Connecting to ddrUK Chat and fServes Using mIRC Walkthrough

by Lawrence Vincent.

Please be patient for the page to load. If you follow this walkthrough you will be able to get all the files you ever wanted for your DDR simulator.

First of all a little explanation of what IRC is and what fServes are. IRC means Internet Relay Chat. It is a utility you can use to connect to a server and chat with other users online. The difference between this and say MSN Messenger is that you have to specify what IRC server you want to connect to. There are thousands of available IRC servers but we are only interested in one, the ddrUK server. On each server there are a number of channels. It’s easier to think of the channels as rooms and the servers as houses. In order to get to the ddrUK chat room, you have to be in the ddrUK house. An fServe is a file server a user can run inside an IRC channel. It enables other people in the chat room to connect to that users PC and browse and download files. It’s really just a way for users to share files. Once you learn how to access a users file server you only need to know a few commands to be able to browse the users files and download whatever you want. Well that’s enough background, let’s get on with how to set up IRC and then how to connect to fServes.

Download Sysreset Full Installation pack from http://www.sysreset.com/

Install by double clicking on the file you downloaded and follow the on screen instructions

Locate C:\sysreset\mirc.exe This is the file you need to click to run the program. You can make a shortcut to it if you wish.

mIRC will now run, close the about window and the mIRC options window will appear.

Now we need to fill in a few options to connect to the ddrUK channel. Click on the Add button and fill in the information as it is in the picture

Click on the Add button again. Now enter your name, email address and your nickname as you would like to appear in the channel. If the nickname you choose is already in use the program will use what you enter in the Alternative field. The values entered in the next picture are examples only.

Now click on the + sign next to Connect and select Perform

Tick the Enable perform on connect box and in the network dropdown box select Other Networks.

Now click the Add button and select Faereal.

Click OK. Now in the space underneath the drop down box type “/j #ddruk” like in the picture below.

Click OK and shut down mIRC (File menu, Exit)

Ensure you are connected to the internet. Now click on C:\sysreset\mirc.exe again, or the shortcut you created. mIRC will now run and automatically connect to the ddrUK IRC server and join the ddrUK chat channel.

You can be social and chat by typing your message in the bottom of the chat window.

To show what file servers are running in the channel you have to type “!list”. This will produce some information in the chat window.

All IRC fserves have triggers that you type to access them. They are all listed in the information given by the !list command. To access the Bantu fserver the trigger listed is “/ctcp Bantu DDR”. Type this in the chat window and hit return.

This has now connected you to Bantu. Type “help” and this will list the commands you can use to operate the fserve.

To get to the files you are interested in you must type “dir” to list the contents of the directory you are currently in :

Directories are listed in UPPER CASE. Files are listed in lower case and also display a file size next to them. To change to a directory in the list type “cd “ followed by the name of the directory. Let’s say we want to get to the DWI soundpack files. Type “cd DWI SOUNDPACK FILES” note: You can highlight and copy text to save time. drag the mouse over the text you want to copy holding the left mouse button so it turns black. Keep holding the left mouse button and press Ctrl+C on the keyboard. Now to past the text press Ctrl+V.

Now we have changed directories we must list the contents again by typing “dir”.

To download a file type “get “ then the name of the file. Let’s say we want the Bantu-fx soundpack. Type “get bantu-fx dwi soundpack.zip”. The file download will appear in it’s own window which will be minimised. Click on the window to see it’s progress (minimised windows appear on the bar at the bottom of the screen).

Click on the Bantu window to return to the fserve. There is a timeout on the fserve where if no activity has happened the fserve will close. To re-access the fserve type in it’s trigger again in the main #ddruk chat window. If you want to go back to previous directories keep typing “cd..”

If you are having trouble just ask your question on the main #ddruk IRC channel and someone will reply.

Sysreset offers an option to have a graphical representation of an fServe that you can use with the mouse. To turn this option on go to the SysReset menu and select Addon Manager

Select fserve_browser.ini and click Load. After doing this the Load text will change to Unload.

Now click Done and connect to an fServe. You will now be presented with a new window that you can use the mouse with to click and change directories or download files.

If you would like to give something back to those that serve you files in the main ddrUK chat window type “!request”. A listing will appear showing requests.

Any internet links such as the one for bantumusic can be double clicked on to load the page into your browser.

Right, that should be enough to get you started, there is lots more to learn about IRC, the best way to get more help if you need it is to chat in the channel.