HanDuet’s Guide

to
Harmy’s Star Wars Trilogy
Despecialized Edition

How to Download, View, and Stay Informed

[Formerly titled “The Ultimate Introductory Guide” or “TUIG”]

THE DESPECIALIZED EDITION IS AN UNOFFICIAL FAN PROJECT AND MUST NEVER BE BOUGHT OR SOLD.

IT MAY BE OBTAINED FOR FREE BY LEGAL OWNERS OF THE SOURCE MATERIAL WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS GUIDE (See Introduction for more info).

She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. (Original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie)

Authored by HanDuet

Latest revision: 2024-03-10 (v7.0.2)

Share this guide directly with the following link: https://goo.gl/1WGHBA

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Guide Contents

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: About the Despecialized Editions

Section 3: Public Torrent Download

Section 4: Multipart RAR Download

Section 5: File Verification (Optional)

Section 6: Playback

Software Playback

Disc Playback

USB Playback

Section 7: Staying Informed & Helpful Links

Section 8: Closing

Section 9: Feedback

Section 10: Change Log

Section 1: Introduction

Greetings!

Thanks for your interest in the Star Wars Trilogy Despecialized Edition. As the author of this guide, allow me to emphasize that I'm simply a fellow Star Wars fan helping others discover this amazing project. Credit for its creation goes to Harmy along with countless others who have dedicated their time, skills, and resources toward this restoration. Getting copies of the Despecialized Editions (“DEED”) can be a hurdle, so I'm here to help.

As with any fan edit, YOU MAY ONLY DOWNLOAD THIS PROJECT IF YOU ARE A LEGAL OWNER OF THE OFFICIAL SOURCE. For Harmy’s DEED project, this means YOU MUST OWN AN OFFICIAL RELEASE IN HD (for 1080p) or 4K UHD (for 2160p) of each respective film (i.e., Star Wars Episodes IV, V, & VI). Examples include official Blu-ray Discs, 4K UltraHD discs, or a purchased digital release.

This Star Wars fan community is built on the honor system with the understanding that if people who don't own legal copies of the Star Wars Original Trilogy obtain the DEED, it's possible that the entire project will be shut down due to piracy allegations. So please encourage people to support the Star Wars franchise and purchase the official releases!

This guide is meant to introduce people to the DEED project, outline methods of obtaining copies, and explain various ways to view the media.

For convenience, refer to this document as “HDG” (short for “HanDuet’s Guide”).

HDG featured by Harmy at the following links:

http://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/488639#TopicPost488639 (links to “The Ultimate Introductory Guide”)

https://www.facebook.com/despecialized/posts/1619445311665007 (pinned on official Facebook page)

Special Thanks To:

Harmy for reviewing and approving versions of this guide while inviting continuing collaboration.

SnooPac of OriginalTrilogy.com forums for helping maintain active Multipart RAR download sources.

Mission Vao of The Galactic Republic Discord server for helping provide public torrent options.

Section 2: About the Despecialized Editions

Born out of frustrated fans’ failed attempts to convince George Lucas to release the unaltered theatrical versions of the Star Wars Original Trilogy films (Episodes IV, V, & VI), the online forum community built around a popular petition hosted at OriginalTrilogy.com turned to discussion of fan edits as a means to obtain their shared goal without Lucas’ help. Eventually, a fan restoration project led by Harmy as the primary video editor resulted in the Despecialized Edition (abbreviated as “DEED” or “DE”).

Since the initial release of the Despecialized Edition of Star Wars [“Episode IV: A New Hope”] in 2011, Harmy has since published DEED versions of The Empire Strike Back [Episode V, “ESB”] and Return of the Jedi [Episode VI, “ROTJ”], and continues to release landmark updates to each of these restored films.

As of March 2024, the Despecialized Edition of Star Wars was remastered then recolorized at version 2.7, ESB stands at v2.0 with additional improvements in development, and ROTJ v3.1 implements highly superior source materials allowing for a 4K UltraHD release. If you plan to enjoy Star Wars DEED to the fullest, check for the most current versions (Section 5), and learn how to stay informed (Section 7) so that you’ll know of future updates when they’re available!

Each of the DEED films includes a combination of three projects: video, audio, and subtitles.

The video itself was painstakingly restored from various sources, including the official Blu-rays, film scans, bonus DVDs, Digital TV broadcasts, and more. All these were gathered from fans around the world, then compiled and underwent massive fine-tuning by Harmy and others.

