Desktop Explorer chapter guide

Max and NextRooms walkthrough

Start Max's profile

1. Log in to Max's computer profile.
2. Open the Waste Bin and restore DO_NOT_OPEN.folder to the desktop.
3. Open it with power, then install Desktop Explorer.
4. Open the prologue folder and let its StoryTeller+ file finish.
5. Leave the controls alone while the automatically selected Maze screen saver runs.
6. When the sequence ends, read the new 02-16-1996.res Chronolog entry.

If the screen stays black, restart and repeat the sequence in that order. Do not manually choose the Maze screen saver before installing Desktop Explorer.

Enter NextRooms

Open NextRooms and use:

Talk to both Femur and Hazel until their introductory conversations finish. Hazel's recovered chat supplies the first directional clue.

First Time Maze

Use the red arrow as north and enter:

NORTH
WEST
SOUTH
EAST
SOUTH
WEST

This opens the Mall Court route.

Restore first-floor power

Open brokenCircuits_A.skt in Sketchy. Connect every matching red, green and blue wire end without crossing into the wrong colour. Save the drawing when every circuit is connected.

Before entering the stores, collect the camera from the billboard interaction and take the fountain coin. The coin creates the looseChange folder used by the vending-machine route.

First-floor stores

The Video, Pet and Magic stores may be approached in different orders. Keep every resulting image item because the Art Store and later Mall puzzles use them.

Pet Store

Open the safe with 3142 and keep aquarium.img. For Neat Freak, interact with either dirty reptile tank, erase nearly every opaque speck from the glass in Sketchy, then save.

Magic Store

Duplicate the blank card until you have three copies, then rename them:

6D
JH
3S

The glass-box password is CRONOS. Take magic.img.

Video Store and clue page

Finish the store interaction and keep the resulting item. After the Video, Pet and Magic stores are complete, visit:

http://gamebagels.com/users/hazel82

Second Time Maze and Art Store

The second clock route is:

NORTH
SOUTH
EAST
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH

Use the revealed number layout and colour values to open the paintings in this order:

Take paint.img and SketchyAddOn.exe, then repair brokenCircuits_B.skt by connecting the matching pink, cyan, purple, green and yellow wire ends.

Finish the first floor

Return to the elevator. Complete the highlighted Guppy writing prompt, then use the elevator to reach the second floor. This awards the first-floor story achievement after the required sequence is complete.

Complete the Admin interlude

Max's route pauses for Admin's profile and the Tower. Follow the story hand-off rather than trying to force open the Photo Lab early.

Complete the Admin and Tower walkthrough →

Open the Photo Lab

After returning from Admin, open nonogramDoor.skt. Fill the grid using this top-to-bottom pattern, where X means filled:

..........
.XXX......
.X.XXXXXX.
.XXX..X.X.
..........

When the door opens, collect the case-file folder.

Mannequin and Dark Room outfits

1. To open the Dark Room, use a Top Hat, green shirt and blue tie.
2. Inspect the evidence and wall photograph inside.
3. Before the final outfit, use a guard hat, purple shirt and blue tie for I am the Law.
4. For the story solution, use Glasses, a blue shirt and a green tie.
5. When the camera light turns green, take crime.img.

Optional Mall checklist

Finish Max's chapter

Use the collected photographs and evidence on the corkboard, then read Max's highlighted 02-22-1997 Chronolog entry. Complete Guppy's highlighted response to close the chapter and continue the final profile route.

Quick code reference

Related guides

• Full chapter route
• All passwords and puzzle answers
• All achievements and missables
• Admin and Tower walkthrough

Sources and version notes

• Max and NextRooms walkthrough reference
• NextRooms missables checklist
• Steam Community guide cross-check