i need help in the lab

ok i have turned on the burner and collected the magnet, as well as clicked on everything in the lab but i looked at a walkthrough and its telling me to use the magnet and string on the drain when u first enter the lab but when i try to do it nothing happens cuz the curser doesnt turn orange indicating that there is nothing to examine. Someone please help me

There are several other steps you need to take before you can use the magnet on the string in the lab. First you need to gain entry into the secret room in the Archives. After you are in the secret room you will see the need for the key that is in the drain in the lab, until then the game will not let you try.

I've gained entry to the secret room, but can't work out how to get passed the massive doors which I'm guessing leads to the lab....any help would be muchly appreciated....

To open the massive doors you need to use the magnets you get from the archives and place them in a pattern that matches the Triangle (its thegame beside the doors)

lisamarieb23,is the archives the steel door where the key broke off? If not,could you please tell how you get in that doorwith the broken key? ive tried every thing.