Game Crashes on PC when entering places

[taxevader]

Instead of finding all these workarounds, shouldnt we petition R* for a patch? I mean, this is ridiculous! All other games work fine, just this one doesn't.

 

I'm not being unthankful for other people putting their time into helping others with workarounds, just bitter because they won't work for me

 

Is there anywhere where we can petition R* about these problems?

 

thx!

[jor]

 

by experimenting with Microsoft's Application Compatibility Toolkit, i have made this custom database which you can add to your compatibility database and it should make the game work until a patch is released.

I was getting the complete system freezes when entering new areas or cars as well. Corrodias' fix has solved this for me: the game still crashes, but at least it doesn't take my system with it any more.

 

According to the German GTA forums this freeze/lockup has to do with the audio.

 

I have a Soundblaster Live! (4 speakers), which has not had new drivers since 2003.

[ThePillow]

 

I've got an Intel, and it happened to me once, the first time I walked into the gym. It just dropped me out to windows with some error message, and the game restarted just fine. Now, if they can fix the #[email protected]%ing sound bug...

I am also an intel p4 user (2.8ghz) and i had the exact same thing as you! The game crashed when i walked into the gym. Windows created an error report etc.

But i have also experienced these random system reboots many people are talking about. I really wanna play this! :S Well, gotta wait for a patch i guess...

[maf]

intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz

512MB DDR333 (PC2700)

WinFast A340 T GeForce FX 5200 128MB DDR [Forceware 71.89]

Pioneer 16x DVD-106S

Creative Sound Blaster Live!

TDK MP100 Headphones

Windows XP SP1

 

===

 

I've had one gta_sa.exe crash since installing a day ago - I was just recruiting a third gang member when it happened. I have HOODLUM's no-DVD .exe (on an authentic DVD installation) in use so it could be that, possibly.

 

I make sure I save after every mission anyway (plus a backup save in slot 8), but I hope the game isn't prone to crashing out too often like that.

[MajorOutage]

I just installed new hardware, and I can't travel in any downtown areas without my computer just randomly rebooting. I haven't had this happen in any other games yet.

 

Athlon XP-M 2400+ @ 200x6 (needs to be replaced with desktop proc, mobo has no cpu multiplier setting)

Abit NF7-S2

2x512 PC3200

PNY VertoFX 5200

 

EDIT. Switched out the nvidia audio drivers for the realtek ones. No crashes yet!

Edited June 18, 2005 by [4D]Outback

[Corrodias]

i must report that yesterday, i experienced my first two CTDs (at least i can just hit ENTER to close the error box and then restart the game). they were both during a mission in San Fierro, as i approached a police station in a car (for a reason i won't spoil). i got through by turning off the radio and driving slowly, but it was probably just luck. i was also using the no-disc .exe from hoodlum, so that doesn't provide any clues. maybe i'll try using the DVD for a while.

 

since it hasnt happened again, though, a more immediately annoying problem is that the damn game keeps changing one of the cars in my garage to white (instead of the custom paint job it has). i'm going to figure out how to avoid that, oh yes i am.

[jmccoy]

goddamnit

 

i formated my hard disk 2 days a go..

now, when i try to save a game, i get that "Game Saved" screen.. then when i press the "OK" button, it freezes.. but i can still ctrl + alt + del and close the operation..

i use xp..

 

but just now, i just pressed esc to view the map, and then, in the change of screens, it went black and the radio kept playing.. and i did that several times without crashing or

nothing..

 

i mean..

totally unpredictable..

 

hope the patch doesnt take long

[richard694000]

having the same probblems. comp just crashes and reboots just driving around,or when i try starting a mission lock the comp up and have to hard boot.

specs p4 3.0ghz

ati 9600

1gig ram 3200

Edited June 19, 2005 by richard694000

[dooka]

'lo all

 

i've too the random crash problems, damn

 

Atlhon XP [email protected]+ not heat problem

GeForce4 Ti4400 no clocked

Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Digital

512 MB

 

for GFX i've just installed 71.89 and for audio card i've disabilited the hw accelerationr but the problem still alive

 

how i can resolve it?

