

           Instructions for Net Newbies and Download Dummies;
           Help with Downloading, Installing and Setup of mIRC


            These terminally simple instructions assume you know nada,
            nothing, njente about computers. We not only assume that you
            know nothing, but we assume that knowing nothing is making
            you nervous... Right?

            If you made it this far you will certainly manage to get and
            install mIRC on your PC, if not today then tomorrow! On this
            page we hope to clarify downloading mIRC (and files in
            general) from the Internet to your PC and we will introduce
            you to installing and setting up the program in Windows. Just
            read on and follow the instructions..... dare to dive into it
            head forward ! It might be a good idea to print this page!

            --------------------------------------------------------------

              STEP ONE : Download the proper mIRC 4.72 cabinet.

            mIRC is distributed in a self-extracting cabinets that will
            install mIRC on your PC. You dont need any external programs
            to install and setup mIRC on your PC, just follow the
            instructions below.

            * You first have to find out what mIRC issue you will be
            running. mIRC is available is a 16 bit issue (mirc472s.exe)
            and a 32 bit issue (mirc472t.exe). The 32 bit issue is meant
            for 32 bit Operating Systems like Windows95. If you are not
            sure what issue to use, try the 16 bit mIRC issue!

            * Determine which issue you will be using.

               * If you have windows 3.1 or 3.11, go on installing the 16
                 bit issue
               * If you have win3.11 with the win32s package, go on
                 installing the 32 bit issue
               * If you have windows 95 with a 16 bit winsock like
                 Netcruiser, or the 16 bit Trumpet winsock, go on
                 installing the 16 bit issue! (-not- the 32 bit issue)
               * If you have windows 95 with a 32 bit winsock like the
                 built in dial-up networking or the new 32 bit Trumpet
                 winsock, go on installing the 32 bit issue of mIRC 4.72

            If you are in any way uncertain about the proper choice,
            decide to install the 16 bit mIRC issue ! We will go on
            showing the installation of the 16 bit mIRC. The installation
            of the 32 bit issue only differs a little in the names of the
            files.

            * Now you're ready to download the appropriate mirc 4.72
            cabinet from one of the addresses on the list of download
            sites and save it to your hard disk.

            The cabinet with the 16 bit issue is named: mirc472s.exe
            The cabinet with the 32 bit issue is named: mirc472t.exe

            To download a file and save it to your harddisk instead of
            viewing it, click on the link to the file while holding the
            SHIFT key on your keyboard down. In several web-browsers
            (Netscape, Mosaic) you can also right-click on the link and
            select 'Save this link as...' from the popup menu that will
            show. When your web-browser asks where to place the file,
            select a directory on your harddisk where you can find it
            back later.

            Sometimes your web-browser will confront you with a warning
            message like :
            "Unknown File-type. No external viewer configured for this
            file.
            Do you want to configure a viewer now OR save file to disk ?"
            In these cases select "Save file to disk".

            --------------------------------------------------------------

                STEP TWO : Installing mIRC

            Once you have downloaded a mIRC cabinet, you are ready to
            install mIRC in windows. During the install procedure mIRC's
            files will be automatically extracted from the cabinet and
            all necessary steps for starting mIRC will be taken. If
            you're upgrading an older version of mIRC you will be able to
            keep all your old settings.

            * Open        the File Manager. You can find its icon in the
            Main group in Windows.
            * Locate the mirc 4.72 cabinet which you just downloaded and
            saved to your harddisk. It is either named mirc472s.exe (16
            Bit) or mirc472t.exe (32 Bit)

            * To start the installation process just double click on the
            cabinet. The installation program will be started
            automatically.

               * Determine the place on your harddisk where you want mIRC
                 to be installed. Normally the proposed c:\mirc will do
                 fine. Upgraders just browse to the directory where their
                 current mIRC version is found and select that as
                 destination directory.
               * If you want the installer to keep backup copies of all
                 eventual older files, keep the "Make backups" option
                 selected.
               * If you want the installer to add a mIRC program group to
                 windows and set up the mIRC icons, keep the "Add icons"
                 option selected.

            * Select 'OK' and you're done! The installer will take care
            of all the work.

            --------------------------------------------------------------

                STEP THREE : Setting up mIRC

            Now that mIRC is installed on your PC and the program group
            and mIRC icon are available in the program manager, this is
            what is required to set it up:

            * First make sure your winsock is active. Normally you just
            have to set up a connection to your provider to do so. Always
            first start your dialer and then mIRC.

