As ReT said, what can't you get to work? We can't help you until you specify the problem. No rush, just carefully type out what's giving you trouble.
After re-reading your post, I will temporarily assume that you can't open the JED zip file. If this is the case, what zip archive program are you using? WinZip? WinRAR? Another type? If your problem is just formatting your JED directory properly, simply read/download this tutorial from Massassi - go to
http://massassi.net/tutorials.php and scroll down to the very bottom of the page, and then download JED Tutor. It should run through everything you need to set up JED on your computer.
I'm afraid JED Beta 0.951 is the latest version released. Alexei never quite made it to a finished product. :/ It is the version I have, and most likely, the version most commonly used by editors of the game in 2005.
I'm sorry if I somehow skimmed your question, or didn't answer it fully. Please type back if there's anything else troubling you!