I'm currently attempting to play an old DOS game Dark Seed by Cyberdreams. I'm stuck in day 1.
You are to pick up a package delivered to the front door. No matter when I attempt to pick up the package within day 1, the game crashes and starts over.
I hope someone remembers this game and can give me an idea what to do; a work around, patch or saved game. I've tried everything I can think of including reistalling the game. The game I'm playing is on CD. I downloaded a fresh copy of the game from the net hoping the problem was my CD. However, the downloaded version had the same problem.
If anyone played this game did they encounter the same problem?

Yep, I had the same problem - under XP, with DOSBox - what OS are you running?

Hi InlandAZ!
When it comes to the OS I about tried them all. We keep our old computers (if they are functional) when we upgrade. So I've tried Windows 98SE, Windows 98, Windows 95, all in various modes, (MSDOS window, restarting in DOS, changing program to ignore Windows). The game basically runs fine in them all, except for that goofy problem in Day 1 with the package. I thought maybe I wasn't supposed to pick it up, but all walkthroughs indicate you must in order to get to Day 2. I didn't try the game in our XP SP1 or XP SP2 computers, I figured that would be a lost cause. I guess if someone doesn't come up with an answer, I'll have to put the game back on the shelf. It's probably something stupid I'm doing but I can't for the life of me figure out what it could be.
All and any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Well here's my $.2 worth...it is not your computers..there was a glitch there in day one..no matter what OS you have, it's gonna do it to you! I played it, and someone did come up with a solution..I will look for the game and see if I was smart enough to "jot" something down to help..Ya'all know my memory won't do it! Will get back as soon as I can find it [or not find it] Meanwhile...maybe someone else will come by and really help! Glynn

No not stupid - what Glynn said rings a bell - I think there was a patch for the day 1 problem...

I'm able to get through it under XP with DOSBox. When the game starts, what version does it report? Mine is 1.5 (which I believe is the patched version).

Ok...I'm back! The only thing I could find in my notes was....after you type CD\Darkseed [return] type "DS attrib-r" [return] not sure if there's a "slash" between the DS & attrib-r or not..sorry I will see if I can load it on XP and see if I can figure it out..Sure hope this works so I will know I haven't lost it completely!! I thought I remembered there was something extra that you typed in when starting the game..If this should work, let me know..if not, feel free to throw tomatoes! P.S. I searched everywhere I could think of for a "patch" even "Google" didn't come up with one! Glynn

attrib -r
probably has a space between the attrib and the -r

I think attrib -r will remove the read-only attribute of the file, if it has one.

http://www.computerhope.com/attribhl.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/attribhl.htm#02

Thanks Jenny! I had no idea what it meant, just that when it was typed in, I got through the first day! I'm sure this game is 8 yrs [or older] and it seemed everyone "crashed" when the package was picked up! Glynn

I'm watching this post intently as my game crashed too at the very same spot. So, sorry I can't solve the problem but I sure could use a solution. Someone, somewhere, on some kinda setup got into Day 2....like those people who wrote the walkthroughs saying, "Pick up package...."

Hello Fellow Boomers!
Thanks to all who were kind enough to respond to my post.
Hi InlandAZ!
Games states it is Version 1.51 at one place and Version 1.5P at another place (indentity crisis I think). Did I understand your post correctly, that you managed to get to Day 2? If you did, do you have a saved game of that magic moment? I would be thrilled if you could share it with me.
In the mean time.
Hi Jenny100!
I read Glynn's advice about the Attrib -r. Maybe I have the syntax wrong cause it didn't work. I looked at the sites you suggested, but I still can't figure it out. If you could please supply the syntax line as you think it should read would be a great help.
I don't know guys, that little ANAL part of my brain just won't let me put this game back on the shelf.

If you want to remove the read-only attribute, an easier way in Windows might be to right-click the file you want to remove the "read-only" for, choose Properties, and look for a checkbox for "read-only" that can be unchecked.

I don't know why removing the read-only attribute would help with the crash, but I don't have the game.

If you want to remove "Read-only" attribute for all the games in the game folder, it might be easier to use the DOS command for it. You'd use CD to go to the game folder, which I'm guessing is C:\Darkseed

I guess you could do that by typing

CD \ <enter>
CD Darkseed <enter>

(when I say <enter>, don't type that out just use the Enter key)

Then

ATTRIB -R *.* <enter>

would remove the read-only attribute from every file in the Darkseed folder.

I have it written down as "CD\Darkseed" <enter>
then "DS Attrib -r" <enter> if that dosen't work try a \ after DS {could be that this only worked with Win95 under DOS} Glynn

I've torn up my computer room by moving 3 desks. All the computers except this one are stand-alone boxes with unattached piles of tangled cables on the floor. In a few days when I get an old computer up & running, I will try out Glynn's solution.

