Grand fans Theft Auto 4 are faced with an unpleasant situation when, after installation, the game does not start. Or errors appear during the installation process. Let's figure out what the reason is and fix the problem. The methods outlined in the article are suitable not only for Grand Theft Auto 4. If this is not enough, the problem remains unresolved, read other materials on the site.

Grand Theft Auto 4 won't install

If Grand Theft Auto 4 won't install, check to see if you have enough free space on your hard drive. The distribution requires free space, so a few gigabytes of extra space will not hurt. Many modern games require a significant amount of space.

Grand Theft Auto 4 installation is blocked by antivirus

Often, anti-virus programs, in the fight against viruses, protecting our computer from external threats, for security purposes, block numerous processes performed by the operating system. Sometimes such security is so strong that the antivirus blocks access not only to viruses, but also suspends some normal processes, perhaps by mistake, considering them potentially vulnerable. Disable your antivirus during installation.

Cleaning your computer and rebooting

Sometimes, a simple system reboot can immediately solve many problems that arise both during the installation of games and their subsequent operation. The same goes for programs and applications. There are many reasons: the computer is full of garbage, the system cache is full, the maximum permissible number of simultaneously running processes, perhaps some are frozen and are not running, but they put a strain on the system. Cleaning your computer and rebooting will fix the situation.

No Internet access

Some game clients require an Internet connection during the installation process, providing access to the installation server or update server. Make sure the connection is good, and if there is no Internet, be prepared for problems when installing Grand Theft Auto 4. It’s good if the system displays an error message. And if there is none, you can think for a long time and wonder why the toy is not installed.

Grand Theft Auto 4 won't start

Before looking for reasons why Grand Theft Auto 4 does not start, make sure that the installation itself was successful. Otherwise, if there were failures during the installation process, but at the same time the game was installed, it is impossible to guarantee subsequent launch and performance. If it starts, you're lucky. What will happen next is unknown. Review the installation process.

Reinstalling the game

Many gamers have more than once encountered a situation where they had to reinstall games. Apparently this is the case where re-installing Grand Theft Auto 4 will fix the problem. It is unknown what this is connected with, perhaps the antivirus or firewall “ate” some files or something else during installation, but after installing the game again, it starts and works. Uninstall Grand Theft Auto 4 and reinstall it, paying attention to every detail during this process. Perhaps at some point the program will request additional files, etc.

There are times when installing on top of an already installed game solves the situation. The installer may prompt you to update the files. Thus, there is no need for removal. Well, something like this.

Searching for information by error text

Another option. Problems when starting Grand Theft Auto 4 are usually accompanied by a corresponding system message. Enter the text of the error in the search, as a result of which you will receive the most detailed answer, and, moreover, related to this specific problem. Actually, the solution will not be long in coming. This way you can pinpoint the cause and fix the problem.

By the way, for some reason I always forget about this. Until I turn over the whole computer. But this one the method works 92%. You just need to enter the text into the search and find a useful article. This way you will definitely solve the problem, there is no need to send the PC to the workshop ahead of time and carry additional expenses. There is a lot of useful material on the Internet - study it.

Running Grand Theft Auto 4 as administrator

Run the game as administrator. In our case, to run Grand Theft Auto 4 as an administrator, you need to right-click on the game shortcut and select Run as administrator. Subsequently, if this method helps solve the problem, make it the default. Open the Shortcut Properties, in the Compatibility tab, and check the box Run this program as administrator.

Grand Theft Auto 4 is not compatible with the system

Another obstacle to running Grand Theft Auto 4 may be incompatibility with your operating system. In this case, still there, in the Shortcut Properties, add a checkbox Run the program in compatibility mode, select the desired OS from the drop-down list.

.NET Framework not installed

A very serious problem with running Grand Theft Auto 4 is the lack of the .NET Framework library installed on the computer, which ensures the launch and maintains the functionality of programs and applications, including games. This is a prerequisite and Microsoft .NET Framework must be installed on your PC.

