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I am trying to get IRC up and running on my Windows 7 machine. I have installed HexChat (2.9.6, 64-bit) as a 'normal' install.

Here are the screen shots showing step 1, step 2, and the screen that shows while it is trying unsuccessfully to connect:

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How can I fix this? Why won't it connect?

Peter Mortensen
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TheGrapeBeyond
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1 Answers1

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It could be that a firewall (your, your router's, your ISP's...) is blocking all IRC connections. (The server shown is currently online.)

Try connecting using the alternate (non-standard) ports – 6665, 6666, 8000, 8001, or 8002. The Hexchat syntax is irc.freenode.net/6665 in the server configuration window, or /server irc.freenode.net 6665 in command line.

Even better, try a SSL-encrypted connection – the standard port is 6697, and freenode also accepts connections on 7000 & 7070. Syntax is the same but with +port; e.g. irc.freenode.net/+6697 (as in the topmost entry of your current server list) or /server irc.freenode.net +6697.

grawity
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