The audio features availability in numerous streams. From 5.1 DTS-HD-MA surround, to 1.0 mono mix to reproduce the feel of the original theatrical showing, to various dubs in a multitude of languages, the sound choices bundled with Harmy’s DEED allows the films’ sound to accommodate any preference. Most audio work was contributed by hairy_hen and Belbucus.

Finally, Harmy’s DEED also includes and supports subtitles courtesy of Project Threepio led by CatBus. This ongoing fan project provides high-quality subtitles for Star Wars films in their unaltered forms in order to broaden the appeal of fan preservation efforts beyond the English-speaking world.

HELPFUL TIP:

Be aware that Star Wars DEED releases may be provided in multiple formats:

1. MKV (.mkv) - the full, complete release with all features
2. AVCHD (.iso, BDMV folder) - full video with limited extras formatted for Blu-ray Disc
3. NTSC DVD5 (VIDEO_TS folder) - compressed content to fit on a DVD

(see Section 6 for more info)

Many view Harmy’s Star Wars Trilogy Despecialized Edition as the quintessential version of the Original Trilogy and a testament to the unwavering dedication of fans inspired by the films. You can learn more about the project’s origin, development, and goals by reading this 2015 news article or searching for other online articles, as knowledge of the project has made its way into mainstream media on more than one occasion.

The rest of this guide explains how to obtain and enjoy Harmy’s DEED.

Section 3: Public Torrent Download

Preface

Section 3 describes how to install and use qBittorrent to download releases through a public torrent. If you are familiar with torrent downloads or already have a torrent client, simply skip to Step 4 of this section.

Step 1

Visit the downloads page for the qBittorrent program, an open-source torrent client:

https://www.qbittorrent.org/download

Find the section for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.), click the “Download qBittorrent” link, then select the file download that best matches your system.

• Windows: If unsure, select “qBittorent Windows x64” installer.
• macOS: If unsure, select “qBittorent MacOS X” installer.

Find the section for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.), click the “Download qBittorrent” link, then select the file download that best matches your system.

Step 2

Run the downloaded qBittorrent installer. Click Next to continue through the installer prompts, selecting any preferences you have.

On the Choose Components step, it’s recommended to ensure the options are checked to “Open .torrent files with qBittorrent” and “Open magnet links with qBittorrent”.

Step 3

Next, spend a couple minutes to open and view the available program settings under the Tools > Options menu, and configure options as you want. For example, you may want to change the folder where your files will be downloaded under Downloads > Default Save Path. All default options should work.

For more information about available settings, refer to the qBittorrent wiki.

Step 4

Go to the Download Sources guide: https://goo.gl/5Sif60

Follow the guide’s instructions to find the film and release version you want of Harmy’s DEED, then use the provided Torrent link.

On the public torrent tracker website, review the torrent description, then select either the MAGNET DOWNLOAD or TORRENT DOWNLOAD button.

Step 5

Open the Magnet link or downloaded Torrent file with qBittorrent. After it loads, a window like in the screenshot below is displayed. Use this screen to change any settings you’d like.

The file list displays everything that will be downloaded with the torrent. The folders can be expanded by clicking the small arrows to the left of their listing (green arrow in screenshot). If the download is part of a bundle, it provides multiple releases. This may mean it contains other projects or older DEED versions. You can uncheck the folders or files for components you do not want to download (red arrows in screenshot). Click OK when ready to continue.

Step 6

In qBittorrent’s list of torrents, select the package you just added, then click the Resume green play arrow in the toolbar to start the torrent download. The client will begin connecting to peers with the files you’ve selected and begin downloading. Note that you will also begin uploading (“seeding”) downloaded parts of the file to others, so this may slow your local network’s speed while the torrent is running.

Step 7

When all selected files are finished downloading, the progress will be shown as 100% and the torrent package will change to “Seeding”, which means you are no longer downloading and only uploading to other peers. Keep the filesing seeding for as long as you are willing in order to ensure the files stay available to others! At any time, you can stop seeding by selecting the torrent and clicking the Pause orange button in the toolbar, or by completely shutting down qBittorrent.

That’s it! See Sections 5-7 for additional helpful information.

Section 4: Multipart RAR Download

Preface

Steps 1 - 8 describe how to install and use the download manager JDownloader 2 to automate and speed up the download process. However, the provided download links (Step 6) can be used with any capable download manager, or even accessed directly to manually download each multipart RAR file, and then continue with Step 9.

