Hmm, sorry i'm a bit inexperienced with playlists as I don't really use any media player for actually playing tracks! I just use them for ripping and burning. Maybe someone more experienced could help you? But I'll have a little go.....
I just tried to play WMA files on LW player and they don't play... As far as I know Limewire is just an MP3 player, but to use it you must first go to tools>options>player and then tick the box that says Use Limewire MP3 Player. I think you then need to restart your computer for this to take effect.
That should stop your system default player from overiding the limewire player and launching in other programmes such as Realplayer.
Try that if you haven't already done so.... also just to clarify, there IS a shuffle option, you just need to tick the box next to shuffle! Make sure your CD's are ripped as MP3 files. Then you just highlight the track you want to play and click the "to playlist" option.
Let me know how you get on.

I've ticked the box, but that doesn't override Realplayer...Never mind...I won't download any more of those or WMA files. I'll try again with one of my own CDs to see if there is an MP3 option. It seems a shame that people can upload only the tracks that I've downloaded. My next challenge is to transfer vinyl. Now that will be a challenge for a techno illiterate senior.
Thanks for your help rach28. I'll keep checking the forum to see if there are other potential solutions.
Bye

Sorry you didn't get very far.. I am pretty sure though that LW player is purely for MP3's... which is why realplayer still overides the LW player for other formats.
When I rip my CD's I always use windows media player 9, and if you click on tools>options, then click on the rip music tab you can choose the format that you wish to rip your disc to...(MP3 or WMA) and also set the quality (bitrate). Remember to click the apply button when you alter your settings.
I'm pretty sure that there should be a similar option on realplayer, have a look at the options menu.
Good luck with the vinyl... I have no clue how that one goes!

It is possible using WMP to convert .mp3 format into .wma (and vice-versa), if you have the capabilities (in which I currently have). Yes, it appears that LW only plays .mp3 format. It can play .m4a format, but you have to have a player capable of playing in that format (which I don't think I have at the moment). Originally, whenever I would put CDs on my computer, the tracks would be in .cda format. Now that format can't be played (or so it was until I was able to convert it into another format).

There are a number of audio & Video conversion programs that can be downloaded. A good one is Blaze Media Pro (http://www.blazemp.com/). It's pricey but you get a 15 day free trial. You can also edit with it. If you edit, when you save the file, change the name (I add 1 to the end of the file name); otherwise, saving doesn't change the original file.