GTA IV won't save after downgrading and reinstalling

[KislaPunk]

I downloaded GTA 4 for the first time in my new PC, Steam version. I always get the GTA IV Downgrader from here, so, after I installed the game, I downgraded it to 1.0.7.0 (because of the removed songs), game ran as usual, but the problem came after I reinstalled the game in order to try the 1.0.8.0 version (because of the Social Club and FusionFix compatibility), when I downloaded it again, WITHOUT any mods, 1.0.8.0, you know, the steam version, the game just wouldn't save, it always appeared an error message when I tried to save, or when the game tried to autosave, also, I couldn't find any savefiles I played while on the 1.0.7.0 version (but I thought this was due to compatibility issues with the different patch on the save, no problem).
 

Information: on the 1.0.7.0 patch, the savefiles are located on the "appdata" folder, while on the 1.0.8.0 patch, they are located on "Documents/Rockstar Games/GTA IV", EVERYTIME I run the vanilla game (1.0.8.0, no moddifications installed), not only the error message appears, but also, even after deleting, a folder on my appdata is created called "GTA IV" with two folders called "Settings" and "User Music", inside the "Settings" one, there are two files called "Limits.dat" and "XString.dat" , I CAN'T delete this files, as when I delete, the files reappear. The "cloudsave.dat" and other RGL files are created on my "Documents" folder though.

So what I think happened? My game gets "confused" on the folder in which the savegames are stored, and, because of that, it just does not save at all. I think I can easily solve this by changing the user on windows, or even formating my computer, but obviously, this is a bit extreme.

How can I play the 1.0.8.0 again without needing to format my PC or something like that?

P.S: I tried deactivating "Controlled Folder Access" on the Windows Defender settings, it didn't worked, mentioning this because I read some topics explaning that you need to deactivate this setting before playing GTA 4 with FusionFix installed, or something like that.

HELP ME!

Edit: didn't read the rules about the OS, I'm using Windows 11

Edited February 15 by KislaPunk

[ant_sh]

On 2/15/2025 at 10:45 PM, KislaPunk said:

1.0.8.0, you know, the steam version, the game just wouldn't save, it always appeared an error message

Latest Steam/Rockstar Game Launcher version is not 1.0.8.0, it is 1.2.0.59. What is the error message? Poat screenshot or what exactly is on it. Your 1.0.7.0 savegames can be loaded in 1.2.0.59 if you copy them into your GTA IV profile where 1.2.0.59 saves are (in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\Profiles\<user-id>)

On 2/15/2025 at 10:45 PM, KislaPunk said:

even after deleting, a folder on my appdata is created called "GTA IV" with two folders called "Settings" and "User Music", inside the "Settings"

Appdata folder stores game settings. In older versions it could store savegames too https://ant-sh.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-to-run-gta-iv-offline.html#_Toc49685062

Don't touch "User Music" in appdata, it is folder where game maintains Independence FM song lists.