There are different versions of the .NET Framework. The presence of any one of them on the computer cannot sufficiently guarantee the correct operation of the program. If, for example, the library is already installed on your computer, but the game requires it, download and install it. Restart your PC. The previous version will not be deleted or overwritten. They will simply work together.

Use programs that will prepare your computer for the game to run properly and help you avoid many problems and errors.

Availability of DirectX

Perhaps the most important condition, the requirement that must be met for games, including Grand Theft Auto 4, is to have . Without it, not a single toy will work. Almost all distributions that require DirectX installed already include this set.

As a rule, DirectX is installed automatically during installation. If it is not included in the distribution, download and install it. It is not necessary to do this before installation, you can do it after, but it is simply necessary to have it on your computer. Download links are located above.

What to do if Grand Theft Auto 4 doesn't work?

Do not despair if you have already tried all the methods and nothing helps, the game does not work. Perhaps these tips will seem too vague, incomprehensible, errors are still present. Review again, did you do everything correctly? If necessary, download another Grand Theft Auto 4 distribution; if you purchased it in a store, contact the seller (manufacturer) for help. Maybe the disk is damaged or something is missing. This is normal, quite natural, this happens. Use another distribution and install the game again.

As a last resort, there are situations when the operating system is still incompatible with Grand Theft Auto 4. Update the system using Windows (via Update Center). The game will work. If the manufacturer has indicated compatibility, then he is responsible for it. Update your operating system.

Reinstalling the OS is a last resort. Not sure about statements like "the operating system is pirated... the build... will not work..." or "the toy is hacked, pirated - throw it away...". A point that is worth your attention is to remember whether similar problems have arisen with other games, in particular similar to Grand Theft Auto 4. And if problems were observed, this indicates that perhaps it’s time to update something in the system or reinstall . Thank you for attention!

Other materials

Popular GTA game IV was released in 2006, but to this day it is very popular among connoisseurs of shooters and car simulators. The developers did a great job and added a radar, combat system, GPS. However, many players began to often ask the question: why does GTA 4 crash on startup? In our article we will look at the key causes of problems in the game.

Reasons why your favorite game GTA IV crashes during launch

So, GTA 4 is installed, but it is impossible to play it. There may be several reasons for this.

• The absence of such components on the licensed version of the program as xlive.dll and Social Club. Therefore, it is worth trying to install all the libraries and programs.
• Users of the pirated version are faced with a problem in the tablet game. The reasons for the failure of the crack are as follows: it has lost its relevance; the antivirus program detected the hacked file as a Trojan and quickly eliminated it; There was an incorrect hacking of the program.

Apart from the bugs, GTA IV may be too powerful for your computer. This problem is often solved by simply rebooting the device.

Other difficulties in the game

In addition, you may encounter the following difficulties.

1. GTA 4 crashes after the splash screen. This problem occurs as a result of changes and additions to the game. The solution is to reinstall the game. To do this, you need to ensure that the installation file is compatible with the system.
2. A black screen appears after startup. Often after startup a black screen appears that cannot be removed. This occurs due to installed add-ons that will have to be removed to solve the problem. Most often, difficulties arise with XLiveLess. It should be replaced with the old version of asi-loader.
3. Critical error called RC20. To fix the error, you need to install a new patch and remove the latest installed mods. After that, go to the folder with the game and right-click on the LaunchGTA4 file to select compatibility with Windows Vista in the properties. Next, the game is reinstalled from the official website.

Backups of important files must be made before installing new mods and patches. Open pc/models in the game folder and copy the contents to the cdimages folder. Similar manipulations are performed with the data folder located in the common directory. Files from there also need to be saved.

Be sure to save saves located in the Documents and Settings folder. In order not to lose the entire game process, from time to time you will have to save folders to external types of media.

If you find an atypical error, you can always find a solution on the official website of the Rockstar game.

We have described the main GTA 4 crash errors. However, if you are unable to figure out a problem on your own, you should seek help from professionals.

