Feel free to comment and discuss this game here. Also, if you have any useful tips or tricks don't hesitate to share them with the others! Thanks!

Review & Download

Im no expert on graphics, but i think maybe the reviewer didn't praise the graphics enough. They look superb for 1994, although I could be wrong: as I mentioned, I'm no expert on game graphics.

I did but dont know crap about editing av.cfg and changing it to full path??? why the games cannot be ready made without doing all that s..t and just pressing .exe to fully operate it!?

hi, i also have problems running the game. i edited av.cfg and wrote the path where i unpacked the game, then i ran the patch, but nothing happens (what about step number 2, "copy the .ar2 files in the game directory"????, i cant copy them into the game directory because they are already there!!!!!) so please, a more concrete discription would help, please, i really would like to see the game!!!

played this one long time ago and as I am a big fan of adventure games I must say that it is rubbish, nicely drawn but you get to many sterile location there...
gets boring very quickly so dont bother with it

This is a good game.
If you're patient.

Alright... a more thorough explanation...


1.
Double-click on the file AVPATCH.EXE

2.
Follow the instructions on the screen:

So... we need to do the above before using the Patch (meaning you don't complete the patch now.

3.
We edit the AV.CFG file (using Notepad), and at the first line we put in the full game-path.
(On my machine this would be C:\virus, however this will be different if you have the game in a different folder. Note that paths like ...\Documents and Settings\.... will NOT work.)

4.
As all the .AR2 files are already in the correct folder, there's no need to do anything with them.

5.
Start the AVPATCH.EXE file again, and this time complete it.

6.
Play the game in DOS or DOSBox, the game will NOT work in Windows XP (It will seriously damage your screen resolution if you try to play it on Windows XP).

Just wanted to point out that if for some strange reason you have to keep the game in a folder like 'My Documents', you can go into DOS and find out how it refers to them. Just type dir/w at the C: prompt. For instance, My Documents usually comes out to something like 'mydocu~1'.

Never got past the first two screens (hangar and ship's cockpit) :D I do believe I tried everything possible, though (been trying to find a way to get further for three hours, back when I tried, and that's usually thorough, if I spend that amount of time on it)

get the tool box from the cockpit and use the wire cutter on the cables next to the door..

It just doesn't work. I've followed the instructions, but the game just crashes (in dosbox and in winxp).

Since lot of messages in the dosbox status window appear (something about can't read and can't write, I check out if the files were "read only" marked, and were, so I unmarked.

No result.

Tried to configure it without sound.

Nothing.

Tried to change paths (place it in c:\AV, instead of c:\Games|AV), but nothing. Of course, I always edited av.cfg.

Any ideas?

Strange...

What DOSBox version are you using?

0.63

Same problem here...Can't get it to work...

I edited the file, without long folder names, ran the patch file, but it stll aks for the CD.
I'm using DOSBox 0.63
Compatibility problem perhaps?

me too having problems. i only get the game started once and it crashed 4 minutes later.after that no cd found! dosbox ver 0.61.
what dosbox you are using to get this game running ok?

DosBox would crash to the desktop everytime I tried to run this game. I finally realized it had to do with a sound conflict. The game seems to run fine without sound, but I'd like to hear what's happening - not sure how important of a role sound plays in this game. Anyone know of a way to fix this?

I havent got any problems with the game. :blink:

Except one! Anyone know how to pass the place where u are locked by one of the survivors, Ive tried everything but cant get the door open...

I know I have to do something to the hand of the man, but just cant figure out what is it...

LOL! That guy who locked me up was in serious problem after his flashlight ran out of batteries! :roflol:

Yeah, that was a pretty gory scene. When that thing started to try and come through the bars at me, I actually jumped a little :P

Yeah, I had a bit of a time trying to figure out how to get past that area too. But if you have the glue in your inventory, than you can just clue that hand right to the scanner ... don't worry, he won't mind :P

Im stuck again! :whistle: Im in the airducts where u have to out the grease on the floor... But i cant just figure out what to do...

I even checked the Walktrough for any info, and it told me this:

79. "Go through the airduct until you reach the elevator shift then use the acid
on the elevator brake."

I've searched every place in the airducts but I just cant find elevator shift, or Elevator brakes or place to access them ... :blink:

After you place the grease on the floor, hook the chain to the handle, head towards the running fan. You won't die with the chain supporting you, but that alien following you sure will. Through there you'll get to the elevator brake.

i have hooked myself and put the grease down, but i cant run over the fan...