Step 1

Java Runtime Environment version 8 (“JRE 8”, also known as “Java 8” or “Java 1.8”) or newer is required to run the recommended download manager. You probably already have this, but be sure to install or update to the version of Java recommended for your operating system:

https://www.java.com/

Step 2

Download a “clean” web installer of JDownloader 2 from their officially provided links in this forum post:

https://board.jdownloader.org/showthread.php?t=54725

On the download page, choose your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.) and then select the installer option that best matches your system.

• Windows: If unsure, select “(x86, Java 1.8)” installer.
• macOS: If unsure, select “Lion or higher (Java 1.8, Intel)” installer.

Step 3

Run the downloaded web installer and allow JDownloader Setup files to download. When complete, the JDownloader Setup Wizard will open automatically. Click Next to continue through the installer, selecting any preferences you have.

Once the installation finishes, a donation window may appear. Donate to the JDownloader developers if desired; otherwise, select Skip. Finally, click Finish to complete installation and run JDownloader.

Step 4

Launch the JDownloader program after it finishes installing. Since JDownloader is updated frequently to remain compatible with various host sites, be sure to accept any prompts to run and install updates whenever you open the program. Even if not prompted, it’s a good idea to manually check for updates each time you launch JDownloader through the menu option: Help > Find Updates.

Step 5

Next, spend a couple minutes to open and view the available options under the Settings tab and configure options as you want. For example, you may want to change the folder where your files will be downloaded.

It’s recommended to DISABLE the Clipboard Observer (icon circled red in the screenshot above). Otherwise, anytime you copy a URL with JDownloader open in the background, the program will immediately begin analyzing the URL for potential downloads.

If you leave Clipboard Observer enabled, note that Step 7 will be different than described below since the URLs will automatically be added at the end of Step 6.

Step 6

Go to the Download Sources guide: https://goo.gl/5Sif60

Follow the guide’s instructions to find the film, release version, and format you want of Harmy’s DEED. Take note of the relevant Password in that guide’s table; it will be needed in the next steps to combine and extract the files!

Use the relevant “Download URLs” link, then scroll through the Pastebin post to find the desired format and version. Under the Multipart RAR Links header, select and copy all URLs as shown in the example image below.

Step 7

Open JDownloader, then follow these numbered actions as shown in the image below:

1. Select the Linkgrabber tab.
2. Click Add New Links near the bottom left of the window.
3. Paste all the copied links in the window (the links may be pasted automatically).
4. Enter the password noted in Step 6 into the Archive Password field and ensure the “Auto Extract” box is selected.
5. Modify any other settings you’d like (such as changing the download location), then click Continue to start the analysis of the links.

JDownloader will analyze the links for availability and file size. This may take some time; note that icons in the windows far right corner will show analysis activity taking place.

If any error messages or warnings are encountered at this step, try clearing the LinkGrabber list (delete analyzed links), relaunching JDownloader 2, then repeating this step. If that doesn’t work, there may be a temporary issue with some links; you can go ahead and move on to the next step.

Step 8

Initiate the download by clicking the Start all Downloads in the bottom right corner. Alternatively, you can start the download of only selected links if desired.

Go to the Downloads tab of JDownloader 2 to monitor the download progress. You may be prompted to accept a website’s TOS or enter captchas.

Tip: Find the “.sfv” file in the download list, select it, and move it to the top of the queue by clicking the icon of the green up arrow with a line. Having the SFV file downloaded will allow JDownloader to read its CRC32 checksums to verify the integrity of each multipart RAR file once it downloads!

Example view of a download in progress. Note how some files were skipped after encountering errors, but they have a timer counting down to the next time JDownloader will automatically retry downloading that file.

Step 9

Once all links finish downloading, JDownloader should automatically extract and combine the multi-part RAR files into the complete, original files!

Note: If JDownloader does not perform the extraction (or if files were downloaded without a download manager set to perform auto-extraction), this step can be performed manually with a free RAR archive extractor that works with multipart RARs such as 7-Zip (Windows / Linux) or The Unarchiver (Mac). Simply use the RAR extractor to extract the first part of the RAR archive (will say something like “...part01.rar” at the end of the file) and enter the archive password noted in Step 6. [How-to article for more help.]

