The first thing I would check via the Task manager (crlt&alt + delete one time) is what program is using so much resources. Look at the Process tab (click two times on the CPU bar to bring the most used CPU on the top). Check whether there are two LW exe running at the same time. If so, kill one of them via "end process.

Updating the Java version (to 1.5.0_07) would be the next thing on my list. You can get it here (choose the JRE offline installer):
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp
Before installing it, make sure all older versiona are uninstalled. Best to reboot after uninstalling the old, as well as after installing the new one.

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"Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level, Then Beat You With Experience"

Thanks for the quick response.

I had already looked at task manager to see if any processes were gobbling resources. However, i could not see any differences between:

1) before limewire started
2) while limewire was running
3) while limewire was running, and HD grinding was evident

I had thought that maybe something was gobbling memory, and the page files was being used extensively - but this is not the case, nearly 200Mb of my memory is free and my page file size remains at a constant ~370Mb.

I currently have JDK 1.5.0_06 installed. However, i will follow your instructions to remove this but will install JDK 1.5.0_07 rather than the JRE. I will post again when i have further news.

Cheers
Nathan

Ok, I installed JDK 1.5.0_07 and i still get the same problem Any more suggestions?

Thanks,
Nathan

Well, being a teacher by profession, I'm used to people doing other things I recommend. I said JRE out of a certain reason.
Anyways, when opening the Task Manager you should be able to identify the process that uses most of the CPU. And my question remains whether it is LW or the Java process that uses most of the CPU???

Other suggestions would be to try to delete the LW preference folder, though I'm not sure whether that will make a difference.
Have you ever looked at the possibility that you might have somewhere a confilct? Maybe uninstalling LW, booting in safe mode and installing LW while in safe mode might bring a change...........other than that I'm not sure....

__________________

"Never Argue With An Idiot. They Will Drag You Down To Their Level, Then Beat You With Experience"