I used nvm to download node v0.4.10 and installed npm to work with that version of node. I am trying to install express using "npm install express -g" and I get an error that express requires node version >= 0.5.0. Well, this is odd, since I am following the directions for a node+express+mongodb tutorial here that used node v0.4.10 so I am assuming express is/was available to node v0.4.10. If my assumption is correct, how do I tell npm to fetch a version that would work with my setup?
I second what Fabrício commented. Node 0.4.10 is almost two years old, which is pretty old when it comes to this very new, and rapidly developing, software. You'll find many of the current npm packages won't run on such an old version, especially since there have been some notable API changes since then.
If you absolutely have to install an older version of a package, just specify it
npm install <package>@<version>
You can also add the --save flag to that command to add it to your package.json dependencies, or --save --save-exact flags if you want that exact version specified in your package.json dependencies.
The install command is documented here: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install
If you're not sure what versions of a package are available, you can use:
npm view <package> versions
And npm view can be used for viewing other things about a package too. https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/view
That tutorial is quite old. Try using a more recent tutorial with either node 0.10 or 0.8
first remove old version then
npm install express@3.X