If the extraction fails, double-check that all parts are downloaded and that you’re using the correct archive password. If neither of those are an issue, find an SFV file verifier for your system that can open the downloaded “.sfv” file and verify the integrity of all multipart RAR files. If any parts are found to be corrupt or missing, redownload those parts, verify their integrity, then reattempt the extraction.

That’s it! See Sections 5-7 for additional helpful information.

Section 5: File Verification (Optional)

This is an optional step you can utilize to ensure you find and successfully download the official current versions of Harmy’s Despecialized Editions. File names, sizes, checksums, and instructions to accomplish this verification are provided at the link below:

File Verification guide: https://goo.gl/mI0qtC

Section 6: Playback

OK, so you've made it this far and finally obtained a copy of the Despecialized Editions. Now, how do you watch them? Depending on which version you downloaded, the official files will be in one of three possible formats: MKV, AVCHD, or NTSC DVD5.

The MKV (.mkv) releases are the highest-quality, most comprehensive versions, with all the available soundtracks and subtitles included. This version can most easily be converted into other formats with the right programs.

AVCHD is formatted for burning onto a Blu-ray Disc (BD) or even a dual-layer DVD (DVD-DL). This version usually downloads as a .ISO file (often with a .MDS file included), or may be a BDMV folder. Not all soundtracks and subtitles are included in this version due to BD limitations. See this article to learn how to “mount” an .ISO file on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

NTSC DVD5 is for burning onto a compatible DVD. This version often has a compressed video stream, and may only include a single soundtrack and possibly no subtitles in order to make the files small enough to load onto a DVD.

Software Playback

For viewing directly on your computer (my preferred method), the MKV version is best. If you don't already have a program installed that can play MKV files, here are some recommendations:

VLC (Windows / Mac / Ubuntu / others) is a very popular free media player that's compatible with almost all media file types.

MPC-HC (Windows) is a minimalist player and my personal favorite.

I recommend downloading and installing codec pack such as K-Lite Codec Pack, which includes MPC-HC bundled with powerful playback options.

Both VLC and MPC-HC can also be used to view the AVCHD / NTSC DVD5 versions on your computer by opening the BDMV or VIDEO_TS folder with the media player.

Disc Playback

To store the videos on a disc to playback with a hardware player, you can obtain the AVCHD format (for BD) or the NTSC DVD5 format (for DVD). Then, use a program like ImgBurn (Windows) to write the files onto an appropriate disc (ImgBurn guide for AVCHD files).

As independent projects, other fans have provided Harmy’s DEED in formats designed for disc playback, sometimes with menus and added features. For a definitive Blu-ray Disc collection, the BD set created by NJVC is recommended (release info / download instructions), though it may not be available in the latest DEED versions.

USB Playback

If you're wanting to watch on a TV screen but don't want to burn on a disc, some modern TVs and Blu-ray players can play files from a USB drive. Some of them can even play MKV files directly.

Otherwise, you could try converting the MKV file to the widely-compatible .MP4 format with a program like HandBrake (Windows / Mac / Ubuntu / others). Research online as needed to learn about file converting programs.

Section 7: Staying Informed & Helpful Links

Staying Informed

As stated in Section 2, Harmy and others are constantly working on new versions of the Star Wars Trilogy DEED as better sources, technology, and skills become available. To stay informed about the ongoing work and updated releases, you’ll want to connect and/or get involved with the project through one or more of the following ways.

First, I highly encourage you to visit the official forum threads on OriginalTrilogy.com for each film of the Star Wars Original Trilogy, found at the links listed below. The first post of each thread will tell you about the most current version of that film along with detailed specifications. In addition, it's a great place to communicate with Harmy and the other contributors of this project!

Official OriginalTrilogy.com Project Threads:

Star Wars: https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/id/12713/page/1

Empire Strikes Back: https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/id/12511/page/1

Return of the Jedi: https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/id/12905/page/1

Other good ways to connect with Harmy about the Despecialized Editions are through his official project social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/despecialized

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HarmyDespecialized

X (Twitter): @despecialized and @HarmyP

Follow my Facebook page to be informed of updates to this guide and other helpful/interesting information related to the Despecialized Editions:

https://www.facebook.com/HanDuet.SWDE/

Alternative Download Methods & Versions

The two download methods provided in Section 3 and Section 4 are highly reliable ways to obtain official releases of the Despecialized Editions as provided by Harmy. However, it is worth noting alternative download methods and versions for DEED are available if you know where to look. For example:

• A custom Blu-ray Set by NJVC is provided by a guide from solkap.
• If you have access to relevant private forums or torrent trackers, Harmy’s DEED may be shared through some of them.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each method and version, but the idea is that even if this guide is no longer maintained, the Star Wars fandom is active enough to find some way to continue sharing amazing projects like Harmy’s Despecialized Editions!

