Step 1: Go to www.mirc.com
Step 2: download the newest version (5.9 or something) Dont worry about paying, NO ONE pays. It's became a running joke, like 10 people in 10 years have paid, lol.
Step 3: once you have it downloaded, install it onto your computer.
Step 4: run the mirc32.exe. When it opens, there will be an "about mIRC" window up with some dude's mugshot on it. Look in the bottome lefthand corner. There will be a small check-box. Uncheck it, then close the window. This prevents that stupid window from coming up anymore when you start mIRC.
Step 5: Now, once you close that, a mIRC options window pops up, and you are on the first tab, "connect". Go to the "irc servers" pulldown box, and select "undernet servers". Then go to the pulldown box right under it, and choose the server ( I use the Amsterdam server, which is usually one of the easiest to log on with). In the full name section, if you WANT, you can enter your full name, but seeing as everyone can see that info, I would just put some nickname. Do the same for the email, as you dont want random people knowing your email addy. Then choose your nickname and second choice and enter it. Undernet limits nicks to 9 characters. You are done with this tab now, but DO NOT hit OK yet.
Step 6: Go to the "options" tab underneath the "connect" tab. You will see 4 checkboxes at the top. One is checked. You want to check the other three and UNCHECK the one that is checked to begin with. You are done with this tab. Once again, do NOT hit OK yet.
Step 7: Now go to the IRC tab on the list on the left. Click on the + next to it first. This will expand the list. Once this is done, click on the IRC option. You will see a ton of checkboxes. Check the following ones. If any others are checked, uncheck them.... Prefix own messages, Iconify query window, copy messages to query, Rejoin channel when kicked, join channels on connect, keep channels open, show addresses, invite, and whois. You are done with this window. DO NOT HIT OK yet. Lol you getting the point yet?
Step 8: Go to the “perform” option under the IRC options. In this window, check the check-box at the top, then type in /j PoMoFo in the text window. Make sure you type it exactly how I have here, with the 1 space in between the /j and channel name (PoMoFo).
Step 9: Now go to the highlight option and check the box at the top of the window. Check “add” and add your name to the text box. There may be a box that says “beep” If so, click it, and then hit cancel when the other window pops up. The box should now say “no sound” Choose a color you want the highlight to be. You can also add your nickname if you want. What this does is when someone says your name in the channel, the text will highlight, so you can tell when someone was talking to you, if you happen to be away from the keyboard, or whatever. I find it a helpful option.
Step 10: Now go to “messages” In the field labeled “quit message”, enter a quit message you would like for everyone to see when you quit irc. People usually have their websites, or famous quotes, or just basic BS.
Step 11: Click the “Sound” option now. On the pull down box, select every option it lists, one by one, and choose NO SOUND. If you do not do this, you will get annoying beeps at different times while you are on mIRC. It’s pretty annoying, trust me.
Step 12: Next, go to the “Display” option. Choose an event and message color (I usually have mine as the same color) and then choose a highlight color (I usually have this color the same as the color I chose for my name highlight above). What this does is when there is activity in a non-active channel, the tabs for the channels will change to this color, letting you know someone has joined, left, talked, or whatever in that channel. The highlight one highlights the channel tab where someone has said your name, so you know someone was talking to you in that channel. Again, very helpful, IMO.
Step 13: Click the + next to the Display option, and go to the “Tray” option. Click the top and the bottom of the 4 check boxes.
Step 14: You are NOW ready to hit the “OK” button at the bottom of the window.
Step 15: You now are in the status window of mIRC. Look at the top left of the screen, and you will see a lightning bolt icon. Click this icon to begin the connection to irc. It may take a bit to connect, as the undernet servers are not as good as they used to be. Once you get connected, you should automatically be joined to #PoMoFo.
Step 16: Once you get on, you will see a nickname list on the right side of the screen, a status and #PoMoFo tab at the top of the screen, and a large window where we may (or may not be at the moment) be chatting. Just type what you want to type and hit enter.
This concludes the connection process. There are other options you can mess with once connected, but we’ll go over that once you get online. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.