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DownloadingFor most of the software here you can just download the "EXE" installer file and double-click it to install the software.Download Difficulties?• Problems Specific to Internet Explorer - If you use Internet Explorer you might see a warning that the download may not be "trustworthy". You can ignore that warning. It is caused by excessive restrictions built into Internet Explorer. (See this page for more explanation and ways to stop being nagged by spurious IE "security" warnings.)In some cases when using Internet Explorer, your download may even be blocked "for your safety". That behavior can be adjusted if you want to keep using IE. (See link above.) We recommend that you just switch to using the Firefox or Opera browser instead. Fixing the increasing nags, restrictions and security problems with Internet Explorer is not an easy endeavor. It requires that you familiarize yourself with the convoluted IE security settings and that you adjust undocumented Registry settings. • Problems Using Download Helper Software - If you use download helper software such as Download Accelerator, GetRight, FreshDownloads, etc. the download may fail with an error page or an unexpected password prompt. That is because the JSWare site blocks such programs. You do not need a password to download from this website. (If you see a password prompt that is caused by a bug in your download helper program.) You do not need to enable cookies, javascript, or anything else in order to download from JSWare. But please use a browser for downloading. We regret any inconvenience this policy may cause for people downloading files from JSWare.net. Unfortunately, there is no way to inform you, the visitor, of what the problem is when downloading because most download helper programs do not properly handle link referrers or the "403 - restricted" error code from the server. In other words, these programs have not been designed to properly inform you that the download is blocked or to forward you to an explanation page. Download helpers are blocked for the following reasons: 1) In general, download helper programs serve no useful purpose except to maintain a download link in order to resume when download of extremely large files is interrupted. There are no files that big on this website. 2) In many cases download helper programs install with adware and/or spyware, exploiting the gullibility of web surfers who think they will have a better online experience in some way by using a "download accelerator" or similar program. For the most part, all you are likely to get from such programs is an invasion of your privacy. 3) Download helper programs generally download files in multiple pieces. In fact, they often require that you download far more bytes than are contained in the downloaded file. For example, a browser will download a 50 KB file in one piece. A download helper will often download the same file in 4-7 pieces, with a total download volume of more than 100 KB. That behavior makes your download slower, taxes the server unnecessarily, and makes it difficult for webmasters to keep track of how many files are being downloaded. The theory behind this download method is that downloads can be speeded up by downloading through multiple connections simultaneously, but that only works if a) the server is slower than you connection speed, b) the server allows multiple connections from the same address, and c) the file being downloaded is very large. Required System FilesPeople using Windows 2000/ME/XP/2003/Vista do not need to install any support files for any JSWare software.If you are using Windows 95/98/NT4, you probably do not need any extra support files. However, if you see an error message about MSVBVM60.DLL when running any of this software, that will indicate that the "VB6 Runtime" file needs to be installed. In that case, see one of these links to download the runtime installer: Download VB6 Runtime Installer from Microsoft Go To Simtel.Net to download the VB6 Runtime Installer Files Replaced During InstallNone of the software currently available from JSWare replaces any system files. None of it requires any extra system files.All of the EXE installers are self-executing ZIP files. If you want to inspect the contents or read the "readme" file before installing, just rename the file with a ".ZIP" extension and open it with any ZIP program. Inside you will find a CAB file that can also be opened with a ZIP program. The CAB file contains all installed files. (Note: Most ZIP programs will open such a renamed file but the limited ZIP functionality built into WinXP will not.) About Spyware and AdwareNone of the software from JSWare has built-in advertising and none of it carries out remote communication apart from the software's normal operation (such as clicking a remote link in the WEB-ED Editor browser window or sending email in Web-Sender Studio). There is no spyware, adware or other sleazeware here. There is also no "theirware" infested with DRM (digital restriction management) that restricts where you can install the software. We just have plain software.All software downloads from JSWare can be opened and inspected before installing. (You may have noticed that many software companies go to great lengths to prevent you being able to know exactly what is being installed.) All the downloads from this site are either ZIP files or self-executing ZIP files. A self-executing ZIP can be opened by any reasonably good ZIP program. Just rename the file extension from ".exe" to ".zip" and open it as a normal ZIP file. Some downloads may also contain a CAB storage file inside. CAB files can be opened by most ZIP programs just as ZIP files can be. In other words, you can freely inspect