Other Helpful Links

Finally, here is a collection of links that might be of help or interest to you. Directly relevant links are already incorporated into this guide.

Video Sources Documentary for Star Wars DE v2.5 (11 min version)

• Short version of documentary about the creation of Star Wars Despecialized Edition v2.5

Extended Video Sources Documentary for Star Wars DE v2.5 (20 min version)

• Updated and extended version of documentary about the creation of Star Wars Despecialized Edition v2.5.

Other Star Wars Projects by Harmy:

• Star Wars Respecialized Edition ‘97 - A reconstruction of the 1997 Special Edition version of Star Wars (A New Hope)
• Return of the Jedi - Grindhouse 35mm LPP - A high quality scan of a 1983 35mm LPP print of Return of the Jedi

The “Machete Order”

• A recommended way to view the Star Wars Saga

IFDb - The Internet Fanedit Database

• Source for information on many fanedit projects

L8wrtr’s Star Wars Prequel Trilogy:

Episode I: Shadow of the Sith

Episode II: The Republic Divided

Episode III: Dawn of the Empire

• One of many “FanFixes” that improves the prequels

VideoHelp.com

• A good place to get technical help with video playback, conversions, and more.

Other Star Wars Preservations and Fan Projects on OrigialTrilogy.com Forums

• Discussions of a myriad of other ongoing projects by fans of Star Wars, including some used as sources in Harmy’s Despecialized Editions.

Section 8: Closing

Thank you very much for referencing this guide! While admittedly lengthy, I strived balance between comprehensive and concise for this summary to provide detailed answers to the most frequently asked questions by those who discover the Despecialized Editions.

As long as you credit “HanDuet” as the source and provide a link back to this document, feel free to download, share, and reference this guide in part or in whole (see license for more info).

Please use this link when sharing the HDG: https://goo.gl/1WGHBA

   May the Force be with you,

   -HanDuet

Section 9: Feedback

I’m working hard to keep this guide up-to-date and constantly improving. See the Change Log for past updates made so far.

How to Give Feedback

If you find any errors, have feedback, need support, or can think of ideas for improving this guide, please send me a message through my Facebook page. I will also post on that page when a new version of this guide is published, so please “like” the page to be informed of future updates!

https://www.facebook.com/HanDuet.SWDE/

Section 10: Change Log

2014-01-05, v1.0:

• Original post on Pastebin.com.

2015-12-10, v2.0:

• Changed title from "Star Wars Despecialized" to "How to Download Harmy's Star Wars Despecialized".
• Content completely revised. More detailed step-by-step instructions added, non-working methods removed.

2015-12-11, v2.0.1:

• Added second mirror for JDownloader installer to accommodate high bandwidth demand.

2015-12-11, v2.0.2:

• Fixed MEGA download link for JDownloader.
• Added MD5 hash value for hosted installer of JDownloader.
• Added most recent revision date and version of this article at beginning of post.

2015-12-11, v2.0.3:

• Added link to support article for JDownloader not installing on Windows machines.

2015-12-12, v2.1:

• Added Section “Playback”. Renumbered following sections.
• Additional minor clarifications and rewording. Added some details in other sections.

2015-12-14, v2.2:

• Final Pastebin version, eliminating all content except for a link to the new Google Doc guide.

2015-12-14, v3.0:

• Content from v2.1 transferred from plain-text Pastebin post to formatted, rich-text Google Doc to improve readability and navigation of expanded, comprehensive content.
• Title changed to “The Ultimate Introductory Guide to Harmy’s Star Wars Despecialized Editions” with subtitle “How to Download, View, and Stay Informed”.
• Added Section “About the Despecialized Editions”.
• Added Section “Hashcheck Verification”
• Added Section “Staying Informed & Helpful Links”.
• Rewrote Closing section.
• Revisions, clarifications, and reorganizing of existing content.

