To access Internet Relay Chat (IRC), you must have an IRC Client (chat program). The most widely used program is mIRC. We recommend that you use mIRC because most of us on #GenealogyForum use it and will be happy to answer your questions and help you with your setup. DON'T LET THE LENGTH OF THE INSTRUCTIONS INTIMIDATE YOU! They seem long because EVERY tiny little step is written out. Just take it ONE tiny little step at a time and you should breeze right through the setup.

These will help most of you on IBM compatible computers to access IRC. Scroll down to: Here’s How to Download.

WebTV, Mac, Unix, Linux, AOL, gnn users will find instructions elsewhere on this website.

For Unix and Linux users check out: http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~adampr/irc.html

For Mac user information for IRC, go to http://www.macirc.com/ or go to http://www.ex.ac.uk/%7Ejastaple/irc/irchelp.html .

Instructions for accessing IRC from WebTV are HERE

For AOL download instructions Click Here.

Create a directory from which to run your new chat program. i.e. c:\mirc

To create a directory:

1) Open your Windows Explorer (Win95) or File Manager (Win3.1)

2) Click to highlight the letter of the drive where you intend to install mIRC. i.e. C:\

3) In the FILE Menu, select New (Win95) or 'Create a Directory' (Win3.1)

4) Type in the word: mIRC for the New Folder (Directory) name.

5) ENTER

Be sure to download the appropriate version for your windows version and it is advised to download from a U. S. location if you download from: http://www.mirc.co.uk/get.html

Download mirc5.51t ( 32bit version ) if you are running Windows95

Download mirc5.51s (16bit version ) if you are running Windows3.1

There is a list of different locales from which to get the file. The FIRST list is for the 32 bit version (for win95). The SECOND list is for the 16 bit version (for win3.1).

mIRC 5.51 - 32 bit, for Win95, Win98 and Win NT. WIN95 (32bit)

mIRC 5.51 - 16 bit, for Win3.x

mIRC is an executable file, so no need to worry about unzipping it.. it is self extracting.

To download the file to your harddrive:

Right Click on one of the links to the file. You will get a window to with some options, select SAVE LINK AS: when the next window comes up select where you want to place the file. Place it in the Directory you just created. i.e. C:\mIRC

After download is complete:

Go to your WINDOWS Explorer (win95) or your File Manager (win3.1) and double click on the file you downloaded. An INSTALLATION window will appear. If the path to the directory you created is not in the 'destination directory' section near the top of that screen, click the browse button and select your directory for there.

If you are upgrading over an older version of mIRC, you will need to check the box to backup existing files. If you are downloading for the first time you will want to select the second 'check box' to add icons to your program manger. CLICK INSTALL. It will install itself and will tell you when it is successful and ready to use.

Open the program, you will see a window with a picture of the creator on it. This is where you can register your program if you wish to. If you don't want this window to popup each time you open mIRC, UNCHECK the checked box in the lower left corner of the window and close the window by clicking the X in the upper right corner.

Click on OPTIONS icon, (second from the left) CLICK on CONNECT on the 'Category' menu at the side of the window and complete the information in that window, (we recommend that Ladies use a generic nick that does not reflect gender and not using your real name). You must enter your email address, a nickname and an alternate nickname.

Open OPTIONS.

1) Select: "Connect on startup."

2) Select "Reconnect on disconnection"

3) UNcheck the 'Popup connect dialog' option.

4) In the Connection Failure box, check: "RETRY"

a) Retry: enter 10 times

b) Delay enter 10 seconds

c) Default Port is 6667

d) Check 'Try next server in the group.

On the LOCAL INFO menu, leave the two windows empty for the time being. mIRC attempts to fill these automatically upon connection.

1) Check the item 'Local Host' in the section "On Connect, Always Get".

2) In the Lookup Method section, choose NORMAL

On the IDENTD menu, be sure your user ID is there, if not, enter it (the same one as for connecting your computer to your service provider) and select "ENABLE IDENTD SERVER", "SHOW IDENTD REQUESTS" and "ENABLE ONLY WHEN CONNECTING" Click OK.

Reopen the OPTIONS and click on CONNECT option. From the drop-down menu select an AFTERNET server. Click on: Connect to IRC server bar OR go ahead and follow the instructions on "ADDing Afternet Servers" then go to "ADDing #GenealogyForum."

If AfterNet does not happen to be listed on your server list, you can ADD it by clicking the ADD button.

1) On the top line of the mIRC Add Server window (Description)type: Afternet: Portland, Or. USA.

2) On the second line (IRC Server) type: agora.afternet.org

3) In the PORT window type: 6667

4) In the GROUP window type: 1 (one, not L) (be sure to do this on the AfterNet servers that were already included with the program)

5) Click ADD

6) On the mIRC Options Window, Click OK

(There is a complete list of Afternet servers (which you should also ADD to your server list) at the bottom of this page.)

7) Click on "SORT" This will move the Afternet (group 1) servers to the top of your IRC server list.

8) From the drop down menu, choose an Afternet server

9) Click on: Connect to IRC server bar to connect to AfterNet. (See below for ADDING CHANNELS, i.e. #GenealogyForum.)

ADD All AfterNET Servers to Your Program

AfterNET SERVERS

SERVER CITY/STATE

ADD all of these Afternet servers to your irc server list for a more direct connection.

ASP.AfterNET.Org Crypto.AfterNet.Org DigitalD.UK.AfterNET.Org Frodo.AfterNET.Org Infinet.AfterNET.Org Newwave.AfterNET.Org Asp.AfterNET.Org *** For AOL users: Click HERE

Ashland, Wi, USA Dallas, Tx. USA London, England, UK Amsterdam, Netherlands Vancouver, British Col. Charleston, W.Virginia Ashland, WI, USA *** For WebTV users: Click HERE

[You can also connect to the 'random' Afternet server by typing: /server irc.afternet.org in the dialog box at the bottom of the 'Status' Screen'. ]

ADDing #GenealogyForum

After the server connects, a channel list from the CHANNEL FOLDER (from the third icon from the left) will appear, type in the name of the channel you wish to join (naturally, #GenealogyForum, all one word)

1) Choose ADD, then type: #GenealogyForum into the window 'Enter name of channel to join".

2) Click OK.

3) Reopen the Channels Folder (third icon from the LEFT).

4) Highlight #GenalogyForum

5) Choose JOIN .

[Alternate method of joining the channel: Type: /join #GenealogyForum. (all one word) in the dialog box at the bottom of the 'Status' Screen'.]

You will find yourself in a genealogy chat channel ( #GenealogyForum, of course ) Someone there will help you further. We will also tell you how to find the other genealogy channels on all the other nets.

Hope to see you soon!

Happy Hunting!!

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Visitors Since Nov. 11, 1997