GTA IV - Freezing/Endless Loop

[Tadashi]

Hi.

 

Out of boredom I decided to install GTA IV on my laptop as it does get quite boring after a while on Xbox 360, especially with there being at least one person in every game using modifications, but that's mainly besides the point. After the game had installed I was initially restricted to set graphics options, nevertheless, I started the game just to see if it would run smoothly.

 

The loading screen and music started, the images of characters starting sliding and I was for a moment happy, that was until there seemed to be an endless loop of the loading screen. The music stopped, it still kept going, so I left it for 10 minutes or so, still, nothing. I then made a text file in root directory of the game with the command -norestrictions, and started it again only for the same for happen.

 

My main purpose of installing the game was to have the ability to play LCPDFR, so I went there looking for what patch is required for that, which is the latest patch, and installed it. When I restarted and ran GTA IV it went to the option of whether or not I wanted to log into Windows Live, and after I had confirmed I did not wish to, it froze on that part whilst the music was playing, but no loading screen.

 

It's pretty much like that at the moment, and so far what I have tried are the following:

Ran GTA IV with Vsync off,

Ran GTA IV in windowed mode,

Ran GTA IV as an administrator,

Ran GTA IV in compatibility mode as Windows XP SP3,

CRTL + ALT + Deleted out and back into the game to see whether it force loaded it,

Ejected the disc and put it back in again whilst the game was starting with of course, the absence of a loading screen,

 

I'm stuck for ideas. It's patched to 1.0.07? I believe, the latest, and that caused the absence of the loading screen, but before I patched it, it was stuck in an endless loop regardless. I noticed that GTA IV shows as 'non-responding' after a while of the music, but the music still plays/goes off after a while.

 

My computer specifications are as follows:

Intel Core i5 3210M @ 2.5 GHz,

Intel HD 4000,

6GB of RAM,

 

OS: Windows 8

 

Do excuse my wall of text :3

[Shiva.]

Hi,

 

Try installing .NET Framework 3.5 as it is believed to kill the problem for most of the people.

 

[Tadashi]

Nothing improved noticeably when I installed and enabled .NET 3.5, however, I revoked my key, entered it again and started up GTA IV and realized that you can log into Windows LIVE before starting the game. Upon doing that it actually started with the loading screen but when loading, became non responsive.

 

At the moment I'm currently uninstalling the game and plan to re install it to see if that changes anything.

[marmoo]

Although the game maybe able to run on the Intel 4000, is it supported?

I have the same problem on my laptop which has a similar graphics chip. My old trusty desktop with a dedicated graphics card has no problems. How much VRAM does the 4000 have?

This could be the reason

Edited February 17, 2013 by marmoo

[Red Hat]

Intel HD 4000 cannot run GTA IV properly.

Edited February 18, 2013 by kev210

[Tadashi]

@kev210

Multiple people have confirmed being able to play GTA IV fine with the Intel HD 4000

 

I've re-installed, patched and it becomes unresponsive after the first loop of the loading screen, yet the music and loading screen keeps on going. Any ideas anyone?

[Prometheus]

Remove any mods you have installed, and try ejecting a CD or a USB drive while it's stuck on loading, it worked for some people.

[Tadashi]

Two successful start ups now, I guess it can be considered working fine.

[marmoo]

Two successful start ups now, I guess it can be considered working fine.

Good news

Just out of interest, what kind of fps you getting? (if possible a FRAPS benchmark rather than the in-game benchmark)