I think I know what the problem is, Solver. Set the ball in the midddle right first, not the upper right part of the triangle. Then put it in the upper right corner.

You might have to pull the switch again after you do this, but make sure you wind up with the stairs hidden & the piano keys showing on the water tone tank, so you might have to pull it twice. After you do that, try the strummer again.

That switch was the worst part of the game! It was very difficult.

Good Luck!

Melanie

When you pulled the lever, did the switch turn over as I explained above? If so, then try this next:



.

.

Take the t-rider to the planetarium and ride each elevator up to the planet panels. Click on the one correct planet, then click the sun to check the flashes.
From the t-rider entrance (I changed the order of the last two for ease of navigation around the main room):
Lower Right (4 planets) - click large reddish-brown planet in outermost ring (short, short, long, short)
Upper Right (5 planets) - click large blue and white planet on diagonal in third ring from sun (short, short, short, long, short, short)
Upper Left (5 planets) - click smallest blue and white planet closest to sun (long, long, short, short, short, short)
Lower Left (4 planets) - click small blue and green planet in second ring from sun (short, long, short, short)

If these settings are correct, then it is the peghead that is wrong.

BTW, I'm assuming you lifted the stone leading to the water house this time through, but I thought I would check to be sure.

Hello Gals...
In my futile struggle to end this game on a
positive note, I now seem to have a new problem..

I went to the Switch to complete Lady K's first
suggestion before I went to the Planetarium to
complete the second suggestion...
But I can't because I'm getting this large white
block in middle of the screen that says...

ALIDA ADVENTURE GAME HAS ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM
AND NEEDS TO CLOSE.WE ARE SORRY FOR THE
INCONVENIENCE.

It just seems to pop up at different times and
places...Have any of you had this situation?
SOLVER

Have you installed the XP patch, Solver?

Lady K...

Yes I installed the patch [I think]...
I went back and was able to complete your
directions in the Switch without a pop up and I
worked my way to the planetarium and completed
that series without a pop up...
...now without damaging the thread I'm trying to
get to Lukes vault, then to Arin's door, the
main vault door and finally the Strummer...
...we shall see...SOLVER

The patch should be in your Alida Game file. I hope you're saving as you go along.

The only reason to go out to Luke's vault is to lift the stone. The first time I played, I remember doing it soon after I solved the turret puzzle and opened the grate in the big sphere. (I had already walked across the footbridge and realized there was a barrier.) It doesn't matter when it's done but most likely needs to be done before the end.

If this still doesn't work, we'll check the peghead.

Lady K...I just don't believe it...
As I told you, I redid the Switch [no popups]...
I went to the Planetarium and redid that with no
pop ups...I then proceeded to open the Turret
grill and went down to Luke's vault to raise the
stone...I went to Arin's vault and unlocked it...
I went to the Main vault and unlocked it...
I then went up to the Strummer[all of this in one
continuous journey]...played the tune and 'bam'
the guy in the black shirt showed up...
I can't believe ANYONE has had as much trouble
ending a game as this!!!Are these puzzles so
tricky and entwined or am I so dense? SOLVER

Solver, you are now my latest hero. You didn't give up! I'm no genius, that would be Lady K and the others on this forum that always know the answers. My problem was always the rotating sphere, the last time I thought I had it correct, with the ball in the correct place, I looked at the sphere and could still see the piano keys on the sphere. I pulled the lever again and the ball rotated, keys disappeared and I could strum and finish the game. The only other thing that I remember is that once the strumming was finished, I had to wait a minute or so for the ending to start. Wish I knew how to help you finish this game. Good luck Sue

Solver,
The fellow in the black shirt will appear in the end sequence. However, it sounds like your settings might be off in the peghead. I am assuming you saved your game after your last strum. If so,


.

go to the peghead. I'm assuming the puzzle under the compass is solved and you have gone down to see the spherin. (If not, do that now.) Check each machine head according to the spherin settings. When facing the room from the t-rider, the machine heads should be set to the following icons:
Top Left - capital

Lady K [Cynthia]...Bless you...
I don't quite understand what we did but I have
finally completed this game...I am indebted to
you for your patience and perseverance...[you
never shut me down]...Thank you...Thank you..
I get the impression that Arins talking about an
Alida 2?...

texaslady...
Thank you for your eloquent encouragement,it did
mean a great deal...

Thank you to one and all...this one really had
me going...SOLVER

LADY K...
Yes I saved the game after the last 'strum'...
I then went to the Number Wheels Cabinet and put
in the original 1,2,1,3,1,2,1,4 then I put in the
2s and held the button to activate the t-runner..
I then went to the Peghead and reset all the
machine heads...then I went down and reset the
SPHERIN...went back up and rechecked the machine
heads[right on]...went back to check both the
doors[they were in green lights]...went up to the
Strummer and strummed...and lo and behold the
main vault door opened and the rest is history...

Thanks again and by the way I too love Chocolate.
SOLVER