Patch 1.0.5.0 is coming soon,

[tacopowered]

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=395143

 

First link in the topic, first post.

===========================

The launcher WAS updated, for what purpose IDK, but the pic ain't photoshopped or whatever.

[elBATCHo]

I still have the NO Cd LaunchGTAIV that Securom sent me in my downloads folder.

[maz89]

Oohhh, so much hype over a patch. It better be good. Edit: awesome.

[gamerzworld]

Yeah, it seems SecuRom put a new version up at the old link. What's interesting is that shortly before Patch 3 was released, the official no-dvd came out with the version of "1.0.3.0". Could have just been a coincidence with version numbers. To my knowledge, the LaunchGTAIV has never been updated by Rockstar through a patch. Oh and before you go downloading the new exe, it's no longer a no-dvd version and still requires the disk.

[mkey82]

 

Yeah, it seems SecuRom put a new version up at the old link. What's interesting is that shortly before Patch 3 was released, the official no-dvd came out with the version of "1.0.3.0". Could have just been a coincidence with version numbers. To my knowledge, the LaunchGTAIV has never been updated by Rockstar through a patch. Oh and before you go downloading the new exe, it's no longer a no-dvd version and still requires the disk.

This actually gave me a small brainstorm and it does make sense (at least to me )

 

Now, where does Securom obtain those files? R*must send them in, right? So, Rockstar sends the files to both Securom and MS (for the ultra high quality testing lol) at the same time and while MS holds the f*ck on to those files, Securom publishes theirs.

[Girish]

Now, where does Securom obtain those files? R*must send them in, right? So, Rockstar sends the files to both Securom and MS (for the ultra high quality testing lol) at the same time and while MS holds the f*ck on to those files, Securom publishes theirs.

Why would R* have anything to do with SecuROM's launcher? It's the sole property of SecuROM, they have the right to do whatever with it depending it's within the legal contract they have with the developers and it is SecuROM who provided the launcher to R* in the first place.

[Lollercoaster]

Oohhh, so much hype over a patch. It better be good. Edit: awesome.

Over-hype my ass....This thread only has 2 pages. I wouldnt call that hype.

[mkey82]

Now, where does Securom obtain those files? R*must send them in, right? So, Rockstar sends the files to both Securom and MS (for the ultra high quality testing lol) at the same time and while MS holds the f*ck on to those files, Securom publishes theirs.

Why would R* have anything to do with SecuROM's launcher? It's the sole property of SecuROM, they have the right to do whatever with it depending it's within the legal contract they have with the developers and it is SecuROM who provided the launcher to R* in the first place.

Well, if the launcher launches the game (and it does), then it maybe does some initialization stuff that R* would like to know about. They make the file and then send it to Securom for them to do their thing, seems perfectly plausible to me. Like all those internet cafee checks or whatnot. There must be some connection between gtaiv.exe and launchiv.exe and what, R* is supposed to reverse engineer the exe securom sends them? Anyway, there must be a two way communication, R* decides when to publish the patch, not Securom.

[Girish]

SecuROM's launcher only checks for the authenticity of the game, failing which the anti-piracy triggers are introduced in the game. So, once the launcher was released, it does not require any modification regardless of how many patches R* releases or how many changes are made to the game. It'll perform the same functions as before i.e. check for authenticity and launch the game. Remember, the anti-piracy triggers are not related to the launcher, they're related to the GTAIV.exe, which, in turn, is linked to the launcher and the launcher has to run along with GTAIV.exe so that the anti-piracy measures are not triggered.

[mkey82]

So why do you have a new launcher for every game version (if i works no matter what version the game is)?

[Girish]

That is something only SecuROM can explain. It's basically the same launcher you got with the game, only the version is different. Maybe they're trying to make it look like it's updated or something, but it's pointless. Even if you're running the original launcher and if you close it down when the game is running, you'll experience all the anti-piracy triggers that come with the patches.

 

AFAIK, the launcher that states the version as "0.1.0.3" is the no-dvd launcher. All other versions are the same launcher.

[mkey82]

AFAIK, the launcher that states the version as "0.1.0.3" is the no-dvd launcher. All other versions are the same launcher.

