What is mIRC?

To use IRC, you need an IRC "client". There are several client programs available, including Ircle, for Mac, and Pirch and mIRC, for Windows. Here, our tutorial is based on mIRC (pronounced "mirk" or "em-eye-are-see", depending on your preference), version 5.9, released on April 26, 2001. New versions of mIRC are released often, but the body of the program remains constant. Don't be concerned if you arrive at a download site and find the version offered is a more recent one.



Getting mIRC

mIRC is available for download from many locations, including mIRC's main site which has links to mIRC sites in the United Kingdom, the USA, The Netherlands, Italy, Kuwait, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Australia, as well as download sites throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Or you can download the program from many independent sites, including Tucows. Generally speaking, it is recommended you download from the site closest to your geographical location.

mIRC is shareware you can try for 30 days. If you decide to continue using it, please register your copy. Your one-time registration (US $20.00, UK £10.00) allows you to use your copy of mIRC, supports work on future versions, new features, and bug fixes, provides technical support by e-mail, and entitles you to use all future shareware releases of mIRC (and it gets rid of the "nag" screen that pops up every now and again when you're using an unregistered version!)

Downloading mIRC

Make sure you download the correct version for your operating system. mIRC is available for Windows 3.1x (16bit) and Windows 95/98/2000/NT (32bit). If in doubt about what you need, download the 16bit version. It will work.

Choose and click on the download site closest to where you live (there are lots of locations listed at the main mIRC download site). When the download dialogue box appears, choose Save this Program to Disk and click Okay.

Choose a directory in which to save the download, and click Save.

Installing mIRC

When the download is done (it's only about 1mb, so it won't take long, depending on your equipment and your connection), locate the file "mirc582t.exe". Double click on it to start the installation.

Follow the instructions for the installation. Click Yes to accept the terms of use. Choose a drive on which to install mIRC. Typically this will be your C: drive. mIRC's installation program creates a "mirc" directory for you. All you need do is accept the proposal!

If you're upgrading from an older version of mIRC you will probably want to accept the choice to backup previous files and retain previous settings. If you're a new user, don't worry about this part.

Click Install.

Once the installation is finished, you can elect to read the Help file (a good idea!), and/or launch the program. You may also wish to download and read The mIRC FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file, found below the program download list.

Setting up mIRC

Connect to the Internet in your usual manner, then double click your mIRC icon (shortcut, if you made one), or go Start, Programs, mIRC, mIRC32.

mIRC will start and the Options dialogue box (Fig. 1) will open. Here you will fill in your user information, and tell mIRC what server you plan to use.
Let's take care of the server information first. There are many servers you can use, but it is important to connect to a server which is in turn connected to the network serving a particular channel. Nothing worse than getting to what you think is the right room at the right time, only to find yourself the only one there! More than likely you're on the wrong server.

This is where you will tell mIRC which server to use. In the Description slot (Fig. 2, 1), type a name such as LVS, or the name of your class, e.g., LVSPSP. Or, you can enter the name of the server you are choosing.

In the IRC Server slot (Fig. 2, 1), type in, or copy and paste, one of the servers listed above.

The number 6667 should appear in the Port(s) slot (Fig. 2, 2). If not, type in 6667. Don't worry about the Group or Password slots for now. Click Add (Fig. 2, 3).

Now you are back at the Options dialogue box (Fig. 1), ready to fill in your user information. In the Full Name slot (Fig. 1, 2), you can use your real name if you're comfortable doing so, otherwise just make something up. Enter your e-mail address in the E-Mail address slot.

The Nickname ("nick") and Alternative are important. Your nick is what people will see when you join a channel. It can be whatever you choose to be known by, provided nobody else has already selected and registered that nick (more about this later in this tutorial). You might want to think creatively here!

Also, add an alternative nick in the next slot down. Only one person on an IRC server can use a particular nickname at the same time. If your first choice nick is already in use, mIRC will use your alternative.

Now, click to place a checkmark in the Invisible Mode box (Fig. 1, 3). Even in Invisible Mode, you are still visible to people on the same channel(s) as you. Your comings and goings from channels are visible and, if a "/whois" (who is?) is done on your nick, the regular whois list is displayed. So, why check the Invisible Mode? Because people not on the same channel as you will not see your name if they check to see who is on a certain server or in a certain channel. It's just a safeguard, and something that shouldn't bother you too much for now.