For the abit about mIRC, do the following:
1. Open mIRC.
.
2. The "mIRC options" should open, close that window.
3. There should be a blank window open, in the bit were you can type, enter the following:
code:
/server irc.msgplus.net
4. mIRC should now connect to the server.
5. After it has connected, a "mIRC Favourites" box should open, type in there which channel you want to go onto (eg: #banana).