'Cos everytime i try, when i come to the fan view i try to click forward but it only turns u back... I guess i have to close my lights? And :bye: Alien... ?

Okok, :D

The Alien was like :eeeeeh: ! After i put out the lights, and when it slipped in the Grease :D :cheers:

Whoops!! ... I forgot about mentioning to shut the light out. Yeah, that's kind of important :whistle: .

Yeah, saving your girlfriend is just a matter of figuring out where to click. Once you get to her, just use the axe on here belt to free her. Be sure to aim for her belt, she won't thank you much if you miss :bleh: .

Is there any way to get this game running faster? I really hate having to wait so long in between scene changes...

How to configure sound for XP and vdms?

If you are using the default settings of VDMSound:
Sound Blaster 16
Adress 220h
IRQ 7
DMA 1

I am still having problems with the 'no cd found' error. I've even gone so far as to download a fresh copy and then redo all the steps (editing av.cfg then avpatch) I have the game in c:\alvir and have also tried all the different sound options even though I don't see how that would effect the cd issue. Would it maybe be possible for someone to upload their av.exe and state what the path should be... maybe the file isn't actually being edited (even though the modified date and time are right).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Nov 28 2006, 02:32 AM) [snapback]268986[/snapback]</div>Read this and try this way THIS :ok:

Yeah, I'm saying I did that. Multiple times. I then redownloaded the game and tried again. Still get a message saying it can't find the cd. :(

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Nov 28 2006, 02:55 AM) [snapback]268991[/snapback]</div>So try to run with VDM

Truly a great game. The graphics were great, pretty well from 1994 game imo. ^_^

You could actually play it through pretty fast. :ok:

It didn't cause me any headache. Worked well. :sneaky:

I'm having problems with the game.. It seems I can run it in WinXP, since in DOSBox it asks for my Alien-Virus CD.. but I still Have one problem.. I can't seem to be able to save :| If I go to save game, after I choose an empty slot. The cursor freezes...and I can't do anything after that.. I have to go back to WinXP by using alt+tab and then quit the game bu right-clicking it in the taskbar and choosing close. DosBOX doesn't work.. What else can I do ?? Please Help guys..

I'll look into that.

I can also run the game using VDMSound.. Heh.. I've got sound.. But still can't save :( Why is that ? After I click the slot and press no-matter-what letter or number it freezes.. I use alt+tab, then go to it's directory to see a new file like.. 'Savegame.-A-' which has 0 KB. I thought it may have something to do with the read-only tag, I changed them all to be only Archive, but still.. the same. What could it be ? I tried using the Abandonia boot disk, it freezes after the AV symbol, and in Norton Commander the same, and in DOS the same.. I also tried using a Win'98 boot disk... Still the same :/ Hielp !

I'll try to run it in DosBox on my home machine in the evening.
For the moment... did you run the game via the crack file in DosBox? Did you try mounting the game directory as a CD?

I mounted it using Nero, I created an image, then a virtual drive, then I loaded the image on the drive. I put all the contents from the game directory directly onto the CD's dir. Still asks for my CD :/

I also ran the avpatch.exe from DOSBox, and then AV, still no result.. 'Can't find Alien Virus CD. Please refer to the manual.'

It works in DosBox, allright.
You missed an info screen that pops up after running AVPATCH - it tells you to edit the AV.CFG file to include the full path to the game.
In DosBox, that means that if the game is on your emulated drive C under directory AVIRUS you'd set it to C:\AVIRUS.
Similar thing with running it under DOS (then, of course, you'd input the real path to where the game is on your HD)

And that's all there is to getting it start without crashing. See if it also helps with your savegame problem (which is very possible).

It asks for my alien virus CD. I tried mounting it.. and I get the same.

WTF is wrong ?! If all the game files are in C:\AV what commands do YOU use in order to get the game going ?
Help:(

Heh.. :~/

After you use AVPATCH.EXE in DOSBox, all game files are in C: , so av.cfg should have the fullpath set to C:.

My AV.cfg's full path was still set on C:\AV so that's why the game didn't load.. Now it runs perfectly.. The save game issue is done as well..

Thanks guys !! A great game indeeed.

Great game...spooky enough to make me shiver. Great graphics and not-too-easy-or-hard adventure. You do sometimes have to do some careful searching for clickpoints in a room...this is realistic since you would in life for anything unusual.

That and a smart-alecky/dry humor prompts make it great. "A now-turned off fan means I don't get sliced!" Could've done with a slightly less close-up shot of dying in a fan, BTW...

