GTA IV WINDOWS 10 SOLUTION

[deancgy]

EDIT Aug 13/2021: PLEASE NOTE THAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE GAME WHICH MAY MAKE THE FOLLOWING UNNECESSARY. THERE IS NOW A ROCKSTAR LAUNCHER INCLUDED THAT CONFIGURES ROCKSTAR SOCIAL CLUB AND LINKS IT TO YOUR STEAM ACCOUNT. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RUN THE GAME BY HAVING ONLY TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
1) ADD THE GAME TO CONTROLLED FOLDER ACCESS IN WINDOWS SECURITY
SETTINGS(Virus & threat protection)
2) ADD THE GAME TO 'EXCLUSIONS' LIST IN WINDOWS SECURITY(Virus & threat
protection)
3) ADD THE GAME AS 'ALLOWED' IN FIREWALL SETTINGS.

Dear moderators, if you see the need to remove this post, feel free to do so. I was trying to do it from my end and 'edit post' was the only option provided to me.

PREVIOUS FIX:
Ok, so after about 20 hours and 50 attempts i have mangaged to get Steam GTA IV to run on Windows 10 in proper graphics mode with:
-NO PATCHES
-NO CRACKS

Here is what I did:(omit steps 1&2 unless you have used the liveless cracks, use a fresh install in that case)

1. Ensure GTA IV is completely uninstalled. This means any patches and liveless cracks as
well.
I use CC cleaner and Wise reg fixer to make sure no remnants stay on my PC. Make sure
GTA IV file is gone.
2. Install fresh copy of GTA IV from Steam Client. DO NOT START GAME YET.
3. Open Intel HD Graphics control panel, select and open 3D settings.
4. In 3D Application settings there should be a window showing Apps that have 3D settings, click
'Browse' and locate and select the "LaunchGTAIV.exe" file in your GTAIV folder. This should now show as 'SecuROM Launcher' in the window in your Intel HD control panel. Use these settings:
-Vertical Sync Use App Default Settings
-Conservative Morphological Anti-liasing- check Enhance Application Default Settings
-Multi-Sample anti-liasing -Use App default settings
-Anisotropic filtering-Use App Default settings.
-Apply settings.
That should take care of any graphic issues. DO NOT LAUNCH YET.
5. In Windows 10 open your XBOX LIVE APP and login using your GFWL(or XBOX)
credentials. MS ported my profile from GFWL TO XBOX LIVE for me. Start a new profile if
need be.
6. Now back to the GTAIV files. Follow your program86/steam/steamapps/common file path
until you find 'Grand Theft Auto IV' , right click and click open. You should see 2 folders..
GTAIV and Installers. Open the Installers file folder and locate XLiveUpdate.msi, right click
and install.
This will install the Xlive update for GFWL. If GFWL is not already installed you can get it from microsoft here: go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=201134
7. Now go to your 'GTAIV' folder, open it and locate 'LaunchGTAIV.exe' right click and open
properties. Click 'Compatibility' tab. Do NOT manually check the Compatabiliity Mode box,
leave it blank. Now in 'Settings' Click 'Change high DPI settings and check 'Overide High DPI Scaling performed by: Application
click 'ok'
Check 'Disable Full Screen Optimization' Check 'Run Program as Admin' ..click 'Apply' to
apply these settings. Almost there folks.
8. From 'LaunchGTAIV.exe' right click and run as administrator. When Social Club screen appears click play. Game should start. In Menu screen of GTA IV click 'LIVE' and the GFWL
signin should appear, if you are signed in on XBOXLIVE APP in your Win10 start page it should have your credentials ready to login in this GFWL sign in window. If not, enter same as your XLive. Once signed in close GFWL login and click 'START' to play GTA IV.
I really hope it works for you as well, like i said i put about 20 hours and tried every update, patch, crack, fix, command line, that i could find related to this and on a hunch i wanted try to put the game into my Intel HD panel like I can with games in my GeForce panel.
9. If in game settings don't show your gpu memory available go here: https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/200145206/Issues-with-GTAIV-showing-video-cards-with-over-2GB-as-under-spec

[Nejby]

Thanks for help mate

[deancgy]

Originally posted by Nejby:

Thanks for help mate

I Hope that helped you get it sorted, enjoy.

[VezirKiran]

You are my hero. Thank you my friends.

[VezirKiran]

I translated to Turkish and shared it with your reference. Thank you very much

https://steamcommunity.com/app/12210/discussions/0/3220528325737621447/

[deancgy]

Originally posted by VezirKıran:

I translated to Turkish and shared it with your reference. Thank you very much

https://steamcommunity.com/app/12210/discussions/0/3220528325737621447/

More than happy to help. I just had to do it again 2 days ago as I had to do a reinstall of Win10 and had the game up and running the first try. So far i have no issues with game saves or any graphics issues.

[Negative Creep]

Isn't this a bit too complicated? I installed a patch Rockstar has on their website and the game works fine for me.

[sandman_4192]

Thanks for this! Able to play GTAIV for the first time in awhile. One question though: After starting up the game initially, do you always have to start it through the LaunchGTAIV.exe or can you just start it through Steam?

[deancgy]

I have just been launching it with the LaunchGTAIV.exe and created a desktop shortcut for it. Out of curiosity I did try once to launch it through Steam but as soon as I saw it cycle into its
'First time setup' routine i chickened out and cancelled the launch. I didn't want to chance having the Steam setup mess with the settings and then not being able to launch. So it's up to you but with the desktop shortcut for the Launch exe it plays every time now.

[deancgy]

Originally posted by Eiríkr:

Isn't this a bit too complicated? I installed a patch Rockstar has on their website and the game works fine for me.

Realistically it's just few settings changes in properties, and making sure the Xlive msi is installed, and the linking the launch exe to the Intel panel(if needed). I tried the patch last December and it didn't fix all the issues on my sytem, particularly the fullscreen and graphics issue. I poured through the entire forum and tried everything incuding that patch, command line graphics tweaks, .dll hacks and in the end the method I used worked. If the patch worked for you thats good. I just made a very thorough post on it to ensure anybody could figure it out regardless of their level of knowledge.

[andypatiko]

Originally posted by Eiríkr:

Isn't this a bit too complicated? I installed a patch Rockstar has on their website and the game works fine for me.

can you help me please, I would like to know where to download that patch. Thanks

[Negative Creep]

Originally posted by andypatiko:

Originally posted by Eiríkr:

Isn't this a bit too complicated? I installed a patch Rockstar has on their website and the game works fine for me.

can you help me please, I would like to know where to download that patch. Thanks

https://support.rockstargames.com/hc/es/categories/200013096-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV

[glowsticky]

ok thank f### this worked. Thank you for your time!!!! you are a hero!!!!!

[deancgy]

Originally posted by fnkrjnkie:

ok thank f### this worked. Thank you for your time!!!! you are a hero!!!!!

glad it worked for you bud. good to know that you didn't have to unin/reinstall. if you end up with any graphics settings issues there are some good vids on youtube with simple command line tweeks to solve. easy as creating a notepad file and dropping it into the gta iv folder.

[Mr_Txocolat]

Works perfectly. Tks : )

[Diarrheajones]

Lot of great advice here, but honestly, I feel like they should not be selling something that is clearly not optimized to run on many systems now. Grocery stores don't sell 2 month old lettuce, maybe don't sell a bad product that hasn't been updated. Not worth hours or days of frustration

Someone mentioned a patch? I may try one more time before I give up and try to get a refund for this POS (good luck, hah)...