Welcome to the IRC Guide for Entropy!

First of all, you need the software! So go on over to either the normal mIRC: http://www.mirc.com/get.html or the sysreset version at: http://www.sysreset.com/. Or if you're feeling a bit advanced after using IRC for some time, try some versions with a lot of features like UPP.

NOTES:

1. The trigger that is used within the guide is there for example. If you try it, it's very dead as Max doesn't serve anymore.
2. HTTP downloads are not offered.

First of all some of you might be wondering what IRC is. IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat". It's a vast system of chat rooms on many servers, which people can conveniently use to download files from each other.

This IRC guide was made with mirc or sysreset in mind, but the commands should stay the same in other IRC programs. I would like to note that this is how I do everything. There are other ways to do these things.

Once you have your program open you should see a 'status window', it looks something like this:

Status: <IRC connection status (in this pic it's not connected)> (<your nick>, <server name you're connected to>, <the address of the server>)

Into this window type:
/server irc.irchighway.net
This will connect you to the server our IRC channel is on.

Once it's connected it's very simple to join our channel. Simply type:
/join #entropy
And a new window should pop up similar to this

To download you type
!list
This brings up a list of all the people sharing files in our channel, like so:

NOTE: Some fservers do not appreciate if you get into the habit of typing !list (Who'severnamehere), and some channels have this as grounds for banning. So only use if you have permission, and even then, don't count your blessings as a leecher.

Most fservs start with the /ctcp trigger so that is what I'm going to show you how to use. You'll notice it starts with /ctcp <the nick of the person who has the fserv> <followed by whatever that person wants to call it.> *hehe* So in this case we will use Max's fserv (only because getting in is difficult enough)
/ctcp maxthebd Only you can rescue Princess Manga from the EVIL Firewall!
By typing it into the channel (or anywhere else on the server) another window will pop up.

Into it type
dir
This causes it to list everything in that folder.

There are sometimes a lot of folders- let's take a look at this section

I chose to open this folder by using the shortcut provided:
27D
But not all fservs have this shortcut so you can type:
cd BOYSNGIRL
typing 27D will automatically give you a dir a command but you might need to type:
dir
if you don't use the shortcut.

To download a file type:
get <filename>
get boysngirl-v01ch01[megkf].zip

This will either cause the file to send or enter a queue, in this case it sent it so I queued the next file:
get boysngirl-v01ch02[megkf].zip
NOTE: It is fine if this window closes, it is common courtesy to type EXIT when finished queueing. Some fservers may even ban you if you make it a habit of not typing EXIT

When a file is in queue, the file is in a line of files that are being sent out in the order the files were queued and when you get to a queue slot 0 it will send.

NOTE: The default folder for where the files save in mirc/sysreset is the within the mirc/sysreset program directory in a folder called downloads.

IRC Commands for nicknames:

~ If you don't know what you're doing type:
/msg NickServ help

~ If you want to register your nick so no one else can use it, type:
/msg NickServ register [password] [email]

~ When you do this you'll have to identify yourself every time you connect by typing:
/msg NickServ identify [password]

~ To change your nick in IRC, type:
/nick [whatevernameyouwant]

~ If you get disconnected and when you reconnect it still says you're there, if your nick is registered you can type:
/msg NickServ ghost [nickname] [password]

Some helpful tips using IRC:

~ Always read a topic when you enter a channel. This will let you know the latest news in the channel. (newest release, what triggers there are ex: !rules, etc.)

~ If the channel has a !rules trigger (it should be mentioned in the topic) you should type it to make sure you don't do something that can get you in trouble with the people in charge of the channel.

~ If you do something against the rules and are kicked/banned, please don't take it personally.

~ You don't actually have to type the trigger- by highlighting text you automatically copy the words highlighted. You don't need to click ctrl at all.

If you have either a firewall or a router you won't always be able to connect to some people (for example maxthebd, our example fserv, is also behind a firewall). Sometimes typing: /mode [yournick] -x (disabling 'hostmasking') helps as does /dccserver +sc on 59 (which the default firewall port for most fservs), but it doesn't always help. Don't feel bad if you have trouble with this, just try other fservs.

Some Terms

Status Symbols

~ Nicks with an "!" are admin, the people who essentially own the channel

~ Nicks with an "@"are the ops, the people who are on staff who have almost as much power as the admin, and tend to be the police and rule-throwers of the channel.

~ Nicks with the "%'s" are half-ops, the people who may someday become an op. They have more power than most people but not as much as an "@" or "!".

~ Nicks with the plus symbols "+" are voiced, normally someone who isn't actually part of the group but shares files and/or has been voiced by a higher-up for whatever reason.

--MegKF

For troubleshooting support, see the forum.