Forums mIRC Help help a newbie out

hey,
i just got mirc and i gotta important chat in a couple of days, so sorry in advance if this is an old question:
when i get to the chat window, i get the greeting and , if i'm lucky, the first FEW messages. after that, nothing. it all stops. i'm still connected, but nothing happens!
i'm using win me on a cable modem, if that helps. oh and i've yet to register. (thought i'd try mirc first before plunking down 20 bucks).
help!

-m

Try another server if possible, the problem you have often are lag from the the server.. and look in your mirc options.. "ALT + O" open the tab "Display", then look at the "option" there.. try to check or uncheck "Fast screen update" and see if that helps..

appreciate the assist, sparta, checked thebox but it still dosen't work. as for trying another server, i was specifically asked to use that particiular server. if it dosn't matter what server you use, can you recommend one? the first few listed in the "options" don't do anything! can't connect with 'em.

-m

I cant say what server you should use.. depends on what country you are in.. so pic a server close to you..

If you've pre-arranged a chat with someone like your original post suggests, you must make sure you're on the same network as the other person/people. It doesn't matter if you're on a different server, it's the network that's important.

Since i dont know what you are seeing there's no way to know where its stopping at. When it stops, did you try typing /join #what-ever-your-were-told to open the channel on they told you to go to on that server?

If it doesnt work, paste us the last few lines you see when trying to connect and we may be able to help you better

don't get me wrong guys, i'm able to connect and the cahat screen pops up fine. but after the hi's and hello's (and sometimes a few more messages) i get zip. this is the last of the messages i get. i can send, but i don't receive any further incoming chat, either directed at me or at somebody else. (and no, they were not playing a prank on me. hehe)
our chat group keeps a log of all messages, and there i am and all this conversation going on around me without me seeing any of it. they, on the other hand, can read me just fine.
i APPRECIATE all the help. thanks!

-m

Are your running a clean installation of mIRC (i.e. no scripts)?
When you try to say something after all the messages stop do you get a "Disconnected" message? If not, type /blah in the status window, do you get "BLAH Unknown command"?

this could also be that you have flood protectection set too sensitive. If you are chatting with friends, maybe you should turn flood protection off temporarily until you are done chatting with friends then turn it back on after.