What is the latest known good version of JascSoftware PaintShopPro
(before it went to the dark side under Corel)?
o Here's my running syslog (which I write for every installation...)
https://i.postimg.cc/zv5SSTwn/psp01.jpg

Note that I confirmed version JascSoftware psp 5.01 is a "good" version
o But later JascSoftware versions may also be good (between 5 & 9 anyway)

Randomly select a version that seems "old enough" to be a "good" version.
o http://www.oldversion.com/windows/paint-shop-pro/
o http://www.oldversion.com/windows/download/paint-shop-pro-5-01
o Sat 10/24/2020
Name: 5.01_psp501.exe
Size: 18241961 bytes (17 MiB)
SHA256: 7D3ED18F0A6CF25C8F09F5241CA73A6E40599569ABEBFA3F1D BCCED614B058EB

Turn the gateway off using option 1:
o Win+R network
(ption 1 route delete 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1
(ption 2 route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1

Check the network to ensure it's off:
o Win+R curlme
Where curlme runs the equivalent of the following, among other tasks:
o Win+R %comspec% /k curl icanhazip.com

Once confirmed the gateway is down, doubleclick on the installer.
It wants to go, by default, in C:\Program Files (x86)\Paint Shop Pro 5
I put it where it belongs, in C:\app\editor\pic\psp
Note: You define where it belongs; not a million different developers.

By default, these components are selected:
o [x]Paint Shop Pro Application Files
o [x]Animation Shop Application Files
o [x]Picture Tube Brushes
o [x]Paint Shop Pro Sample and Tutorial Files
o [x]Animation Shop Sample Files

I changed that to:
o [x]Paint Shop Pro Application Files
o [_]Animation Shop Application Files
o [_]Picture Tube Brushes
o [_]Paint Shop Pro Sample and Tutorial Files
o [_]Animation Shop Sample Files

The installer runs to completion.
o C:\app\editor\pic\psp\Psp.exe
Name: Psp.exe
Size: 3632128 bytes (3547 KiB)
SHA256: 42CAB30E7F657C8B8C686F7305CE5C61D111992C04CCA3BED9 8DDB14BD7DCBC8

The installer does not create a desktop shortcut.
o So create your own shortcut & put it where it belongs
Note: You define where it belongs; not a million different developers.

C:\app\editor\pic\psp\psp.exe == C:\menu\editor\pic\psp.lnk
TARGET=C:\app\editor\pic\psp\psp.exe
STARTIN=C:\app\editor\pic\psp

If you have the "Send To" set up, use that to populate your menu:
o Rightclick on the shortcut Send To... C:\menu\editor\pic\psp.lnk

Which is attached to the taskbar as a foldout cascade accordion menu:
Taskbar menu editor pic psp.lnk

To create a Run command to start PSP, simply add this to your registry:
o [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths]
psp.exe=C:\app\editor\pic\psp\psp.exe
...or...
psp.exe=C:\menu\editor\pic\psp.lnk

Then test your new Run command:
o Win+R psp

Voila!
o https://i.postimg.cc/zv5SSTwn/psp01.jpg

Turn the gateway back on using option 2:
o Win+R network
(ption 1 route delete 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1
(ption 2 route add 0.0.0.0 mask 0.0.0.0 192.168.0.1

Post results to Usenet so that all benefit from every action taken on a PC.
o Ask if anyone knows the last known good version (to save effort for all).
--
PSP version 5.01 may not be the latest known good version; but it works.
NOTE: In general, freeware doesn't usually improve in newer versions.