=============
Section 2 - About
=============

* a * Author

This FAQ was primarily written and maintained by Aaron Lloyd. The author goes by 2 names in the IRC world; ThisIsNotMe and Yeppers. The author is 20 years of age and is currently "between jobs." The author takes credit in establishing an information basis of linkage only. Any use of the information he has given is the sole responsibility of the reader and nothing more. The author has not used any of the knowledge to better advance his own personal life.

* b * FAQ

<>/\<> i - Assistance <>/\<>

If you would like to assist in the use of this faq, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com. I'm looking for people with knowledge of the situation and places to store the FAQ other than my own homepage. Please check with me before "linking" so I may add you to the list.

<>/\<> ii - Version History <>/\<>

1.1 - Began writing text to key points of the FAQ.
1.0 - Setup basic outline of FAQ.

<>/\<> iii - Locations <>/\<>

This FAQ is currently located at the following URLS:
http://www.geocities.com/hansolo77.geo

============
Section 3 - IRC
============

* a * Servers

<>/\<> i - irc.dal.net <>/\<>

This is currently the only IRC service I use. Its pretty straight forward on how to use. To join channels, simply use "/join #____" where /join is the command and #_____ is the channel (ie; #audiosamples). To send private messages to people in a separate window, type "/msg name text" where /msg is the command, name is the username, and text is the message. There are numerous ways to send emotes. The easiest I've seen is "/me action" where /me is the command and action is the action you're emoting (ie; "/me waves." sends "Aaron waves.). As with any command listed, don't use the quotation marks " as they are only used to set off the command from the instruction in this FAQ.

<>/\<> ii - irc.undernet.org <>/\<>

At this time, I'm not familiar with this IRC service. If you use this service and would like to help me make this FAQ complete, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com.

<>/\<> iii - irc.underz.net <>/\<>

At this time, I'm not familiar with this IRC service. If you use this service and would like to help me make this FAQ complete, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com.

<>/\<> iv - irc.effnet.org <>/\<>

At this time, I'm not familiar with this IRC service. If you use this service and would like to help me make this FAQ complete, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com.

<>/\<> v - irc.audiowarez.org <>/\<>

At this time, I'm not familiar with this IRC service. If you use this service and would like to help me make this FAQ complete, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com.

* b * Channels

<>/\<> i - #audiosamples <>/\<>

This is the channel I primarily use. It provides the best atmosphere for all your audio creation needs. It is full of nice users who are always ready to help if you have a problem or question. I've been a frequent visitor to this channel for awhile now, and it is the best I've seen so far. This channel is designed to be a place to talk about samples and songs created with many programs available on the market today.

<>/\<> ii - #audiowarez <>/\<>

I only just recently discovered this channel. I don't know very much about it, other than the fact that it is a channel designed specifically about downloading illegally copied software for the enhanced wellbeing of the user. Although crowded most of the time, this channel is actually quite small and offers help to those who need it.

<>/\<> iii - #electronic-musicmakers <>/\<>

I visited this channel on the same day as writing this FAQ. I know absolutely nothing about it, other than the fact that it exists. If you are a regular visitor and have some information about it, please email me at hansolo77.geo@yahoo.com and I'll incorporate it to the FAQ.

<>/\<> iv - #audiowhores <>/\<>

The same goes for this channel as the one above.

================
Section 4 - Programs
================

* a * IRC Related

This section of the FAQ will be used to list the different programs you can use to actively utilize the IRC phenomenon.

<>/\<> i - mIRC <>/\<>

This is the program I recommend for IRC. It is all-around the easiest to use, and pretty much the standard. There are additional addons you can get, which would enable you to do things like advertise and FTP you may be running, or place requests for certain things you may be having difficulty in locating. mIRC is by far the best IRC program you can get.

* b * Web Related

There are many different types of web browsers available today. The 2 most prominent are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

<>/\<> i - Microsoft Internet Explorer <>/\<>

You can get Microsoft Internet Explorer free with any legally bought Microsoft app. Its almost becoming the standard anymore, which is why Microsoft is having its big to-do case with the law. Some believe that Microsoft is a monopoly, and that many of its new programs are so incoporated with it, that you simply can't run a computer without it. But for those of you who just somehow seem to be in the darkages and don't have a copy of it, you can get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com

<>/\<> ii - Netscape Navigator <>/\<>

Netscape is the alternative to MSIE and is in someways superior. Usually packed with Netscape are many sub-apps that help you in designing and email as well. However it is still not as well used as MSIE. For reasons of archiving, this is where you can get Netscape Navigator:
http://www.netscape.com

* c * FTP Related

This section of the FAQ will provide you with access to the different types of FTP utilities that are out there today.

