Flying Squirrel - 2007-05-29

How do I install local devpaks when the package manager has no Install button?

Local devpaks are not registered in the operating system as opening in the Package Manager ( version 0.2.5, I believe, the default version in dev-C++ 4.9.9.2)
Unlike earlier versions of Dev-C++/Packman there is NO "Install" Button on the Package Manager menu.
When I manually create a packages folder, and place the devpaks in it the package manager sees them, but will not install them. There is no 'Install' option that i can find.
I tried right clicking on a local devpak( not in the /packages folder), choosing 'open with' , browsing to the packman.exe ,and the package manager opens but the devpack is not shown. This is a fast and dirty way to associate a file type with an executable program, but the packman.exe program completely ignored the devpak argument that it was called with.
The devpaks file type is not associated with any other program, either.

Installation data:
Bloodshed Dev-C++ 4.9.9.2 'rereleased' ( downloaded 2 days ago)
Win2000 Pro Service Pack 4
I've installed 4 times with the exact same results,
manually cleaning registry between ( search devcpp ) and searching for devcpp.* files to remove - ( but none found after uninstall ) and manually deleting the install folder leftovers.
I installed dev-c++ first time as a user with Full administration privileges , and initial start-up run of IDE as same user.
Installed 3 times using right click while holding down SHIFT, to run the installer executable as Administrator, and the second time first start-up run as Administrator ( same technique to run the .exe for the IDE). Same problem every time, devpack file type not associated with the package manager, and no Install button on the package manager.
Running the package manager as Administrator , and not just a user with full administrative rights does not change anything.

I unzipped the download file of bloodshed Dev-C++ using winzip8.1 , with the line end autochanger unchecked.

I do not have Visual studio installed on that machine, so that cannot be.

And , yes I have spent at least 7 hours today and yesterday searching the Google and the forums, reading the listings. at this point I am lost.
I have been using Bloodshed Dev with no problems for 5 or 6 years , and I usually keep the devpaks locally, but I have never had a problem that I couldn't fix before.
Can the new Package manager Install devpaks locally, or is this a 'new and improved' version ?
or , as a last resort,
Can the IDE's updater utility be pointed to a local/LAN server(ftp/http) cache of devpaks ?
If I unzip the devpaks and place their contents manually in the hopefully-correct folders, is there anything more for 'registering' the devpaks in the IDE to get full use of them ?