the files included in any software download from JSWare. About Private Information: You do not have to divulge any private information to use this website or the software here. Some information is required for credit card purchase of software. In that case your name and email address are retained by JSWare solely for the purpose of product support queries and update notices sent out as a courtesy to paying customers. Such information will not be retained if you so request, but in that case you will not have access to full version software updates and replacement key codes because we will be unable to confirm your purchase. CompatibilityFree SoftwareThe free programs and utilities here do not require any further system files. Some are very simple programs that do not need to be installed. Others may have specific installation requirements that are explained on the respective webpages. WEB-ED Webpage and Scripting Editor WEB-ED Editor is compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP/2003/Vista/7/2008. JS PhotoPrep JS PhotoPrep is compatible with Windows 95/98/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003/Vista/7/2008. Discontinued SoftwareWeb-Sender StudioWeb-Sender Studio has been discontinued due to lack of interest. WSS provided the ability to package a website into a self-opening file to be emailed. It was released at a time before there were commonly problems with email viruses. Given the typical settings of current email filters and anti-virus programs, WSS packages can no longer be sent to most people. Tweak Revisited Tweak Revisited (for Windows 95/98/ME) is no longer actively supported, however, as of this writing it is still available from the Simtel software hosting servers here. If you use Tweak Revisited and need an activation code for the full version, use these (case sensitive): Email: FreeTR@jsware.net Activation Code: N505815-U562417 If the download link is not from Simtel.Net, do not download Tweak Revisited! Simtel.net has the only authorized download. In particular, beware of CNet/ZDNet/Download.com. Those sites are all the same company. As of this writing they have their own download of Tweak Revisited. JSWare software is never submitted for listing to CNet. Any software at CNet purporting to be from JSWare is unauthorized and could be anything. A Word About Software Download WebsitesNot always what they seem...Many people visit software download websites, such as CNet/download.com, Tucows, etc. to look for software. There are hundreds of such sites. Originally these websites were like newspapers, announcing new software, providing links for download, and sometimes writing software reviews. Their income derived from banner ads and their popularity derived from the fact that there was no other way to easily find specific software. Over time things have changed. Many software listing sites had trouble making a profit from banner ads, and in the meantime Google has become an easier way to look for software. One result of those changes is that many software listing sites have been trying out different business models to increase their income. Unfortunately, many sites are now blurring the line between software news and advertising, such that their listings and ratings can no longer be trusted. Some sites require payment for each listing. Some sell reviews. Many charge for high visibility. Some require a reciprocal advertisement for their website before they will list software. And some even require a cut of the selling price for listed software. In other words, many sites still pretend to be neutral download and review websites while actually having a direct financial interest in the software that they list. JSWare programs are not submitted for listing on websites that require payment, or that "strongly encourage" payment, for listings. We also do not take part in the other common scam of commercial software: Trading links for awards. (JSWare receives regular congratulations that our software has "earned 5 stars" and that we need only place an ad for the reviewing website on jsware.net in order to retain that 5-star rating!) Not always dependable... Inaccurate listings, outdated listings, and even false listings, are not uncommon at software listing sites. It is always a good idea to visit the software homepage before downloading software, and preferably download the software from the author's site directly. Any reputable software listing site will at least include a link to the author's website as part of each software listings. JSWare and Windows Vista/7 - A Cautionary NoteDue to various problems with Windows Vista/7, it is not a supported platform for most JSWare freeware. (Windows 7 is just a minor update to Windows Vista, so they are treated as one product here.) Virtually all software here is compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP/2003. Most of it will run on Windows 95.The JSWare commercial software is supported on Windows Vista/7. That includes: • WEB-ED Editor • JS PhotoPrep Which JSWare freeware works on Vista/7? • Windows Installer/MSI tools • jsFolderView+ Explorer Bar • NT6 Restriction Fix • ADS Hunter • jsPageFilter for Internet Explorer • Some of the scripting components, such as jsShell.dll (shell and Active Accessibility functions) and jsDrop.dll (drop handler). (Note that while the above software is designed to work on Windows Vista/7, we cannot offer support for problems with Windows restrictions that hamper use of the software. Restrictions are a Windows Vista/7 problem. Microsoft is responsible for that.) Which JSWare freeware does not work on Vista/7? In general, anything not listed above has been designed not to run on Vista/7 at all. That includes many of the scripting components, Desktop Writer, PDF Converter, Stream