Step One: First of all you will need to install a program called Mirc5.31
To download a shareware version of Mirc click on the symbol below.
 

But first please take time to read all the info about mirc below.

These terminally simple instructions assume you know nothing
                 about computers. We not only assume that you know nothing, but we
                 assume that knowing nothing is making you nervous... Right?

                 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 5.31 cabinet.

                 mIRC is distributed in a self-extracting cabinets that will install mIRC on
                 your PC. You dont 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 (mirc531s.exe) and a 32 bit issue
                 (mirc531t.exe). The 32 bit issue is meant for 32 bit Operating Systems like
                 Windows95. 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 Netcruiser, or the
                      16 bit Trumpet winsock, go on installing the 16 bit issue! (-not- the
                      32 bit issue)
                      If you have windows 95 with a 32 bit winsock like the built in dial-up
                      networking or the new 32 bit Trumpet winsock, go on installing the
                      32 bit issue of mIRC 5.3

                 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 5.31 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: mirc531s.exe
                 The cabinet with the 32 bit issue is named: mirc531t.exe

                 To download a file and save it to your harddisk 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 harddisk 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 File Manager. You can find its icon in the Main group
                 in Windows.
                  Locate the mirc 5.31 cabinet which you just downloaded and saved to
                 your harddisk. It is either named mirc53s.exe (16 Bit) or mirc53t.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 harddisk where you want mIRC to be
                      installed. Normally the proposed c:\mirc will do fine. Upgraders 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 your winsock is active. Normally you just have to set up a
                 connection to your provider to do so. Always first start your dialer and then
                 mIRC.

                      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 autoloads 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-

                      Internet Chameleon - Ensure that the Internet Chameleon directory
                      is in your path. Run the Internet Chameleon dialer application (the
                      icon is named Custom), and then select the line corresponding to your
                      current Internet Service Provider. In the Setup menu, choose "Dial
                      On Demand". This will make the dialer application run when mIRC
                      tries to connect to the Internet.

                      More provider/winsock specific info might be added later...

                  Double click the  icon (shortcut) to start up mIRC.

                  mIRC will show the Setup Dialog and require you to fill in some
                 information:
 

 

                  In the mIRC Setup select the IRC Servers tab 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,
                 Falcon)
                 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,
                 Falcon13)

                 You also have to select a local or nearby IRC server. A long list of servers is
                 available by default. Just select one.

                  Next, select the Local Info tab. Normally you dont have to fill in anything
                 here. Just make sure the boxes under 'On Connect, Always get :' IP
                 Address and Local Host are Checked (selected). For various Internet
                 Providers and PC setup's you might need other settings here. Dont 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).

                  Now select the Identd tab 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
                 Listening on port 113.

                  Once this is all set, click on the OK button to close the mIRC Setup
                 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)

                      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.

                  To join a conversation, type the /join {channel_name} ie: /join #manila
                  command in the single line box at the bottom of the Status window.
                  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.
 

                 Please note: To get to the #manila channel always  use a DALnet server and
                 then type /join #manila and your there! Hope we all see you there soon!