Why does my limewire look like this? This is the classic skin?

My guess is it's either 1. Java issue, 2. Graphic card setting.

1. Make sure you have the latest Java. Java 1.5 (take the JRE)
However, I'd also recommend the Java 1.6 beta http://java.sun.com/javase/6/download.jsp JRE "Offline" version which is a 15.72 MB downld. BTW if you're using Mac OSX, then you'd better tell us.

2. See click LW icon & it begins to initialize but then stops and nothing happens Graphic card setting!

or The way to fix the Blank screen on startup

GeoForce 3D setting

it was java, thanks for the help

at first i thought it wasn't but i didn't realize i had to restart my computer

Thanks for letting us know. That's something I should tell people that they need to reboot after installing Java.