is updated to the latest version. I will try to uninstall norton though and see if that helps. Thanks again for your help :)

Not having a preference folder is impossible AFAIK.
Search your computer using " .limeiwre " (and yes, the dot before the name has to be there).
You can also read here on how to find the folder:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...imewire+folder
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../Smilywais.gif

As noted in step 3 of the 1st link FooloftheHill left, the preferences folder for the newer LW is called Limewire & is in a "Hidden" folder. So you'll need to turn show hidden files & folders on before you search for it. It's found within the Application Data folder (which is the one that's hidden.) ;)

same problem
 

My lime wire was working fine untill I upgraded to the newest version
so this guy is not alone.. I can't preview any songs or videos now.

updated to the latest java version too

My advice would be to uninstall both one more time (LW and all Java), rebooting the computer and then reinstalling Java (with the JRE offline installer) rebooting again, and then finally installing LW using also the downloaded installer .exe.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../Smilywais.gif

I've just thought about it. Go and right click on your system tray (not pointing at anything special) then go to properties and then "Customize". Check whether LW is hiding when inactive (you need to have LW open to do so).
That could be the reason why you don't see it, though it might still be active working.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../Smilywais.gif

Hey foolofthehill

I appreciate your suggestions. I tried to uninsall both LW and Jave and re-installed them again. Still isn't working. I also had the icon set to always show. It's so weird. All my other programs work fine with accessing the browser through them. It was only LW that wasn't. I recently installed Frostwire hoping that would remedy the issues but the issues are the same with that. Those programs are the only ones not working in that way. I almost want to just leave it alone. It isnt causing system problems or anything.. it's just a hassle for when I try to preview videos I am downloading.

Hmm it seems more than one thing has changed for you. It's not rare for some versions of LW not to work as well on some people's configurations. Not sure what to suggest. Perhaps wait for the next version. Have you tried re-setting the default for video playback? Also, whilst downlding, try using the Launch function from the incomplete folder (at least that stops a preview file being created when wanting to preview a incomplete file.)

i Have the same problem. I cant preview any video files even the ones i have downloaded already. But i can listen and preview music just fine? i need some help here. thanks

give up
 

Don't bother trying to contact LW tech support, I got some A-Hole who kept whinning because I didn't give him an 'error message' Theres no error messages, it just doesn't work.. His fix??? 'just go to your shared folder and launch the songs/videos from there'

Gotta love it

The Limewire player can preview and play only music files. For videos it usually chooses your default player. It somtimes happens that your default player has an codecs issue with certain file. That's why we here recommend to use the free VLC player with built-in codecs, which can play almost all media files. You can download it here and give it a try:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

?
 

my default player for video and mp3 is my windows media player that works fine, just not from LW..
and it did work untill the last version

I'm in the same boat. Until the latest version, I could preview all files except .avi files. Now I'm not getting any previews, with or without the limewire player. I'm not getting the icon in the system tray either.

You can set the sys tray in your LW preferences. ie: LW's menu bar, Tools>Options>System Tray & select as you desire.

As for previewing, try resetting your default video player again. ie: Setting Default video app

same
 

well don't bother contacting tech support, because all they will tell you to do is deal with it and try double clicking on the file from the folder. I'm so happy I paid for the pro version (sarcasm)

Well, I'm fed up with the new version. Any way I can get my old version back? I tried all the tips and tricks that folks have suggested and I still can't do anything with it. Icon still won't appear, still can't preview. I'm with hdemmon, real glad I paid for another version of pro.

i am having the same problem as Trigger5150. This didnt start happening till i downloaded the latest limewire version. if anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated.

Cannot Preview or access the Help Internet Functions with 4.12.3
 

Installed the latest version 4.12.3 on 2 computers, one is Windows XP PRO and the other is Windows XP HOME. Both were able to view downloaded and downloading video files before I upgraded them to 4.12.3. Now neither will Preview or connect to the internet using links found in the Help file. Both will preview mp3 songs during download and when fully downloaded. The new version has a bug that Limewire Programmers must find and release a fix for. This is affecting a significant number of people who bought the new release.:(

Just so you know, I went back to an older version that LOTR sent me and the same thing happened. I'm also having trouble shutting it down. It used to put an icon in the system tray that you could right click on and hit "exit", now the icon doesn't appear. Definitely something that needs to be figured out.