2015-12-14, v.3.1:

• AVCHD “(.ios)” corrected to “(.iso)” per Harmy’s review.
• Added statement “Content reviewed and approved by Harmy” to beginning of guide.
• Added special thanks for Harmy and documentation of review in Introduction.
• Created Google URL shortener link for referring people to this document (Link Analytics).
• Added links to Video Sources Documentary (11 & 20 min versions) on YouTube under “Other Helpful Links”.
• Created “TUIG” shorthand name for this document.
• Added “Trilogy” to document title, reformatted to put “The Ultimate Introductory Guide” on a single line to emphasize shorting to “TUIG”.
• Revised Closing to mention license and crediting of / linking to TUIG.
• Minor formatting updates.

2015-12-15, v3.2:

• Added link to new HanDuet Facebook page under “Staying Informed” section as a means to communicate updates to TUIG.
• Added my common user avatar to signature to help people recognize me online.
• Corrected numbering of sections.
• Added “Feedback & Planned Updates” Section.
• Added ability for viewers of TUIG to comment directly through Google Docs (experimental; may discontinue if abused / unmanageable).
• Minor formatting and spelling updates.

2015-12-16, v3.2.1

• Removed viewers’ ability to comment directly through Google Docs to suggest edits (didn’t work like I expected; restored to v3.2).
• Minimized screenshot from PM discussion with Harmy’s review of TUIG.
• Provided links in Introduction to locations where Harmy has shared TUIG.
• Added “Announcements Box” for high-visibility or live messages.

2015-12-23, v3.2.2

• Changed recommended link to share TUIG to https://goo.gl/1WGHBA to accommodate higher volume traffic and load faster (Link Analytics).
• Changed recommended BitTorrent client from µTorrent (ad-supported) to qBittorrent (no ads).
• Changed “Announcements Box” to “Available Languages” box to list links and credits for translations of TUIG as they become available.
• Removed page headers and footers (doesn’t appear in new “public” version). Moved copyright license notice from footer to first page.
• Formatting updates for new public version.

2015-12-24, v3.2.3

• Removed unnecessary and confusing phrase about single-file HashChecks.
• Minor corrections and formatting updates.

2015-12-27, v3.2.4

• Added link to new instructions for users who cannot access tehPARADOX.com.
• Text about support for common technical issues is smaller font, dark red, and italicized.
• Font size for change log decreased.
• Updated Available Languages section. New version numbers will not be issued for release of new translations.

2016-01-08, v3.3

• Links to recommended programs are now followed by a list of supported operating systems.
• Changed recommended file archiver/extractor from WinRAR (trialware) to 7-Zip (freeware).
• Replaced reference to Daemon Tools Lite with referral to WikiHow guide that shows how to mount .ISO files on Windows (with Daemon Tools Lite), Mac, and Linux.
• Replaced all instances of “HashCheck” (program / shell extension) with “checksum” or “checksum verification” (generic terminology).
• Added referral for iHash, a checksum verification program for Mac.
• Text for technical support is now further highlighted with dotted red border.
• Section 6 renamed from “HashCheck Verifications” to “File Verifications”.
• Content of “File Verification” section removed from TUIG and modified to create supplemental guide. This allows linking to checksums separately from TUIG (optimized traffic), and helps reduce the overwhelming size of TUIG by removing optional content utilized by everyone.
• Assigned Star Wars concept art and relevant movie quote to each guide.

2016-01-17, v3.4

• Private Torrent Tracker Method (i.e. MySpleen) instructions removed by Harmy’s request. Getting an invite to MySpleen is too difficult for this to be an efficient method of mass distribution.
• Section 4 renamed to “Single RAR Method”; notice of method under development added.
• Notice of major updates in development for Section 5 “Multi-part RAR Method” added.

2016-01-24, v4.0

• Complete review and minor revisions throughout for clarity.
• Added Amazon product link to Star Wars Original Trilogy Blu-ray Discs in Introduction.
• Corrected link to Harmy's Facebook post sharing this guide.
• Revised "As of December 2015..." paragraph in Section 2, adding sentence and link for Harmy's Facebook post about development plans for future releases (including v3.0 of entire trilogy).
• Added “Multi-part RAR Method (Manual)” Section for users who don’t want to use download managers.
• Renamed Section 5 to include “(Automated)” at the end to differentiated from newly-created Section 6.
• Renumbered all Sections after Section 6, updated internal references.
• Multi-part RAR Method (Automated) completely rewritten to describe use of JDownloader 2 with captcha service, including pictures as part of guide.