<>/\<> i - CuteFTP <>/\<>

I personally prefer to use CuteFTP. It is by far the easiest to use from a 1st time user's point of view. Its very simple to navigate and the later versions are becoming more and more sufficient in navigating and searching. You can get the latest version of CuteFTP from here:
http://www.globalscape.com/products/cuteftp/index.shtml

<>/\<> ii - BulletProof FTP <>/\<>

CuteFTP may be the easiest to use, but BulletProof takes up the slack in areas where Cute lacks. BulletProof allows the use of browsing directories which are inaccessable to Cute. Such directories include those with spaces, ~, ///, etc. BulletProof also allows the user to be able to browse hidden directories and download files with multiple extensions like This.Is.An.Example.Of.A.File.With.Multiple.Extensions. Cute doesn't do this, at least not my version. To get BulletProof FTP, please go here:
http://www.bpftp.com/

=================
Section 5 - Instructions
=================

Great! So now that you have everything you need, you join #audiosamples and try to get your hands on some stuff. Sadly, you're totall lost and don't know what to do. Thats the purpose of this FAQ. Lets begin.

As you may notices, the Topic lists some urls that you can visit. Try to put the address the Goto bar of your browser. You should be given access to the site and you should see a list of the things you can get. But wait! It says unable to open site or unable to connect or file not found! Now what do you do? Well, if its an ftp site you have to utilize an FTP client.

Mark a block around the entire address and copy it to the goto bar in your FTP client. If everything goes smoothly you should be able to access the site this way. However most of the time its not that simple. If the address has some characters in it that seem unfamiliar, its probably not going to work right. If you see a ~ or many /// without anything after, it probably won't work on the first attempt. Also, spaces or extra extensions tend to cause problems too. So what do you do? You have to use a program that can take this into notice and work around it. Because many of the files you can find on these sites are fully ripped and illegally copied, the sysop of the site tries to hide them in directories that are difficult to access.

Ok, so now I have a program that can work around these. How can I get in? Many people will tell you lots of things to try, and most of them are true. However for your first time, its just not that easy. First you need to configure your client. Look through the options and setup until you find a section on file types. You need to disable anything that says "list only these types" and things like that. Step 2 requires you to disable anything that limits the use of browsing directories. This may include turning on the ability to jump straight to a directory or enabling the use of browsing hidden directories. Also you should enable the ability to browse directories of uncommon names, whether it be ` ~ // etc... These sites can be tricky.

So I've configured my client to the way it should be, and it still doesn't work. Whats wrong? You may need to take extra steps in finding the correct folder/directory on the site. If you can at least login to the site, theres a good chance you'll eventually find it. Browse through the directories. Usually the folder you're supposed to get to is hidden deep inside nested folders with nothing else in them. Just keep going till you get to it.

I've logged in and tried to browse, but the folder isn't listed or it comes up saying "not found". This is because you haven't completely configured your client correctly. If you can't get to a folder because its not found, the reason most likely is because of faulty configuration. Make sure you check, double check and then completely start over again. I remember for me it just happened all of a sudden and then BANG! I haven't had a problem since.

The browsing just isn't working for me. Is there anything else I can try? Yes. Try to login to the site first. Then put in the entire folder address in the goto bar. This starts at the / and ends at the /. So in an address like "ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xx:21/this/is/the/correct/address", the goto bar should have "/this/is/the/correct/address/" in it. Some folders will look like "/_vti_txt/~/ . tmp/ / /// ~. tmp/upload". This is typically the kind that cause difficuties. Just follow the steps. Login and get to /_vti_txt/. Then browse into /~/ and then / . tmp/ and etc. If that doesn't work, check your configuration and try again. If it still doesn't work, put the entire folder name in the goto bar. If that doesn't work, take off the last folder and try again, this time browsing into it. You'll get it eventually.

==============
Section 6 - Thanks
==============

This section will list all of the people who have helped me in figuring this whole thing out.