Didn't get this part.

 

All those antipiracy checks are some memory offsets that get filled with some data, right? If those memory offsets are always the same, then you would effectively need only one crack that would work for every version, hence no extra protection would exists from updating itself. If R* changes the offsets (and they do as we already, and they implemented new checks as well), Securom needs to know about that. And what Securom protection really is? It's only a wrapper, R* sends them some sort of launcher (an exe a few hundred kb large) that has all the stuff only R* needs to know about and Securom guys are really not interested in; then they wrap it up, add all the goodies and produce a protected launcher that checks the legitimacy by looking for an original DVD. I also assume that launcher is packed with the Securom driver that gets installed the first time you run.

 

Anyway, all this is only guessing, but I believe R* does send some data to Securom and by that they practically "admit" the patch is ready to be published, but MS still has something to say about it.

[nickdee1991]

so uuuh... whens the patch coming out?

[faro0485]

so uuuh... whens the patch coming out?

Let's wait till the end of October.

[Girish]

 

AFAIK, the launcher that states the version as "0.1.0.3" is the no-dvd launcher. All other versions are the same launcher.

Didn't get this part.

That's the version stated in the Details of the no-dvd launcher. This launcher has to be different from the rest because it removes the check that makes it necessary for you to have the disc in your drive. It's also 10 kb less in size which is an obvious indication of the DVD check being removed.

 

All other launchers, including the one in the first post of this topic that states the version as 0.1.0.5, are basically the same launcher. The very original launcher that gets installed with the game is 0.1.0.0 and is the exact same launcher as 0.1.0.5.

 

As for the memory offsets, I believe they exist in GTAIV.exe and are collectively tied together with a single check that is present inside the SecuROM launcher. So, even if R* changes the offsets, the launcher does not care. It only checks for the authenticity of the game. If it's a success, no anti-piracy triggers. If it fails, the anti-piracy measures are triggered based on the offsets in GTAIV.exe.

 

That is how it works I think because you can use any launcher with any patch and it will work just as it is supposed to. We already know that none of the patches update the launcher and you don't have to download the new version launcher from SecuROM's site either.

[supermortalhuman]

My launcher is version 0.1.0.0 - I think this one is for steam. Patch-numbered launchers are for retail discs if I'm right, and of course players who remove steam. Someone with retail check, what is your suckurown version?

Err, no. The launcher is never patched. It still shows the 0.1.0.0 version it showed before. The exe that is patched is the GTAIV.exe which reflects the latest version i.e. 1.0.4.0.

 

That is what I have been saying in my previous posts all along.

ok? im talking about the launcher, not the gta iv exe...

[TheDavid]

I hope al of you realize that this isn't a "crack" but rather a way for people to play the game without the CD in the drive.

[Girish]

I hope al of you realize that this isn't a "crack" but rather a way for people to play the game without the CD in the drive.

...which could very easily be violated by pirates and made to be used with illegal copies, thus, making the anti-piracy triggers redundant.

 

And that's why Rockstar asked SecuROM to remove the no-dvd launcher from their site. If you own the game, then play it with the disc in the drive. Now, please, will people STOP asking for SecuROM to make the no-dvd launcher available again? It's not going to happen because Rockstar won't let them. As plain and simple as that.

[WTFX]

 

I hope al of you realize that this isn't a "crack" but rather a way for people to play the game without the CD in the drive.

...which could very easily be violated by pirates and made to be used with illegal copies, thus, making the anti-piracy triggers redundant.

 

And that's why Rockstar asked SecuROM to remove the no-dvd launcher from their site. If you own the game, then play it with the disc in the drive. Now, please, will people STOP asking for SecuROM to make the no-dvd launcher available again? It's not going to happen because Rockstar won't let them. As plain and simple as that.

there are other aspects of the protection, that only disables the dvd check..

 

obviously it's not the way they wanted it, but since securom themselves spread it, it should be used just to make R* angry @ securom 'experts'..

[Chris1508]

Why pirate san andreas?