I too can't bear to put a non-functional game aside. Sometimes I've fussed with one for years. (like this one)

Here's hoping.....promise to report back.

Sounds like you are having fun, Yapette! I sure hope it works for you..I know I tried everything I could think of to get that package without crashing! Glynn

Greetings All!

Update on Dark Seed.

Tried the Attrib -r idea on my Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows 98SE machines. It definitely removed the read only settings; however, the game still crashes when the package is picked up.

I'm open to another idea, suggestion, etc. If someone has a saved game of the beginning of Day 2, that would be most excellent.

I do indeed have a save game in day 2 - just before the second package is opened.

Hi InlandAZ!

Wow!! That is too Cool! Someone actually made it to Day 2!!

Is it possible for you to email me that saved game? It would give my ANAL little mind a rest if I could progress in the game.

Sure - but, you're email address is hiddden from view (in your profile).

Hi InlandAZ!

Yes, I quess it would help if you could see my email address. (I woke up with a miserable cold and I'm not hitting on all my cylinders). I think I adjusted my profile correctly. I look forward to receiving the saved game.

It's on the way - CYE

Hi InlandAz!

I received and installed your saved game, and I thank you.
However, there seems to be a small problem. I think the save you sent me was for Day 1 before the package was picked up not Day 2. The reason I say this is the game crashed when I picked up the package. I then looked at your inventory items you had at that point in time versus what I had for Day 1. You showed 5 items whereas I has 11. Some of those 6 items were necessary to procede to Day 2. I looked in the locations where I had found them, and they were not retrieved from those locations in your save. Is it possible you sent me the wrong save?

You may be right - I have another save game, that I'm fairly certain is from day 2 (because it's named Day 2).

I'll get it right to you...

Thank you InlandAZ for the save game, it enabled me to play Day 2!!!
But I'd say Dark Seed has some major transition issues. At the end of Day 2 Mike Dawson says that he's ready to go to bed and lays down on his bed. Logically you would think Day 3 would start. Instead Dark Seed elects to crash and start at Day 1 again.
All and all not a very fun little game. I think it's Shelf City for this little gem. Maybe in another 1 1/2 years I'll get it down and give it a third try.

Did you play long enough to be "sure" it's not day 3? It starts out the same as day one...just a thought! Glynn

Hi Glynn!

Well I can't be sure of anything at this point.

But the game said it was the First Day in his new house, and everything was gone from inventory except his money.

Is that how your Day 3 started?

No..it said Day 3...I just thought maybe, [since he starts ALL his days with "asperin & a shower" It just "looked" like day one..sorry! Glynn

Hi Glynn!

Don't be sorry, it was a very valid question.

It would seem from your post that you were able to get through the entire game.

Might I ask what version of the game you were running, and if you did anything besides the usual to run the game?

I have a save game at the start of Day 3 - Let me know if you want me to send it to you.

Hi InlandAZ!

It is really nice of you to offer to send me the save game for Day 3.

I would really appreciate if you would send it to me.

On it's way - CYE

Hi qadv. & Inlandaz.. Yep..I finished it, I played it on Win95. I just now put my DS in the drive and it says Darkseed151..I don't dare try to install it, I'm having a fit with the computer crashing right now [Since I downloaded AOL 9.0SE] I have WinXP so that's as far as I went with it I am glad you are finally going to get to play it! Hope the next "package" dosen't send you back to day one! There is a DS "2" I played most of that one..finally decided it wasen't good enough to play! Good luck!! Glynn

Hi InlandAz and Glynn!

InlandAZ thanks for the Day 3 save. I installed the save and was able to play that level until the spaceship was due to take off. Then the game crashed back to restart and Day 1. That's close enough to the end to suit me.

Over the years I've played a lot of computer games DOS games included. (Only had DOS games when I started playing - Yikes! does that date me)!! This is the only game I could not get to run.

If it had not been for the kindness of all responders to my thread I wouldn't have gotten as far as did.

Special thanks to InlandAZ for sending me saved games, or I would still be back at Day 1.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!

You ARE back in day one Sorry...I just couldn't resist! Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving! Glynn

At least you were able to play most of the game - it's always been one of my favorites (which is why I still have it installed).

Hi Fellow Boomers!

Just an update on this old post.

I just tried playing Dark Seed in DOSBox and to my amazement it plays flawlessly. No crashes!! The sound and voices are great also.

My hat is off to the DOSBox creators.

Ignore my request for an email address (somehow the last thread I saw was a request for a save game).

Yep - DOSBox can be a life saver at times.

No problem! Always glad to hear from you!!