[FAAmecanic]

Im having the same problem. Sometimes I can play for 3 or 4 hours...and no problem. And sometimes Im locking up every 5 min. Hard Lock where I have to hit my reset button. WTF?!

 

What happens is usually when Im entering and leaving buildings. It will show the location on the bottm right (like Canton if Im leaving CJs house) but a black screen...and Hard lock. It even crashes FREQUENTLY at the horse track when a race finishes (where your supposed to press the space bar to continue).

 

Then just now it locked up while driving around.

 

I am using the latest BIOS for my mobo, Drivers for chipset and GPU, drivers for SB Audigy 2 (with Dx sound accel set to standard or basic)..... I dont get the reboots....Just HARD LOCKS.

 

Oh and I just built this PC a month ago (Fresh Load of XP..)

 

Is there a email address I can send this problem to?? Maybe if enough of us complain they will fix it.

 

Here are my specs

 

INTEL 3.4E CPU

Abit IC7 mobo

1GB Corsair TiwnX CAS 2

Nvidia eVGA 6800 GT 256mb

SB Audigy 2 ZS

Lite-On DVR R/RW

250Gb West. Digital SATA Drive (non raid system)

WinXP Pro SP2

Edited June 19, 2005 by FAAmecanic

[eny]

okay, as far as i can tell, it is confirmed: win98 compatibility mode seems to prevent the "dark screen total freeze when entering buildings" crash, at least on my machine.

 

however, at least on my machine, it also seems to disable the LEFT SHIFT key. therefore, by experimenting with Microsoft's Application Compatibility Toolkit, i have made this custom database which you can add to your compatibility database and it should make the game work until a patch is released. this should only be necessary if both A) the LSHIFT key is disabled in the game when you use regular win98 compatibility mode and B) you need the LSHIFT key because you are used to it or something, like i am. otherwise, you can use win98 compat mode.

 

note that someone said before that the game may still crash on occasion in the "has performed an illegal operaton" manner. however, at least you can hit ENTER to close the box that pops up (you may not be able to see it... i've had it happen and the screen was all black) and restart GTASA without rebooting.

 

instructions for use:

 

new step: 0) disable any compatibility mode for the exe. if you have one set, it will override the fix detailed below!

 

1) get the Application Compatibility Toolkit here. the version there MAY not work on windows xp previous to service pack 2, so if not, post here and i can get you a previous version that does.

 

2) launch the Compatibility Administration Tool

 

3) download the .rar here. you may have to enable "Passive FTP" in your browser. in IE, it's on the "advanced" page of your Internet Options. from what i know, FireFox always uses passive when possible.

 

4) extract the .sdb file somewhere (remember where), even the GTASA folder if you want.

 

5) in the compatibility administration tool, click the OPEN button, and open the .sdb file you extracted. a new database thingy should appear under the "custom databases" list.

 

6) right-click the new custom database and select "install".

 

7) that's it! you can close the compat admin tool and run the game like normal, and it should keep those particular fixes applied to it. you may experience Crashes To Desktop rarely, so save often, as you always should.

I did what you suggested mate, and in the order too, without ever putting the shortcut into '98 mode, and STILL I have no working LSHIFT key.

 

I need it for in the shops etc. as I cannot rebind it for selecting things to buy/ bet on. For the short time I played with the fix applied I didn't get the lockups when entering vehicles/ places, so from that point of view I think it works...but that requires more play for me to verify.

 

Is there anyway to get around this LSHIFT problem? Your fix is supposed to reenable it, but not here...... Also, how would I go about uninstalling this fix of yours if I needed to get back to the original version- this crashing problem is really f*cking up my enjoyment of this game, immersion is non-existant when you are cringing everytime you enter anything.....

[leo_agm]

The same to me. When I play suddenly it reboots. Many of that times happend when start to rain or when I get in to a car. I try the crack fix and doesn't work. I try the solution with the hex editor and the regedit ando doesn't work too. Hope someone puts a solution that works for everybody.

