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GTA4 - File Modding Ability Patch


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GTAIV Version 1.0.2

 

GTAIV Version 1.0.2 no longer needs a magic patch to function. All that is required is a patched version of filelist.pak which is available here archive.

 

Step to upgrade to 1.0.2:

1. Undo any existing magic patches (Use the Recover tool if you used the Easy Way)

2. Install GTAIV Patch 1.0.2.

3. Backup the existing pc\data\filelist.pak

4. Replace pc\data\filelist.pak with the file in the archive.

5. Run the game and have fun!

 

Read no further! The rest of this post is for older versions of GTAIV.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Easy Way (Version 1.0/1.0.1):

 

Here's a little tool to do most of the magic... The tool will allow you to verify that you have the original files, apply the patch and even verify the patch using the game's verification method. There's also a Recover feature to undo any magic patch changes when you decide you don't want this anymore.

 

-download removed- (Updated to version 1.0.1 on Dec 14, 2008 to support GTAIV version 1.0.1)

 

If this is good enough for you, and don't want to confuse yourself... don't read the rest of this post.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Fun Way:

 

The checking for modification of the files works by opening up files.txt, and SHA1 hashing the contents of each file listed in there cumulatively. If the hash doesn't match the hash stored in the exe, it exits. But theres one problem with this technique... they rely on files.txt to check files.txt too?!!!! Oh dear R*... what happened to your chain of trust?!

 

To bypass it, all you have to really do is:

  1. Make a copy of files.txt.... for example: copy files.txt to files.txt.original
  2. Edit files.txt... replace "files.txt" with "files.txt.original"
  3. Make a copy of the file you want to mod... say you want to mod weaponinfo.xml, so you would make a copy of it as weaponinfo.xml.original
  4. Edit files.txt... replace "weaponinfo.xml" with "weaponinfo.xml.original"
And viola.... no more exiting on startup... but to make your patches really apply you have to use a patched filelist.pak without any files in it. (And using a modified filelist.pak means you will have to create a .original file for filelist.pak as well!)

 

--

 

So here is a batch file that will do the above things to all the "protected" files and make backups of them as .magic. Included is a patched filelist.pak as well. After installing this, you can just edit your files normally as before (just don't edit the .magic files!).

 

NOTE: The batch file does the steps above for ALL the protected files. Do NOT follow the instructions above (i.e. making copies, replacing files, etc) if you use this batch file. Files.txt is automatically patched with this batch script.

 

download removed

 

To install:

  1. Restore backups of ALL your modified files (or if you don't have them, you have to reinstall). It is VERY IMPORTANT that you have the original "protected" files or this won't work!
  2. Copy magic.bat to your GTAIV game folder
  3. Run magic.bat (Run as Administrator if you're on Vista)
  4. Make a backup of pc\data\filelist.pak
  5. Overwrite pc\data\filelist.pak with the included filelist.pak.
More detailed STEP-BY-STEP instructions are provided here: http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtop...st&p=1058731018 (These instructions are for the 'fun way'... not the 'easy way') Edited by aru
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edit: i was able to turn this into patcher code for my release,

as i didnt like your .bat setup.

 

but it does work perfectly, good job.

 

here is the code (pastebin, its also coded in C++ .NET....)

http://pastebin.com/m2bbf0372

Edited by opium_addict
Awesome, works like a charm and doesn't require any exe mods (so it should still work after a patch is released). Excellent work. Only downside so far, is that the folders get cluttered with 2 versions of every file.

Well, you could put the files into one "backup" folder... its just a pain modifying the batch script to do that smile.gif. I just used a regex search and replace on the original files.txt to generate that batch script.

 

Oh, and don't be too sure about it still working after a patch... if R* fixes their checking, it won't work.

 

Oh, and don't be too sure about it still working after a patch... if R* fixes their checking, it won't work.

