1. Reinstall Java. Use the JRE offline installer & remove your current Java before you install this version.
Archive: Download Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 Update 11

2. Delete LW's preferences folder when LW's properly closed. See point 3 here & also point 2 if you've used older versions of LW in the past (there could be a folder in either location).
Fixes for LimeWire
This will kill all of your settings within options, you'll have to go back through afterwards & reset things. If you're not sure of your settings, go through LW's tools > options & write them all down, so that you can reset things later.

3. Reinstall LW & make sure to use the offline installer (not the recommended one).
Lime Wire » Download LimeWire

For the first step do I really need to get offline to install?

I'm just a bit confused with what you mean by access LW when I cant find it anywhere because it's supposed to be uninstalled. All I have left of LW is that message.
Sorry I'm so lost--I had no idea it would be this much trouble

Oh wow, you are brilliant.Thank you so much.
It's fixed!