 

My Specs:

 

(Guess) An AMD Atlhon XP 2 Ghz

Motherboard Abit NF7-S

512 DDR Dual RAM 333Mhz (2700)

Nvidia Geforce 4 Mx 4440 with 64MB

WinXp Pro

And all the lastest drivers.

[Corrodias]

What happens is usually when Im entering and leaving buildings. It will show the location on the bottm right (like Canton if Im leaving CJs house) but a black screen...and Hard lock. It even crashes FREQUENTLY at the horse track when a race finishes (where your supposed to press the space bar to continue).

now, this isn't EXACTLY the same problem as some of us were having earlier, for which compatibility mode works. but have you tried the compatibility database in my post on page 4 anyway, yet?

[Corrodias]

 

Also, how would I go about uninstalling this fix of yours if I needed to get back to the original version

hmm. well, i don't know why your LSHIFT key isn't working, if you don't have regular '98 compat mode on it, too... make sure it's actually bound to something, of course.

 

but anyway, in order to uninstall the custom database, you must open the compat admin tool, expand "installed databases", right-click the GTA:SA Workaround one, and hit "uninstall".

[taxevader]

No matter what I try, the game still crashes. Totally randomly. I suggest we all contact the maker of the game, the guys who took our $50 and left us with what seems like an alpha version of the game I've been dying to play for the past few months.

 

In the states:

 

1-866-405-5464

 

[email protected]

 

also try:

 

1-866-219-9839

 

[email protected]

 

 

Lets let them know we're pissed but we love their games. A love-hate relationship 8)

 

 

 

[FAAmecanic]

 

What happens is usually when Im entering and leaving buildings.  It will show the location on the bottm right (like Canton if Im leaving CJs house) but a black screen...and Hard lock.  It even crashes FREQUENTLY at the horse track when a race finishes (where your supposed to press the space bar to continue).

now, this isn't EXACTLY the same problem as some of us were having earlier, for which compatibility mode works. but have you tried the compatibility database in my post on page 4 anyway, yet?

No I sure havent yet. But thats not the only lockups Im having now. Its locking up mid mission, riding around ...basically all over the place at random intervals.

 

I did notice two things:

 

1) When I play an old save (where I only have completed like 2 or 3 missions, none of the resturants, gym, tatto place, babershop are open yet) I dont have this problem. ZERO LOCKUPS.

The lockups started when I went to the gym and had like 25% or so of my muscle bar filled.

 

I just played for TWO HOURS with my old save and ZERO LOCKUPS...as soon as I went back to my NEW save (with my BUFF CJ) WHAM! Lockup.

 

 

My newest save has CJ with full muscle.... and all the lockups. Related? Dont know .....

 

2) This could be a bigger problem.

 

Have ANY or all of you installed any UBISOFT games recently?? Like Brother in Arms, Silent Hunter III???

 

I ask this because there is a anti-piracy piece of software called Starforce.... basically it installs DRIVERS that interfere with you copying disks. But it has also had much bigger issues. Quite a few people are reporting (even PC gamer Magazine has commented on this) that thier DVD drives (especially R/RW) and CDRW drives no longer work. No playing and no copying... as in just plain broke.

 

Im wondering if Starforce could be hosing this game, or any DVD game on our systems.

 

 

Im reaching here, as this game is the ONLY one I have that doesnt work....

Edited June 20, 2005 by FAAmecanic

[FAAmecanic]

No matter what I try, the game still crashes. Totally randomly. I suggest we all contact the maker of the game, the guys who took our $50 and left us with what seems like an alpha version of the game I've been dying to play for the past few months.

 

In the states:

 

1-866-405-5464

 

[email protected]

 

also try:

 

1-866-219-9839

 

[email protected]

 

 

Lets let them know we're pissed but we love their games. A love-hate relationship 8)

 

 

 

Will do taxevader...... this is Bull$hit. It seems its getting worse and worse for us PC gamers as all the QA and Game development is being geared towards consoles... this is the third game I have got in as many months that has so many bugs that it is virtually unplayable until its patched.

