Avernum 4 Updates and Tech Support On this page, you will be able to find all of the latest bug alerts and updates for Avernum 4 for both Macintosh and Windows. Also, at the bottom of this page you'll find instructions about how to reactivate the Avernum 4 cheat codes. Jump to: Restoring a Lost Registration Download Avernum 4 Windows Update Avernum 4 Issues For Windows Download Avernum 4 Macintosh Update Avernum 4 Issues For Macintosh Reactivating the Cheat Codes Avernum 4 Windows Version History Avernum 4 Macintosh Version History Restoring a Lost Registration If you have registered this game but your copy is currently saying that it is unregistered, you can get a replacement registration key for free. The form to request a new key is here. Support for Windows Avernum 4 for Windows has been updated to v1.0.1. Download v1.0.1 from the Avernum 4 homepage. Other Windows Issues I Bought This Game On Steam, and It Crashes On Launch A number of people have purchased Geneforge Saga and Avernum 4-6 from Steam and found that they crashed on launch. This problem seems more common (or exclusive to) on 64-bit versions of Windows. It is not a universal problem. It doesn't happen on all Windows PCs, even those using the 64-bit version of the operating system. However, we are determined to make sure everyone who pays for these games gets a working copy of them. If you purchased one of our games on Steam and it doesn't work, write us at support@spiderwebsoftware.com. Be SURE to tell us the games that aren't working. We will provide a download link to a version that should work correctly for you. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we are also talking to Steam. Hopefully we can come up with a fix for the problem. Installing From CD On Windows Vista Some of our older CDs have problems installing on Vista, the newest version of the Windows operating system. If you have problems, follow these steps: Insert the CD. Open "Computer" in the Start menu. Right-Click on the CD and select Explore. Run the installer program (the application that has Install at the beginning of the name). Windows Mystery Slowdown There is a rare problem in newer Windows machines where the game plays extremely slowly. This appears to be cause by an interaction between Avernum 4 and a driver or other piece of software we haven't identified. If you encounter this problem, reboot your machine and run Avernum 4 before running any other programs. If you have any music software running in the background, quit it before running the game. There is a good chance that this will help the problem. Also, some people have reported having the problem on systems with multiple monitors. Try deactivating the second monitor and see if the problem persists. If this solved the problem, please E-mail us and let us know. It will help greatly with finding a solution. If it doesn't, please E-mail us and let us know that you have the problem. Let us know what version of the Windows OS you are using, the brand of your computer and video card, and if you tried running the game after a fresh reboot. This information will help us track down the problem. Entering Scree Caves Through the Fort Saffron Bandit Lair In Avernum 4 Windows v1.0 and Macintosh v1.0.2 and earlier, it is possible to enter the Scree Caves through the bandit lair hidden under Fort Saffron. It is possible to then get trapped in the Scree Caves, or to retrieve the crystal box too early in the plotline. This will be fixed in later version. Until then, don't leave that hidden bandit lair to the north. Locked Out of Starting Quarters When you leave Fort Emergence and return, you will be locked out of the cavern you started in. It may not be a good idea to leave anything too valuable in there. Avernum 4 Windows Version History v1.0 - Initial Release v1.0.1 - Bug-fixing update It is no longer possible to enter the Scree Caves from the hidden bandit fort near Fort Saffron. Doing so could cuase problems. The game should do a much better job of sharing system resources when in the background. Support for Macintosh We have upgraded Avernum 4 for Macintosh to v1.1.2. The v1.1.2 update fixes problems with the graphics in the new Leopard operating system. Getting the new version is strongly recommended if you are using Leopard. No patch is available, download the full demo to upgrade. Other Macintosh Issues Running the Game on Mac OSX 10.12 or Later This game does not work on MacOS Catalina (10.15.x) or later. Apple has decided to drop support for all 32 bit apps, so this game has completely stopped working on new Mac systems.We hope to someday remaster this game to be 64 bit and to work on the latest versions of the Mac OS, but it’s a large job and it will take a while to get to it. For older Mac OS v10.12 to 10.14, this game can still run but with a few extra steps: Go to your Applications Folder on your hard drive. Open the Avernum 4 ƒ folder. Control-Click the Avernum 4 v1.1.2 application. From the pop up menu, select Show Package Contents. Open Contents folder and then MacOS folder. Control-Click the file Avernum 4 (Univ) Release, and select Open from the pop up menu. This will open a terminal window and should launch the game automatically as a process of that window. Do not close this terminal window (that would quit the game.) If the game window is under other application windows and is inaccessible, select Command-Tab to cycle through your applications. Game should run normally. Older Avernum 4 Installers Don't Work On Mac OS X Lion (10.7) and Later Older Avernum 4 installers, including installers sent out on the Avernum Second Trilogy CDs, do not run on Mac OS X Lion or later. If you get the Macintosh installer currently on the Avernum 4 page, it will work correctly. If you have a copy of Avernum 4 on CD and need a working full installer, please contact us at support@spiderwebsoftware.com. We will get you a working installer. Graphics Problems In Leopard (Mac OS 10.5) The graphics in older versions of Avernum 4 will not look right when you play the game in the Leopard operating system. These problems