These programs were developed and tested on Microsodt Windows 11 laptop and desktop computers. These programs were designed for Windows 11 and must be started from the Windows desktop, not from inside Chrome or any other web browser.
Download VPS‑Slideshow Programs
Click the button below to download the latest version of the Vatican Philatelic Society Slideshow Programs as a ZIP archive.
Download VPS‑Slideshows (08/12/2026 ZIP file)
Note: The download is hosted on Microsoft OneDrive. If your browser
or security software warns you about downloading from the cloud, verify the link
is from the official VPS site and proceed.
Installation Options
Install on Hard Disk (Recommended)
- Click the Download VPS‑Slideshows button above.
- Save the file
slides.zipto your computer (usually in the Downloads folder). - Right‑click
slides.zipand choose Extract All…. - Choose a folder on your hard disk, e.g.
C:\, and complete extraction. - Open the extracted slides folder and double‑click
start-server2.bat shortcut(depending on your setup) to start the local server.
Once the playlist screen opens, take a moment to click the User Guide button. It provides a friendly, step‑by‑step introduction to every feature in the VPS‑SLIDESHOW system, including how to organize your playlist, activate or deactivate shows, reorder entries, and run slideshows on portrait or landscape monitors. Reading it first will make the entire system easier, faster, and far more enjoyable to use.
The VPS‑SLIDESHOW programs can run from almost any location, depending on your preference.
By default, the startup batch file is configured to run from the C: drive, with all program files located in a directory named slides.
If you prefer a different location, simply adjust the batch file path to match your chosen directory.
Why hard disk is better: Running the slideshow programs from a hard disk is faster, more reliable, and less likely to be blocked by security software than running from a USB memory stick. Use a USB stick only when you truly need portability.
Why hard disk is better: Running the slideshow programs from a hard disk is faster, more reliable, and less likely to be blocked by security software than running from a USB memory stick. Use a USB stick only when you truly need portability.
Tip: Some security programs are more suspicious of software running from USB
than from the hard disk. If you encounter warnings, try installing to the hard disk instead.
Security Programs & Antivirus Considerations
The VPS Slideshow programs use a lightweight local web server to serve pages on your own machine. Some antivirus or “internet security” suites may flag this behavior as unusual.
Common behaviors you may see:
- Warnings about “unknown publisher” or “local web server.”
- Blocking access to
http://localhost:8080or similar URLs. - Quarantining the executable or batch file.
Suggested Workarounds
- Allow the program: In your antivirus or security suite, mark the sever2 executable and slides folder as trusted or allowed.
-
Exclude the slides folder: Add the slides installation folder (e.g.
C:\slides) to your antivirus exclusion list. - Temporarily relax protection: If your suite has an aggressive “lockdown” mode, switch to a standard mode while installing and testing.
- Verify the source: Only run slides if it was downloaded from the official VPS download page and OneDrive link.
Ensuring Port 8080 Is Available
The VPS Slideshow programs use port 8080 on your local machine to serve the web interface. If another program is already using port 8080, the VPS Slideshow programs may fail to start or your browser may not connect properly.
- Check for other servers: Close any other local web servers, developer tools, or applications that might be using port 8080.
-
Firewall rules: Ensure your firewall allows local connections to
http://localhost:8080. -
Browser test: After starting the VPS Slideshow programs, open your browser and go to
http://localhost:8080. If the slideshow playlist appears, port 8080 is working.
Final Notes (and Donuts)
If everything works, you now have a fully functional local Vatican Philatelic Society Slideshow System. At this point, tradition strongly suggests:
- Sending a thank‑you note (and metaphorical donuts) to the VPS webmaster and the VPSrobot.
- Including an extra box of virtual donuts for their friend, CoPilot, who helped build this page.