PLEASE INSERT YOUR GTA VICE CITY CD, OR PRESS ESC TO CACEL

[dedredneck]

Anyone know how to specify the path or a solution to this error?

[Bebop0389]

I've got the same issue and I have had no luck fixing it.

I bought it during the summer sale as part of the complete pack. I decided to install it over the weekend and it won't work. I tried compatibility modes, running as admin, verifying game cache, etc.

I put in a ticket on Friday and am still waiting for a response. Pretty pathetic customer service.

[Mystix]

Strange error. For the compatibility mode, did you try Windows98/ME mode? Also Disable Visual Themes? Try those.

Also something else to try is from your Windows Documents folder, find the "GTA Vice City User Files" folder, and in that folder rename or remove the gta_vc.set file you find there.

*Note: If you're able to at least get to the main menu in-game, from your display option, be sure the "Frame Limiter" is set to "On".

*Note2: I read elsewhere that sometimes this problem occurs with some corrupted Audio folder/files for the game. Navigate to where you have your "grand theft auto vice city" installed, delete the whole Audio folder, then verify the installation again;

Steam-client, Library, right-click on your GTA Vice-City there, Properties, Local-Files, Verify integrity of game cache.

[Bebop0389]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately none of them worked for me. Is it normal that I have no files in my documents/ GTA Vice City User Files? The folder is empty

[Mystix]

Hmmm, perhaps it's blank at first, but I think once you're able to set-up your own settings (graphics and control options and such), and/or make a save-game, then some files will be written/created by the game into the GTA Vice City User Files folder.

I also read some possible cause for that "Insert CD" problem is if you have Steam and your game installed on something like an A or B drive (or drive letter other than C it may not like).

I'm not sure what else to suggest, but Google the issue, and you will see many people have the same problem.

[Bebop0389]

Huh, I didn't get much from Google. Mostly people with torrented copies seemed to have this problem from what I could tell. I was thinking of torrenting an .iso to fix the issue and mounting it to a virtual drive, but I don't see a need to tie up HDD space when it should work.

So far Rockstar and Steams' customer service is a big fail (supposing you don't work for Steam- you've been very helpful); 5 days and no response.

I do have my Steam install on a different partition. I've had no problems with other games, but maybe a delete/reinstall of GTA is worth a try. Thx for the info.

[Mystix]

Hi Bebop. Lol, no, I don't work for Steam (though I wish, I'm broke and could use the job) ;)
I'm just a fellow Gamer trying to help. Well, I hope you can find a way to get the game working. I had to coax GTA Vice-City to run on my computer (by setting Compatibility mode to run as Windows98/ME, Run as Admin and Disable Visual themes, plus enable the Frame Limiter in-game options), but it's a good game once it works. Anyways, good luck with it. If you do find a fix for it, maybe post your findings here so it can be of help to others that have the same problem.

[Mystix]

Just another suggestion you might try (though it might not work to fix your problem);

Download this file from here;
http://www.rryard.com/files/gta_vc.zip

Un-zip it, then place the "gta_vc.set" file into you documents/ "GTA Vice City User Files" folder.

This is my set-up file for my game that I uploaded for you. Maybe there's a chance that placing it in that folder as mentioned above might allow the game to run (as you mentioned there was no gta_vc.set file in your folder). Well, I figured it's worth a try.

Also, if you did currently have a virtual-drive with some other iso mounted, then try un-mounting it and turn-off the virtual-drive software and see if that will allow the game to run for you.

[dedredneck]

Rockstar support came back on my problem that the install needed to be on the "c" drive to work. In my case, my "c" drive is a smallish SSD for my OS, so I have steam and downloaded games in another drive. Not sure it is worth the effort of unistalling all steam stuff and reinstalling to "c". Does anyone know if it is possible to create a custom install path for just one game within steam?

[Mystix]

There's I think a work-around for installing a game on a drive of your choice (in this case, the C drive, so you could install just Vice-City on C, but keep Steam and your other games on your other drive), and still having Steam and your other games on a different drive. I'll see if I can find the info.

[Mystix]

Okay, here's a little Utility, "SteamMover", that allows your Steam games to be used from different hard-drives;
http://www.traynier.com/software/steammover

I've not used it myself, and use at your own risk, but apperantly it works good.

or, here's an example of how to do something like that manually yourself with the use of "symlink" command;
http://blog.gimpe.com/2011/02/27/steam-install-a-single-game-on-a-different-hard-drive/

[Bebop0389]

Thanks for the .zip. Great info guys.

The best steam could do was recommend verifying the game cache. After that, all they could come up with was "We are investigating this issue further. As soon as we have more information, we will update your ticket."

I'll give that stuff a shot in the next few days. Many thanks.

[Mystix]

@Bebop0389 : When it comes to fixing problems with games, though contacting Official Support is a good idea and one thing to try, often your best bet is to ask for help from fellow Users on the forums (or to search through the forums or Google for possible solutions), as a lot of times it's the Users that come up with solutions / fixes / work-arounds for the problems.

Let us know how things go and if you can manage to get it working.

[Bebop0389]

Rockstar had much better suggestions than Steam. Heres what they had to say.

"Let's first right-click on Steam and choose Run as Administrator. From here let's try the following:

-Go to Library
-Right-click your game from the left side
-Click properties
-Go to the Local Files tab
-Click Verify Integrity of Game Cache

If this is still happening let's try disabling UAC completely. Go to Start > and type "UAC" without quotes into the search bar. After opening your User Access Control drag the slider bar all the way to the bottom.

Also let's temporarily turn off your other startup apps by going to Start > and typing "msconfig" without quotes into the search/run box. In the System Configuration screen that pops up choose Selective Startup, uncheck Startup Items, click apply, and restart your machine.

If we're still running into errors, let's reinstall Steam from Control Panel > Programs and Features. If we're still running into issues we can create a new administrative user from your control panel under User Account and test it there."

I havent had a chance to try any of your suggestions, or any of R*'s yet, but I'll post an update after I try all of this out.

[Bebop0389]

I tried all of it and I still have the same issue.

Next I'm going to try torrenting an .iso of the install disc (if I can find one) so I can see if I have all needed files. If that doesnt work I'll mount on a virtual drive. If that doesnt work hopefully R* will take care of this.

I'll update again when I get it resolved or run out of all options

[Bebop0389]

dedredneck, The game WILL work on a seperate partition (mine is "A" btw) and presumably on another HDD.

I spent hours and hours on this and tried every suggestion I've come across on the internet, here, and from R* except a nocd crack (didnt know if Steam would take kindly to that), and the only solution I've found is downloading an .iso of the play disc and mounting it in Virtual Clone Drive before running the game.

Granted, the f*cking thing should work without that, and I shouldnt have to tie up HDD space for an .iso of a game I paid for, but I have no more time or ideas for this.

The torrent I used is titled "[PC] Grand Theft Auto - Vice City" by AlbertoGC9; maybe that will help someone in the future. The play disc .iso is about 650 mb. I'd link to it, but I doubt the forum rules allow it.

Again, dedredneck and LoneWolfDon thank you for your help and suggestions