Unfortunately, games have flaws: stutters, low FPS, crashes, freezes, bugs and other minor and not so minor errors. Often problems begin even before the game starts, when it does not install, does not load, or does not even download. And the computer itself sometimes does weird things, and then in GTA 4 there’s a black screen instead of a picture, the controls don’t work, you can’t hear the sound or anything else.

What to do first

1. Download and run the world famous CCleaner(download via direct link) - this is a program that will clean your computer of unnecessary garbage, as a result of which the system will work faster after the first reboot;
2. Update all drivers on the system using the program Driver Updater(download via direct link) - it will scan your computer and update all drivers to the latest version in 5 minutes;
3. Install Advanced System Optimizer(download via direct link) and enable game mode in it, which will end useless background processes while launching games and improve performance in the game.

The second thing to do if you encounter any problems with GTA 4 is to check the system requirements. In a good way, you need to do this before purchasing, so as not to regret the money spent.

Minimum system requirements for Grand Theft Auto 4:

Windows XP, Intel Core 2 DUO, 1.5 Gb RAM, 16 Gb HDD, nVidia GeForce 7900 256 Mb

Every gamer should at least have a little understanding of components, know why a video card, processor and other things are needed in the system unit.

Files, drivers and libraries

Almost every device in a computer requires a set of special software. These are drivers, libraries and other files that ensure the correct operation of the computer.

You should start with the drivers for your video card. Modern graphics cards are made by only two large companies- Nvidia and AMD. Having found out which product drives the coolers in the system unit, we go to the official website and download the latest driver package:

A prerequisite for the successful operation of Grand Theft Auto 4 is the availability of the latest drivers for all devices in the system. Download the utility Driver Updater to download easily and quickly latest versions drivers and install them with one click:

If Grand Theft Auto 4 does not start, we recommend that you try to disable your antivirus or put the game in the antivirus exceptions, and also check again for compliance with the system requirements, and if something from your build does not comply, then, if possible, improve your PC by purchasing more powerful components.

In GTA 4 there is a black screen, a white screen, a color screen. Solution

Problems with screens of different colors can be divided into 2 categories.

Firstly, they often involve using two video cards at once. For example, if your motherboard has a built-in video card, but you play on a discrete one, then Grand Theft Auto 4 may run for the first time on the built-in one, but you will not see the game itself, because the monitor is connected to a discrete video card.

Secondly, color screens occur when there are problems with displaying images on the screen. This can happen for various reasons. For example, Grand Theft Auto 4 cannot work through an outdated driver or does not support the video card. Also, a black/white screen may appear when working at resolutions that are not supported by the game.

Grand Theft Auto 4 crashes. At a specific or random moment. Solution

You play for yourself, play and then - bam! - everything goes out, and now in front of you is a desktop without any hint of a game. Why is this happening? To solve the problem, you should try to figure out what the nature of the problem is.

If a crash occurs at a random moment in time without any pattern, then with a 99% probability we can say that this is a bug of the game itself. In this case, it is very difficult to fix something, and the best thing to do is just put Grand Theft Auto 4 aside and wait for the patch.

However, if you know exactly at what moments the crash occurs, then you can continue the game, avoiding situations that provoke a crash.

However, if you know exactly at what moments the crash occurs, then you can continue the game, avoiding situations that provoke a crash. In addition, you can download a Grand Theft Auto 4 save and bypass the departure location.

Grand Theft Auto 4 freezes. The picture freezes. Solution

The situation is approximately the same as with crashes: many freezes are directly related to the game itself, or rather to the developer’s mistake when creating it. However, often a frozen picture can become a starting point for investigating the deplorable state of a video card or processor.

So if the picture freezes in Grand Theft Auto 4, then use programs to display statistics on component loading. Perhaps your video card has long exhausted its working life or the processor is heating up to dangerous temperatures?

The easiest way to check the load and temperatures for the video card and processors is in the MSI Afterburner program. If you wish, you can even display these and many other parameters on top of the Grand Theft Auto 4 image.