               * CompuServe - To use mIRC on a CompuServe account make
                 sure your CompuServe Dialer (or CSD for short) is
                 installed and working properly. The CSD is a stand-alone
                 application that provides point-to-point protocol (PPP)
                 access to the Internet through the CompuServe network.
                 The CSD will work in conjunction with mIRC (like any
                 other Winsock-compliant TCP/IP application). Normally
                 you do not need to do anything to start up the CSD. It
                 operates dial-on-demand, which means that when mIRC
                 starts up the CSD automatically dials up the CompuServe
                 network (presuming you are not already connected) and
                 begins connecting to the Internet. No additional setup
                 is required. -more info-

               * Netcom - To run 3rd party software like mIRC on the
                 Netcruiser winsock you will need to first configure
                 NetCruiser to automatically load its winsock at startup.
                 Log into your NetCruiser account, and make very sure no
                 other NetCruiser clients (e-mail, WWW, etc) are running!
                 Then click on "Settings", choose "Startup Options" and
                 select the option to "Autoload Netcom's winsock.dll".
                 Click on 'OK'. You can't see or select this option with
                 other programs running! At this point you will need to
                 exit NetCruiser to make the changes active. Now you can
                 log back into your account, minimize the NetCruiser
                 window, and run mIRC from your Program Manager
                 (Desktop). If you have NetCruiser version 2.1, you may
                 configure the Application Launcher to run mIRC from the
                 floating toolbar. -more info-

               * AOL - To access IRC through AOL first you need to have
                 AOL's winsock.dll. Connect to AOL, go to keyword
                 winsock, download it and follow the setup instructions.
                 Make sure the dll autoloads with starting the AOL dialer
                 in the future. Then log on to AOL, stay in the pay area
                 and minimize AOL.. At this point you can start mIRC.
                 There is more info on Chris' IRC/AOL page. -more info-

               * Internet Chameleon - Ensure that the Internet Chameleon
                 directory is in your path. Run the Internet Chameleon
                 dialer application (the icon is named Custom), and then
                 select the line corresponding to your current Internet
                 Service Provider. In the Setup menu, choose "Dial On
                 Demand". This will make the dialer application run when
                 mIRC tries to connect to the Internet.

               * More provider/winsock specific info might be added
                 later...

            * Double click the [Image] icon (shortcut) to start up mIRC.

            * mIRC will show the Setup Dialog and require you to fill in
            some information:


            * In the mIRC Setup select the IRC Servers tab and enter the
            following information in the fields

            Real Name: Your real name (ie, Tjerk Vonck)
            E-Mail: Your email address (ie, t.r.vonck@student.utwen.com)
            Nick Name: A one to nine character alias to use on the chat
            system (ie, Falcon)
            Alternate: If someone else is already using the Nick Name you
            you've chosen on IRC, you will be known by this alternate
            name instead. (ie, Falcon13)

            You also have to select a local or nearby IRC server. A long
            list of servers is available by default. Just select one.

            * Next, select the Local Info tab. Normally you dont have to
            fill in anything here. Just make sure the boxes under 'On
            Connect, Always get :' IP Address and Local Host are Checked
            (selected). For various Internet Providers and PC setup's you
            might need other settings here. Dont worry too much for now,
            if you get problems later just read the help provided on this
            topic in the mIRC Help file (mirc.hlp).

            * Now select the Identd tab and Enable the Identd Server.
            Your User ID should already be filled-in there. Eventually
            fill in your Account Name in this field. (Your account name
            is the part before the @ in your email address, like
            t.r.vonck in my case) The system should allways be set to
            UNIX and Listening on port 113.

            * Once this is all set, click on the OK button to close the
            mIRC Setup Dialog.

            * mIRC is now set up and totally ready to use.

            --------------------------------------------------------------

             STEP FOUR : Using mIRC

            * Click on the File menu and select Connect. (Or select the
            lightning button in the Toolbar)

               * After a short wait (up to 20 seconds) you will see some
                 meaningless blurb appear in the status window.
               * The last line will say something like "End of MOTD
                 command".

                        You are on IRC now !! Congratulations.

            * To join a conversation, type the /join {channel_name}
            command in the single line box at the bottom of the Status
            window. Popular channels are #42plus, #friendly, #mirc,
            #teen, #hottub, #england, #usa, well there are thousands. To
            get a listing of all available channels you might try the
            /list command.

            * When you join a channel, a new window will appear on your
            screen.
            The names on the right side column are those people who are
            currently joined in the channel.
            The left hand window is where everyone's conversation takes
            place.
            To say things to the people joined to the channel, just type
            your comments in the single row box at the bottom of the
            channel's window.

            * To leave a channel, just double click on the close box,
            which is located at the top-left hand corner of the channel
            name's window.

            * There are many more commands available on IRC, and we
            recommend you do some further reading in one of the widely
            available info files. These www pages offer an IRC Intro page
            in case you need more info on IRC, and the mIRC FAQ
            (Frequently Asked Questions) to help you solve any possible
            problem you might encounter now or in the future.

            * If you have difficulties connecting to an IRC server,
            because of errors like "No Authorisation" or "Cannot Resolve
            IRC Server name" try using a different IRC server or read the
            mIRC FAQ for more info.



 
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