2016-02-07, v4.5

• Removed “Public Torrent Tracker Method” Section; renumbered following sections.
• Added directions for “Single RAR Download”.
• “Multi-part RAR Download” directions completely rewritten (again) to recommend FreeRapid Downloader instead of JDownloader 2.
• Added “Other Download Methods” section, providing brief summary of other possibilities.
• Minor updates of links and references.

2016-02-07, v4.5.1

• “Single RAR Download” renamed to “Uloz.to Manual Download” and instructions temporarily removed by Harmy’s request. Will add back in future version of TUIG once method is further developed and available for all releases.
• Revised OriginalTrilogy.com forum thread links.

2016-02-07, v4.5.2

• Due to feedback, Mac users are now advised to try JDownloader or Mipony rather than FRD.
• Minor revisions.

2016-02-10, v4.5.3

• Minor revisions not even worth mentioning, but here I am, writing about it in the change log.

2016-02-11, v4.5.4

• Clarified that users are required to own any HD release, not exclusively the Blu-ray Discs, of Episode IV, V, & VI prior to download of DE.

2016-02-13, v4.6

• “Multipart RAR Download” method revised for compatibility on all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.).
• Minor revisions and corrections.

2016-05-04, v4.6.1

• Corrected “L8twrt” to “L8wrtr” and fixed IFDB links to Other Links.

2016-10-21, v4.7

• Uloz.to Manual Download instructions added.
• Changed recommended codec pack in Software Playback section from KCP (no active development updates) to K-Lite Codec Pack (still free, active development).

2017-01-02, v4.8

• Added “fan project” disclaimer at top of TUIG by request from Harmy.
• Added attribution to Ralph McQuarrie for original concept art.
• Removed Available Languages section at beginning in TUIG (not maintained).
• Updated Section 2 comment on current status of DE versions and development.
• Added “FAQ” at the end of Section 2 explaining the choice of Uloz.to over other distribution methods.
• Added subsection on Blu-ray Disc Boxset.
• Removed List of Planned Updates (no current major updates pending).

2017-01-03, v4.8.1

• Replaced broken MEGA link with new Dropbox download for FreeRapid-09u4.ZIP file.

2017-09-27, v5.0

• Since thePARADOX is permanently dead, Harmy has ordained my supplemental guide as the official channel to obtain download links (for now, anyway). Section 4, Step 7 rewritten to reflect this change.
• It’s reported that the private tracker MySpleen.org is no longer accepting new users. Thus, this suggestion was removed from the Other Download Methods in Section 5.
• Updated the link for the Extended Video Sources Documentary for Star Wars DE v2.5 (20 min version), which was reposted to my channel with permission after being removed from Harmy’s channel.
• Comprehensive review and minor revisions for clarity throughout document.

2018-01-03, v5.0.1

• Revised Blu-ray Disc Boxset section to link directly to guide on OriginalTrilogy forums providing steps to obtain the BD50/BD25 release.

2018-10-10, v5.0.2

• Corrected URL for Uloz.to from <http://www.ulozto.net> to <https://ulozto.net>. Special thanks to solkap for Bantha_Tracker for pointing out this necessary update. [P.S. I’ll plan to give the whole guide a thorough review soon and correct any outdated or incorrect info.]

2019-08-26, v5.1

• Added notice at top of guide and made edits throughout document to indicate that Uloz.to download links are offline.
• Outdated instructions either removed or struck through.
• In Section 5, added table describing Usenet as a method to obtain the Despecialized Editions, as this is one of the only confirmed source currently known.
• Removed tracked date and version of Harmy’s review for this guide (last performed 2017-01-02, v4.8). Due to time constraints, there is no expectation that he can perform regular reviews, but his support for the creation and maintenance of this guide is unchanged.
• Minor revisions throughout to improve clarity and reduce wordiness.

2019-10-20, v6.0

• Guide comprehensively rewritten with new download methods since Uloz.to links are permanently offline.
• Removed screenshot of Harmy’s first approval of the TUIG’s content in a 2015 conversation.
• Redirected ULR referral for digital download purchase of official Star Wars movies from Amazon.com to StarWars.com.
• Consistently use “DEED” abbreviation for DEspecialized EDition.
• Removed Section 3: Uloz.to Manual Download. All following Sections renumbered accordingly.
• Section 3: Multipart RAR Download [previously “Section 4”] slightly revised. Added Preface that clarifies alternative download managers to FRD (or no download manager at all) may be used.
• Updated Section 4: Other Download Methods [previously “Section 5”] with suggestions to consider Usenet, other fan projects, and torrents as alternative sources of DEED.
• Revised link in Section 5: File Verification [previously “Section 6”] to show short URL (https://goo.gl/mI0qtC).
• Removed specific mention of Blu-ray Boxset format from Section 6: Playback [previously “Section 7”], as this is now incorporated in Section 4.
• Under Section 7: Staying Informed & Helpful Links [Previously “Section 8”], updated Harmy’s official social media pages for Despecialized project news with Twitter accounts and streamlined YouTube channel URL.
• In Section 3, Step 4, updated Apple support link for opening unsigned apps (previous support page no longer available).
• Replaced picture in Step 7 of Section 3 to show selecting only download URLs for desired format from a Pastebin post that provides links for multiple formats.
• As many links and URLs as possible were updated from HTTP to HTTPS.