What temperatures are dangerous? Processors and video cards have different operating temperatures. For video cards they are usually 60-80 degrees Celsius. For processors it is slightly lower - 40-70 degrees. If the processor temperature is higher, then you should check the condition of the thermal paste. It may have already dried out and needs to be replaced.

If the video card is heating up, then you should use a driver or an official utility from the manufacturer. It is necessary to increase the number of revolutions of the coolers and check whether the operating temperature decreases.

Grand Theft Auto 4 is slow. Low FPS. Frame rate drops. Solution

If there are slowdowns and low frame rates in GTA 4, the first thing to do is lower the graphics settings. Of course, there are many of them, so before reducing everything, it’s worth finding out exactly how certain settings affect performance.

Screen resolution. In short, this is the number of points that make up the game picture. The higher the resolution, the higher the load on the video card. However, the increase in load is insignificant, so you should reduce the screen resolution only as a last resort, when everything else no longer helps.

Texture quality. Typically, this setting determines the resolution of texture files. The texture quality should be reduced if the video card has a small amount of video memory (less than 4 GB) or if you are using a very old hard drive with a spindle speed of less than 7200.

Model quality(sometimes just detailing). This setting determines which set of 3D models will be used in the game. The higher the quality, the more polygons. Accordingly, high-poly models require more processing power from the video card (not to be confused with the amount of video memory!), which means this parameter should be reduced on video cards with low core or memory frequencies.

Shadows. They are implemented in different ways. In some games, shadows are created dynamically, that is, they are calculated in real time at every second of the game. Such dynamic shadows load both the processor and the video card. For optimization purposes, developers often abandon full rendering and add pre-rendered shadows to the game. They are static, because essentially they are just textures overlaid on top of the main textures, which means they load memory, and not the video card core.

Often developers add additional settings related to shadows:

• Shadow Resolution - Determines how detailed the shadow cast by an object will be. If the game has dynamic shadows, it loads the video card core, and if a pre-created render is used, then it “eats” the video memory.
• Soft shadows - smooths out unevenness in the shadows themselves, usually this option is given along with dynamic shadows. Regardless of the type of shadows, it loads the video card in real time.

Smoothing. Allows you to get rid of ugly corners on the edges of objects through the use of a special algorithm, the essence of which usually comes down to generating several images at once and comparing them, calculating the most “smooth” picture. There are many different anti-aliasing algorithms that differ in the level of impact on the performance of GTA 4.

For example, MSAA works head-on, creating 2, 4 or 8 renders at once, so the frame rate is reduced by 2, 4 or 8 times, respectively. Algorithms like FXAA and TAA work a little differently, achieving a smooth image by calculating only the edges and using some other tricks. Thanks to this, they do not reduce performance as much.

Lighting. As with anti-aliasing, there are different algorithms for lighting effects: SSAO, HBAO, HDAO. They all use video card resources, but they do it differently depending on the video card itself. The fact is that the HBAO algorithm was promoted mainly on video cards from Nvidia (GeForce line), so it works best on “green” ones. HDAO, on the contrary, is optimized for video cards from AMD. SSAO is the simplest type of lighting, it consumes the least resources, so in case of brakes in Grand Theft Auto 4 it is worth switching to it.

What to reduce first? Shadows, anti-aliasing and lighting effects tend to take the most work, so these are the best places to start.

Gamers often have to optimize GTA 4 themselves. For almost all major releases, there are various relevant forums where users share their ways to improve performance.

One of them is a special program called Advanced System Optimizer. It is made specifically for those who do not want to manually clean their computer of various temporary files, delete unnecessary registry entries and edit the startup list. Advanced System Optimizer does this for you and also analyzes your computer to find ways to improve performance in apps and games.

GTA 4 lags. Large delay when playing. Solution

Many people confuse “brakes” with “lags,” but these problems have completely different causes. Grand Theft Auto 4 slows down when the frame rate at which the image is displayed on the monitor decreases, and lags when the delay in accessing the server or any other host is too high.

