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How to Setup mIRC
mIRC
Once you have downloaded and installed mIRC, you have to go through a few steps to setup and configure the program. Do as the following sections recommend, and you will be up and chatting with new friends in a few minutes.

NOTE: this page is graphics intensive and will take a couple of minutes to load.

When you first start up mIRC after installing it, you will see the following screen (slightly different if your running versions prior to 5.6 and if your running the 16 bit version, but essentially the same):


mIRC shows the Status window and nothing else because you haven't run through the set up procedure yet. OK, now on to the setup procedure.

Click on the Options icon or click on File/Connect from the menu bar and the following window box will appear:

Connect


- In the space next to Full Name enter your real name or anything else you like (for instance "wouldn't you like to know!").
 
- In the space next to E-Mail enter your real email address. Again, if you don't want others to know your email address, you can make up one, but some of the features in mIRC may not work properly if you don't use your real email address.
 
- Where it says Nick Name enter the primary nickname that you will be using on IRC.
 
- Where it says Alternate enter the second choice for a nickname in case your primary nick is being used by someone else when you log on.

Highlight Servers in the Category box, or click on the cute little orange and yellow flower next to the button labeled Connect to Server and the following window box will appear:

Connect


If you click on the dropbox button Dropbox Button you will see a list of IRC Networks. The second dropbox button will show all the available servers for the selected IRC networks. You can add or delete servers and networks as you wish.

When you're ready to connect to a server, simply click on the Connect to Server button. However, read on before you connect to a network.
Now highlight Local Info in the Category box and you will see the following info:


As the information in the box indicates, mIRC will attempt to fill in the Local Host and IP Address information for you. Where it says "On connect always get", check the box next to Local Host. The IP address box will automatically check itself when you check the Local Host box. Where it says Lookup method, check Normal. If you experience a problem connecting, (such as the error message "Unable to connect to Local Host", check Server instead of Normal.

Next highlight Options in the Category box and the following info will appear:

Options

If you are always going to connect to the same server everytime you log on to IRC, you can just about ignore this window. If you want to have the option of selecting the server you use every time you start mIRC, then you need to check the box next to Popup connect dialog on startup. If you want the server you logged on to at the top of the server list, check Move to top of list on connect. The other options can be left at their default setting. As you learn more about IRC, you may consider messing with them.

Next click on Identd in the Category box.

Identd

Check the box next to Enable Identd server. Where it says User ID, fill in your username. That's the name in front of the @ in your email address (for example, in mine it is biscuits@neosoft.com). Leave the rest of the information as it is. Don't Change It!!

Click on DCC in the Category box.
.

This is a very important section. It deals with security. If this section is not properly configured, you're experience with IRC could turn into a nightmare. If you want to know a bit about DCC, click here. If you don't know what DCC is, then you want to click "Ignore All" in both places. If you know a little about DCC and plan to use it, check "Show Get Dialog" and "Show Chat Dialog". NEVER EVER check "Auto-get file" and "Auto-accept". That's like opening the front door to your house before you go to bed. I don't know about you, but I'm just not that trusting. Now click OK and your done.


If all goes well, you should now be able to connect to IRC.

To actually connect to IRC, you must first choose an IRC server to connect to. You can do this in the Setup window, Go to the Setup window, click on a server in the 'Servers List' and hit the 'Connect' button. If you are unable to connect, it could be for numerous reasons. Reasons like the server has too many connections already, the server is limited to certain geographical areas, or the server is down, Don't fret, just pick another server and try again. If you still can't connect to an IRC network, you might want to go to the mIRC Troubleshooter section.