Getting the game running on Windows 11 ARM - Issues

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

Hi all,

 

Been trying to get the game running these past few days on my Windows 11 VM without success, and I was hoping I could get some assistance here. This is kind of a weird setup i'm running the game on so apologies in advance. For context, I'm on an M1 14" MacBook Pro with Parallels running Windows 11 Pro (the ARM version - latest 22631.3447). I'm afraid that this could very well be the issue, but I'm very stubborn when it comes to getting this game running since it's my favorite of all time

 

Anyway, this is the copy I've had since release. I had it installed on one very old computer (which worked, but that thing was slow as molasses--I remember trying to get the game running on that PC was a friggin' nightmare) and basically Google Drive-d it over to this new one. This is about as vanilla of an install as I can get it. This is what I've tried so far:

• I've tried the usual installing SilentPatch + Widescreen Fix + DDraw component but no dice.
• I then tried every single compatibility mode with gta3.exe and no such luck 
• I also tried with a NoCD exe but to little avail.
• the gta3.exe I've set to run as admin, run at 640x480, disabled fullscreen optimizations, and overrid the high DPI setting performed by the application.
• I've also moved the audio folder from disc 2 to the audio folder to get the NoCD check working.
• I've also tried a v1.1 exe, but no dice. I've not yet tried a NoCD 1.1, but I am not sure if that will work.

All of this has resulted in the game launching, but it crashes at about 80% loaded on the progress bar. I've even tried the classic methods such as deleting gta3.set from GTA3 User Files, and removing txd.img and txd.dir since I thought the issue was those files not being able to be rebuilt by the game's "converting to optimal format for your video card". I'm able to change resolutions in the display menu no problemo and can see Claude's player model in the player section. I haven't tried listening to the radio stations Am I missing something here or should I just give up? I really don't wanna buy the Defective Edition to have a reasonable copy of GTAIII, but at this point I'm heavily considering it. I've gotten GTAIV to run on this setup no problem, so I'm really, really not sure what to do here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

On 5/19/2024 at 10:57 PM, Mr.ClaudeFan said:

• he gta3.exe I've set to run as admin, run at 640x480, disabled fullscreen optimizations, and overrid the high DPI setting performed by the application.
• I've also moved the audio folder from disc 2 to the audio folder to get the NoCD check working.

Update -- tried a NoCD 1.1 patch today, and that didn't work either. Still not giving up on trying to get this game running!

[44Orca]

33 minutes ago, Mr.ClaudeFan said:

Update -- tried a NoCD 1.1 patch today, and that didn't work either. Still not giving up on trying to get this game running!

I use one that mounts the disc every time for non-steam version, or else it doesn't work, I couldn't find another way. You can try putting the DEP mod, but maybe that  was on steam I don't remember,  "Definitive Edition Project Patch".

Puts the missing ps2 stuff, mobile better textures etc, mouse movement with vehicles on and on and also makes it offline if you want. Site got removed, I think you can find it around the modding section though or on archive, but not sure how safe from google is...

Edited November 16, 2024 by 44Orca

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

9 hours ago, 44Orca said:

I use one that mounts the disc every time for non-steam version, or else it doesn't work, I couldn't find another way. You can try putting the DEP mod, but maybe that  was on steam I don't remember,  "Definitive Edition Project Patch".

Puts the missing ps2 stuff, mobile better textures etc, mouse movement with vehicles on and on and also makes it offline if you want. Site got removed, I think you can find it around the modding section though or on archive, but not sure how safe from google is...

Hey thanks for the input!

 

I actually did try the D.E.P patch after creating the initial post but I remember not getting any meaningful progress with that. I did try recently looking to see if they made a new version, but it seems the project got shut down

 

All the missing PS2 stuff, textures, etc -- I actually had another archived modded backup of GTA3 with all of that QOL stuff already installed. I think the issue is just with gta3.exe itself on Windows 11; I always get the "Unhandled Exception: c0000005 at address 0042a5c5" error no matter which .exe I try. I think so far I've done 1.0 regular and no-disc, and 1.1 official and no-disc. I did try adding an exception to the Data Execution Prevention list but that didn't seem to work either.

 

You did bring up a good point using the .exe that mounts the disc, so I grabbed my DVD drive and attempted to install the retail copy as normal, but I get another error haha. Something to do with the Installshield Engine (iKernel.exe) not being installed. Have I mentioned how much I can't stand Windows at this point? lol

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

Update: tried the install again, added a folder and the iKernel.exe to Program Files and that got the installer working, so I got a clean version of 1.0 on my machine that I could only use with the play disc. Tried launching using compatibility and set resolution to 640x480 -- game refused to start. Also tried installing the latest version of SilentPatch with the DDraw component -- still no luck

[cant remember]

It might not be possible with this setup, the big issue I see is that you are running an ARM version of Windows, and GTA3 executes for x86 processors. Also you will need 3D acceleration. I'm not familiar with Parallels but most virtualization software I'm familiar with are very bad at that. You might be better off trying to run a PS2 emulator in OSX and play the PS2 version instead.

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

On 11/16/2024 at 6:41 PM, cant remember said:

It might not be possible with this setup, the big issue I see is that you are running an ARM version of Windows, and GTA3 executes for x86 processors. Also you will need 3D acceleration. I'm not familiar with Parallels but most virtualization software I'm familiar with are very bad at that. You might be better off trying to run a PS2 emulator in OSX and play the PS2 version instead.

Yeah you're definitely right. I dug out my old PS2 copy and got PCSX2 running on the macOS side -- works flawlessly. I'm just hellbent (mostly stubborn at this point) on getting the PC version partly because of the modding scene and wanting to participate in the Chain Game rounds.

 

Not sure if you can answer this, but does Vice City also execute the same way as GTA3? I mainly ask because I've actually gotten that to work on my setup with some mods like Limit Adjuster and Widescreen Fix (they were installed as part of another mod.)

[cant remember]

If you're super stubborn, you can try PCem with Windows 98. It's a whole pain to set up though, but the compatibility list has GTA3 listed.

GTA3 and VC are almost identical technically.

Edited November 18, 2024 by cant remember

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

On 11/18/2024 at 3:32 AM, cant remember said:

If you're super stubborn, you can try PCem with Windows 98. It's a whole pain to set up though, but the compatibility list has GTA3 listed.

GTA3 and VC are almost identical technically.

Interesting…..I’ll look into that. Is it possible to still mod GTA III with that setup?

[cant remember]

Should work, unless the mod tools don't work in Windows 98 but GTA3 itself shouldn't have a problem with it.

[Mr.ClaudeFan]

Well, bit of an overdue update here. Thanks to Liberty Extended 2.0, I was able to get GTA3 working! Somewhat!

 

I was able to use an old download of RE3 to upgrade a 1.0 copy I had, then installed LE2.0 over it. It ran basically without issue on Parallels after that. I won't be able to participate in the Chain Game or use old mods/saves unfortunately, but at this point (and after months of troubleshooting) I'm just glad that I was able to get some sort of copy of GTA3 working without having to resort to the Definitive Edition. Thanks to 'cant remember and '440 rca' for y'alls help (sorry I'm not sure how to @ folks on here)

Edited March 21 by Mr.ClaudeFan