[Abadede]

I paid good money upgrading my pc to play this game. I'm already sick of this game and I hadn't even had a chance to play it.

I installed the game, registered for Games for Windows and R* Lame Club. R* Lame Club had difficulty validating my password; changed pw to same pw I thought it was, R* still had issue with pw. Went directly to the GTA 4 install folder and click on GTA4.exe; was asked for a serial #, entered it, then "GTA IV FATAL ERROR: WS10." Surf the web and saw it was necessary to update the game (I was planning on updating anyway.). Updated the game, noticed that R* Lame Club wouldn't be required to play, then rebooted my pc. With the computer ready, I clicked on the GTA IV link from the start menu's game folder. Oh crap! R* Lame Club comes back. Whatever, I click on 'play (offline),' game no launch. Clicked on 'play,' again, no game launch. Change my pw in R* Lame Club, success this time, still the game will not launch. My mouse pointer will always turns into a spinning cd, then nothing else.

Am I not meant to play this game? Should I sell it on eBay and the steam version? What on earth am I doing wrong?

My components:
HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5
AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
ASRock 970 EXTREME3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

[PrometheusX]

Make sure to update to the latest patch, also check if the disk isn't scratched.

[Abadede]

That link is dead, but if it was suppose to point to the 'title_update_7_EN' then I've already updated to it. My disk is brand new, no imperfections found anywhere.

[jpm1]

i have a steam version and it works great here .. when no modded lol . update your GC drivers , reinstall your DX make sure firewall isn't blocking . btw hardware upgrading won't be helpful with that game . it runs normally when no modded but if you begin to install mods don't expect "miracles" . the game is known for starting bugging when you begin install mods . it works fine modded but you'll have a performance loss that hardware upgrading won't fix

[Abadede]

Right now, I don't care about performance. I just want this mess of a game to start. Now, whenever I launch the game I get 'GTA IV FATAL ERROR: Windows XP: Need to have Service Pack 3 or higher to proceed. 2.' Remember, I have Windows 7. I've tried to run the game in the requested compatibility mode and in other os compatibility modes too, still the same error arises.

I've searched around and see that some users with the Steam version has run into the same issue.

[mkey82]

Point 1. you're always supposed to start the game with the launcher
Point 2. if you haven't, install both of these: Patch 7 and GFWL update
Point 3. RGSC is supposed to pop up every time you start the game, afaik
Point 4. you most probably have a securom related problem. Try using xliveless to bypass GFWL, if it still doesn't start, then the spinning disk icon is definitively a securom related issue. You should make sure you don't have any disk imaging software installed.

For the "XP SP3" thing, you should try every one of these compatibility modes "Vista SP2/SP1", "XP SP3", "Windows 2000".

[Abadede]

Point 1. What launcher? That R* social club crap? Yeah, I see that mess.
Point 2. I've already done Patch 7. I've never seen Games for Windows Live stuff before. Why didn't the game install it? Anyway, I've install the update, and signed in.
Point 3. I thought this was point 1?
Point 4. I had daemon tools installed. I have since removed it, and rebooted the computer. I also use Acronis True Image Home for daily backups, but I can't image that would be a problem. I've installed xliveless.

I've tried all compatibly modes from Win 2000 to Vista sp2 and I still get 'GTA IV FATAL ERROR: Windows XP: Need to have Service Pack 3 or higher to proceed. 2.'

Now what?

[mkey82]

Point 1. If you install patch 7, RGSC is supposed to be uninstalled. The game launcher is LaunchGTAIV.exe
Point 2. GFWL is installed during the setup process, but that may depend on the distribution
Point 3. No, it isn't. The RGSC separate application has been replaced by an "inbuilt" RGSC panel under patch 7
Point 4. Securom doesn't like disk emulators, but you seem to have moved away from that problem

Which distribution of the game is it?

[Abadede]

PC DVD Rom; bought it brand new from an online vendor.

[mkey82]

When setting compatibility modes, make sure to set them on both the launcher (LaunchGTAIV.exe) and the game exe (GTAIV.exe) and use the launcher to start the game. If compatibility mode doesn't work, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

[Abadede]

To avoid further diagnostics and to clear whatever tweaks/altercations I have done, I reloaded the previous day computer disc image backup. After the game install, suggested tweaks you recommended, and uninstalling daemon tools, the game ceases to load. I, of course, no longer get a message about needing Win XP SP3; I just get the good ole 'spinning disc.' I also uninstalled a few other programs i feel may be conflicting with SecuROM, and tried some SecuROM bypass cracks.