[slimmerz]

Hi,

 

just got it work for me with Corrodias's method, without using the MS compatibility tools,

just redefine key after set to WIN98 mode, cause the LSHIFT is detected as SHIFT in game.

 

 

[Corrodias]

Hi,

 

just got it work for me with Corrodias's method, without using the MS compatibility tools,

just redefine key after set to WIN98 mode, cause the LSHIFT is detected as SHIFT in game.

damn, you know, i obviously never bothered to check to see if it could be rebound. i look silly now.

 

and yes, this game's condition is deplorable. R* had better have a patch out that fixes all these problems VERY soon or they may be liable for legal action. i can't say for sure that there IS anything illegal about releasing a game that is simply unplayable despite saying it is under proper conditions (for many people), but i wouldn't be a bit surprised.

[FAAmecanic]

I'm going to try and keep playing without buidling CJs muscles up.... for some wierd reason this seems to be causing all my random lockups.

 

I will report my findings here.

[dooka]

ok guys, maybe i've found which is the cause of our crash

i thinked that was the audio device (Sound Blaster Live! like more guys that poasted in this 3d) so i've Disactivated my audio device from Control Panel -> System and i tryed to play GTA SA without sound (logical) and there no more crash

 

so i think that it's a incompatible a GTA SA with Sound Blaster device (saw more models here, from 128 PCI to Audigy2)

 

if u can, make this trial and post it ur result

[e*master]

ok guys, maybe i've found which is the cause of our crash

i thinked that was the audio device (Sound Blaster Live! like more guys that poasted in this 3d) so i've Disactivated my audio device from Control Panel -> System and i tryed to play GTA SA without sound (logical) and there no more crash

 

so i think that it's a incompatible a GTA SA with Sound Blaster device (saw more models here, from 128 PCI to Audigy2)

 

if u can, make this trial and post it ur result

hmm. Interesting. I'll Try that right now.

[eny]

Hi,

 

just got it work for me with Corrodias's method, without using the MS compatibility tools,

just redefine key after set to WIN98 mode, cause the LSHIFT is detected as SHIFT in game.

How would I do that? Do you mean in windows or rebind it ingame? Sorry if I'm a bit dim, but it isn't immediately obvious to me how I do it. Ingame when you are buying clothes/haircuts/useing the betting machine, you need Lshift to select and return to go back an option, and these CANNOT be changed, so I need LShift to work!

 

Also, Corrodias' method DOES stop the entering crash-lockups! I played for over an hour last night and was actually able to leave the game normally!!! It is just that the LSHIFT wasn't working, so please help me understand how to rebind it! Thanks.

[eny]

nothing for you here.....this is a local post for local people......

[Corrodias]

we dont like yer kind round here

 

by 'rebinding' we mean you go into the controls config, select the function you want, and press the key to bind it to that function. in some games, you can alter the key config with a command like /bind, which is why we use that word.

[eny]

we dont like yer kind round here

 

by 'rebinding' we mean you go into the controls config, select the function you want, and press the key to bind it to that function. in some games, you can alter the key config with a command like /bind, which is why we use that word.

Thanks for the reply mate. What I was getting at is that you cannot use the in-game key config menu to change the LSHIFT binding for "select" in shops and the betting shop, these places use LSHIFT and RETURN and you cannot change them in-game. Is there a config. file in the SA directory? I couldn't find anything like that last night.

 

Normally I would have sprint bound to my LSHIFT key, and can rebind that ok....It's just that I cannot rebind the LSHIFT needed to buy stuff......that is what I am on about when needing the LSHIFT to work- it has to to play the game!

[eny]

Have ANY or all of you installed any UBISOFT games recently?? Like Brother in Arms, Silent Hunter III???