Viewer and VB Color Picker. The freeware is offered free to the public. We get no payment of any kind for it. Therefore we cannot offer to accommodate it to the frivolous changes, incompatibilities and restriction problems that come with Vista/7. Please do not ask for source code. There is some source code available on the VB code page. It is free for any use to anyone who wants it. However, we do not offer the full source code for components or programs. People sometimes write to ask if we would be willing to "open source" a component or program. What they really mean is that they would like the complete software project for free so that they can find someone else to edit and recompile it (for free) to meet their needs. But that's not what open sourcing means. An open source project requires someone to manage it, to work on bugfixes, and to work on new versions. Someone needs to test new versions. And someone needs to write documentation. Further, if anyone recompiles a component project on their own then COM compatibility would be broken: Multiple versions of the same file would be available with conflicting type libraries. That would cause confusion and any resulting support questions would probably be directed to JSWare. All of these things require time and work... And we don't get paid for that. (The people asking for components to be "open sourced" generally do not offer to pay for the project code. They don't offer to work as testers, or to take responsibility for support queries. They just want what they want -- software to meet their needs, for free.) Read on if you would like a more thorough explanation of JSWare support for Windows Vista/7 and why it is changing. The Windows Operating System - Platform vs ServiceThe role of an operating system:The basic function of an operating system - such as Windows, Linux, or MacOS - is to provide an interface between a computer and its software. The computer provides raw computational functionality. The operating system interfaces between that functionality and the software, allowing useful software to make the computer itself useful. In programming terms, Windows has traditionally been referred to as a platform because of its role as a hardware interface. Windows is the platform that supports software. Changes in the marketplace: Over the years, most of the software commonly used on PCs has matured, as have operating systems. Products like Windows, office suites, browsers, email, graphic studios, etc. have not changed radically since the mid-90s. At one time software companies made large profits by periodically releasing new versions of their software with new functions. But for several years now, most people have not needed much in the way of new functions. New releases of popular brand-name software, despite being generally expensive, often offer little more than added bloat. In fact, some of the best software now is free "open source" software. In the face of reduced software sales, a popular idea now current among software companies is "software as a service", also known as "SaaS", and more recently re-marketed as "cloud computing". The strategy behind SaaS is to sell software usage rather than software programs. In other words, "service" software is rented, leased, or charged for on a per-use basis, so that software companies do not have to depend on future sales of new product. (Note that SaaS/cloud computing has made its appearance just when installed software has reached maturity and gone down in cost. SaaS/cloud computing is not an idea for improving software. It is an idea for improving profits.) Imagine if the auto makers, faced with plummeting sales, decided to stop selling cars and open taxi businesses. And imagine further that one auto maker, with over 90% of the market - and monopoly control - decided to also stop the sale of replacement parts so that their customers would be virtually forced to switch over to the new taxi service. Obviously that would not be a good scenario for most car owners. But that is essentially what Microsoft is doing with their "software as a service" strategy. And Windows Vista was a big step in that direction - a step away from the the idea of Windows as a platform, toward a definition of Windows as an embedded hardware interface -- interactive TV, if you will. Actually, Microsoft is now talking about "software and service". In other words, they hope to charge you for Windows and charge you for using software on Windows. For a thought-provoking description of just how much Microsoft has already changed the definition of their software, see John Dvorak's story about the day that Microsoft's Vista spyware system malfunctioned, causing thousands of computers to be disabled while their owners were accused of software theft. This is a big topic which cannot be fully covered here, but the gist of it is as follows: Microsoft is not alone on the SaaS/cloud computing bandwagon. Companies such as Apple, the game player manufacturers, music companies, TV/movie companies, major software companies, Google, etc. are all looking for ways to charge money, to as many people as possible, for something or other, over the Internet. One interest these companies all have in common is a redefinition of PCs/phones/appliances. The less control the end-user has over the software on their phone, PC, etc., the easier it will be to convert that appliance into a "sales and services portal", with limited inherent functionality. A warning about Windows Vista/7:If you do not own a full version CD for an earlier version of Windows then you may be forced to either use Vista/7 or leave Windows behind altogether the next time that you buy a PC. At JSWare we consider Windows Vista/7 to be bloated, overpriced, restrictive, DRM-infested spyware. We