[III-IV] Various GTA Downgraders

[BrynnaDaRosa]

6 hours ago, Sneed said:

it's yet an unreleased tool (i myself didnt have it too , Parik did the conversion) which allows to convert dat15 dat16 and other audio data to editable format and back to format game uses. I only copied data missing songs from precut patch to the new CE's data, but it should be possible to add new songs once the tool is released.

Oh man... Oh man, oh man, I can't wait. That's going to change EVERYTHING man first DragonFF and then that tool, Parik's the MAN!!!

[sjain]

Having a lot of issues with the radio downgrader.

 

First time I did it on a fresh install of 1.2.043, sometimes in some cars only (feroci, washington) the radio bugs out and just plays the radios at 30000x speed or something, someone babbling fast then static, then again. The radio wheel doesnt appear and you cant change radio. This is on a fresh save.

 

Second time i tried, on another fresh install and save, this happened:

 

https://i.imgur.com/hsniWlN.png

I have my game excluded from defender and smartscreen off. its probably a bug.

 

Also side question - you say to extract the archive to GTA IV folder. What game version does it expect and what files is it looking for? Because on my 4th and 5th tests to save time i only extracted stock radio files, etc that were in the archive to another folder, then "installed" on that then copied to my game folder, but it didnt fix anything. Is it looking for GTAIV.exe or any other sfx files it doesnt touch?

On 10/19/2020 at 1:57 AM, Precursors Fun World said:

it seems that the latest IV Downgrade doesnt work properly, Vladivostok has turned into a advertisement mess , all I can hear is Advertising and one song every 10 minutes , and so far I havent been able to listen to any of the "restored" songs in any radio station , and also the pause menu music for TBoGT is all muted now

still getting this issue myself, only advertisements mostly copied from independance FM

[BrynnaDaRosa]

1 hour ago, sjain said:

Having a lot of issues with the radio downgrader.

 

First time I did it on a fresh install of 1.2.043, sometimes in some cars only (feroci, washington) the radio bugs out and just plays the radios at 30000x speed or something, someone babbling fast then static, then again. The radio wheel doesnt appear and you cant change radio. This is on a fresh save.

 

Second time i tried, on another fresh install and save, this happened:

 

https://i.imgur.com/hsniWlN.png

I have my game excluded from defender and smartscreen off. its probably a bug.

 

Also side question - you say to extract the archive to GTA IV folder. What game version does it expect and what files is it looking for? Because on my 4th and 5th tests to save time i only extracted stock radio files, etc that were in the archive to another folder, then "installed" on that then copied to my game folder, but it didnt fix anything. Is it looking for GTAIV.exe or any other sfx files it doesnt touch?

still getting this issue myself, only advertisements mostly copied from independance FM

I don't know how you're playing the game without it crashing, like it would for me— I think when you run the install.bat that it's not extracting the .bin files of the RPFs like it needs to, and it's only deleting the rpfs that you're supposed to be replacing. I never got the install.bat to work for me again after it stopped working, so i've only used to config files from the radio downgrader and manually putting in the old radio RPFs myself.

[Igor Bogdanoff]

it should go to folder where gtaiv.exe is and it is only looking for files it's delta patching

for steam it would be ....\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV

(yes, you must put it in gtaiv subfolder, relic of past which rockstar didnt bother to change with migrating to CE because of saving bandwidth or smth)

(also maybe try disabling smartscreen, i know i had problems with batches sometimes due to defender's smartscreen)

[sjain]

5 hours ago, Sneed said:

it should go to folder where gtaiv.exe is and it is only looking for files it's delta patching

for steam it would be ....\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV

(yes, you must put it in gtaiv subfolder, relic of past which rockstar didnt bother to change with migrating to CE because of saving bandwidth or smth)

(also maybe try disabling smartscreen, i know i had problems with batches sometimes due to defender's smartscreen)

 

Yeah, I did all that as directed every time i tried. I narrowed down the issue to the downgrader itself. The first time I did it and got the static issue and ads only on vladivostok fm, and most stations only playing a song or two then the same 3-4 ads over and over, I had a full clean install of GTA IV from Steam on 1.2.043, I had never installed GTA IV on the PC before. SmartScreen was disabled, the folder was excluded in defender, and there were no "Unblock" options for any files (I ran them through streams). I also verified game cache through steam before starting the downgrade and my SSD was in perfect condition.

 

I did the radio downgrade exactly as instructed and ran into the issue. 

 

Last night I managed to fix it, and it somehow worked perfectly. I re-did the entire downgrade on a clean copy of GTA IV radio files only (see below). No issues ingame and there were so many more ads and songs on every station (I didnt even realise my radio was screwed before I did this fix, because I rarely listened to the radio in IV since i started playing in 2012). My theory is, there is some discrepancy with jptch and at some point where its reading or writing to files it bugs out and messes up the file. Because I have no other modifications.