 

I ask this because there is a anti-piracy piece of software called Starforce.... basically it installs DRIVERS that interfere with you copying disks. But it has also had much bigger issues. Quite a few people are reporting (even PC gamer Magazine has commented on this) that thier DVD drives (especially R/RW) and CDRW drives no longer work. No playing and no copying... as in just plain broke.

 

Im wondering if Starforce could be hosing this game, or any DVD game on our systems.

 

 

Im reaching here, as this game is the ONLY one I have that doesnt work....

It is funny you should say that! I have recently installed Splinter Cell: CT, and now my DVD drive doesn't play DVD's or autorun either! And playing Windows media player crashes my system with a memory parity error when I press a button with an mpeg movie or avi movie playing...or if I click the "next" button or double-click another file in a playlist......Even DVD's I've played before no longer play in WMP or WinDVD......

 

If it is Ubisoft's wankfest AP system then how do I remove it? Will it be rid of when I uninstall SC:CT? I have had enough of UBI actually, they have raped Raven Shield and Ghost Recon....

[Corrodias]

LSHIFT issue:

actually, you can use ANY key bound to the function that it is looking for. see, when the game tells you to press a key to do something, it just says the first key that is bound to the function. in your case, it's apparently still LSHIFT. however, any other key bound to the same function will also work. in fact, you can highlight the function and press backspace to clear it, then assign it JUST the key you want, and it will from then on say THAT key instead of LSHIFT, although you don't really have to in order to USE it.

 

broken drive issue:

the easiest thing i can recommend is uninstalling the game (to get rid of data files) and then performing a System Restore to a time before you installed the game in the first place. that is, if you are on Windows XP and it hasn't been very long since then and/or you don't mind re-doing anything it undoes. if that's not an option for you, try searching gaming forums and google for information related to removing that starforce or whatever it's called. i bet you'll find something.

[FAAmecanic]

Cord,

 

Well my Buff CJ theory is out the window....locked up within 5 min of playing my NON Buff CJ...

 

As far as removing Starforce (all games from UBISOFT have this...and its BAD NEWS)...I have a tool to remove it. I will have to uninstall the game that the POS Ubisoft had it with (Silent Hunter III). This will be the last thing I try...

 

 

[FAAmecanic]

 

Have ANY or all of you installed any UBISOFT games recently??  Like Brother in Arms, Silent Hunter III???   

 

I ask this because there is a anti-piracy piece of software called Starforce.... basically it installs DRIVERS that interfere with you copying disks.  But it has also had much bigger issues.  Quite a few people are reporting (even PC gamer Magazine has commented on this) that thier DVD drives (especially R/RW) and CDRW drives no longer work.  No playing and no copying... as in just plain broke.

 

Im wondering if Starforce could be hosing this game, or any DVD game on our systems. 

 

 

Im reaching here, as this game is the ONLY one I have that doesnt work....

It is funny you should say that! I have recently installed Splinter Cell: CT, and now my DVD drive doesn't play DVD's or autorun either! And playing Windows media player crashes my system with a memory parity error when I press a button with an mpeg movie or avi movie playing...or if I click the "next" button or double-click another file in a playlist......Even DVD's I've played before no longer play in WMP or WinDVD......

 

If it is Ubisoft's wankfest AP system then how do I remove it? Will it be rid of when I uninstall SC:CT? I have had enough of UBI actually, they have raped Raven Shield and Ghost Recon....

You have been bit by STARFORCE eny!!!! What you describe is what has hit MANY Ubisoft customers ..... I cant believe software devs are allowed to make a copy protection scheme that screws up your hardware....

 

Goggle STARFORCE and you will see the damage it has caused.

 

Here is a link to remove STARF&ck STARFORCE removal tool

 

 

 

EDIT: Well Starforce is NOT what is screwing up GTA SA..... I uninstalled SHIII and used the Starforce removal tool... reboot.... and SA still locks up.

 

This sucks... until they release a patch this game is UNPLAYABLE>< I will try that compatablity database as a last effort......

 

Good news is that will fix your DVD drive problems Eny. Trust me you are not the only one that Staforce has messed up.....

Edited June 21, 2005 by FAAmecanic