[Dungeoncrawler]

Happy weekend everyone. I know this has probably been aske a million times, but the flickering textures...is this indigenous to the game coding (fixable with patching) or something that would need to be worked out with gpu drivers?

[Girish]

Happy weekend everyone. I know this has probably been aske a million times, but the flickering textures...is this indigenous to the game coding (fixable with patching) or something that would need to be worked out with gpu drivers?

How bad is the flicker? If it's not too much, then it can most probably be fixed by a driver update.

 

This is, of course, assuming your system meets the requirements and you're not one of those 11 year olds who expect the game to run smoothly on a Pentium IV with all high settings.

[supermortalhuman]

I advise you not only disregard the foolish advice on this topic to "just play with the disc in the drive", but also to CALL take 2 and Demand you want the No-CD patch in order to PROTECT your CD.

 

It's there. You know about it. They can't keep it from you. Enjoy.

[Girish]

 

I advise you not only disregard the foolish advice on this topic to "just play with the disc in the drive", but also to CALL take 2 and Demand you want the No-CD patch in order to PROTECT your CD.

 

It's there. You know about it. They can't keep it from you. Enjoy.

Do you know how foolish your post sounds? Calling T2 and demanding a no-dvd patch? ...when they're the ones who demanded SecuROM take down the no-dvd launcher from their site.

[supermortalhuman]

You know you don't need it - you should call and demand it. Steam users don't need the DVD, retail users shouldn't either. I wouldn't say it if I didn't already discuss it before and them say "well, we don't like to give it out but..."

 

T2 are the ones who mailed and showed the fix in the first place...

[modCJpls]

 

And yet you show us that you have a cracked version.

SecuROM launchers still require activation.

 

You can't use it on a cracked version.

 

Btw, using a resource editor you can change things really easily.

 

Edited September 6, 2009 by modCJpls

[Girish]

T2 are the ones who mailed and showed the fix in the first place...

Huh? Can you back this up with a credible source? Nowhere have I heard that it was T2 who provided the fix. AFAIK, it was the sole decision of SecuROM since many people were complaining about issues with the launcher.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Happy weekend everyone.  I know this has probably been aske a million times, but the flickering textures...is this indigenous to the game coding (fixable with patching) or something that would need to be worked out with gpu drivers?

How bad is the flicker? If it's not too much, then it can most probably be fixed by a driver update.

 

This is, of course, assuming your system meets the requirements and you're not one of those 11 year olds who expect the game to run smoothly on a Pentium IV with all high settings.

Haven't been 11 years old for about 3 decades. As far as the texture flashing, inside its pretty bad. To your point, I can't seem to put a finger on it whether it is associated with drivers or if the patches so-far has reduced it. Hopefully the possible upcoming next patch will magically fix everything that is still a problem with gta4 .

[mkey82]

 

As for the memory offsets, I believe they exist in GTAIV.exe and are collectively tied together with a single check that is present inside the SecuROM launcher. ... It only checks for the authenticity of the game.

What does that single check check, then? How does the launcher check for the authenticity of an exe it supposedly knows nothing about?

 

 

We already know that none of the patches update the launcher

Why is there a launchiv.exe in every update package, then?

[Girish]

 

As for the memory offsets, I believe they exist in GTAIV.exe and are collectively tied together with a single check that is present inside the SecuROM launcher. ... It only checks for the authenticity of the game.

What does that single check check, then? How does the launcher check for the authenticity of an exe it supposedly knows nothing about?

It knows about the original exe, doesn't it? As long as the memory offset related to the authenticity check remains unchanged, it does not need to know about any other changes made to the GTA IV.exe.

 

 

We already know that none of the patches update the launcher

Why is there a launchiv.exe in every update package, then?

I'm not sure if there is such a thing in there but if there is, then it most definitely does not update the LaunchGTAIV.exe, as you can already see from the no version change of the launcher.

 

Also, to further that, if the launcher was being updated by Rockstar then the previous launchers (including the no-dvd one) should not work or at least trigger the anti-piracy measures because its contents do not match with the updated GTAIV.exe.

But any version launcher works just fine because they're basically the same launcher and have no connection with the patches. The launcher is just a medium for the authenticity check and launching the game.