Yea, but thats a risk no matter what method is used. After 3 years of telling people to mod SA with a 1.0 exe, i'm not keen on starting the same conversations with iv. Provided R* doesn't fix it, a method that is exe-independent is ideal.

 

 

I'm confused. Don't those two statements contradict each other?

He edited his post.

that is great ! Thank you for this stuff.

 

I edited the "ped.dat" and "relationships.dat" to try to make a "riot mode" (everybody hates everybody), but it didn't not works very well. When you start a fight with someone, some other random people starts to fight with you against your oponant, like 4 or 5 people fighting each others smile.gif But not big big riot like in San Andreas.

 

For the weapons, wich file do I need to edit ? A lot of files in "common / data" folder seems to come from San Andreas !

Soundz great, I'll try it out as soon as I get my PC version of GTA IV. smile.gif

 

 

 

Oh, and don't be too sure about it still working after a patch... if R* fixes their checking, it won't work.
They are full of work right now, I don't think they have time to f*ck with the modders, who'll find the way to do the modding after a week.
GTA IV won't f*cking start now...

 

YES! IT'S WORKING! RELIABLE AND EASY TO INSTALL! Caps were necessary, great mot, thanks.

I'm confused. Don't those two statements contradict each other? mercie_blink.gif

I edited my post, first it wasn't working, now it is.

I keep getting asked for my DVD. I've got the UK DVD release running on Vista 64.

 

EDIT: DON'T FORGET to copy the generated "files.txt" from arus' "gtaiv-magic" folder in to the GTA IV folder once you have run his .bat file

Edited by Dup

Incase anyone happens to use motion blur, you might want to try out these settings (visualsettings.dat)

 

# cam.followvehicle.blur.speed 0.5 200 0.00 0.2

cam.followvehicle.blur.speed.x 0.5

cam.followvehicle.blur.speed.y 200

cam.followvehicle.blur.speed.z 0.00

cam.followvehicle.blur.speed.w 0.2

I really do not understand this.

So you copy the file you want to mod, and call it .original For example "explosionFx.original.dat"

You then copy file.txt and call that file.txt.orginal and then open that up and rename explosionFx.dat to explosionFx.original.dat, then you go ahead and mod?

This is confusing.

 

EDIT: Okay I've restored the backups and now the game won't launch at all? WTF?

Edited by evilrex

Okay - i cant get this to work.

 

I tried the .bat file way, and then the game wouldn't boot. So i redownloaded it through steam, tried again with the manual mehtod. Copied the txt file and renamed it files.txt.original, then edited the files.txt so at the bottom it says files.txt.orginal, then i did the same process with WeaponInfo.xml - and the game still wont boot ? I placed in the filelist.pak after aswell when doing it manually, do i have to make a .original backup of that - too ?

 

Someone help me confused.gif

Smiler-Online

I installed the .Bat version, and I can't actually mod the files still...

 

 

I can modify them and the game will launch... but no changes will happen in the game...

 

 

I have even tried deleting all content from files, including the CJ_GTA.dat file and the game runs as though I hadn't even messed with that file... (the level still loads like it supposed to do...)

I installed the .Bat version, and I can't actually mod the files still...

 

 

I can modify them and the game will launch... but no changes will happen in the game...

 

 

I have even tried deleting all content from files, including the CJ_GTA.dat file and the game runs as though I hadn't even messed with that file... (the level still loads like it supposed to do...)

Maybe the more important files are loaded from the IMGS?

Smiler-Online
I installed the .Bat version, and I can't actually mod the files still...

 

 

I can modify them and the game will launch... but no changes will happen in the game...

 

 

I have even tried deleting all content from files, including the CJ_GTA.dat file and the game runs as though I hadn't even messed with that file... (the level still loads like it supposed to do...)

Maybe the more important files are loaded from the IMGS?

I've also just modified the handling.dat, and deleted the Banshees handling, but when I went into game, the banshee was still outside of my property, I got into it and it still drove the same...

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