Pleurghburg Problem

[MP]

I'm trying to call the numbers in the phone book you get off of Zack Reed on the roof top. It just keeps saying "Why would I want to dial that number right now?" (Or something close to that). I've made sure I typed the number correctly and included the - after the 555. I checked the walkthrough and I've done everything except for one spot. At the van crash I interacted with the manhole and saw the liquid, but I didn't collect it before leaving. This is the only thing I didn't do, but I can't go back because the crash disappeared. So did I manage to find the only way to get stuck in this game? Or am I just missing something? Any ideas?

[Gilbert]

Hmmm are you sure you have done talking with your boss?

[flinnt]

I had that problem, but it ended up i just wasn't typing in the numbers correctly. Do it 'exactly' as it is written on the paper. For example i wasnt including the - maybe you are putting spaces in where you shouldnt or not putting them in where you should........ ? (I didn't collect the liquid either - but this isnt necessary anyway as there are several different endings to the story......)

[Major_Gilbear]

Sorry for digging up an old topic, but I thought I might as well keep all the relevant questions together for future reference...

I'm at the number-dialling stage too, and I cannot dial any of the numbers successfully either.
I have spoken to my boss and everything.
I have also dialled all seven numbers with the "-", with a space, and with no space. IOW I have dialled every combo (including EXACTLY as they appear) and non seem to work; I just keep getting the "Why would I want to dial that number right now?" message!

I'd appreciate it if somebody could please help, perhaps even posting a single exaple of how the number should be dialled?
I'd rather not use the Walkthrough as they tend to give away far too much as you search for your solution  :

Thanks in advance.

[ggp]

I agree about looking through walkthroughs for answers....you normally end up seeing something that gives away the next part.
However without knowing exactly what youve done so far its hard to know what to tell you.

Spoiler

I take it Zack is dead, you've got the little red phonebook off of him, you've spoken to your boss about Zack, and shown him the phone book ? If so you should be able to dial the numbers. I had the same problem with dialing them, although for me it was that i wasn't putting the '-' in. Maybe in this case you will have to refer to the walkthrough to check you've done everything else so far. Sorry.

[close]

[Major_Gilbear]

Thanks for the reply; Yes I did everything you suggest in the hidden text.

Hmm, well I'll give it another go, and then check the WT. I'll let you know how I get on.

If anybody else in the meantime wants to chip in with an idea/comment/help please feel free!

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EDIT:

Okay, I managed it in the end, and didn't need the WT.

This is what I tried in order for it to work, though I am unsure how much of it is "essential" to getting the phone to dial.

Spoiler

1) I found that this games runs a bit shakily. Sometimes, quitting the game and then going back helps.

2) You need to check the book when you are in the same room as the phone. This may not hold true, but was one of the things I tried just in case.

3) You must put the "-" that the phone book displays in, or the number won't be recognised. For example, dial "555-987654" instead of "555987654".

[close]

Note, that I'd already tried (3) earlier, but thought I'd add it for completeness' sake.

Hope that this helps anyone else having this problem in the future.