Whatever, look, obvious, there's some other software conflicting with SecuROM.

If I get the Steam version of GTA IV, will SecuROM continue to be an issue? I don't think so, but I feel I should ask.

Thank you all for you time.

[mkey82]

Well, AFAIK steam version is also securomed, it just doesn't have the disk check feature. Securom is used for activation as well.

Try contacting Securom support with a proof of purchase, they are usually helpful. Which is good, because their DRM is sh*t.

BTW, did you install the VC++ libraries that came on the game disk? vc_setup.exe or something like that, it should be in the extras or redistributables folder. Those libraries are used by the launcher.

When you used the third party loader, did you still get the disc spinning icon?

[Abadede]

So it's used for activation, but does it check my system for disk emulation software?

I'll get to contacting them, later.

But of course not, shame on me!

No, like without the 3rd party loader, I'll get a cmd prompt window that says 'play,' then no play.

[mkey82]

QUOTE (Abadede @ Friday, May 11 2012, 16:42)

So it's used for activation, but does it check my system for disk emulation software?

I'm guessing yes. Securom can have problems with your installed software even if you aren't running any securomed games at the time.

[Abadede]

Alright, I finally got this darn game to start, but I couldn't believe what I had to do.

First, I disconnected my Windows 7 drive and installed a spare drive to install Windows XP on. Got XP up, running, and updated. I Installed the game/update/patches, the darn game still wouldn't load!

It was at that point I felt I wouldn't ever be able to play this game. I got desperate, so...

Second, I went on ahead and downloaded an illegal copy. The crack and old update that came with the two ISOs worked, and the game started on my system. I was shocked! I doubt it was the two ISOs, but more so the crack that lead to the successful game launch.

I can't believe this, R*'s anti-piracy protection compelled me to go thru illegal means to get the game to load. Does that make any sense?

[PrometheusX]

Well I guess it's legal in this case, although you'll lose some features. Will you continue w/ the pirated version?

[mkey82]

Have you tried contacting securom?

[Abadede]

Actually, I guess, calling it a pirated version is incorrect. The folder contained two isos of the game discs, an update, and a crack. The crack contained the xlive.dll, a launcher, and a 1xx1x.dll.

The game install process was the exact same as it is for the physical discs. The first disc installs R* social club and half of the game, the second disc installs the rest of game, and then reload the first disc to install direct X, GFLW, and whatever else.

The xlive.dll, I assume, is used by many here, and a modified launcher is possible. The only difference is dll 1xx1x. Without that dll, the game didn't load (I know this to be fact because I found out that 1xx1x.dll didn't copy over the first time.). Thank whoever that created 1xxlx.dll.

I've since updated the game 1.07, and got a 1xx1x.dll that corresponds with it.

So would 1xx1x.dll have the game deemed as pirated? How would GTA IV behave if it detects it has been pirated?

I don't want to encourage others, so 1xx1x.dll is a spoof of the original dll.

mkey82, nah, I haven't contacted securom. I'm impatience, hard-headed, and I like to trial and error before I do the right thing. Do you recommend I do? The game is working great.

Hey, this game @ high settings, runs great on my system, but what the hell is up with the lack if anti-aliasing. Looking around, I see they're mods to add anti-aliasing. Which ones do you guys used?

[PrometheusX]

Try to run the game maxed out, and show us the benchmarks.

BTW there's SMAA.

[sjaak327]

QUOTE (mkey82 @ Friday, May 11 2012, 17:01)

QUOTE (Abadede @ Friday, May 11 2012, 16:42) So it's used for activation, but does it check my system for disk emulation software? I'm guessing yes. Securom can have problems with your installed software even if you aren't running any securomed games at the time.

The launchgtaiv.exe that came with the DVD version does check for disc emulation software, and will refuse to launch the game if any are found. The steam version is using a modified launchgtaiv.exe with most of the securerom stuff stripped out. The "no DVD launchgtaiv.exe" (google it) is the same launcher steam is using, and it does not need a DVD nor does it crap out if you have disc emulation software installed (like daemon tools).

This post has been edited by sjaak327 on Monday, May 14 2012, 07:27