do not recommend using Windows Vista/7. We do not consider it a worthy product.Bloated and overpriced: A copy of the most basic version of Windows 7 sells for $170-$220. Yet a cheap PC only costs $300! A basic install of Windows XP takes up about 1 GB. A basic install of Vista/7 takes up 7-9 GB. XP runs comfortably with 256 MB RAM. Vista/7 needs that much just to sit there. You will need more expensive hardware to run Vista/7 than to run XP. Why? More unexplained services running in the background. Vastly more RAM required -- especially for Vista/7's frivolous, and entirely superfluous, 3-D techno-kitsch (the graphical special effects known as "Aero"). Yet people are doing basically the same things with Vista/7 PCs as they were with XP PCs. Shouldn't technical progress make the product more efficient rather than less efficient? Many -- arguably most -- of the dozens of "services" running are security risks, and/or intrusive and/or ludicrous. (Look up DCOM, WGA and Windows Time, respectively, for examples of those.) Restrictions and spyware: To get a sense of just how much Windows is changing, and how little of that change is likely to be of benefit to Microsoft's customers, you might find it interesting to read the Windows Vista license (EULA). (Presumably the Windows 7 EULA is similar.) Among the ominous details you will find in the Vista license (presumably the Windows 7 license is essentially the same) are the following: • Even a full version CD of Vista is licensed only for use on one PC. If you need to upgrade hardware, or want to install on a different PC instead, you will have to get permission by applying for a new Product Activation. (sections 1b, 2a) Even that option is restricted in some upgrade scenarios. (section 15b) • According to Microsoft, it is "illegal" for two people to use a PC running Vista at the same time! (section 2b) In other words, if you teach your child how to use your PC you're a criminal. • Windows Vista will periodically contact Microsoft and send information about your Windows installation. You have no choice in this matter. If, during one of these clandestine communications, there is any problem confirming that your copy of Windows is not stolen, your PC will be crippled to the point of being virtually unusable until such time as you prove to Microsoft that you paid for their software.(section 5a-c) (See link above to the John Dvorak article.) • Under default settings, Windows may remove installed software at Microsoft's discretion, without asking you. (section 6) • Under default settings, Windows Update will make changes to the operating system, without asking you. (section 7a) • Windows Media Player, a spyware product, cannot be removed from Windows Vista under normal conditions. In addition to DRM functions, WMP will also make contact with Microsoft for the purposes of finding commercial music sellers for you to buy from, and to download and install newer versions of itself. You have no choice in this matter if you use WMP. (section 7a) ...And if you don't use WMP? You can't uninstall it, either. • "You may not work around any technical limitations in the software". (section 8) In other words, Windows is now a service and you may only use it as Microsoft wants you to use it. Note that under US copyright law you have a right to use purchased material as you see fit and you have a right to make copies for your own use. If you buy a book or a music CD, for example, you can legally do anything with those except distribute copies to other people. It is perfectly legal to use your old Windows operating system on your new PC, and to copy it to your notebook PC, under fair-use laws. But Microsoft has made that virtually impossible through their Product Activation scheme. And now they claim that you do not even have a right to use the product as you see fit. In addition to the unusual rules set forth in the Vista license, Vista also institutes extensive security changes that may interfere with software running properly and will likely result in a constant barrage of frivolous security warnings. So there are two distinct (though connected) categories of problems with Windows Vista/7: 1) The quasi-legal licensing restrictions and the spyware functionality and 2) the new compatibility problems and excessive usage restrictions. The average person using Vista/7 under default settings will be disallowed from accessing most of the files on their computer, without being informed that such restrictions are in place! It is difficult for most software to run properly under those conditions. In fact, even if you turn off all user restrictions on Windows Vista, you will still be blocked from the system folder. In other words, with Windows Vista/7 you are not allowed to alter any files that are part of the actual operating system. On the face of it that may seem reasonable to many people. After all, most people do not want to rebuild their computer operating system. But this restriction means that you bought a product and are blocked from using that product as you see fit. While you may not want to alter or replace operating system files, you might want to install software that does so. Or you might want your tech. support person to be able to do so. Or you might want to remove some files that you don't need or that represent possible security risks. (Much of the system comes under this category: The .Net Framework, Windows Media Player and other Microsoft "forceware"; and the winsxs folder, which in Vista/7 has become nothing less than an unnecessary copy of all the possible versions of all the Windows system files that you will probably never need. In other words, the entire install disk is decompressed into your C drive, without your permission or control, and it grows from there.) Or