how come under bearshare labs when you click that link it says forbidden you do not have access to this server

simply because BearShare is basically kaput....sure, the program works, but at the moment there is no forums (cept technutopia, which is not run by BS), no chat, and no support for BS (cept for the ability to remotely disable versions 5.2 and above)

Nope I didn't have that problem using the forum Go To Jump function menu or else, clicking on the links to to get to here.

Oops perhaps I misundstood your post sorry!

the link that says download. under bearshare labs

I am pretty sure that what is being discussed here is what you see on the main page of BearShare (Windows)...

on the BearShare Labs part, there is also that part about 'preview the latest iteration....) and a link for download..said link is dead

I think the new owners took that site down. They have really been barricading
themselves in lately, probably expecting a public backlash for the spyware and
their upcoming plans to cripple BearShare for the MAFIAA.

I didn't realise they were hosting that download page. Any other options for BearShare previous versions?

Many, starting with searching gnutella.
I'll bet that "old version" site still has a few too.