OMG you rule!
I've been fighting w/ a latest mirc + latest openssl problem lately.
mIRC wasn't able to locate SSL libraries even tho both .dll files were in /system32/ AND in /mirc/. In the end i had been running the latest installs (mIRC v6.32 & v6.33 and OpenSSL v0.9.8h) without any success.
After trying your trick, downgrade OpenSSL, it worked like a charm!
I'm running XP PRO 32 bits, fresh install btw.
Even tho pretty insignificant to some, your advise did the whole difference, thanks again!
a proud mIRC user.