can be fixed by download and installing v1.1.2 or later. Gallery Wood Chitrach Event Problem There is a bug in Avernum 4 v1.1 when running on an Intel Mac. When triggering the chitrach event in the Gallery Woods northwest of Cotra, one of the chitrachs will have corrupted data. To solve the problem, download this file: http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/ftp/mac/z116galwood.txt and copy it into the Scripts folder, which is in the Avernum 4 FIles folder. Then, when you trigger the event, all of the chitrachs will be fine. (If clicking on the link doesn't download it, try using the Safari browser, Control-clicking on the link and selecting Download Linked File.) Program Not Launching Correctly On Newer Macs Some of our older games and installers will not run properly on newer Macintoshes with certain other applications installed. Trying to run the game/installer will give and error. This problem is caused by the name of the program not ending in .app. To fix the problem, change the name of the program so it ends in .app. If you are trying to run an installer from a CD, copy it to your machine, change the name so that it ends in .app, and run it. Incompatibility With Quicken Scheduler Users of Quicken Scheduler for the Macintosh have had problems with this game not recognizing the keyboard on some Macintoshes running OS X. Alas, Quicken Scheduler takes full control of the keyboard it is running and doesn't return control when a new program (like Avernum 4) tries to run. This program causes problems with the keyboard in a number of applications. Alas, our games number among them. As the bug is in a different program's software, there is little we can do to remedy the problem. If you rely on the keyboard when playing, we recommend disabling Quicken Scheduler during your play sessions. "Unable to open sound channels" Error If you get the error "Unable to open sound channels" when you launch the game, carry out these steps to fix the problem: i. Open the Applications folder. ii. Open the Utilities folder. iii. In this folder, run "Audio MIDI Setup" iv. Under Audio Output, change the Format to 44100.0 Hz. This should correct the problem. Problems With Houghton In Macintosh Avernum 4 v1.0, there is a problem with Houghton in the Castle. If you recover the crystal box north of Fort Emerald before you speak with him, you will be jumped ahead in the storyline without getting to speak with him. This will be fixed in v1.0.2. In the meantime, to prevent any problems, walk into Houghton's office before you leave Fort Emerald to the north. If you have encountered this problem, the game can still be finished normally. Just go upstairs to see Houghton after you are relieved of the crystal box, and proceed from there. Entering Scree Caves Through the Fort Saffron Bandit Lair In Avernum 4 Windows v1.0 and Macintosh v1.0.2 and earlier, it is possible to enter the Scree Caves through the bandit lair hidden under Fort Saffron. It is possible to then get trapped in the Scree Caves, or to retrieve the crystal box too early in the plotline. This will be fixed in later version. Until then, don't leave that hidden bandit lair to the north. Locked Out of Starting Quarters When you leave Fort Emergence and return, you will be locked out of the cavern you started in. It may not be a good idea to leave anything too valuable in there. Avernum 4 Macintosh Version History v1.0 - Initial Release v1.0.1 - Bug-fixing update You can no longer walk past the shareware barrier into darkness. Dispel Barrier will no longer work on the barriers in the north gate of Fort Emerald, enabling you to get the crystal box too early in the storyline. Houghton will no longer deal with you until you enter his office and show him the shard. The sparks on the title screen will no longer look odd after you make 32000 of them. Various typo fixes and scripting corrections. Fixed a problem where the game could stop working properly after Alt-Tabbing out and back. Removed an exploit that could cause missiles to disappear in mid-flight. v1.0.2 - More bugs Dispel Barrier will no longer work on the barriers in the north gate of Fort Emerald, enabling you to get the crystal box too early in the storyline. We think we finally got this one nailed down. The mangy cur south of Fort Monastery should no longer get stuck when you try to drag him back to the fort. Other tiny glitches and typos fixed. v1.0.3 - More bugs It is no longer possible to enter the Scree Caves from the hidden bandit fort near Fort Saffron. Doing so could cuase problems. The game should do a much better job of sharing system resources when in the background. v1.1 - Universal version Avernum 4 is now Universal and runs natively on Intel Macintoshes. The screen resolution switching works much better now. v1.1.1 - Maintenance Fixes a crash in Hinkle's chitrach event (near Cotra) on Intel Macs. Fixes an issue with Avernum 4 eating up too many system resources. Fixes a problem with items in towns not being saved properly when using cheat codes. v1.1.2 - Leopard Fixes Now runs in Millions of Colors instead of Thousands of Colors. Changed graphics so that it will now run properly on the Leopard version of Mac OS X. Reactivating the Cheat Codes for Macintosh and Windows You can turn off the character editor permanently. Should you have done this and want your character editor back, this is how to restore it: If using a Macintosh, throw away the "Avernum 4 Prefs " file in the Preferences folder. If using Windows, delete the "Avernum 4 Settings" (or "Avernum 4 Settings.dat" if you changed the settings to turn on file extensions) file in the Avernum 4 Data folder. Please note if you have registered the game, this might unregister it. If your game becomes unregistered, contact us for a new key by calling 206.789.4438 or emailing spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com. There is no charge for this but please include the name you registered under, which game you need a new key for and your current registration code (located in the lower right hand corner of the title screen).