you might want to edit one of the many restricted files that is not actually a system file at all. (Example: the HOSTS file.) With Windows Vista/7 you are blocked. You have no more control over most of the what's on your PC than you do over your cable TV box. It's an ironic situation, in a way: For years, conspiracy theorists have speculated over whether Microsoft might have installed a secret "back door" into Windows. Were they spying on customers? Were they giving access to governments? Now Microsoft has installed an enormous locked front door, and you don't get a key. Microsoft can not only access your computer remotely. They can control and access parts of your system that you can't. Yet few people are complaining. Windows XP and Vista/7: A Product That Lies by DesignAs is outlined in the sections above, Microsoft is gradually trying to switch from selling software to selling services. Unfortunately, Microsoft is also trying to force their software customers to become their service customers. This started with Windows XP: The Windows XP system is designed to lie to you in order to control your actions. Even if you run Window XP "as administrator", with full rights, Windows will still hide Registry keys; it will still pretend to let you delete files even though you will be blocked from doing so; it will go through the motions of removing force-installed software like Windows Media Player, but the software is not actually removed.In Windows Vista/7 the situation gets worse. You will be blocked from accessing most of your own computer by default and Vista/7 will pummel you with nag messages if you attempt to "give yourself permission" to control your own PC. In many cases downloading files or running software may simply not work: No explanation... no options... no messages... nothing. These security measures are not really aimed at protecting you from bad software or online attacks. If that were the case, Windows XP and Vista/7 would naturally provide clear explanations and clear option settings, so that you could use security options as desired. But in most cases, Windows XP and Vista/7 do not even tell you that you are being restricted. And in many cases where settings can be adjusted, those settings are "secret" - unpublished and only known to a few. The changes in XP and Vista/7 are actually aimed at protecting your PC from you, rather than vice versa. Microsoft is attempting to gradually herd their customers toward acceptance of a services device, through restrictions and endless nag messages. The idea is that eventually you will use Windows mainly for things that pay Microsoft: Movie and music rentals, software rentals, etc. If you think the explanations here are far-fetched, or that they constitute "Microsoft bashing", you might consider reading some of the articles linked below. Also, consider the fact that Microsoft announced, in May, 2007, the purchase of AQuantive for $6 billion. AQuantive is an online advertising company. It includes "AvenueA", an ad-hosting operation similar to Doubleclick. So the world's biggest software company, the company that provides over 90 percent of PC operating systems worldwide, is moving into the advertising business. Oddly, the mass media reporters and columnists generally do not seem to find that fact alarming. Then again, the mass media receives a great deal of advertising money from Microsoft. At the very least there is a notable conflict of interest here, in that Microsoft, the company with monopoly control over the computing medium itself, is now moving to control, and profit from, the content of that medium. JSWare support for Windows Vista/7In brief, our view is that Windows Vista/7 is an unsuitable and unusable product for its purpose. The problems with Windows Vista/7 are likely to waste a great deal of time with support requests that can't be helped. So we decided that it makes most sense, at least for the free JSWare software - to simply block Vista/7 functionality altogether. With most of the free JSWare programs and components (with the exception of the MSI tools, the NT6 Fix tools, and jsFolderView+) , if you try to use them on Vista/7 you will see a message saying that Windows Vista/7 is not supported and the software will then either stop responding or will close itself.WEB-ED Editor and JS PhotoPrep can run on all Windows versions from Windows 98 to Windows 7. JSWare offers support for specific issues, but cannot help with problems related to extreme security restrictions. In a word, if you want our software to work then you will have to give yourself permission to use your own PC. (On Windows Vista/7, unfortunately, giving yourself permission is an involved and esoteric topic that cannot be explained here.) Vista Links:Read analysis of the Vista license:http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/1640/159/ http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/423 Read about Vista DRM (Restriction of digital music and video): http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9005047 Read analysis of Vista changes: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9009961 Information about Windows spyware functions: http://www.heise-security.co.uk/news/86429 http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/431027/30/0/threaded Read about the extreme hardware requirements resulting from software bloat in Vista: http://www.betanews.com/article/Vista_Minimum_Requirements_Unrealistic/1165596677 A glimpse of one possible future - See the "integrated spyware/adware" patent application that Microsoft filed in September, 2007. It describes a method to show you ads in Windows, with the ad content being based on your actions: MS adware patent at US Patent Office |
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