2019-11-26, v6.1

• In Section 2, removed comment linking to Harmy’s previously-stated plans for DEED v3.0 releases in 1080p. With the revelation through Disney+ of new transfers to provide 4K HDR releases of the Star Wars Trilogy, Harmy plans to wait for this superior source to continue work on future DEED versions.
• In Section 3, Step 9, added troubleshooting notice explaining how to resolve common download errors encountered because of file host bandwidth limits.
• In Section 4, corrected title of referenced usenet guide.
• In Section 6, streamlined “Disc Playback” sub-section and highlighted NJVC’s BD set.
• In Section 7, removed reference to Harmy’s Star Wars Respecialized Edition ‘97 because the files for this project are currently unavailable.
• Minor formatting revisions.

2020-07-07, v6.2

• In Section 3, added reference to MEGA Link Downloader as an alternative download manager to FreeRapid Downloader.
• Spelling and format corrections.

2020-07-14, v6.2.1

• In Section 7, returned references to Harmy’s Star Wars Respecialized Edition ‘97 and Return of the Jedi - Grindhouse 35mm LPP as files for these projects are currently available again.
• Minor corrections.

2023-05-24, v6.3

• Document title changed from “The Ultimate Introductory Guide to …” (abbreviation: “TUIG”) to “HanDuet’s Guide to …” (abbreviation: “HDG”).
• In Section 1, updated broken links to recommended purchase location(s) for official Star Wars releases.
• In Section 6, under Software Playback, changed link for MPC-HC from <https://mpc-hc.org/> (where development stopped in July 2017) to <https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc> (where new developers have continued to work on the open-source project).
• Minor formatting and wording revisions/corrections.

2023-11-18, v6.3.1

• In Section 7, removed link for the Despecialized Edition Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/despecialized) since it has been made unpublished by Facebook.
  Also, updated “Twitter” to “X (Twitter)”.
• In Section 1, removed (now broken) link to a pinned post on the DEED Facebook page that featured this guide.

2024-03-07, v7.0

Major Updates:

• In Section 7, added subsection “Alternative Download Methods & Versions” consisting of revised content from previous Section 4 (Other Download Methods), which is now removed.
• Renumbered previous Section 3 as new Section 4 (Multipart RAR Download).
• Section 4 (Multipart RAR Download, formerly Section 3) completely rewritten for JDownload 2 instead of FreeRapid Downloader as method’s recommended download manager.
• Added Section 3 (Public Torrent Download).
• In Section 1, revised the “Special Thanks” section to feature additional contributors who’ve helped create this guide and the process it describes.
• In Section 1, updated advised prerequisite to own official release in relevant resolution (HD for 1080p, 4K UHD for 2160p) and added links to Amazon search to purchase Star Wars Trilogy in 4K UHD.

Minor Updates:

• In Section 2, updated paragraph describing the current status of DEED releases.
• In Section 2, removed 3-point FAQ made obsolete with HDG’s introduction of public torrent source and less obscure file host site and download manager.
• In Section 1, returned link to the pinned post on the DEED Facebook page, and in Section 7, returned link for the Despecialized Edition Facebook page since it was unexpectedly restored!

2024-03-08, v7.0.1

• In Section 3’s Preface, corrected a placeholder reference from “Step X” to the intended “Step 4”.
• Revised title from “... Despecialized Editions” to “...Despecialized Edition”.
• Minor revisions.

2024-03-10, v7.0.2

• In Section 3, Step 4, updated the warning box about the dangers of fake ads on public torrent sites, which may falsely claim you need to use a VPN. Added strong recommendation to use an ad-blocker, and linked to uBlock Origin as a recommendation.
• Minor revisions.