There's just a few things I wish I could do just because I would in R.L. But I say that for everything. ^_^

Oh, just 1 more thing! Can I please have the intro?
email *REMOVED*

-Sorry. No emails in public forum. This is just for your own good. TC

I fear, I, too, am having troubles getting the game to run. I have done what earlier posts advised, yet it says in dosbox that av.exe is an illegal operation, and when I try to run it in VDMsound, it informs me it cannot find the CD. I am reasonably certain I am overlooking something obvious, but I hope one of you can help. I am somewhat new to this, forgive me.

you need to run "AVPATCH.EXE" before and follow instructions (patch av.exe and then modify av.cfg and type in full patch for the game directory)

btw, i think you mounted your drive wrong in dosbox, check some tutorials or try mounting the drive again

I did that, at least I'm fairly certain I did. I ran the patch, exited, changed the config file to "C:\DOS\CDrive\AV", AV being the folder the game was in, then ran the patch again, this time telling it "yes". Yet it still says it can't find the CD when I try to play. Can you tell what I'm doing wrong?

in case you are using dosbox, you need to write patch to the virtual directory you substituted.
if you r running it via vdmsound.. then i dont know.
but anyways you are supposed to change the config file After the patch (so dont run it again after you patch it)

When you're facing the junk pile blocking the door, how exactly do you use the chain on both the machinery (the winch you put on the robot arm) AND on the junk pile. When I click use and then the chain on either one, the chain is attached to the winch and hooked to the junk.

Then when I use the switch...nothing happens.

Help?

how i can fix the problem - cd cannot found because i tried the steps which it was clearly expalained because i changed cfg but didn't work

A more thorough explanation, in case you didn't see it. Maybe helpful - don't know how the instructions in the crack file look like.

[edit] Maybe you don't understand, what full path means in DOSBox. See here, or two posts above your one. Most people mount the full path to their game directory, so their full path in-DOSBox simply is X:\ (X btw is the drive letter). [/edit]

yes i still have problems - - i tried mount the full path and i have window xp and DOSBOX 7.2 version and it mounted to C:\

the game is in C:\AV - which supposed be working i followed the steps and it still says CD not found - so could you help me please

edit - i can't get this game work at moment - i need help asap

Which path did you give in the AV.CFG?

SourcePath = C:\av

For you it's simply C:\, like you quoted me.

trying now

it wont work because i tried put in like you = C:\,AV so what it wrong?

it keeps saying CD not found message - i am overlooked something?

It's only c:\!

yeah - problem solved!!!!!

Help!!
 

I've tried everything I've seen in this here but it always gives me the No CD error. Does anybody know how to fix this??

1. Are you using DOSBox to run the game? If not... do it.
2. What is the path to the game in DOSBox?

yea I'm using DOSBox the path is listed as C:\>AV.EXE

Open av.cfg with Notepad.
Change the first line to SourcePath = C:\
Save the modified file and then run the game in DOSBox.

I've already tried that. Like I said I read all th tips listed in this conversation but its still not working for me.

Your DOSBox mount configuration, please.

Hello, please help, anyone!!
I cannot get Alien Virus to work, so I presume I am doing something wrong:-
I unzipped Alien Virus into a folder c:\virus
I edited the AV.CFG file using Notepad, to read as follows:-
Sourcepath = c:\virus
InstallationType = 1
and saved it.
I then double clicked on AVPATCH.EXE and said "y" to run the patch - there was no response to indicate whether the patch had run or not.
I then tried to run Alien Virus using DOSBox as follows:-
mount c: c:\virus
c:
av.exe
but DOSBox responds "...can't find AlienVirus CD..."

Please help, someone, what have I done wrong or what more must I do??? :confused:

Many thanks
Wendy

Your correct path in dosbox when you mount c:\virus as C directly is:
Sourcepath = c:\

But you d'better create a c:\oldgames, copy the virus folder into it so that you get:
c:\oldgames\virus\ in Windows,
Mount c:\oldgames as C in dosbox
mount c c:\oldgames
c:
cd virus
av

With that method Sourcepath = c:\virus will work.

