Solving Common Technical Issues

[Hex: Self Care]

Introduction

This thread is applicable to both Steam, digital and physical DVD-ROM copies of the game. (Not applicable to Windows Store, Xbox/PlayStation Android or iOS) It includes solutions to the most common issues people experience.

If you follow the solutions and still experience issues, feel free to write a comment, make a new thread or even add me as a friend and provide detail towards the issue.

Grand Theft Auto SA requires at least DirectX version 9.0

This error is greeted to you during start-up and prevents you from launching the game because you are running on a modern OS such as Windows 10 and the the depreciated part of DirectX, "DirectPlay" is disabled.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1465162233
Solution

Press the Windows Key + R to open the "Run..." menu.
Type "OptionalFeatures.exe" and click "OK"
In the window that opens, find "Legacy Components" and expand it by clicking "+".
In Legacy Components, tick "DirectPlay". (If DirectPlay isn't shown in Legacy Components, tick the entire folder. Make sure the box contains a tick and not a square.)
Click OK, the window will close and you have to restart your PC to enable DirectPlay.
If you can't enable DirectPlay due to an error whenever you try to enable it, enable .NET Framework 3.5, you may have to restart your computer after doing this. Once it's enabled, you will now be able to enable DirectPlay.

After carrying out the steps above, your game should now launch and not give this error.

Game Doesn't Launch / Crashing At Start-up

If nothing happens when you launch the game, or it crashes on one of the loading screens leading up to the main menu, your issue is likely due to a corrupted or incompatible settings file. (After a downgrade.)

Solution:

Open the GTA San Andreas User Files folder (Usually found in your Documents folder, if not, check C:\Users\Public\Public Documents.) and delete "gta_sa.set".

After deleting this file, your game should work.

Black Screen Freeze, Can't Swim / Can't Shoot & Move

The game is designed to run at 25 FPS (26 for Steam). As the framerate increases, the game will experience timing-related issues.

Relevant issues:

• Some missions such as Amphibious Assault or Driving School missions are impassable or incredibly difficult.
  
• Vehicles & bicycles handle like brakes are always on, decelerate almost immediately, and seem feathered whenever in-air.
  
• Inability to dive underwater.
  
• Aiming while walking is silly.
  
• Inability to walk while aiming a rifle/desert eagle.
  
• Climbing walls results in sudden deaths.
  
• Vehicles and/or pedestrians move extremely fast.
  
• Crashes when listening to User Radio.
  
• Cutscenes not ending.

Solution:

To fix these timing-related issues, enable the frame limiter in the advances video options. This will cap your framerate to 25/26.

If you can't put up witth the low FPS, I recommend enabling V-Sync using your graphics control panel.

Crashing When Car Explodes

This game has poor support for multi-monitor setups, which causes crashes whenever a car explodes.

Solution:

Disable your other monitors and only have one enabled. Another is to enable compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 2) for the game.

SilentPatchSA[www.gtagarage.com]also fixes this problem while also allowing you to keep your extra monitors enabled.

Cannot find 800x600 video mode

This issue only occurs on Windows 10. It happens when your game's settings file is corrupted or missing.

Solution:

Find your game install location. This can be done with the following steps: Open the Steam client and click on your library. Look for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, right click it and click "properties", then go into the "Local files" tab on the top and click on "Browse local files".
Look for "gta-sa" or "gta-sa.exe", right click and click "properties", then go into the "Compatibility" tab on the top, "Compatibility mode" should be near the top, tick "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and then out of the options select "Windows 8".
Click OK. 
After performing the steps described above, your game should launch correctly.

Save File Not Working

Many of the save files on the internet for GTA: San Andreas are for the retail DVD copy or the old steam version, they will not work as it is a different version of the game and will either crash the game on save load or will just load a new game and vice-versa for different versions. Fortunately, there is a solution to this.

