mk6i-open-oscar-server/docs/CLIENT_ICQ.md

ICQ Client Setup

This guide explains how to install and configure ICQ 2000b for Retro AIM Server.

ICQ 2000b is the only version of ICQ currently supported by RAS.

Installation

Windows

1. Download ICQ

Download ICQ 2000b from archive.org.

1. Run Installer

Install ICQ as you would normally install any application. For Windows 10/11, set Windows XP compatibility mode on the executable.

1. Close the Registration Window

Once installation is complete, you'll be greeted by an ICQ registration window. Do not complete the registration wizard. Close the window and move on to the post-installation steps.

<p align="center">
   <img width="400" alt="screenshot of ICQ registration window" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b5684b93-02b0-4314-adfa-16ea9826cf69">
</p>

Linux

You can ICQ 2000b under Linux via WINE.

1. Download ICQ

Download ICQ 2000b from archive.org.

1. Install WINE

Run and install WINE

1. Run the Installer

Start the ICQ installer under WINE from a terminal:

   wine icq2000b.exe

1. Close the Registration Window

Once installation is complete, you'll be greeted by an ICQ registration window. Do not complete the registration wizard. Close the window and move on to the post-installation steps.

<p align="center">
   <img width="400" alt="screenshot of ICQ registration window" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b5684b93-02b0-4314-adfa-16ea9826cf69">
</p>

macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon)

Windows ICQ 2000b can run on modern macOS (including the Apple Silicon platform) without a VM using WineskinServer, a wrapper for WINE.

1. Install WineskinServer

Install WineskinServer via homebrew:

   brew install --cask --no-quarantine gcenx/wine/wineskin

1. Create a Blank Application Wrapper

Launch Wineskin Winery. Install the latest engine and create a new blank wrapper for installing ICQ.

Generating the wrapper might take 1-2 minutes, and the application might not

1. respond during this time. Once complete, click View wrapper in Finder.

  <img width="325" alt="screenshot of wineskin server" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8d2ed477-f41c-4f00-90c2-d24c468b4aae">

1. Install ICQ into the application wrapper

Launch the wrapper from the Finder window. Select Install Software.

  <img width="325" alt="screenshot of wineskin server" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a2c0882c-230f-4034-9670-6f309ec1f628">

Select Choose Setup Executable and open the ICQ installer executable.

  <img width="325" alt="screenshot of wineskin server" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cf6aa78b-6bc0-4cfe-b750-bf2c763acdfb">

1. Run the Installer

Complete the ICQ installation wizard.

1. Close the Registration Window

Once installation is complete, you'll be greeted by an ICQ registration window. Do not complete the registration wizard. Close the window and move on to the post-installation steps.

<p align="center">
   <img width="400" alt="screenshot of ICQ registration window" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b5684b93-02b0-4314-adfa-16ea9826cf69">
</p>

Post-install Configuration

Configure the default OSCAR hostname in the registry so that ICQ can connect to your server. This needs to be done before the first launch of the ICQ.

Do not attempt to set the ICQ hostname via the registration Window. If you do this, a bug will surface that forever prevents the client from "remembering" settings such as saved passwords and OSCAR hostname.

1. Open Registry Editor

   • Windows
     • Click Start > Run.
     • Enter regedit and click OK.
   • Wine (Linux)
     • Open a terminal.
     • Run wine regedit in a terminal.

   • WineskinServer (macOS)

     • Open a terminal.

     • Run the following command, substituting icq2000b.app with the file name of your wrapper:

       ~/Applications/Wineskin/icq2000b.app/Contents/Wineskin.app/Contents/Resources/regedit
       

2. Open Default ICQ Settings

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs.

  <img width="500" alt="screenshot of regedit" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/02b20e3a-769c-4c69-bbf5-395684d8f30f">

1. Configure OSCAR Host

Set the Default Server Host registry entry to the value of OSCAR_HOST found in config/settings.

  <img width="325" alt="screenshot editing Default Server Host in regedit" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ebcf66fa-1841-41f7-986a-90b24dd0a94d">

1. Configure Server Port

Set Default Server Port to the value of AUTH_PORT found in config/settings. Make sure to tick the Decimal radio button.

  <img width="325" alt="screenshot editing Default Server Port in regedit" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/11a3efff-40f1-4f1d-b88a-9c78fddb9c3d">

1. Exit Registry Editor

Client configuration is complete. Close the Registry Editor.

First Time Login

Now that ICQ is installed and configured, all that remains is to log in.

Start ICQ and complete the first-time registration wizard. Start by selecting Existing User.

Do not try to create a new user in the registration wizard. To create a new user in Retro AIM Server, follow account creation steps in the server quickstart guides.

  <img width="400" alt="screenshot of ICQ registration wizard" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/93bd3fc9-96a6-45ff-af90-e96b3f938dc3">

Enter the ICQ user credentials and finish out the rest of the wizard.

You should now be able to successfully connect ICQ 2000b to Retro AIM Server.