mIRC FAQ

[bobdammit]

So, you want to use mIRC to join the chat room? This allows you to have you own nickname (or handle) and allows private messaging between registered members. It is a relatively simple process, and I will try to outline it for you. The first step to getting connected is to download your chat client. You have 3 major options to use.

1- mIRC for Windows
2- pIRCh for windows
3- BitchX for UNIX

I have not used UNIX in many many years, so you can read Bitchx's FAQ for installation instructions.

I deal mainly with mIRC (and have for about the last 18 years) so I will walk you through their installation process.

1- Download and install mIRC from their website. This is self extracting install... quick and painless. Choose all of the default settings during installation, it makes it easier if everyone has the program in the same place.

2- Double click on the mIRC Icon on your desktop. . Your mIRC program will open.

3- After the program opens, a mIRC Options window will be open. You will need to set a few options to get started.



a-Full name & Email Address: You can enter your name and email address if you would like, but that information is not private. It is a common practice to give a fake name and Email address for privacy reasons.
b-Nickname and Alternative: These are the names you will be known on in the chat room. For nickname, use your user name from the message board. For the alternative, use a derivative of your user name, try replacing the letter"o" with a zero, or the letter "l" with a one. When you connect to a server, you will attempt to connect with your Nickname. If the nickname you have chosen is taken, you will connect with your Alternative. This is all done automatically.
c- Invisible Mode: Don't bother to check unless you are hiding from someone. This enables you to be hidden from searches and channel (chat room) lists. Anyone in the same Channel (chat room) as you will see your Nickname, regardless of whether you have this box checked or not.




4- On the left side of the of the mIRC Options box you will see a list of Categories. You want to click on the SERVERS Category next.

5- Next you want to click on the ADD button and this window will open:



Fill your window out to match what I have filled in on mine. This will connect you to the same server as the Pumpkindriver chat room. When you are finished, click the OK button.

You are now ready to connect to the WinBeta Server. (Click on Connect to Server)

[bobdammit]

Now that you have connected to the WinBeta Server, you will have noticed your computer beep several times, and a lot of text scrolling past your eyes at a real fast pace. You can take the time to scroll back and read everything, it is just the server information. As a casual user, you wont need to know most of the information they give you.

Next, you will see your Favorites window open. It looks like this:



We will add Pumpkindriver Chat to your list, and set you up to automatically connect.

You need to click the Add Button first. This will open the Add Channel Box. That looks like this:



Fill it out to match what I have entered in the example, and then click the OK Button.

2 more things to do before you can start chatting

1- Registering your nickname. This is done with a command to nickserv, the program that handles everyone's nicknames. You need to type in the following command: /msg nickserv register password email - where password is any password you choose, it will identify you to nickserv as the owner of that nickname. email is your email address (this one is kept private). It is only used in case you forget your password.
Do not forget your password, as you will need to identify yourself each time you connect to the chat room. This can be done with the following command: /nickserv identify password

There are other ways to automatically handle identifying your nickname, and someone in the channel can help you when you get there.

2- Type in the following command: /j #pumpkindriver You will only need to do this this one time. You configured your Favorites to connect you automatically next time you start up the program.