Edit: Choose this installer by File_Girl instead, New BearShare Test 5.1.0b25 Windows all:BearShare Test 5.1.0b25.rar Mirror site: Find all the installers "here" and choose from the folder. (disable your browser's AdBlock to use the iFileIt site. Sample image download instructions.) File_Girl71's version uses an improved silent working program instead of the BearStart program. This installer has updated settings. Then see Step 1 only below about the firewall. Setting the installer to Run as Administrator may help the program work better & should definitely be set to Run as Administrator if using either Vista & Windows 7 or later. If problems, set BearShare to Run in XP mode.
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* CLEAN Install: If you already had BearShare installed on your computer, it is advisable to uninstall it using the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel, And also to delete all previous BearShare Settings, before installing the above BearShare 5.1 version. (Settings will be found in the BearShare program folder. Delete the entire folder.) The above BS installer comes with its own fresh upgraded settings.

If after installing the program does not connect well as expected, you can find alternative connection caches attached at bottom of page. If you do need fresh connection cache, see Step 2 below about how to do.

Note: The BearShare 5.1 Beta does not have UPnP support. Thus for best results, unless you are using a dial up connection or basic modem only, you will most likely need to Port Forward (click link) your modem-router for BearShare. . . . . (Find your model of router, skip the advertisement on following page, then find BearShare on the list of port forward techniques for your router. Both TCP and UDP should be opened for the same connection port. Often more reliable to do a separate port forward for each of TCP and UDP. BearShare uses both TCP and UDP protocol techniques for connecting.) Example: Port Forwarding BearShare on the Dlink DAP-1350.


(BearShare has been sabotaged. Quote: "If you have any version at or above 5.2.0.6 your downloads can be arbitrarily stopped or limited by Free Peers at any time."
So if you found yourself a version of 5.2, do not be surprised if it does not connect. I have tried one myself, it refused to connect whatsoever. I then opened the 5.1 beta and it connected within a few seconds and only a minute after closing down 5.2.5 pro. Both were using an identical connection cache file.)


(Older advice only applicable if using the BearStart version: This is connection assistance for using the BearShare 5.1 Beta which can be obtained here: (use above File_Girl installer instead) BearShare 5 Beta.zip or BearShare 5 Beta.rar (both are the BearStart version)
All you need to do to open the BearShare Beta program after installing is open the BearStart utility. So keep the BearStart utility on desktop. It will turn your computer clock back for just a few seconds as it opens BearShare. You may need to add this as an exception to your security software if it causes problems with the time being turned back momentarily.)



1. Go to Start menu -> Control Panel -> Windows Firewall, open. Click on Exceptions, press Add program & add Bearshare. You can also use the Ports button to add TCP and UDP port ranges. re: firewall exceptions, add Bearshare & give it both TCP & UDP exceptions as sub-rules of the same main rule.
If using a different firewall, disable Windows firewall, make TCP & UDP exceptions for BearShare in that firewall. P2P programs do not work well when there are two active firewalls despite exceptions for both. Also add BSLoader to the firewall and any other security exceptions.

2. Make sure BearShare is CLOSED and not sitting in the Tray. Replace the old connection cache with a newer one! You can find a fresh connection cache below in Step 4. This process has been replaced with an installer to do it all for you if you see step 4. Otherwise the standard manual process is below.

Once downloaded, unzip it. Open that folder, move the contents to C:\Program Files\BearShare Test\db
ie: Go to your Programs folder -> BearShare -> DB folder & drop the contents of the Bearshare-cache folder inside to replace the older ones. BearShare must be closed whilst you do this.
See a detailed sample animated image below for replacing cache (click thumbnail to see larger view):



3. Edit: The following only applies if you are using the BearStart program instead of the one listed at very top of this page. (a) Open BearShare by opening the BearStart Utility. Due to the Beta being set to only run over a certain date period, the BearStart Utility will momentarily (only for a few seconds) change your computer clock back to when the beta was valid. (Make sure you make exceptions in your security software for BearStart since turning the computer clock back might upset them.) BearShare Beta will then start. You should always only open the BearStart Utility. (Make a shortcut for BearStart on desktop or/& Start Programs menu. Below is BearStart program icon on desktop.)


. . (b) Go to BearShare's menu bar, Setup -> Service, choose Forced Ultrapeer at bottom of option window. This will help you get connected.



4. If you need fresh connection cache see BearShare Connect Fix installer.)


Using 4Shared.com instructions: 4Shared sample image
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