Setting the sliders is tricky because often the little slider window drifts down from the position you’re attempting to set. Put the center of the little slider window slightly above the green circle marker you’re aiming for – it’s more likely to stick there and not slide down a notch. Now put all the sliders down at the very bottom of the console.

Note: at the bottom of the console, the sliders are NOT set in slot 1. Setting a slider on slot 1 means that the slider is positioned slightly above the bottom edge of the console right on top of the first green circle.

Ready for a serious attempt? Remember: 6-12-4 3-1-7 10-5-5 12-12-12.

Set the far right slider at slot 4 (3 green circles will be visible below the slider – the slider itself covers green circle #4). You can do this at your leisure, counting the green circles as you go. Set the far left slider at slot 6 (5 green circles will be visible below the slider – the slider itself covers green circle #6), again counting the green circles to ensure accuracy.

Now put the middle slider all the way to the top. The timed aspect has just begun. The left top crystal should tremble, and then retract. You do NOT have to wait to watch for this, however. After moving the middle slider all the way to the top (slot 12) you can then instantly move the middle slider down to the next position (slot 1).

So--from slot 12, instantly bring the middle slider down to slot 1 (NOT against the bottom edge of the console, but covering up the first green circle). Move the left slider down to slot 3. At slot 3, the knob on the left slider should be in line with the dark middle crystal portion of the lock. Next, the right slider. You don’t need to set the right slider ON slot 7; you just need to move it ABOVE slot 7. (The console is so sensitive that if the first two sliders are set correctly, the third slider only needs to make contact with slot 7 for a fraction of a second.) So you want to move the right slider up beyond slot 7 (about to the middle of the top lock), THEN move it immediately down to slot 5.

Finding slot 5 here with the right slider is the trickiest part of the challenge. You can find slot 5 by positioning the slider so that the metal protuberance on the lower lock is visible, with just one green circle between the protuberance and the slider. Or you can position the slider and then count to make sure there are exactly four green circles below the slider. The bottom right crystal will retract (though you don’t have time to watch it retracting).

Now move the middle slider also to slot 5 -- the slider knobs on the middle and right sliders should now be in line (horizontally) with one another.

Move the left slider up to slot 12 – right up against the top of the console. I know you’re supposed to set it at 10, but the console is so sensitive that it picks up the slider going over slot 10 on its way to slot 12. The bottom left crystal will retract, but you don’t really have time to watch it. As fast as you can, move the middle and right sliders all the way up to slot 12, right up against the top of the console.

If nothing happens, push all three sliders again, just to ensure that they are right up against the top edge of the console.

If you have been successful, you’ll see two metal bars beneath the console fall down, and some black/green rocks will float up in front of you. You don’t have to worry about pushing the blue button on the console right away. Push the blue button at your leisure.

If at the end of the sequence the metal bars don’t fall down and the rocks don’t float up, you’ve missed one or more settings (probably by a tiny amount). Put the sliders all back down to the bottom of the console and start again. If you are at the stage where you’ve attempted this several times, you might find it refreshing to turn the sound almost completely off – it can be more of a distraction than a help.

Solving Myst IV Slider Puzzle. 11/05/06


This can be tough, but believe me it is doable. I have solved it hundreds of times and now can do it each and every try, 1st time.

But, let's make sure you have not made an error that is preventing you success:

- The most common mistake is setting the Gears (down below) incorrectly. They must be set (L - R) at 4, 3, 7. The common mistake is not realizing that you are STARTING at position 1, not position zero. So, to set gear on the LEFT to 4, you pull it down 3 clicks (because you are STARTING at position 1, three clicks moves you to position 4). Then move the center geat down 2 clicks to position 3. Then move the RIGHT gear down 6 clicks to position 7.

Below is the quickest path for getting all four crystals vibrating.

Here is the step-by-step fastest order for tuning the Spider Chair Crystals

RIGHT SLIDER to 4.
LEFT SLIDER to 6. (Timed portion doesn’t begin until you set the center slider.)
CENTER SLIDER to 12 up at the very top for an instant (don’t let go of the mouse button yet) then drag it down to 1.
LEFT SLIDER to 3.
RIGHT SLIDER past 7 (don’t let go), then down to 5.
CENTER SLIDER to 5 (center slider knob on a horizontal line with the right slider knob).
LEFT SLIDER TO 12 (go past 10 without stopping).
CENTER SLIDER TO 12.
RIGHT SLIDER TO 12.

Notice, you don't have to pause on any of the settings, just touch them and move on.