Ever since I rebuilt my computer with Windows XP, my ICQ has been behaving badly.

Everything works as expected, except that whenever I click on the "Send" button, ICQ sends the message and at the same time minimizes the dialog window back down to the task bar and I have to manually bring it back up in order to read any reply or post further.

I really think I have looked at every single configuration option in ICQ and cannot find anything that will remedy this problem.

What am I missing?

tanstaafl.

Go to Add/REmove Programs in your settings. Select ICQ and then UNINSTALL.

Now jump over to http://www.ceruleanstudios.com and download Trillian.

No need to thank me. If there was ever a worse program than ICQ, I haven't seen it (and I work at ATI, so I know bad PC software. hehehe )

Bruno

Trillian has a decent IRC client built in too... then you can hang w. us at #empeg!

Now jump over to http://www.ceruleanstudios.com and download Trillian.


OK. I did that, and I can't make Trillian work. It is convinced that there is no connection to ICQ even though my ICQ program works just fine. "Invalid FLAP code during authentication. Error code 10054"

However, I made one last desperate check within ICQ, and of all the dumb places, I found a check box in the "Contact List" tab that says "Minimize Message During Send". The box was checked. It isn't checked now. And my ICQ posting window now stays on screen when I send the message.

tanstaafl.

Could you explain how to join the chat? I've not used IRC much before, and although Trillian claims I've joined, I see no window and no users. I have no idea how it works. Will users show up in my regular contact list?

Ever since I rebuilt my computer with Windows XP, my ICQ has been behaving badly.

I gave up on ICQ the minute that it couldn't cope with XP's "Fast User Switching". I can't say that I miss it.

I've tried miranda also, great program, opensource and _small_.
Handle msn, icq, jabber, aim, yahoo etc.

Miranda IM

/Fredrik

Once you've connected to "irc.theforrest.org" on DALnet (port 6667), have you typed "/join #empeg" ? That should get you in.

Trillian's IRC UI isn't what you'd call standard. I had some trouble with it, too. I think you have to right-click on the Trillian window and go to connection manager or some such and find a way to join. (Sorry -- I don't have Trillian in front of me.) Once you've really connected to the channel, it'll pop up a window.

Once you've connected to "irc.theforrest.org" on DALnet (port 6667), have you typed "/join #empeg" ? That should get you in.

The problem is I'm not sure how I'm supposed to connect using this program. I've opened up the connections manager and entered all this information, but when I click on "Connect", nothing happens, at least visibly. Is another window supposed to open, or does everyone on the chat show up on my contact list, or what?

*edit*
I found the status window (it really should default to open when you try to connect). I'm getting the error:

*** Connecting to port 6667 of server irc.theforrest.org
*** Connection to irc.theforrest.org failed.

Also, for you Trillian users, could someone explain how to use downloaded skins? I hate the default theme, and I'm trying to download something that resembles a Win2K window. I found one that's close (who would actually name a theme after Windows ME?), but when I put its folder in the Trillian "skins" folder, it isn't selectable from the skins selector. I also can't find help for it, since their whole support is based on their message boards, which makes the process a little messy. I followed about 10 links untill I got to a post that I couldn't see because I wasn't a member of the board. I don't want to join just to read one help post. Why would some posts be visible and others not? Argh. Sorry for ranting...

I put its folder in the Trillian "skins" folder, it isn't selectable from the skins selector.

Make sure you don't have it in a folder within a folder. I've done that before after unzipping the file. Other than that it should be selectable.

You mean don't take a folder of files and put it in:
Trillian\skins ? I should just put the files in there?

I have a folder:
C:\Program Files\Trillian\skins\Windows XP Classic

That's what got unzipped. It has the files in it (colors.ini, desc.txt, settings.ini, etc). I assume this is the format I'm supposed to follow, but it isn't showing up...

Basically, I was saying that you could have a folder inside the skins folder that isn't suppose to be inside yet another folder but maybe you unzipped it that way. C:\program files\trillian\skins\odigo tan is what this particular skin (see attached) is suppose to be but maybe you had C:\program files\trillian\skins\odigo tan\odigo tan. I've done that with trillian and didn't notice it.

Edit: Sounds like that's not your problem. Other than that I haven't had a problem. Guess I'm no help here.

Try disconnecting and reconnecting again

Thanks, guys. I tried closing and opening the program, and joined the board to find out what I could. There's an enormous thread of "I can't get skins to work" posts. I get the impression that the people there don't believe that skins aren't working for everyone. I didn't see any posts that actually helped the people posting. It might be a problem with the program, but I don't think they're accepting that. I see nothing wrong with how I placed my files.

Anyway, I think I'm ditching this program. And for a stupid, unlikely reason: I can't press Ctrl+# for a smilie I know, it's stupid, but much easier when typing messages as fast as possible. That and I can't tell which smilies correspond to the ones on AIM users' programs.

Besides, I liked GAIM better anyway. Simpler.

What would people suggest for a simple, bare, IRC client?

Dunno. mIRC? I haven't used it in years but it was pretty easy.

Gaim can connect to IRC.

Wow! You're right!

Excellent. I like Gaim a lot. Thanks for suggesting it, by the way.

*edit*
and on Gaim, when I try to connect, I can't. I get "Error reading from server"

I'll check the settings again. Is there a password? Is it necessary to specify DALnet? I don't appear to have that option.

All you have to do is put irc.theforrest.org as the server and set a username. Should connect right up. Then, just go to Buddies > Join a Chat. Pick the IRC account you made, put "#empeg" as the channel and click "Join" and the channel window will pop-up.

It's just not working. Do I need to open any ports?

Strange. The server is up and working fine.

What happens when you try to do this: telnet irc.theforrest.org 6667

If it can't connect then something is blocking the IRC port between you and the server.

Shouldn't have to. So you're not getting a connection to the server at all?

Thanks to Donato and everyone! We finally got it working, but without knowing the solution All I know is that I changed a setting in my router, my internet disappeared, changed it back, the internet came back, and now I'm able to connect

Thanks again!