With the copy/delete missions, I think that the reason for a given computer being wiped is either that you wiped it yourself earlier in the game, you wiped it using a different character, or the game is trying to simulate other hackers being active in the setting by occasionally wiping a few computers of moving funds around (which I suspect is how the game was able to steal money from one of my spare bank accounts). Anyway, if this happens with a delete mission, feel free to email them and steal the credit; the game only checks to see if the files are present, not that you were the one responsible. If this happens with a copy mission, the only advice I have is to either bail upon learning that the computer is wiped or do recon on the target after asking the employer who the target is.

As for servers, it depends on what kind of missions you are being given. If you are just being tasked with deleting files, then you should be ok. The problem is that sometimes the game wants you to delete the files, the *destroy* the computer, which you can do by deleting the sys data then forcing a reboot (can't remember the commands, but typing "help" in the console should list them); if you just delete the files, that won't cut it for the client, since they want you to pretty much obliterate the computer to foil any hope of data recovery.

For stealing a lot of files, I'd imagine you'd have to have all the data on your HDD all at once, since you have to attach them all in the same email to confirm the job is done (presumably, anyway; I never tried them).

As for the modem, it gives you more bandwidth so that your Gateway operates faster; programs work faster, downloading and deleting work faster, etc.

I'm with you on the manual. There is an in game help page on the Uplink web site, but it can be a bastard to interpret. There's also an in-game IRC client that you have to pay in game money for (too much, in my opinion) that would allow you to talk to other players; the problem is that 1.) it depends on you understanding IRC, and (2) the channel seems to be very quiet these days. Thankfully, this site does a decent job of helping get your head around the basic mechanics.

Glad you're enjoying the game. I played it around the time of release so I don't remember all the details, but I will try and adress your points in order.

1. The game world is populated with lots of different servers and most of them can be part of a generated mission. That means the same server can be part of several missions, even with conflicting objectives (one mission being "delete file", the other being "copy file"). It is a good idea to take on a batch of missions at the same time, then compare them all to see if there are conflicts you can avoid by doing them in a particular order (ie "copy" before "deleting" the same file). Be aware of that if you do not take on a particular mission, the game will pretend another agent eventually will. It is possible that you have accepted missions that are impossible to complete because an NPC agent has already deleted the data you need.

If the mission requires you to delete a file and you can't find it on the server, just send a blank reply to your mission provider and you will be paid because obviously the file has been deleted at some point. If you are supposed to copy a file that no longer exists, there is nothing you can do but abandon the mission.

2. Destroying databases is nice and easy, but you have to wait until the event is reported in the news before informing your client. This can take many hours. Make sure you wait long enough. Also be sure that the news report actually reports all data being lost, not just that someone hacked their servers or something. If you have carried out missions against the same company earlier in the day the news article may reflect those jobs, not the complete destruction of all data on one of their servers.

I do not think there are bugs that make these missions impossible to complete. I never had problems like that.

3. You must be able to send all files in one email when copying databases, so you need to be able to store the complete set on your harddrive, meaning those high end missions require high end gateways.

4. Modems affect download speeds, but the gain from upgrading is so utterly marginal you won't tell the difference unless you're really paying attention. In practice you are never going to need to save milliseconds downloading files. You're right, more and faster CPUs affect almost everything yoiu do on any mission, which is how you really save seconds or even minutes on tougher missions.

5. No manual? Have the ultimate guide to everything there is to know about the game instead! http://guide.modlink.net/

I tried doing another one of those kinds of missions again using the guide you and Sufyan posted but I'm still getting the same problem. The guide says to hack into the system, go to the console, type "cd usr" and then "delete" to delete all the files. Then afterwards type "shutdown" to shutdown and restart the server, clear your logs then watch the news feeds and when the system you destroyed comes up, reply to the e mail. I did exactly that but there is no news about the company server I hacked at all and I followed the guide to the letter. I just don't know what else to do with those missions. Yeah, that's what I assumed but I didn't notice much difference. I now have a Trinity gateway with the fastest moden it can handle but there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference between that one and the one I started out with. That what I've been doing since since I started my 5th profile. I found the first part of the game went a lot smoother when I did this Problem is I followed the guide in the link you posted to the letter regarding those missions but the news link doesn't show up at all. I hacked in, got to the console, deleted all the files, shutdown the server, deleted by logs waited on the news server but nothing. I just don't know whats going wrong. Do I need to attack all servers the company owns and not just the one in the e mail? Looks like I'll be skipping those missions then Yeah, I noticed, but upgrading the moden isn't too expensive later in the game anyways so might as well do it if you have the cash to burn. That guide was very helpful but unfortunately I'm still having a few problems. I addation to the destroy the server missions, I can't get the games main story missions to start. According to the guide, if I tried logging on to the ARC mainframe with the ID the deceased agent left in his e mail, I would get an e mail from ARC in two weeks time but that never happened. When I got the mission, I was in a bit of a cash crunch and ended up putting it off unill I could get some cash for better hardware. I can't remember how much ingame time past but it was more than 2 weeks I'm sure. Have a completely locked myself out of the main game by not acting on that e mail right away?

I also really wonder what the police are like in the world of uplink. After altering a persons criminal record for the dumbest things, you would think someone would catch on. I can just imagine the look on the poor guys face that the cops are breaking down his door for "crimes" like wetting the bed, kicking puppies, fondling kittens, shouting at lamposts, bending spoons and refusing to eat pie. As long as you have "broke parole" in there, you can get anyone arrested for anything. BTW, I'm now morally bankrupt :)

After deleting the usr directory, try "cd sys", then delete again then shut down. If that doesn't work, give it a day or two for news to sow up on the Uplink board. Just to be sure, though, could you upload the text of the missions you are having trouble with? I suspect that they are requiring deleting sys data, but raw data would help make sure.

It worked that time except when I did that, I couldn't go back in the server to delete the logs and got disavowed after about a week in game time. Was I supposed to delete everything in the console using "cd sys" first, disconnect, log back in, delete the logs then go back to the console, type "cd sys" and delete everything?

Damn, I had my gateway fully upgraded too :P

Veteran Uplink players always delete the logs at the "Internic" server because it is easily hackable. Use it as your first bounce point in any hack, then you have several minutes, maybe hours, to delete or edit log entries. They can look, but their chase will always end at the internic server, just one bounce short of your gateway.

You don't need to delete the logs on the mark, you just need to delete the logs on an intervening computer. The Uplink test machine or, more commonly, the Internic machine are safe to use as an initial jump point since you can hack into them and alter their logs with impunity.

Incidentally, if you want to avoid surprise game overs, you can back up the save file for the game. More of a personal preference thing, but figured you'd want to know.

Thanks guys, that solved all my problems so far. Big fat +1's to you both :)

No problem. I definitely feel your pain on this one; Uplink is novel, but its minimalist approach to explaining itself can get damned infuriating.