this is the error i get Windows Socket Error: (10048), on API "bind" i have no idea what causes it and what it is. anyone have any ideas thanks

Sounds like a networking error. Check your settings in network neiborhood.

If you are using Windows 98, check your startup group for something called "Shellapi.exe". It's a trojan that causes that error message. To check your startup group on Windows 98: Go to start>>run>>msconfig. Go to the startup tab. Look through the list for shellapi.exe If you find it, post back for instructions on getting rid of it.

newgrl, your definatlly on the correct track but I didn't find shellapi. But i'm pretty sure it's a Trojan virus that i have somewhere on my computer.. When i try to connect to MIRC this is what shows "Closing Link: 0.0.0.0 ([exp/ma] You are infected with an IRC Trojan Virus" I ran 2 Trojan remover programs but it was clean I use Norton 2002, fully updated.. but it still slipped by.