Limewire will run on any computer that has the Java Virtual Machine installed. Installation packages are available for Windows, Mac and Linux. The Windows version of Limewire includes Sun Microsystems' Java installer which will download and install the Java Runtime Environment if necessary.

Is Limewire legal? That all depends on what you do with it. Copyright laws protect the creators of original works, such as music, movies, photos, etc. People who reproduce, distribute, or receive copies without the consent of the owners may be in violation intellectual property rights. If you copy commercially available music or video files without paying for it, you're probably breaking the law.

But there are some exceptions to the rule. If you don't own a particular CD and you download all the songs without paying for them, you are clearly stealing. But what if you bought the CD, and somehow scratched it to the point it will no longer play? In such circumstances, it should be acceptable to download the exact same files in order to burn a replacement CD. You are not stealing anything because the CD was already paid for. Keep your receipts to prove it!

Some who disagree make the counter argument, that if you own a beautiful serving dish, and it falls to the floor and shatters, you have no right to go back to the store and demand a replacement. So according to that logic, if your CD is damaged, you should have to buy a replacement. But this argument fails to take into account some important distinctions. Clearly to produce a copy of the dish, there are real costs involved. But a digital download of a song you've already purchased doesn't cost or deprive the artist or the record company.

The use of file sharing programs may accidentally allow others to copy private files you never intended to share. Limewire allows you to check what is being shared with others from your computer. It's a good idea to check this every time you start Limewire to make sure you're not allowing access to private information.