How to install mIRC

How to install mIRC.
Instructions for Net Newbies and Download Dummies.

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?
No worries, we will help you with Downloading, Installing and the Setup of mIRC. 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 5.82 cabinet.

mIRC is distributed in a self-extracting cabinets that will install mIRC on your PC. You don't 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 (mirc582s.exe) and a 32 bit issue (mirc582t.exe). The 32 bit issue is meant for 32 bit Operating Systems like Windows95, Windows98 or NT. 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 Net cruiser, or the 16 bit Trumpet Winsock, go on installing the 16 bit issue! (-not- the 32 bit issue)
If you have windows 95/98/NT (with a 32 bit Winsock like the built in dial-up networking), go on installing the 32 bit issue of mIRC 5.82

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 5.82 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: mirc582s.exe
The cabinet with the 32 bit issue is named: mirc582t.exe
To download a file and save it to your hard disk 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 hard disk 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 Windows File Manager or Explorer with which you can see what files are found on your PC's hard disk. You can find its icon in the Main group in Windows or under the 'Start' button.

Locate the mirc 5.82 cabinet which you just downloaded and saved to your hard disk. It is either named mirc582s.exe (16 Bit) or mirc582t.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 hard disk where you want mIRC to be installed. Normally the proposed c:\mirc will do fine. Upgrades 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 you have an active connection to Internet. Normally you just have to start up the modem connection to your Internet provider to do so. To anticipate any problems in the future always first start your modem and then mIRC.
mIRC works perfectly on all standard installed Windows PC's. Especially with the Dial-Up-Networking included in Windows95/98 all will go smoothly! With more exotic Internet providers like CompuServe, Netcom and AOL you might need a little extra help;

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 auto loads 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-

Double click theicon (shortcut) to start up mIRC.
mIRC will start and show the Options Dialog and require you to fill in some information:

In the mIRC Options dialog (as above) you see an options tree structure. You can expand a branch of the tree (a Category) by selecting an item (Connect, IRC, Sounds,..) and clicking on the little 'plus' sign. A list of sub-items will unfold. At first only the main 'Connect' menu item seen above, has to be filled in. Select this item 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.utwent.nl)
Nick Name: A one to nine character alias to use on the chat system (ie, Krejt)
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, Krejt2)
You also have to select a local or nearby IRC server. A long list of servers is available by default. Just select one. At first the default Random US DALnet server will do fine!
Next, you could select the Local Info sub-item. Normally you don't have to fill in anything here. Just make sure the boxes under 'On Connect, Always get :' Local Host and IP Address are Checked (selected). For various Internet Providers and PC setup's you might need other settings here. Don't 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) or mIRC FAQ.
Now select the Identd sub-item 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 the port is always port 113. 'Show Ident requests' can be left Off, 'Enable only when connecting' can be set On.
Once this is all set, click on the OK button to close the mIRC Options 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 for the same effect.
- 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.
The mIRC Channels Folder will pop up. It shows a selection of the most popular IRC Channels available all over the world. You might want to try some of them? You can double-click on any channel suggested in the list. Or you can select more channels and hit the Join button.
Alternatively, 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 Authorization" or "Cannot Resolve IRC Server name" try using a different IRC server or read the mIRC FAQ for more info.

Last Updated: March 28,2003

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