• Intro
• Preparing to download
• Downloading
• Installation
• Using the software
• Logging on
• Problems
• General

IRC stands for 'Internet Relay Chat' and is very similar to CB Radio for the Internet. Users type a message while connected to the Internet and other users on the same 'channel' are able to see this message in real time.

If the inherent anoraky sadness of that statement has failed to discourage you, please read on!

It's assumed that you have an existing Internet connection, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this now. The other thing you need is some IRC or Chat software.

MS Chat is one option, but I have no experience of this product, and can't advise on its installation and use. Users of this product include The Great Comanche (AFKASJ) and the legendary Oily Sailor. Perhaps they can advise if that's the route you want to take.

A very popular product is mIRC, and the good news is that this is available at no cost (theoretically for trial purposes, but it isn't time-limited) from the World Wide Web.

Here are some step by step instructions in how to get going.

Preparation for downloading

If you have never downloaded software from the web before, the main pitfall is that you receive the data to your computer OK, but you can't find it once it's downloaded! If you create a 'download area' on your hard disk first, Windows will remember that this is where you like to have software sent to you, and after the first time will automatically send stuff here, and you will be able to find it OK.

1. Click 'Start' - 'Programs' - 'Windows Explorer'

2. Click on the little icon that represents your C: drive so this is highlighted.

3. Click 'File' - 'New' - 'Folder'

4. This will create a new folder in the window on the right (cunningly called New Folder) and Windows is inviting you to give it a name. I suggest Downloads or something similar that will always mean that sort of operation to you.

So now you have a destination folder for the IRC software, and anything that you ever download in the future.

Downloading

This is a very tried and tested use of the Internet. A word of caution! This is one way that viruses are spread, as you have to be confident that you can trust the source of the software to be virus-free. Really, you should never trust anyone, and always make sure your virus checker is up to date. However, I've used IRC from this source for many years, and have not detected any viruses thus far.

1. In your web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape - the software you use to access the Gas Room) got to 'http://www.mirc.co.uk'. Click the link above or use the one in the table on the right.
2. Ignore all the BS about Khaled Mardam-Bey. He wrote the software and is a complete ego-maniac.
3. Click on any of the links that say 'Download mIRC'
4. Scroll down the page and you will see all the different sites that you can get the software from. Don't be confused by all these links. An equivalent site would be Tesco telling you all their stores where you can buy Heinz Beans. Lots of stores - same beans.
5. If you are using Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT you want to choose a link in the section that is offering mIRC 5.61 32 bit. If you are still on Windows 3.1 or 3.11 then you need the 16 bit version from further down the page.
6. For the 32 bit version click on the link that says 'mIRC 5.61 (32) in United Kingdom'. For the 16 bit version (really are ANY of you STILL on Windows 3.11? Shame on you!) use the Dutch link (well, we hate the French don't we?)
7. When you click on the link, a window will appear that says 'File download' and 'What would you like to do……'.Click on the 'Save To Disk' button and then click 'OK'
8. You will then be asked what you want to save the file as and where you want to save it. Don't bother changing the name of the file (unless you REALLY want to) but in the drop-down list box that says 'Save In' click the button on the right hand side of the box, click on the little icon that represents your C: drive, then double click on your new folder (Download or whatever you called it)
9. Make sure that the file itself is named in the 'File Name' box (it is called mirc561t….as long as it says that in the box then you are OK), and click 'Save'.
10. Your computer will now download the file from the web. This can take anything from seconds to 20 minutes, depending on modems, connections, your Internet Service Provider, the weather, Thatcher etc so don't fiddle about with it while it's downloading. When it's finished downloading it will tell you 'Download Complete'. Click 'Close'.
11. You now don't need to be logged on to the Internet to install the software so you can close down your modem connection. You don't have to, but it will save you the cost of the call!

Installing the software

You now have the software as a compressed installable file on your hard disk, in the folder that you created. You now have to install it and configure it. Don't be alarmed! Most of it is automatic.

1. Click 'Start' - 'Run' - 'Browse' You will get a window popping up inviting you to look for the program you want to run. 
2. Click the little down-arrow on the 'Look In' box 
3. Click on the icon that represents your C: drive
4. Double-click on the 'Download' (or whatever you called it folder) 
5. Click on the file mirc561t.exe
6. Click on 'Open'
7. This will take you back to the 'Run' bit. Just click 'OK' now

This will now automatically install the program on your hard disk. Just follow the instructions, but don't feel you have to register for anything. I never have and I've been using it for years. 