Converting save files from Steam (Old) & Retail 1.00 to Steam (New) & Retail 2.00

Go to gtasnp.com.
Upload your downloaded save file.
Open modification tab and find "Script/SCM Version", "IPL Flags Version" & "Binary/EXE Version" fields and select "Standard 2.00" and "v2". (German 2.00 & Austrian 2.00 if either) Leave everything else as it is.
Select your slot of choice and download.
Move the file to your GTA San Andreas User Files. (Usually C\Users\<Your User>\Documents\GTA San Andreas User Files)

Converting saves from Steam (New) to Retail

Go to gtasnp.com.
Upload your downloaded save file.
Open modification tab and find "Script/SCM Version", "IPL Flags Version" & "Binary/EXE Version" fields and select "Standard 2.00" and "v2" and select "Standard 2.00" and "v1". Leave everything else as it is.
Select your slot of choice and download.
Move the file to your GTA San Andreas User Files. (Usually C\Users\<Your User>\Documents\GTA San Andreas User Files)

Run the game at screen refresh rate

Install Special K by following the Unofficial Special K Guide. Manual local installation is recommended.
Go to the installation folder and rename SpecialK32.dll to dinput8.dll.
Start the game once and close it to allow the configuration file of Special K to be created.
Open <path-to-game>\dinput8.ini.
Change RefreshRate=-1 to RefreshRate=0 under [Render.FrameRate].

Hopefully, these solutions have helped you. If not, feel free to add me!

Resources, sources, credit & thanks to:

• HalfOfAKebab
  
• SilentPL & Lucky
  
• PCGamingWiki
  
• Vadim M
  
• Philips_27 & SaH4PoK

[Astrolonomics]

Escrito originalmente por -3xA'Lu©κy:

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

He wasn't polite at all, he kept denying it and was kind of arrogant about it to be honest. I'm pretty sure this problem has to have happened with many people before, but nobody talked about it at all or maybe someone did mention this problem, but it was forgotten.

He said "No" to a claim you made about the downgrader not working and that it "adds a broken gta3.img that is corrupted and impossible to mod" which is simply not true. He could've provided more info, sure, but you didn't need to escalate things either.

Anyway, drama aside; did you try redownloading the downgrader file (use another browser perhaps), disabling your antivirus, and installing the file to a clean installation of San Andreas (usually it's good practice to manually delete the entire San Andreas folder prior to reinstalling via. Steam as uninstalling a game doesn't delete files that were modified)?

There's always a chance a problem like this has occurred to other individuals but there's little Steam users can do unless it's been reported before and we know what could be causing it. Me and $teamed have been on this hub for years now and when people have troubles with the downgrader it usually comes down to the fact that the user did something wrong on their end.

It is true, Whenever I click onto the gta3.img, it says and I quote "Can't mount file: The disc image file is corrupted." There is clearly something wrong with the file, and don't accuse me of escalating things when he was doing it by trying to deny it and not give any help. I've tried redownloading it and I know it's not the browser, and I've did it to a clean installation, and the fact that antivirus programs may ruin it is discouraging to be honest.

[-3xA'Lu©κy the disappearing act]

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

Escrito originalmente por -3xA'Lu©κy:

He said "No" to a claim you made about the downgrader not working and that it "adds a broken gta3.img that is corrupted and impossible to mod" which is simply not true. He could've provided more info, sure, but you didn't need to escalate things either.

Anyway, drama aside; did you try redownloading the downgrader file (use another browser perhaps), disabling your antivirus, and installing the file to a clean installation of San Andreas (usually it's good practice to manually delete the entire San Andreas folder prior to reinstalling via. Steam as uninstalling a game doesn't delete files that were modified)?

There's always a chance a problem like this has occurred to other individuals but there's little Steam users can do unless it's been reported before and we know what could be causing it. Me and $teamed have been on this hub for years now and when people have troubles with the downgrader it usually comes down to the fact that the user did something wrong on their end.

It is true, Whenever I click onto the gta3.img, it says and I quote "Can't mount file: The disc image file is corrupted." There is clearly something wrong with the file, and don't accuse me of escalating things when he was doing it by trying to deny it and not give any help. I've tried redownloading it and I know it's not the browser, and I've did it to a clean installation, and the fact that antivirus programs may ruin it is discouraging to be honest.

What are you trying to do with the gta3.img file exactly? It's not something you can just open/edit without the proper tools.

[Astrolonomics]

Escrito originalmente por -3xA'Lu©κy:

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

It is true, Whenever I click onto the gta3.img, it says and I quote "Can't mount file: The disc image file is corrupted." There is clearly something wrong with the file, and don't accuse me of escalating things when he was doing it by trying to deny it and not give any help. I've tried redownloading it and I know it's not the browser, and I've did it to a clean installation, and the fact that antivirus programs may ruin it is discouraging to be honest.

