If your problem is related to Adobe Acrobat Reader, please test your computer to see if you have the software and correct version installed.

If you are having problems downloading, nearly all of these issues are resolved with a simple workaround:

> Downloading problems (especially AOL users)
If you are experiencing problems downloading the games, this may be due to Adobe’s plugin not opening PDF files correctly. To overcome this, instead of left-clicking the link to download the game, right click the link, and from the subsequent menu choose ’save target as’. You will then be prompted for a location on your PC to save the game. Choose your desktop or somewhere else you will remember. Click OK and the download will start. Once it has finished, double-click the downloaded file to enter your password and open the game.

> I downloaded the introduction file but my computer asked me what I would like to use to open the file with

This indicates that you do not have a program that can read the file. You can read the file using Acrobat Reader, but you do need version 4.01 or later which is available free from here or if that link is not working try here. (Please let us know if one of these links is down, quoting “missing adobe link, troubleshooting page” so we can fix it asap, thanks – email here)

> I downloaded the introduction easily enough, and bought the game, but the main game does not download.

This is the most serious problem, as it means that you have paid for the game but we have not delivered. Please remember that technically, the main game is in EXACTLY the same format as the introduction, so there should not be a compatibility issue. This is why you had to type in the four digit number when ordering. Here are some possible solutions:

The main game is up to 70 pages, compared to 5 in the initial introduction. Downloading can take some time (but after 10 minutes, it probably is not just the world wide wait)

If, during your 10 minute wait you were asked for the password, but STILL nothing happened, then it is possible that there was a glitch on the download. Sorry – it happens. Try hitting the refresh button (or hitting the computer).

Some ISPs – especially the cheaper ones – cut your phone off if they do not detect you requesting pages on the web after just a few minutes. If you think this may be happening, you can carry on “surfing the web” whilst downloading, by opening up another internet explorer window. At least then you have something to do other than pulling your hair out…

It is POSSIBLE but not that likely, that your browser is having trouble with frames. You can link directly to the .pdf download files, bypassing the help instruction screen. using the following links: The Auction is here, the Last Gasp is here , Farthingay Manor is in 2 parts: part 1 and part 2. St Cakes is a here. Simply click on the links, and get ready with the password.

> The password does not work
If your password arrived by an automated Email, then it SHOULD be correct. Please note that the password is CASE SENSITIVE. That is, all letters are in capitals. Some people just press the shift key, and inadvertently put the symbols in the password instead of the numbers. If, however, a human being intervened (usually Dixon…) and had to send you an email, then it is very possible that he typed in an incorrect password. please reply to his email complaining. If you ordered the game some time ago (i.e. six months or more), your password may no longer be valid. This is for security reasons. This probably means that you have run the game once and want to run it for another group of people. Sorry… you are supposed to buy the game again in this event.

> I have a non-windows computer – can I get the game?
YES! Provided you use the PDF format, the following computers and operating systems should support the files if you download the latest version of acrobat reader: Win95, Win98, NT 4.0 (with service pack 3 or later), Macintosh, Apple system 7.1.2 or later, Solaris 2.3 (SPARC & INTEL), HP-UX 9.05, IRIX 5.3, OSF/1 4.0, Linux kernel 2.0, AIX 4.1.

> I cannot edit the game or make it a word document
No, you cannot – and even if you typed everything out, word for word, the answer is still no, you cannot. It is our copyright and we do not want people tinkering with our game.

> I can only see the first page – where is the rest?
There may be two reasons for this. The first is that it can take quite a time for the file to “download” onto you screen. If it takes ages, then do bear in mind that the main game is about 10 times larger! It may also be that you a using a different default image viewer for looking at adobe acrobat files. If there IS no way of getting onto the next page, then it is likely that your computer has been set to open .pdf files in some other package. This may have been done by you in the past by accident. In this case, you will need to re-install Acrobat reader again, ensuring that .PDF files are associated with Acrobat Reader. Please also note that .PDF files take a while to download. You may be trying to look at the last page of the document before it has downloaded onto your screen

> I do not have a fax machine – can I Email my Credit Card details?
Not Email, but you can now buy online. Click the option from our home page

> I have ordered – where is the password?
If you bought online, the password SHOULD arrive very quickly. The only likely delay is if you are on your own company network, which may only pick up Emails every 30 minutes or so. You will not get the password instantly after sending a faxed order. We do have to get into the office, process your credit card details and then Email the password to you. This is usually done the next working day after you have ordered (but allow a few more – and once a year we go on holiday), Remember that:

a) We are in the UK and if you send your order at 1:00 PM from New York on a Friday, we have already left for the weekend.

b) We are actors and event organizers – our working hours are erratic and if we finished work at 2:00 AM 200 miles from home, we will not be in the office at 8:00 AM

c) If you have not put your email on the form very legibly, it may be that we cannot contact you. This is the MOST COMMON reason for the delay.

d) Please feel free to check any delayed order by Emailing Dixon at info@murdermysterygames.co.uk . Finally, It is highly unlikely that we will be in the office at all between Christmas and New Year as this is our annual shutdown.

> I have downloaded Adobe Acrobat 5 but STILL get a blank screen
The First time that Adobe Acrobat runs, instead of opening the file it asks you to accept some terms of agreement. This may be stopping you from opening the file. Click start>programs>Adobe Acrobat>Acrobat Reader 5.0 and this will open acrobat and get you to click on the appropriate box. You can then close acrobat and this problem should be sorted.

> Can you just put the game in the post to me?
The purpose of this site is to be automated. We have tried hard to make it automated (which cost quite a bit of money for a small group like us). So, we basically don’t like to print the game off and post it out to you. Of course, we also do not want to upset our customers, so we will do so if necessary – but would charge extra for printing, postage and packaging.

> Some parts of the game are missing?
They are likely to be in the free introduction download. Also, the “Reading of the Will” comes in two parts. Return to the download location received in your sales confirmation email to download anything you have missed.