It will suggest that you want to install it in a folder (which it will create for you) called c:/mirc/. This is fine, but some people like to have all their programs in c:/program files/ so if you are that person, and feel up to doing it, then make the necessary adjustment. However, if you are a) lazy and b) not a computer geek, just go with what the software suggests.

Tick all three boxes. It's not important but you might as well.

Click 'Install'.

Before you click 'Finish' it gives you the option to read the Help file (I never do but you might want to) and go right into the software. If you do this, you need to be connected to the Internet, so you have to dial up again before you can connect..

Click 'Finish'.

Using The Software

When you open the program, the first thing you get is old Mardam-Bey banging on about registering. I find the little X in the very top right hand corner of his little registration pop-up quite handy here. Or maybe you'd like to register and read what he has to say. Entirely down to personal choice.

The first thing you get offered is the Options window. What you put in here is how you are represented on line. You generally do this once and it remembers what you put in. You can always change things later.

1. Full Name. They think that you are going tell the nutters of the world who you really are. Well, you can if you like, but you can put what you like in here.
2. This doesn't have to be YOUR address. I suggest you put in 'something'@hotmail.com
3. Nickname….again, whatever you want, but I suggest we use our nicknames from the Gas Room.
4. Alternative nickname - if anyone anywhere is using your nick then you can't use it, as you put an alternative in here and if necessary, the software picks it up when it can't use your first choice. For example, my alternative is FS-D.
5. In the 'Category' list on the left click on Connect - Options. Make sure that 'Pop up connect dialog on startup' and 'Move to top of list on connect' are ticked, but not the other two. 
6. Ensure you are connected to the Internet (you don't have to have your Web browser open, you just have to be connected by phone line/modem.

You are now ready to log on!

1. The list box at the top of this option window, underneath the buttons that say 'Add' 'Edit' Delete' and 'Sort' will say something like "Random US DalNet Server" in it.
2. Click the down arrow on the right hand side of this list box.
3. Scroll down until you find one that says "Undernet: EU, UK London"
4. Click on this so it appears as the chosen option in the list box.
5. Click the button 'Connect to IRC Server' This should log you on to the correct server. You will get a load of activity in the main window (this is called the STATUS WINDOW) and a load of gobbledy gook. Once it gets to a line of text in green type giving what it interprets as your host address, then you are in business. If this doesn't happen, look at 'Problems' below.
6. Popped up in front of you will be the mIRC Channels folder. Just about all of these are real geeky stuff, so you can delete them.
7. At the top where it says 'Name of Channel to join' type #Chairboys then click the 'Add' button. This will add our channel to your list.
8. It will then be in the list of channels (if you deleted all the rest it will be the only one there) and you just click the button 'Join' and that should be it! You will jump into a window where everyone else who is logged on will be listed in a panel on the right hand side of the window.
9. Type what you want to say in the line at the bottom of this window, press enter, and your words will appear in the main channel window for everyone else to see.

And that should be it!! Chat to your hearts' content.

Subsequent log-ons will be a lot easier. All the info you have put in will remain, and when you connect to the IRC server (which will be in the list box so you don't need to go looking) the channels folder will pop up so you can select #Chairboys from the list.

Problems

If you click the button 'Connect to IRC Server' and it just sits there and times out without connecting, and it keeps doing that, try a different Undernet server from the list box (one of the other European ones or a US one).

If this doesn't work, try disconnecting your modem connection and logging on again.

If there is no joy here, click on the second icon in from the left on the menu bar near the top of the page (General Options) and go to Connect - Identd. Unclick the box that says enable Ident server.

If this doesn't work, then I don't know what to suggest.

Sometimes the whole thing will seem to lock up. If this happens, try disconnecting your modem connection and logging on to the Internet again.

General

Don't be scared to experiment. At worst, you can only mess it up to the point where you just re-install the software from the mirc561t file that you downloaded.

Try changing the fonts by clicking the icon in the top right hand corner of each window.

Try doing right mouse clicks in various windows and looking at the available options. Try changing your nickname from here/

Try experimenting with the General options to see if you can set it up so it works better for you.


Any more problems, post something in the Gas Room and we'll try to help.

Good Luck

FSD