This is why “lags” can only happen in online games. The reasons are different: bad network code, physical distance from servers, network congestion, incorrectly configured router, low speed Internet connections.

However, the latter happens least often. In online games, communication between client and server occurs through the exchange of relatively short messages, so even 10 MB per second should be enough.

Grand Theft Auto 4 has no sound. Can not hear anything. Solution

GTA 4 works, but for some reason does not sound - this is another problem that gamers face. Of course, you can play like this, but it’s still better to figure out what’s going on.

First you need to determine the scale of the problem. Where exactly is there no sound - only in the game or even on the computer? If only in a game, then perhaps this is due to the fact that the sound card is very old and does not support DirectX.

If there is no sound at all, then the problem is definitely in the computer settings. Perhaps the sound card drivers are installed incorrectly, or maybe there is no sound due to some specific error in our beloved Windows OS.

Controls don't work in Grand Theft Auto 4. Grand Theft Auto 4 does not recognize mouse, keyboard or gamepad. Solution

How to play if it is impossible to control the process? Problems with supporting specific devices are inappropriate here, because we are talking about familiar devices - a keyboard, mouse and controller.

Thus, errors in the game itself are practically excluded; the problem is almost always on the user's side. You can solve it in different ways, but, one way or another, you will have to contact the driver. Usually, when you connect a new device, the operating system immediately tries to use one of the standard drivers, but some models of keyboards, mice and gamepads are incompatible with them.

Thus, you need to find out the exact model of the device and try to find its driver. Devices from well-known gaming brands often come with their own software packages, since the standard Windows driver simply cannot ensure the correct operation of all functions of a particular device.

If you don’t want to search for drivers for all devices separately, you can use the program Driver Updater. It is designed to automatically search for drivers, so you only need to wait for the scan results and download the necessary drivers in the program interface.

Sometimes brakes in GTA 4 can be caused by viruses. In this case, it makes no difference how powerful the video card is in the system unit. You can scan your computer and clean it of viruses and other unwanted software using special programs. For example NOD32. The antivirus has proven itself with best side and have been approved by millions of users around the world.

ZoneAlarm is suitable for both personal use and small businesses, capable of protecting a computer running Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP from any attacks: phishing, viruses, malware, spyware and other cyber threats . New users are given a 30-day free trial.

Nod32 is an antivirus from ESET, which has received many awards for its contribution to security development. Versions of antivirus programs are available on the developer’s website for both PCs and mobile devices, a 30-day trial is provided. There are special conditions for business.

Grand Theft Auto 4 downloaded from a torrent does not work. Solution

Using such versions of games is not only inconvenient, but even dangerous, because very often many files in them have been changed. For example, to bypass protection, pirates modify the EXE file. At the same time, no one knows what else they do with it. Perhaps they are building in a self-executing software. For example, when the game is first launched, it will integrate into the system and use its resources to ensure the well-being of hackers. Or, giving access to the computer to third parties. There are no guarantees here and cannot be.

In addition, the use of pirated versions is, in the opinion of our publication, theft. The developers spent a lot of time creating the game, investing their own money in the hope that their brainchild would pay off. And every work must be paid.

Therefore, if any problems arise with games downloaded from torrents or hacked using one or another means, you should immediately remove the pirated version, clean your computer with an antivirus and a licensed copy of the game. This will not only protect you from dubious software, but will also allow you to download updates for the game and receive official support from its creators.

GTA 4 gives an error about the missing DLL file. Solution

As a rule, problems associated with missing DLLs arise when launching Grand Theft Auto 4, but sometimes the game can access certain DLLs during the process and, not finding them, crash in the most blatant manner.

To fix this error, you need to find the required DLL and install it on the system. The easiest way to do this is using the program DLL-fixer, which scans the system and helps quickly find missing libraries.

If your problem turns out to be more specific or the method outlined in this article did not help, then you can ask other users in our “” section. They will help you quickly!

