[SOLUTION] For those having the "socialclub.dll" error when trying to run LA Noire

[7Mad About You]

I've read in a few places where people had this issue. I also had this issue when I deleted my LA Noire install and restored a backup later. I found that the issue isn't with the Rockstar Games Social Club application, that has nothing to do with it but its to do with the Social Club Redistributable.


1.Go into your LA Noire folder and look for (steamapps\l.a.noire\3rd) in this folder, you'll find an exe titled "Social Club Setup.exe". Just install that and your "socialclub.dll" error will disappear and the game will work fine.

2. Valve should find some way of fixing this issue to automatically install the Social Club Redistributable when you restore but for now, this is the solution.


3. You might get this message when you try to execute the setup :

"A newer version 1.0.6.6 installed for Rockstar Games Social Club. Exiting Installation"



4. You can trick your PC into thinking Rockstar Social Club isn't installed. Go to this registry folder and delete it:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club

5. Then try and rerun the Social Club Setup.exe found in ./steamapps/common/l.a.noire/3rd

Hopefully this helps anyone gridlocked with "You have a later version" errors. You may override an existing installation with an older version, but you gotta do what you gotta do.


Works for me =D

[Hekatonkheires]

Doesn't fix the issue, installing the redistributable just makes it download the newest patch on launch, and then the game crashes with the socialclub.dll error when the game is started. I've tried uninstalling RGSC completely and manually installing the newest, no change in behaviour. This POS DRM just does not work anymore.

[Smash]

I LOVE YOU MAN. ITS WORKS

[Jeb]

worked for me thank you

[ChrisTjahja]

really works. Thanks a lot :)

[The-_-KuZya]

Thanks dude, really. 2 hours looking for how to fix it and you helped me with it.

[Kira]

Wouldnt dowloading the older version mess up the other social club games like gta v or rdr2

[Parmaham]

Originally posted by SiyahGunes:

Wouldnt dowloading the older version mess up the other social club games like gta v or rdr2

Worrying about the same thing. Rather play gta online with my friends if they force me to choose. Guess I'll just have to wait till they fix it.

[Pilgrim]

can't find the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club" folder anywhere.

[Snow Angel]

Originally posted by Pilgrim:

can't find the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club" folder anywhere.

Same, I don't know where it is XD

[Groucho]

I just got a new gaming laptop. All Windows and driver updates are current. Installed RDR2 from Steam along with most recent Rockstar launcher & Social Club apps. I own L.A. Noire on DVD and went to install it and ran into this same issue. Game will not launch and gives a "SC1: Missing dll. Please reinstall Social Club. (info: socialclub.dll)" error.

I followed Rockstars instructions here:

https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/200149836/Missing-socialclub-dll-error-in-L-A-Noire-PC

Uninstalled Social Club and reinstalled Social Club from the DVD @ ‘ISSetupPrerequisites\{46066852-8450-4988-9E2F-47C7A8A84C7E}Social Club Setup.exe

It updates to what appears to be SC version 2.0.5.2 and the game launches and runs fine if I start it from the desktop icon. However as soon as I launch the Rockstar Game Launcher it runs another update which appears to be version 2.0.5.5. From that point on L.A. Noire will not start and gives the same socialclub.dll error all over again. I have repeated the process a number of times with the exact same results. Game works fine when 2.0.5.2 appears to be installed. Will not run once RSGL is started and updates to what appears to be 2.0.5.5.

This is more than frustrating. I have two games I want to play but playing one breaks the other and I have to uninstall then reinstall their apps that I don't even want to use just so I can play something I paid for. I really hope Rockstar starts listening to it's customers and simplifies these problems and removes or at least gives people the choice to install or use these unnecessary apps. I just want to play and enjoy my games offline and not be bothered with online social apps or unnecessary launchers.

I have a support ticket in with their tech support. I'll try to post an update if I ever get it resolved.

[BootsOnTheGround]

Does not work for me. It does for one launch, then once the game updates and saves my progress : I face the same issue. Deleting the regkey also deletes my saves, forcing me to start over again each time I try to play.

Shame that this game suddenly no longer works. I have never had issues with it since I bought it until recently. The ONLY fix is setting my computer clock a month back, which interferes with my other cloud saves for other games.

Just not worth the hassle without a plausible fix.

[BootsOnTheGround]

Originally posted by SiyahGunes:

Wouldnt dowloading the older version mess up the other social club games like gta v or rdr2

Yes. It can completely erase your game progress. I lost my progress in RDR2 online and had to file a ticket with rockstar considering i lost a good bit of content i worked hard to earn both by grinding and paying for gold on two occasions during a sale.

Trying to fix the things that got messed up by trying to fix THIS game has just doubled down on my frustrations.

I give up on LA Noire at this point until an official fix is handed out, which it likely won't be. This game is old and rockstar doesn't seem to be bothering much with doing anything about it. Understandably so but...c'mon..

[Incarnate]

Try changing the date to May 27. I swear to god it worked for me. I had a different prompt, mine said "LA Noire unexpectedly exited," but it might be worth a shot.

Seems that the geniuses at Rockstar crapped out a bad update that is killing the game.

[Catoose]

This is still a temporary fix and a one that we shouldn't be having. I bought Red Dead 2 on Rockstar's own launcher when it released so I don't want to risk doing this in case I delete my save data but are Rockstar actually aware of this? Doesn't seem like it?

[Incarnate]

Originally posted by Catoose:

This is still a temporary fix and a one that we shouldn't be having. I bought Red Dead 2 on Rockstar's own launcher when it released so I don't want to risk doing this in case I delete my save data but are Rockstar actually aware of this? Doesn't seem like it?

I sent out a complain to customer service two days ago and still haven't heard back.

Can only assume they have their heads up their ***es. They screwed up my copy of GTA V, and it's unplayable now.

But that's normal. I don't why people put them on a pedestal. Rockstar is just as crappy as any other company. Expect them to ignore you and blame your hardware.