The second link in the A technique for connecting with BearShare, as the first link is File_Girl's version which will not install on Windows 8. The second link is my equivalent installer re-done to work with Windows 8.
BearShare 5 will lack the same messaging system, etc. you enjoyed with the 'other' version.

Yeah bearshare 10 runs on a different network which is semi-commercial. Free users are limited to what they can download afaik. Wikipedia also has some information on BearShare.