AOL, America's largest online Internet provider makes it easy to become a part of the ChatNet IRC Network family. If you are a member of AOL, you probably know that AOL allows you to use 3rd party applications, such as web browsers, etc., while signed on to AOL. This is done using Winsock.
Below we try to describe how to access IRC via AOL.
First, you need to know whether or not you are using AOL's 16 bit or 32 bit software. The latest version of AOL software is 3.0 sub 38. If you are using AOL on Windows 3.11 or did not download the new AOL 3.0 for Windows 95 then you have the 16 bit version of AOL. Using the 16 bit version, here is easiest way to connect to ChatNet.
The most popular IRC client is mIRC. The 16 bit version of AOL using a 16 bit tcp/ip stack, which means that you will need to use a 16 bit version of mIRC. To download this go to Keyword: Quickfind, type in mIRC. On the list you will see mIRC related items, look for the one listed as 16 bit version. Download this item. Once downloaded, it should default to the c:\aol\download directory. The file will be an executable meaning you will only need to double click it to launch the install. You can install to whatever directory you choose. Now you have gotten it installed, the next step is run it and get online. To connect to IRC from AOL, you need to start AOL. Connect and then you can minimize AOL, then you will want to run mIRC, the first option will ask you to enter information such as user name etc, this are all things you can customize. Once done filling out this information You should notice a large box listing many different servers. The servers are listed according to groups, ie ChatNet, Efnet, Dalnet, Starlink, Anothernet, Newnet etc. Simply scroll through the list and choose the server you wish to connect to, click it so that it is highlighted and hit connect.
With any luck you will be flying along and connect to an IRC server.
For connect to IRC using the 32 bit version of AOL for Windows 95, simply download the 32 bit version of mIRC from Keyword: Quickfind, and follow the same steps as above.
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