Hello DosRaider
Thanks a stack, it initially works, BUT I now have a new problem : I did exactly as you said, and the first couple of screens came up, and then it freezes on the"AV" trademark/symbol title-screen. I have tried all 4 sound configs (but may have chosen the wrong IRQs etc?) but even the "no sound' setting freezes at the AV title-screen.
(My PCs control panel says I have "Soundmax digital sound", if that info helps).
Any further suggestions, please?
Thanks a lot, Wendy

As you run it through dosbox your 'real' soundcard doesn't matter, dosbox emulated params are the one that counts.
Run setsound whilst in c:\virus\ (dosbox, of course)
The choices that work:
SB16
I/O = 0x220
IRQ = 7
DMA = channel 1

Those are the default dosbox params.

BTW, Did you run avpatch in dosbox ?
If not, I would advise you to delete your virus folder and start from scratch.

Hello DosRaider
You are a star!!!! I did exactly as you said, starting from scratch, and it worked. No, I had not run the patch in DOSBox, and when I did, I saw a message saying the patch was complete. Also the sound settings obviously also made a big difference.

The last point for others to note, is to right-click the mouse to get past the av-logo screen
(left-click if your mouse is set up for left-handed operation).

Many, many thanks DosRaider - your help is very much appreciated, and thanks for your explanations so I could learn more too.

Now that you helped me get Alien Virus working for my sister, I will type out the instructions for her, then I will try to get on with Martian Memorandum, with Alien Virus to be tackled next after that (seeing it is now installed and working, thanks to DosRaider).

Regards
Wendy

Here are all the steps in detail and in one place, for getting Alien Virus to run (thanks to DosRaider!), for anyone who is technically-challenged like I am:-

ALIEN VIRUS : HOW TO INSTALL

Follow the instructions EXACTLY:-

Make a folder C:\oldgames\virus
Unzip Alien Virus zip-file into the “virus” sub-folder

FIX THE CONFIG FILE AS FOLLOWS:_
Right-click on file AV.CFG
Select Open with…
Choose “select the program from a list..”
Choose to open it with Notepad (browse to Notepad, then click on it)
CAREFULLY change the contents to read EXACTLY as follows:-
SourcePath = c:\virus
(leave “InstallationType = 1” exactly as is, do not alter it)
Click x at top right of Notepad window, then choose “yes” to savew the changes

RUN THE PATCH FROM WITHIN DOSBOX AS FOLLOWS:-
Open DOSBox
Type as follows:-
mount c: c:\oldgames and hit enter
c: and hit enter
cd\virus
avpatch
DOSBox will ask “Do you want Wanna Patch AV.EXE now? (y/n)
type y
DOSBox responds “Patch complete, Alien Virus …was changed”

SET UP THE SOUND (STILL WITHIN DOSBOX)
(you should still be in the “virus” sub-directory in DOSBox)
Type setsound and enter
Select Soundblaster 16 (choice 3)
Select I/O = 0x220 (choice 2)
Select IRQ = 7 (choice 4)
Select DMA = Channel 1 (choice 2)
The computer will respond C:\ virus

RUN THE GAME:-
While still in the same “virus” sub-directory in DOSBox,
Type av and hit enter.
Two screens come up, then the av-logo/ title screen comes up.
Right-click your mouse to start the game.


To run in future (now you have set everything up):
Open DOSBox
Mount c: c:\oldgames
c:
cd\virus
av
Right-click on av-logo / title screen

Small typo, pumpkin, but a fatal one, must be:
c:\virus
Dosbox path, remember?
:)

Thanks a million, DosRaider - I very much appreciate that. You are right, it was a fatal error. And I DID know better, my mind just slipped a cog. I have now edited it, so it is now fixed, thanks so much!!!.
(I wonder if pumpkins have cogs in their minds to slip??? hehehe!!!)
Best regards
Wendy

grr
 

no matter what I do I cant get the game to work. Please help!!!!!! It continues over and over, even after following all advice , it still says it cant find the cd and refer to the manual.

If it doesn't work for you:
Delete what you've done t'll now (your VIRUS folder) and start from scratch.

If it still doesn't work, post your OS, ALL your steps, and detailed please.

AV.cfg
 

"SourcePath = " the first line in AV.cfg should always point to your direct mount path emulation within DosBox.

i.e. if you mount your harddisk path "C:\AV" to the emulated "C:\" within DosBox ... then "SourcePath = C:\" the first line in AV.cfg should look like that.

Somehow guys, I've been getting this sound problem!!! Maxed out Frame Skip at 10 & CPU 100% but still suffering from choppy sound, and it crashed twice too.

Ant suggestions? :mhh:

Decrease the cycles.

Finally finished this game. I had to download the ISO but was able to play it. Not too bad a game.