Desktop Explorer Beginner Guide

Files you will open constantly

.stp story/notes, .npg notepad text, .img images, .res Chronolog journal drops, and occasional .err / .exe installers. Open them with the in-game apps, not your real OS.

When a note says “reveal what’s hidden,” check the View menu for Hidden Files before you invent a new password. Puzzle 7 and the path into Puzzle 9 both depend on that toggle.

Window tools that solve puzzles

Notepad: enable Word Wrap, then drag corners until ASCII art resolves. Explorer: Back button matters — later puzzles plant new files in earlier folders (Puzzle 8 → Puzzle 6 / Puzzle 1). Color Lens (unlocked near Puzzle 9–10) is a filter overlay, not a separate “level.”

Content warning (read once)

Desktop Explorer covers depression, suicide, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, and family grief, with mild gore and photosensitive effects. Take breaks; use the official Discord for spoiler-tagged help instead of untrusted invite dumps.

Login → Chronolog → OpenMe

At the login screen only Halibut is available. Open Chronolog from the Start Menu, read Halibut’s journal, then write Guppy’s first entry so the relationship is clear: Halibut is the uncle whose machine you inherited.

Desktop OpenMe asks for the nickname your uncle gave you — enter Guppy. Run DE_Installer.exe to install the Desktop Explorer app, then follow Pizarro’s short tutorial into Puzzle 0.

Puzzle 0–2: build the password habit

Puzzle 0’s README.npg explains how passwords show up in text. Puzzle 1’s LostOnTheShore.stp ends with fortuna. Puzzle 2’s long_scroll.npg ends with Inanna. Log every new lock on the passwords page so Temple / Maxine reuse does not force a replay.

When the numbered gates get weird

Puzzle 3 needs window resizing for Elephas — use the Puzzle 3 solution if the elephant silhouette will not appear. Puzzle 5 needs dual runes + renaming key.err → .img for Portonus. Puzzle 10 needs Color Lens security answers — see Puzzle 10.

Self-debug before spoilers

Re-read the newest .stp, toggle Hidden Files, check Properties Author, try Source view, and Back into earlier folders for new drops. Half of mid-Halibut “bugs” are intentional backtrack plants.

If a password “doesn’t work,” confirm capitalization and spelling from the clue file — Fortuna / Inanna / Elephas / Salve / Portonus / Kassandra / Rubicon are easy to mistype after long sessions.

Open the right solution page

Puzzle 3 Elephas resize · Puzzle 4 Source Salve · Puzzle 5 Portonus rename · Puzzle 6 MMTT Properties · Puzzle 9 stacked stones · Puzzle 10 Color Lens Q&A · Hourglass Temple blue lockbox.

Save hygiene for beginners

Do not delete “useless” images from earlier Puzzle folders — Puzzle 8–9 plant new files behind you, and WasteBin restores matter in the finale. Prefer quitting to desktop over force-closing mid-rename.

After the first intentional crash, expect new login options over time. Continue the walkthrough instead of starting a fresh save unless you are speedrunning.

Rename and extension traps

Puzzle 5 teaches renaming extensions. If Windows-style habits make you rename only the label, the Big Door stays shut — always change .err to .img inside the game.

Hidden Files discipline

Whenever a note mentions revealing or darkness, toggle Hidden Files before guessing. Puzzle 7 and the path into Puzzle 9 both gate on that single menu item.

Where to read next

Continue with the walkthrough Act A, keep passwords open, and use Discord only after you tried the matching puzzle page.