ERR_GEN_ZLIB_2 (Have tried everything)

[Jawack]

I get this error seemingly at random when playing GTA:O. The worst part is that if I ever actually have this fixed, I don't think I'd want to play anymore.

Here's the list of what I've done:
Rebooted
Verify game
Move install to different drive
Updated drivers
Rolled back drivers
Check MD5 hashes after verifying and after crash, unchanged
Disabled anti-virus
Clean reinstall of GTA5
Clean reinstall of Rockstar Games Launcher and all that

And here are my specs:
Win 10
64GB RAM
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700KF CPU @ 3.80GHz
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

Edit: Only started happening after they turned off the Halloween event.

[kr3m]

damn, even PC's got it out for GenZ..

[cruste]

sounds like the classic antivirus blocks parts of the game because game got tiny update while antivirus library is still outdated

simply create exception rules for all the folders like steam, social club and game folder if it differs from steam, keep in mind certain antivirus will still block process even with exception rules, webroot is one of these specail types for that extra feeling of security.

you can check the antivirus quarantine container to check if the av has tossed some of the necessary files there while you might have tried to update social club with outdated virus library

thousand other reason when it comes to windows and constant updates
psykoteky created all the fancy checklist in steam forum while R* wants you to google for solution on their own support site

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/psyshelp/discussions/3/3730700942543616803/

[Mexicola9302]

Uninstall the 3rd party antivirus software if there is one. Stick to the already built in Windows Defender and create an exception for the game folder, social club folder just eveything that has to do with the game. In general every game should be excluded from being scanned by the defender. Simply because game devs don't put viruses into their games, these are trustworthy software products.

Nobody should use 3rd party antivirus software anymore anyway, they are completely useless since Windows 7 already. All they do is show spam ads to upgrade to premium and even if you do these AV softwares are useless. Nobody needs that anymore.

In the Windows XP times and i think with Vista, yes back then ppl still needed 3rd party AV software, but these times are long over.

[Jawack]

I appreciate the responses but it's not the anti-virus. It's always turned off and I've disabled Windows Defender for the sake of testing, the error still happened. I verified files or reinstalled the game everytime I tested something new and the error still happened with and without the anti-virus. Also as an aside, I know Windows Defender is enough but I use an additional anti-virus for networking reasons.

[Mexicola9302]

Originally posted by Jawack:

I appreciate the responses but it's not the anti-virus. It's always turned off and I've disabled Windows Defender for the sake of testing, the error still happened. I verified files or reinstalled the game everytime I tested something new and the error still happened with and without the anti-virus. Also as an aside, I know Windows Defender is enough but I use an additional anti-virus for networking reasons.

Turning off 3rd party AV NEVER does a thing. You have to uninstall that crap.

I had this a problem with Cyberpunk in the beginning of the year 2021. I had Avast Premium installed on my computer, i made an exception for the game folder AND turned it off, but nope i still only had half of my usual FPS in the game. After i read some forum posts i just uninstalled Avast, created an exception for ALL of my games in Windows Defender and it had the FPS it should have again.

3rd party AV is often the root of all problems. Even if you think you know it better, just try it out.

[Jawack]

I'll try that when I wake up and see what happens. I doubt it'll work but I'll try just about anything at this point.

[kr3m]

You can try this.. not my video, just found it googling "ERR_GEN_ZLIB_2"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhCfDPEuNkU

[SqueakyTweaky]

Limit fps to 160 in Nvidia geoforce panel.

[SqueakyTweaky]

Originally posted by Mexicola9302:

Originally posted by Jawack:

I appreciate the responses but it's not the anti-virus. It's always turned off and I've disabled Windows Defender for the sake of testing, the error still happened. I verified files or reinstalled the game everytime I tested something new and the error still happened with and without the anti-virus. Also as an aside, I know Windows Defender is enough but I use an additional anti-virus for networking reasons.

Turning off 3rd party AV NEVER does a thing. You have to uninstall that crap.

I had this a problem with Cyberpunk in the beginning of the year 2021. I had Avast Premium installed on my computer, i made an exception for the game folder AND turned it off, but nope i still only had half of my usual FPS in the game. After i read some forum posts i just uninstalled Avast, created an exception for ALL of my games in Windows Defender and it had the FPS it should have again.

3rd party AV is often the root of all problems. Even if you think you know it better, just try it out.

It is not about what antivirus you use, it is about what you use to begin with, avast itself is complete crap.

[Mexicola9302]

Originally posted by SqueakyTweaky:

Originally posted by Mexicola9302:

Turning off 3rd party AV NEVER does a thing. You have to uninstall that crap.

I had this a problem with Cyberpunk in the beginning of the year 2021. I had Avast Premium installed on my computer, i made an exception for the game folder AND turned it off, but nope i still only had half of my usual FPS in the game. After i read some forum posts i just uninstalled Avast, created an exception for ALL of my games in Windows Defender and it had the FPS it should have again.

3rd party AV is often the root of all problems. Even if you think you know it better, just try it out.

It is not about what antivirus you use, it is about what you use to begin with, avast itself is complete crap.

They are all complete crap.

[SqueakyTweaky]

Originally posted by Mexicola9302:

Originally posted by SqueakyTweaky:

It is not about what antivirus you use, it is about what you use to begin with, avast itself is complete crap.

They are all complete crap.

I wouldn't touch windows own antivirus with the end of my stick even, sure it does stop something but it lacks so much things. I have been using bitdefender for years and won't ever look to install anything else ever.

[Jawack]

Just tried uninstalling the anti-virus, no luck. Come to think of it, this only started happening after the Halloween event ended and after I got softlocked trying to do a Fooligan job and I had to alt+f4.

[Jawack]

Just fixed it. Turns out switching my download region solved my issue. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I think one of Steam's CDNs might have crapped the bed.

[Mexicola9302]

Originally posted by SqueakyTweaky:

Originally posted by Mexicola9302:

They are all complete crap.

I wouldn't touch windows own antivirus with the end of my stick even, sure it does stop something but it lacks so much things. I have been using bitdefender for years and won't ever look to install anything else ever.

Well ppl that don't visit shady websites and don't click every spam email or install any fishy software don't need a fort knox AV.

[[-iD-]]

Originally posted by Jawack:

Just fixed it. Turns out switching my download region solved my issue. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I think one of Steam's CDNs might have crapped the bed.

sounds more changing dl regions reconfigured the av or the av is blocking the region, not likely anything going on in any region right now since you're the only one this is happening to.