 

Another side note - if you're on a potato like me and everything takes so long to re-do - make a separate folder on your system and exclude from defender, disable smartscreen etc. Copy all of the folders the radio downgrader uses from a fresh stock install of 1.2.043 (yes the entire folders, not just the files the radio downgrader touches). Then copy all of the files the root of the game folder (like all non-folders like .exe, .dll, etc) into that folder (I know the downgrader might not use it, but i did it to be safe), THEN run the entire downgrade process on that folder, then copy the folders only back to your main game. I had zero issues this way and this works on all patches supported by the radio downgrader since you're only copying the cleanly downgraderd radio files back to your game.

 

You might think this is stupid and unnneccessary but things like this are so volatile and I find myself having to re-do sh*t so many times, and waiting hours and hours for a download is terrible when I just wanna jump into IV. So i always keep stock copies of 1.2.043 Steam and 1.0.7.0 downgraded on my external HDD, and doing it as I described above saved like 13-14GB of files moving everywhere (which loses you time, unnecessary wear on your drives) as opposed to me just re-doing the entire install.

 

TL;DR I am certain there is 100% some rare issue with the way the radio downgrader works, sometimes it bugs out on some file somewhere, im not sure which, but the issue is there.

 

BTW if you think my way of doing it causes the issue - I re-did the radio downgrade on a full clean 1.2.043 many times and still kept the issue, but only on some tries, not others. Eventually when it happened again i got tired and just downgraded the radio files only to save time

 

also: im just reporting the bug. im not complaining or anything, needless to say im very thankful for this amazing downgrader, its really nice to hear all the tracks ingame  

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by sjain

[Igor Bogdanoff]

Thanks for indepth analysis! But as you said it's probably caused by jpatch itself, so nothing i can do about, maybe check if newer version is available. Maybe redo the iv downgrader as OIV which would add only missing songs to existing rpfs (although this sounds like getting out of grey zone this downgrader is currently in)

[Cenderme]

I'm having an error using the GTA Vice City downgrader. It says: This app can't run on your PC. I have windows 10.

 

 

 

[Igor Bogdanoff]

do you have 64bit or 32bit system?
You sure your antivirus didnt block some part of the program?

[Pfeiff]

Somehow your Downgrader doesn't work for me at all. I am trying to downgrade GTA SA from Steam to 1.0. I suspect that it has something to do with the fact that it doesn't find my GTA SA folder. What can I do to fix it? I already tried reinstalling it several times so that it creates a new registry entry.

 

Sorry I was too stupid to realize that you have to extract it to the San Andreas Root directory.

Edited March 22, 2021 by Pfeiff

[Junkman1217]

I have the steam version of GTA 3, I have tried this method and it doesn't seem to work....trying to get v1.0 from 1.1 so I can use an in-game trainer.

I have windows 7 64bit

Edited March 23, 2021 by Junkman1217

[Igor Bogdanoff]

this downgrader doesnt support GTA 3 and VC steam versions

Those just need a nocd exe to be 1.0

[ElYisusKing]

idk if this is because of the downgrade but in some parts of the mission, some dialogues seems to cut into the next one, which also happens in scripted chases like Just Business

[SJRouge91]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to say to anyone that's thinking about downgrading GTA IV Complete Edition on Steam, and want to go for achievements, the achievements will not unlock unless you launched the game through Steam/Rockstar Game Launcher; I played the game back on the 25th before downgrading and unlocked the Off the Boat achievement, and then went ahead and downgraded using the 1070 downgrader from JoshuaFrameTv's video here: 

 

 

and while it worked and I was able to play it without using the launcher, I never got any more achievements despite completing some story-driven ones like Fed the Fish or miscellaneous ones like King of QUB3D. I restored my backup and loaded the save I had with the launcher; I believe the saves with the launcher and the downgraded version are different, cause when I played it downgraded it didn't find my previous save and had to start a new game instead, and once I completed Uncle Vlad on the old save the achievement popped up, so I'm guessing you have to be using the launcher in order for the achievements to unlock. I know for many they're not going to care about achievements, but for the few that do and are thinking of downgrading, then please don't as they're not going to unlock. I hope this helps.

[Igor Bogdanoff]

but this downgrader doesnt change IV's version, it only restores cut songs.

[SJRouge91]

Oh I'm sorry, I guess I should have been more specific when I said downgrader, cause I saw a few people using the one from JoshuaFrameTv, and just wanted to let them and anyone else who might be going for achievements, to know that they won't unlock if you play the game downgraded.

[REW01WER]

This downgrader doesn't really downgrade game correctly.
Can't use SAMP

[Igor Bogdanoff]

rename gta-sa.exe to gta_sa.exe

[Magic_Al]

On 3/28/2021 at 1:32 PM, SJRouge91 said:

Oh I'm sorry, I guess I should have been more specific when I said downgrader, cause I saw a few people using the one from JoshuaFrameTv, and just wanted to let them and anyone else who might be going for achievements, to know that they won't unlock if you play the game downgraded.

