Growguy

I wrote this because i noticed how many people on this forum don't know about irc. In short IRC was around before the internet. It allows you to chat and share files. This guide focuses on your ability to get nearly anything off irc (full music albums, games , movies, etc). IRC is really hard to learn so I assembled this "stoner's guide" to help everyone learn how to use mirc. When you learn it you will wonder how you ever did without it. Its better than most p2p programs considering there is no fake files, no spyware and most importantly fast downloads and no worrying about the RIAA.

Step 1 Download a client

Invision 2.0 is my favorite irc client. Easy to use and very straight forward. After you have downloaded and installed this client or another irc client, proceed to the next step.

Step 2 Getting Started

IRC spy is a invaluable tool.
IRC spy is a XDCC search engine. It searches all the irc channels in its memory for your search term.

Go to that webpage. You will notice a searchbox in the top right hand corner. Enter your search term there. For this tutorial I chose the search of "vice city". Try not to be too specific in your searches. If you find no results, check your spelling and try fewer terms.

Vice City Sample search

ifs-us.kicks-ass.net [ifs-us]
IFS|XDCC|SYS|011 on #ifs Slots: 0/4 Queues: 19/50 Max KB: 410 Updated: 232 minutes ago
#12 598 MB 39 Gets gta_vice_city_boxset-ost-7disc-2002-nirvmp3.rar

Note the color of the bot. If the color is green, the bot is online. If it is red, the bot is offline. Look at the number of slots available. In my example, there are 0 out of 4 slots available meaning all of the sends for this bot are being used. Queues show you how many people are waiting in line for slots. The more queues, the longer you will be waiting.

The #12 beside the filename designates the pack number. Often, one bot with have many packs offered with similar contents. In this case, this bot only had one file with the term "vice city" in it. To see all the packs offered on the server click COLOR=Blue]#ifs [/color].

Next to the pack number is the filesize. This should be one of your main factors when choosing to download a file. If the file is called GTA Vice City and the filesize is 30mb, you know something must be wrong. This filesize is 598 mb, which is a good size considering what the file is.

Next is the filename gta_vice_city_boxset-ost-7disc-2002-nirvmp3.rar. After reading this filename we now know this is a soundtrack for the game vice city.

Downloading the file

Clicking the #12 beside the file will launch your irc client. You will now see your irc client opened with a window titled "Link Request" infornt of you. You have 3 choices.

1 Change servers and join the channel

2 Join the channel on the current server

3 Open a new connection

If this is your first connection meaning you are not on any other servers, choose choice #1. If you already on a server and dont want to lose a connection to that server, click #3

Now a connection window will open. If you are using Invision 2.0, you will hear an audio message "Connected to server" once you have succesfully joined the server. Once you have joined the channel another audio message will play "You have joined the channel". When this happens, you're almost done.

Now you will see a channel window (which is below the server window). In the channel window, in this case #ifs

At the bottom of the window click the chat box. Press CTRL + V. You will see a text appear "/ctcp IFS|XDCC|SYS|011 xdcc send #12". Press enter.

In the chat window it should look like this after you press enter.

-> [IFS|XDCC|SYS|011] XDCC send #12
*IFS|XDCC|SYS|011* *** All Slots Full, Added you to the main queue in position 7. To Remove youself at a later time type "/msg IFS|XDCC|SYS|011 xdcc remove".

You have successfully queued your first IRC item. Now, if there are slots the item will send right away.

This concludes my tutorial and if there are further questions please post here and ill do my best to reply.

NOTE: If you are using normal irc 6.02 you WILL NEED TO SET YOUR PERMISSIONS to download any type of file.

xnight5hadex

Just want to say this is an excellent tutuorial not just stoners but everyone. I dont know how many times Ive had to explain to people how to use mirc, invision, and ircspy. I will save this and email when people expect me to explain. Thanks alot





nightshade

Growguy

good to hear nightshade. this tutorial is really straight forward and i hopes everyone gets it. I hear all too often "i only know how to use kazaa". well now you have no excuse, get on irc and you will be pleased with the results.

thanks for the feedback
growguy

The Mighty Quin

Indeed. I have waited for this for a long time. I've had mIRC for about year, and have never been able to use it to much extent.

Nice job.

__________________
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just gonna ask where there going and hook up with 'em later.

R.I.P. Mitch Hedberg 2/24/68 - 3/29/05
You will be missed.

www.mitchhedberg.net
www.hedburgh.com

RIP JMorrison

No doubt this thread will be/should be locked as it contains information about obtaining software illegally.

None the less, a great guide.

__________________
There are things known and there are things unknown and in between are the Doors - Jim Morrison

9-11-01

Growguy

i could edit the guide for copyright laws without comprimising it's functional purpose. however, the way it is set up now works the best, if a moderator thinks otherwise, i will edit it.

thanks

Skyline

Thanks for the guide. I only used mIRC for Counter-Strike reasons, but now i use it for alot more. Much thanks!

__________________
"The laws that keep us safe, these same laws condemn us to boredom."

manny

Umm... the server at the other end of your connection could belong to the RIAA or some spyware-funded company.

__________________
It's so great, being able to come to a site like this and pretend we all smoke pot...

imported_Rugbee

I was always wondering what irc was
Thanks for the info

Growguy

manny, thats great that you have an opinion. proof might be nice as well. funny how you stick up for p2p with songs that cut into high pitched scratching a little ways into the song, with spyware built into the product and slow download speeds. so yeah, prove it.