Hidden Valley computer virus

Overview
Hidden Valley computer virus is related to Still in the Dark and needs to be fixed to gain relevant data for helping Hardin to oust McNamara.

Walkthrough
The Brotherhood found a holodisk while searching the wastes for technology. When it was put onto the system, it infected their database terminals with a virus. The virus was originally put on a holodisk by "some pre-war guy with nothing better to do", as said by the annoyed Scribe Ibsen. The computer virus infected a few computers in the bunker, and the Courier is asked by Ibsen to 'partition' the virus for Ibsen.

The Courier must find the Virus on 3 terminals in 60 seconds to wipe it from the system. To do so, quickly enter each terminal and choose the only option you can. Then, if the text that shows up seems like a random string of letters and numbers, proceed to the next terminal. If you get a taunting message on the second screen, choose the option to isolate the virus. The infected terminals are almost always in a row or close together in a group. The virus usually has one per section(such as 1 in the middle). If you do not get all 3 terminals in the time limit, you will have to speak with Scribe Ibsen again. You will get a new 60 seconds and the terminals that the virus has infected will randomize. You can try taking the chem Turbo to gain a few extra seconds.

If you have a high enough Science skill (70) you can suggest partitioning the terminals when the virus jumps to it, giving read only access to the kernel administrator. This isolates the virus on that terminal permanently and leaves you with one fewer terminal to find should you fail.

The virus can be partitioned easily by saving immediately after Ibsen tells you it has jumped and after finding and isolating the virus. The terminals the virus jumped to will be consistent when you re-load the saved game. Note that the virus can jump to the terminal Ibsen is standing in front of.

Or, when you find one that has the virus, press isolate virus three times and it should purge it (confirmed working on the Xbox 360, with the latest patch, as of November 23, 2010) [works on patched PC version {as of Nov. 2010}] [Confirmed PS3 nov. 7 & Dec 15] (Confirmed Xbox360 Dec. 27)

Bugs
If you choose the dialogue associated with a high science skill, you're able to partition terminals which the virus jumps to. After you partition 3 terminals, the quest cannot advance any further. No other terminals will have the virus jump to it, and you're not given a solution to the quest in any way. This bug is conditional, yet the conditions are still unknown (Could be from using a magazine before you have a high enough skill level). (Confirmed) (Can occur without magazine usage as well) (Also confirmed without using magazine or other stat booster). Bug is still present after the 1.01 patch. Bug confirmed once more on X360. Virus is isolated on all three terminals after choosing the partition option. (This may be because I saw the option in dialogue, left the dialogue, went elsewhere and leveled up my science, came back, found the option again, and then successfully unlocked the partition option only to find that it didn't work.)

Possible work around. Help with the virus problem without the science test, did one round of trying to find the infected terminals, saved, brought up the science dialogue, then got all the terminals paritioned in 2 rounds of trying. It could be just doing the non-science speech option first, then selecting the science option is all you need to do, but the above is exactly what I did when I got it to work.(Confirmed)

FIX/WORKAROUND: In the G.E.C.K., find the entry HVHuntingVirusScript. Open it and change the line "if VirusTimer > 0.0 && NumberFixed == 3" (without the quotes) to "if VirusTimer > 0.0 && NumberFixed >= 3" (again, without the quotes). Save the file to your Fallout New Vegas/Data folder, and load it as you would any mod/DLC from the launcher. Talk to Ibsen to start the virus count, and check one of the already partitioned terminals. Ibsen will then announce the virus is purged, and the terminals will work.

Alternative workaround- Get hopped up on turbo and do it the old fashioned way. Should be able to get to all of the terminals the first time. (Confirmed for the PS3)

Occasionally, the virus will not appear on any computer after beginning the quest. As you are unable to locate the virus on any terminal, you are unable to finish the quest.

After several tries a scenario arose where all 3 terminals had been found and isolated. This however did not cause Ibsen to react, and merely stated the Virus had jumped again a few seconds later. The next try was confusingly won after only 2 terminals had been isolated. The save exploit had not been used either.

After several tries and isolating the 3 viruses (before the time's over) multiple times, Ibsen did not say the virus had been purged (Confirmed PS3). If you press to isolate one virus three times quickly, Ibsen says the virus had gone (Unconfirmed)

December 12 - New patch fixes these glitches. Isolating the viruses without using the 70 science option or by using it now works. If you already partitioned all three segments of the virus before this patch was released then you might be in trouble. Because there is no more virus segments to partition, you cannot fix the databases. However, you might try talking to the scribe who tells you to isolate the viruses to fix this problem. I haven't tried it so I don't know if it works

December 18 - This unmarked side quest is certainly glitched/bugged but I got it with the latest patch, this was my way of doing it: I did the science speech check the let him start his 1 minute of checking. I searched for the specific terminal that said: "Have you found the other two yet?" then I let the minute go by and after that I checked the terminal again and checked the partition ONCE. Then I asked Ibsen again and looked for the terminal that said: "ha ha suckers catch me if you can!" then let the minute go by again and checked that terminal also ONCE. Then did the last one that said: "your time is running out!..." and did not wait this one out but checked the partition right after the text disappeared that said that I locked that part. Then the terminal closed and Ibsen said we had all three. Hope this helps and good luck! *Also now confirmed on PS3