 

That JoshuaFrameTv one breaks TLAD and TBoGT. I followed KicsiZee's Updated Downgrader (MP & Mods) guide which keeps all Complete Edition content in the DLC-like configuration I prefer and is compatible with the Steam Achievements mod.

 

I regret buying the RSGL version of the game, with its constant forced updates. I could downgrade it and avoid the launcher but not with achievements, so since the Steam version is on sale for $6.99 I bought that.

 

Now owning both versions I did a diff compare using WinMerge because I want do a quick file transplant to switch from RSGL to Steam with my mods. Fortunately the Steam and RSGL versions are almost identical so I'll just swap the RSGL-specific files for the Steam-specific files and location.

Edited March 31, 2021 by Magic_Al

[lolleroz]

The downgrader for IV breaks car collision sounds etc in TLAD, it seems a new SFX archive is added to TLAD so maybe some kind of limit is reached in the game?

[Igor Bogdanoff]

hmm, or maybe it corruped, i havent played much from tlad, i will investigate whats happening with it later!

 

[Guest]

Can you please make a mod that combines new vladivostok fm song with old ones please for 1.0.8.0 and 1.0.7.0?

I can't find this kind of mod anywhere for my 1.0.8.0 version.

[BrynnaDaRosa]

1 hour ago, Saad31 said:

Can you please make a mod that combines new vladivostok fm song with old ones please for 1.0.8.0 and 1.0.7.0?

I can't find this kind of mod anywhere for my 1.0.8.0 version.

Theres an option specifically for that in the downgrader. I'm pretty sure you can do exactly that with the downgrader given, it has the combined option.

[Guest]

Can you post a guide here then?

[Igor Bogdanoff]

On 4/21/2021 at 5:55 PM, Saad31 said:

1.0.8.0 version.

no

[Guest]

I tried the downgrader with 1.0.8.0, it corrupted the game, causing it to crash at beginning so now I am just playing it with the standard songs.

[darkmaster2014]

On 9/29/2019 at 7:12 AM, Sneed said:

 

Recommended mods for these 3 games:

 

 

 

1) Download

2) extract to GTA directory where GTAIV.EXE is located (except " with new vladivostok" and " without new vladivostok" folders)

3) run install.bat and wait until window disappears

4) copy "pc" folder from " with new vladivostok" (if you want old and new songs combined) or from " without new vladivostok" (if you only want pre-cut songs) to GTA folder

5) If you have the game on Rockstar Games Launcher TM go to "Settings" -> installed games "Grand Theft Auto IV" and paste "-scOfflineOnly" into Launch Arguments (Note: you must run game at least once from RGL completely unmodded), also disable automatic updates

6) Launch via Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher

(Launching from GTAIV.exe will cause game to redownload modified files on RGL!)

Note1: Since merging DLCs (TLAD and TBoGT) with main game, all songs are now combined. This was the case even before The Complete Edition, if you have bought these DLCs via GFWL marketplace. There is no way to disable TBoGT Vladivostok songs on IV and vice versa without any additional modifications!

Download link

 

Recommended mod:

 

Credits:

@Parik for audio tool for GTA 4

@Ash_735 for topic header

 

GTA3/VC steam downgrader?
Just get 1.0 exe

Where do i paste -scOfflineOnly ? I don't see a section anywhere in  the rockstar launcher  settings   to paste this command . I don't see the option to disable automatic updates either . I have the steam version

[Igor Bogdanoff]

you dont do that, when you have steam version!

[Big Mouth Prick]

Hey @Sneed, sorry to bother, but  you reckon this can be used as a way to introduce the 3 exclusive radio stations to a 1.0.7.0 + DLC version, if I mimmick the CE file hierarchy? I tried it, then integrated the DLC as per Tomas' tutorial, but then game wouldn't start, altough I mighta've messed it up myself, altough I don't see how.

I also own CE, but I really want to stay away from it for now lmao

Edited May 2, 2021 by Big Mouth Prick

[Igor Bogdanoff]

idk much about 1.7 patch, but if you get ce, use this downgrader, then use version downgrader to get to 1.7 (i think exe and few dlls should be suficitient), then redo folder hiearchy to be like on patch7 and use tomas' dlc thing, it should work.

[Big Mouth Prick]

3 hours ago, Sneed said:

idk much about 1.7 patch, but if you get ce, use this downgrader, then use version downgrader to get to 1.7 (i think exe and few dlls should be suficitient), then redo folder hiearchy to be like on patch7 and use tomas' dlc thing, it should work.

Ended up using CE. Was afraid of mod incompatibilities but realized the moment I get it down to patch 7 it isn't CE at all so I should'nt have any issues anyway. Lmao I was being mentally slow

Edited May 2, 2021 by Big Mouth Prick