Once you install the latest version, 4.12.3, you can not get the video preview or Help links functions to work again by installing the previous or earlier versions. Seems that 4.12.3 does something to the system that returning to earlier versions will not correct. When I reinstalled the earlier versions and started Limewire, it would initially show the earlier version number and then quickly show the 4.12.3 screen again. The program would try to function as an earlier version but be overridden by the latest. Major problem introduced by Limewire in their latest release. Hope they come up with a fix quickly.

Regarding the Video Preview and Internet Links found in the Help tab in version 4.12.3 not working, I sent an e-mail with specific information to technical support yesterday. Hopefully they will respond with some information regarding a fix or technical solution to help us soon. If they read these messages, they will get more good information to help them troubleshoot the problem.

Just to let everyone know regarding my post number 22, YES, I did totally uninstall the latest version and deleted the .limewire folder and reinstall the latest Java version before installing the earlier version of Limewire. Made no difference. The Video Preview and Help links still did not work.

ha
 

Bro, tech support isn't gonna help you.. I've tried. I have the exact same problems and there advice was, uninstall and reinstall.. LW, Java, blah blah..
its pointless to email those losers

FOUND A SOLUTION!!!! Boot your computer up in Safe Mode and then install the latest version. Did that on my computer and now both the Video Preview and Help links work. Do not know why you need SM but it worked. Must be a driver or dll conflict. Happiness to all if it works for you.

Worked for me too! Thanks for the solution abj and thanks to everyone else for their input.

How about this http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...hlight=default
Does that fix it for anyone?

Lord of the Rings, I assume that your question "Does that fix it for anyone" relates to the Limewire video preview and internet links problem(s) with the Help function in the latest release. If my assumption is correct that your question relates to this problem, loading Limewire 4.12.3 using safe mode worked for me on two computers (xp pro & home) and solved both computers problems with 4.12.3. Looking at Trigger 5150 post, it worked for him also. Hopefully, it will work for all that have this specific problem. As to your "How about this link," looks like the problem stated there was taken care of by you. I'm sure Deltastorm appreciated your help.

Thank you abj!!!!!!!!! That solved every problem! The icon is back in the tray, the help and forums are working and preview is working!

go to the search forum section. type in preview,and search. in there is the instructions to download in safe mode. posted by abj. have not tried yet but he has and it worked.

I'm having similar problems; all of a sudden i can't get any of the links to lime wire or bitzi to work. it opens notepad and gives me an error reading: the filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. What should i do? ive allready tried removing and then reinstalling limewire, updated java, rebooted and repeated a few times. i also procrastinated long enough that doing system restore on xp home sp 2 wont go back far enough. any help greatly appreciated

Have you tried reinstalling in the safe mode on your computer. This was the only way it would work for me. I got that from another forum. Hope that works.

Hi. I am having the same problems and have tried all of the above suggestions (reinstalling in safe mode, checking default player, resetting defaults in LW, up****** java etc) and still cannot preview video downloads. Anyone got anyother suggestions please.

Which player are you attempting to preview with? Did you try launching directly from the incomplete folder? ie: go to LW's Library window, select the incomplete folder, select the partial downld file & press Launch. VLC is generally very good at this.

Thanks for the quick reply LOTR - will download and try VLC now - watch this space!

aha success - thanks LOTR - all working ok now nice one.

I have recently had the same problem; to clarify:

I am fully able to download both music and video files, however, I am able to play only the music files through the limewire media player. I am unable to play or preview any kind of video files.

There are two ways I managed to resolve this problem and possibly may help you:

1) Any new media software can affect the functionailty of Limewire and your current media player [eg Windows Media Player], therefore if you have recently downloaded any new media software; try removing the software from your computer and restart your system [After this, limewire should work]

2) If you are running windows; make sure you install any updates for your computer as these can effect the functionality of your computer.

Good Luck!