I wanted to try to win this without a walkthrough, and I've already used walkthroughs twice! Currently only near the beginning of chapter four too...
Used one to get the detective's eye, and one for the cups game. Both are something I should've been able to figure out myself, especially the cups game!
Also, in a review the last part of the "key on subway tracks" puzzle was spoiled for me. I'd like to think I would have been able to solve it myself, but who knows....

The official website used to have a nice "hints and tips" section, which only gives you hints and not outright solutions, but it has recently been removed. You can still find it using the internet wayback machine here.

Thanks for the link! Unfortunately it wasn't enough to help me figure out what to do with the crystals puzzle in Chapter seven. I got the rings on my own, but went down too many false paths with the crystals and had too google the sollution :(
I'm so dumb.

Hey Kalirion,
I know exactly how you feel, been in your position many a time: swearing not to use a walkthrough... then I give in after being stuck for a good while - quite sad really :P
Here is a website for you though that I find far less weighing on the soul for adventure games; it gives you only hints, revealed one by one, until, if you desire it, the full solution. It is rather useful, for sometimes one only needs that little questioning nudge the website gives to realise: "oh, right, that's obvious, stupid me" - I've had plenty of moments like that, hehe.
Anyways, here's the website - I think it's one of the best aid systems around for adventure games: http://www.uhs-hints.com/ [url=][/url]

I've completed the game several times and I've never understood the logic behind the rings and crystals... the first time I played it I solved both just by brute force (tried every combination until it worked), on later occasions I've just used a walkthrough.

Except for the fact that two symbols seem to be misplaced, the rest of the puzzle is quite logical, IMO...
** SPOILER **
EDIT: see attachement for what I think was the logic behind it all. What they HAVE screwed up was replacing "D" on the D crystal with "B" and putting "D" on the B crystal... or something like that. It's been quite some time since I last played TLJ...
Also - the symbol placement might have been fixed by a later patch, but I've never gotten to see it, since I originally played the Polish version.
** / SPOILER **

There was no bug in my version (I'm playing the 4CD version BTW, not GOG version). My problem was:
*SPOILERS*
1. Tried facing the crystals to their own slot tags
2. After misunderstanding some hints, tried facing the crystals towards OTHER crystals so the faces of two crystals facing each other would match (this proved to be impossible btw).
3. Got fed up and looked up the step-by-step directions, after which I FINALLY understood what it was I was supposed to do - face the crystals to the neighboring tags, not other crystals...
That's a great site, thanks! Looks like Hint #5 would've done it for me in this case...

If you can - post a screenshot of the solved puzzle. I'm curious to see if it really WAS fixed...
I'd still encourage you to avoid walkthroughs and tips at all cost. Every time you look makes it easier to look again... Trust me - I know the feeling too well.
Bah - most of the time if I can't figure something out, that means that I should either FINALLY get some sleep or take my mind off the game for a while.

Sorry, I no longer have a saved game near that point...
Yeah, I've noticed that too. However if I've spent an hour on a puzzle, where I don't know if I missed some item 5 screens away, or am just going around about using the items I already have all wrong... I really don't want to spend more hours trying to figure it out.

** Obviously - spoilers **
The place is a DESERT, for crying out loud ! What did you expect ;) ?
** /spoilers **
Nah - I think it wasn't meant to be dificult. On that not - it's not really a difficult adventure game either. It's all about the atmosphere, the story and character development. That's the reason I refused to solve the puzzles until I've scoured every interactive thing the game had to offer and talked to every person over and over in hope of hearing new stuff...
It's a lot more obvious in Dreamfall - the game is REALLY easy but sucks you in better than quicksand...