Forums Connection Issues IRC and Windows XP - Cant Connect

Hi I was wondering if someone could please help me out. I recently changed from windows 98 to xp (blah) any way now I cant connect with any IRC programs. I have tried alot of the fixes I have seen. I tried it with the built in firewall off. No luck ..I tried to turn it on and fix the ident but for some reason after I click ok ..it always changes back to my computer name. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks so much in advance.

1. check www.mirc.org go to the links page, and follow the directions for xp (sp1 or sp2 as it applies).
2. make sure your ISP has a DNS server running.
3. make sure, if your on a local area network with multiple computers using one connection to the backbone, that your router is passing down the ports your using for mIRC to the machine trying to connect.

Thats about it for starters. If none of this resolves the issue, try and find a friend in the area who is using mIRC and have them work with you locally at your machine.

Good luck.