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

[MadChill]

So my freshly downloaded GTA SA on my new PC wouldnt start... I tried deleting gta_sa.set, tried the silent patch, had direct play checked, tried the compatibility settings, you name it I've tried it!
Solution? I uninstalled it and installed it again, but this time on my main C: drive! It wouldnt start when it was installed on any other drive! What the ♥♥♥♥? Anyway.. I hope this helps anyone who also has problems launching GTA SA.

[Senner]

I use some custom cars, weapons and the skin selector, and the game works fine, apart from when I save. After loading a saved file, if I try and change my skin or complete a mission, once the cutscene ends the game will freeze and force me to end the process via task manager. What gives?

[CiC]

New end of GTA San Andreas
https://youtu.be/UoYo_-MVbjc

[STARSCREAM]

i cant find gta_sa.set in my document of gta wtf then what should i do

[fludgers]

omg you have got to be kidding me. no way i'm doing any of that.

[Hex: Self Care]

Publicado originalmente por fludgers:

omg you have got to be kidding me. no way i'm doing any of that.

Then refund?

[STARSCREAM]

thanks for your help, mate! :D

[Chin-Li]

Does the folder size get bigger after downgray?

[Hex: Self Care]

Publicado originalmente por Chin-Li:

Does the folder size get bigger after downgray?

Yes.

[Sp1cy]

so my gta has not sound, ive tried reinstalling it but it won't help

[Koveras]

The game runs OK on my PC after a fresh download, but downgrading it with the Downgrader tool from GTA Forums makes it always crash at around 45% loading bar when starting a new game. This is before applying any other recommended mods/patches, and I have already deleted gta-sa.set and save files and have redownloaded/redowngraded the game several times. Any additional advice to get the downgraded game to work?

[☆17_SrvzhzhV_17☆]

GG

[☆17_SrvzhzhV_17☆]

GG

[NEWLTHON]

Publicado originalmente por -3xA'Lu©κy:

Publicado originalmente por Fulldasher95:

Even after doing the following solution, it still can't find 800x600 video mode

Have you tried applying Silent Patch to your game? Simply drag and drop all the files (from the download link below) into your game's folder and tell me if that helps:
https://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=25368

Publicado originalmente por ★ 彡+KiL_LeR_PaN_DaZ+彡 ★:

Can I use gta san andreas cheats when I playing?

Of course. A full list of cheats for PC can be found here:
https://www.gtasanandreas.net/cheats/pc.php

Publicado originalmente por Camp Master Noob:

Same problem here, it's getting frustrating...

Try what I recommended above in this post of mine. I realise an external fix is extra unnecessary work, but it should help you.

Publicado originalmente por HRRoach:

The controller worked in a non-steam version of the game.

I'm not too sure about Logitech gamepads but there's some official controller support implemented by Rockstar for NewSteam r2 versions of San Andreas (non-downgraded Steam version) but better controller support can be obtained by using GInput (which requires you to downgrade to 1.0 and paste files from Silent's ASI Loader into the game's folder). I've linked GInput and Silent's ASI Loader below (links 1 and 2 respectively):
1. http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=21709
2. http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/show.php?id=24272 - Silent's GInput (download "GInputSA 1.11 (for GTA SA)")

[yungsunk]

1