firewall problem??maybe??

[boobesque]

hello.
i have recently rearranged my living room which meant that i had to unplug all of my computer bits, printer modem speakers etc. i have done this many times before and never had any problems. until now...(insert eerie music here)

when i try to use the p2p prog that i use (limewire), i am told that it cant connect and suggests that either my firewall is blocking it or that i have a loopback connection. i dont even know what a loopback connection is. i have checked my firewall, mcaffee, and it has full access permissions. i have windows firewall turned off. so i downloaded winmx to see if limewire was just being stroppy but winmx will not connect either, although there are no error messages. i can connect to the internet fine. please help!!
i am on aol (ugh) broadband btw. windows xp sp2.

[ket]

This could be many reasons

1. You may have windows update on automatic susequently causing Limewire to stop. Goto recovery and go back to the last date the computer was working.

2. Limewire is a very unstable programme so it could that you may need to perminantly disable your firewall and reboot you pc.

3 Save your downloaded files, delete limewire and reload again from destination.

4 Finally the site could be de-commissioned and there is nothing wrong with your computer.

I would recommend No. 3 

[boobesque]

1 - windows update is on automatic download but doesnt install updates until i say so.

2 - tried that

3 - tried that too

4 - this was my first thought. but as i said, winmx isnt working either.

[PodgeMaster]

have a look at this
http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=925

[DannyK]

A sure fire way to know what stops the connection is to disable your firewall. Then start Limewire & if it connects then you have found the problem. if not, have a look at this.....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us; 884020

[vehelpfulguy]

> I dont even know what a loopback connection is

Windows includes a default network connection, in case you are using your PC and NOT connected to a network.

If you are NOT connected to a network, then Windows goes out on this dummy connection, then loops back in again (hence loopback connection) 

This conection has a default name of 'localhost' and a default ip address of 127.0.0.1.

This is set up in a file called 'hosts' (no extension) in a directory called C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

The 'hosts' file should have an entry as follows

127.0.0.1       localhost

But it may have been changed, and hence you are getting the error.

My guess is you are either not connected to the network properly, or that somehow this loopback connection has taken a higher priority than your proper network connection.

This means that when your p2p program tries to go to the network it is using the first choice, which is the loopback connectoin.  

Have a look in the Windows settings, or the limewire settings, to see if there is anywhere to change it. 

[boobesque]

thanks guys. i have downloaded the windows patch. no change. i read the article about winmx. damn shame i tell thee. vhelpfulguy. i am not connected to a network and my host file does indeed say 127.0.0.1  ;localhost. i cant adjust the limewire settings without first connecting. any idea where to change my windows settings? or where i may look?