What are you trying to do with the gta3.img file exactly? It's not something you can just open/edit without the proper tools.

I don't really know, it really is a bother though that I see this. Sorry for arguing with you.

[-3xA'Lu©κy the disappearing act]

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

Escrito originalmente por -3xA'Lu©κy:

What are you trying to do with the gta3.img file exactly? It's not something you can just open/edit without the proper tools.

I don't really know, it really is a bother though that I see this. Sorry for arguing with you.

Don't worry about that.

The gta3.img file stores txd files (txd = a set of textures) and a good chunk of what the game loads up. It can be opened with an application called IMGTool 2.0 and any txds can be exported from there, deleted or even replaced. Any exported txds can be edited/changed with the help of another application called TXD workshop and then imported into gta3.img with the use of IMGTool 2.0 again.

If this is your first time playing San Andreas: you shouldn't muck around with gta3.img (esp. if you're not familiar with how modding works for this game). Downgrade (as you've done), install Silent Patch and enjoy the game. If you're after other mods: just tell me what they are and we can go from there.

A handy tool called ModLoader also exists... which makes installing mods super easy and you don't have to touch the gta3.img at all (you shouldn't need to touch it regardless for a lot of the mods on the web).

[Astrolonomics]

My game just freezes whenever I get to a certain area during the mission N.O.E and I don't know what's causing it. Can anyone give me ideas?

[Astrolonomics]

i'm thinking that SkyGfx is causing the crashing because it loads all those extra textures, but I have no clue how to uninstall it because I installed it with the downgrader and you can't uninstall mods with it. What should I do?

[Kemo LEGENDA]

SkyGFX most likely is the cause, as it made my game crash as well when flying because of the lights. I recommend you reinstall the game, downgrade it without adding anything to it. After that download Modloader and just put back everything you want. That's what I did and now it's working perfectly.

[Astrolonomics]

Escrito originalmente por Big Smoke:

SkyGFX most likely is the cause, as it made my game crash as well when flying because of the lights. I recommend you reinstall the game, downgrade it without adding anything to it. After that download Modloader and just put back everything you want. That's what I did and now it's working perfectly.

Will it get rid of my save data?

[-3xA'Lu©κy the disappearing act]

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

Escrito originalmente por Big Smoke:

SkyGFX most likely is the cause, as it made my game crash as well when flying because of the lights. I recommend you reinstall the game, downgrade it without adding anything to it. After that download Modloader and just put back everything you want. That's what I did and now it's working perfectly.

Will it get rid of my save data?

Your save data is stored in .../My Documents/GTA San Andreas User Files/

[Astrolonomics]

Is there any alternative routes that you could take in order to complete N.O.E because the crash happens at that one factory in Whetstone at the end of the freeway going north into San Fierro.

[Astrolonomics]

So I uninstalled SkyGfx and everything and I'm having a problem. Whenever I get close to any airfield the game just automatically crashes on me because apparently it can't load planes or something. Can anyone explain what's wrong with this?

[Hex: Self Care]

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

So I uninstalled SkyGfx and everything and I'm having a problem. Whenever I get close to any airfield the game just automatically crashes on me because apparently it can't load planes or something. Can anyone explain what's wrong with this?

Can you perform a complete full clean installation? Meaning, delete the whole game folder.

[Astrolonomics]

Escrito originalmente por $teamed:

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

So I uninstalled SkyGfx and everything and I'm having a problem. Whenever I get close to any airfield the game just automatically crashes on me because apparently it can't load planes or something. Can anyone explain what's wrong with this?

Can you perform a complete full clean installation? Meaning, delete the whole game folder.

I did, and it still crashes when I get to the airports. My guess is that I downloaded that fixed vanilla vehicles mod, and one of the things that it fixed was the Andromeda, and because that plane is inaccessable without cheats or trainers i'm guessing that is what causes the crash. If it's not, then i'm not sure.

[Astrolonomics]

So it wasn't the andromeda, so i'm guessing it might have something to do with TTDISA or something. I have no clue at all what is wrong with my game.

[Hex: Self Care]

Escrito originalmente por SoldYaBoi:

So it wasn't the andromeda, so i'm guessing it might have something to do with TTDISA or something. I have no clue at all what is wrong with my game.

Why are you using TTISA with mods?