Thank you for your attention!

The GTA game has been quite popular for several years now. One version of it replaces another. True, with the fourth version it’s a bit of a problem because many people are faced with the fact that gta 4 simply crashes.

What are the reasons?

Firstly, even during the installation of the game it would not hurt to monitor the process more closely. You may not have noticed it, but an information window popped up stating that, say, your operating system is already outdated. Yes, for this game, as for most others, there is compatibility with the OS, so you would need to change your operating system to something newer. However, habit is second nature, so we found a solution for this case too. So, for the fourth version of gta, Windows XP service pack 2 is not suitable. There is a program that magically, as for us, the uninitiated, deceives the game, it converts SP2 into SP3. Not for real, but that’s how the game program sees him. True, there is a downside to the coin - Windows can now work more slowly with some files and applications.

Further, before looking for the reasons that the game does not install, because it does not start, in a word, it crashes, you should clarify whether you are trying to revive a licensed or pirated version. The licensed version automatically installs all components during installation, so it does not have errors, but if you install a pirated version, there may be a lot of reasons. For example, an outdated crack that needs to be updated for normal installation. Also turn off your antivirus during installation, because it will mistake the cracking program, that is, a crack, for a Trojan or virus program and therefore will try to either block it or completely remove it.

Not all that glitters is gold. Applying this to the game, it is worth saying that not every hacked program that you downloaded from a torrent and are trying to install for yourself is hacked correctly. And, alas, you will not be able to make it work. Just look for another version of the hack.

In addition to logical hacking errors or software incompatibility, it may also be that your computer simply technically cannot properly support the program. Yes, new games require powerful processors, video cards and, accordingly, random access memory. When an inscription similar to “Out of Memory” appears during the loading process, this is just such a case. Although sometimes it's just a glitch and you can reboot the device.

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Windows 10 often doesn't want to run old games, and GTA 4 is no exception. Fortunately, this problem can be solved, because in most cases the causes of its occurrence are easy to detect and eliminate. You may just need to update some components.

The reason the game does not work may be outdated drivers, lack of necessary patches and DirectX, .NET Framework, Visual C++ components.

Method 1: Update Drivers

Drivers can be updated manually, using special programs or using system tools. Next, consider the update option using the DriverPack Solution utility, which downloads not only drivers, but also other useful components. For example, DirectX.

However, you can use other software tools to update or install drivers.

Method 2: Installing special files

If all the necessary drivers and components are installed on your computer, but the game still crashes, you need to download and copy the xlive files to the root folder of the game.

X-Live Games components moved to the game's root folder may help resolve the issue. If this solution does not suit you, then try the next one.

Method 3: Installing patches

The game may be missing the required patch. It can be downloaded from the official website and then installed.

1. Go to the main download page.
2. Scroll down and find "Patches".



3. Now select GTA IV.



4. In the side menu, go to patch number 7.



5. Download the file according to the game language settings.



6. Unpack the archive and run the installer.



7. Follow the application instructions.

Timely installation of released patches is extremely important, because this is how developers fix critical errors. Therefore, always check for all important updates for the game and install them.

Method 4: Set Compatibility Mode

Try setting the compatible mode, perhaps because of it the game does not want to start.

In some cases, this method can solve the error, but still, a compatibility problem is not as common as missing required components.

Method 5: Search for compatibility issues

This method also helps eliminate the problem of GTA 4 not working, but in this case the system will automatically select the optimal parameters to launch the game.

1. Go to again "Properties" — "Compatibility".
2. Click on “Launch the tool...”.



3. The problem search procedure will begin.



4. Now select "Use recommended settings".



5. Next click on "Check the program...".



6. If everything starts normally, save the recommended settings with the button "Further".

Be sure to check the parameters suggested by the system to make sure the game is fully functional.

All current solutions to problems with launching GTA 4 Windows 10 were listed here, and now you know how to launch the game. In almost all cases, updating drivers and components, adjusting compatibility, and installing special patches helps.