'GTA V.exe not found' Error - Can't find ANY working solution?

[It'sTobes]

I apologise if this post is too boring and long, but I feel the need to explain everything as best I can.

After playing the game for 37 hours without a single problem, all of a sudden since yesterday the launcher is displaying 'GTAV.exe not found. Please reinstall the game'.

Screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/MwND9rM.png

I first went to Steam support which had an article with a few potential fixes. This included things like validating files, deleting an appcache folder, checking antivirus, and reinstalling the game.

I did the following:

1) Validated game files: everything was fine except one file which Steam says it re-downloaded and replaced. It does this each time I validate it.

2) Delete Steam's appcache folder and restart

3) Checked antivirus: It turns out Avast Antivirus was blocking an exe file in my GTA V directory folder, so I unblocked it and added it to exceptions. Avast seemed to do nothing and continued to block it, so I removed Avast and went back to Bitdefender which never gave me problems before. Bitdefender also isn't blocking it.

4) Reinstallation: I uninstalled and downloaded the entire 60GB again...


After all this the game still comes up with the same message. There's literally nothing I can do. Google searches barely give any solutions, Steam support directs me to Rockstar support, and Rockstar support blocks me from posting a question because I haven't been a member for more than 1 month.

I don't know what to do any more...

[Bovine]

1) Validated game files: everything was fine except one file which Steam says it re-downloaded and replaced. It does this each time I validate it.

It's still your antivirus. Even if you add the exception, it's obviously being cleaned out which is why the EXE isn't there when you launch it. Then Verify puts it back, then it gets cleaned out again..

[Kyodai]

Try disabling your antivirus completely BEFORE installing the game. Then make an exception for that file in the antivirus. This kinda sounds like what happens when your antivirus quarantines a file it thinks is infected.

[It'sTobes]

Publicado originalmente por Bovine:

1) Validated game files: everything was fine except one file which Steam says it re-downloaded and replaced. It does this each time I validate it.

It's still your antivirus. Even if you add the exception, it's obviously being cleaned out which is why the EXE isn't there when you launch it. Then Verify puts it back, then it gets cleaned out again..

I just completely uninstalled all antivirus software from my PC, restarted, and then re-validated the game. It's saying '1 of 1' in my downloads when I validate it, but gives no information as to what it's downloading and says '0 bytes of 0 bytes'.

The game is also displaying the same message without any software to possibly block it.

[Bovine]

It's not being blocked, it's being removed. if you don't see the .exe in your steam folder after verifying, try verifying it in safe mode with networking supoprt and see if that rebuiltds it. If not..just get teh file from another friend if you know of one and put it back yourself. If it continues to go missing after you've put it back, something running on your pc is still cleaning it out.

[It'sTobes]

Publicado originalmente por Bovine:

It's not being blocked, it's being removed. if you don't see the .exe in your steam folder after verifying, try verifying it in safe mode with networking supoprt and see if that rebuiltds it. If not..just get teh file from another friend if you know of one and put it back yourself. If it continues to go missing after you've put it back, something running on your pc is still cleaning it out.

Would you mind sharing a screenshot of your GTA V directory so I can compare mine with somebody who has the game working fine (that's if you own the game I presume).

Here's what my game folder looks like: http://i.imgur.com/fjPDEp6.png

[Cr3amofWheatGuy]

Though you may have read this solution in another thread, I found the problem was my recently changed "compatibility" settings under the GTA5.exe properties. I simply unchecked "Always Run as Admin" as I normally set all applications to this to prevent issues. And poof, game directory was accessed by the launcher just fine, no need for validation of the files or re-installation of the game. Hope this helps someone! Silly how a simple setting which normally prevents issues like this ironically causes this issue. But, the world isn't perfect and the sky isn't always blue.

[Mopswamdii]

Publicado originalmente por JewishCrusade:

Though you may have read this solution in another thread, I found the problem was my recently changed "compatibility" settings under the GTA5.exe properties. I simply unchecked "Always Run as Admin" as I normally set all applications to this to prevent issues. And poof, game directory was accessed by the launcher just fine, no need for validation of the files or re-installation of the game. Hope this helps someone! Silly how a simple setting which normally prevents issues like this ironically causes this issue. But, the world isn't perfect and the sky isn't always blue.

Thank you this works for me at least. hope it works for others

[Moon]

I'v managed to fix this by downloading an old version of playgta.exe just google for one i got from mega webpage steam blocks my link here. if u want u can try then the game will patch it if u load up the new playgta5.exe simply replace the playgta5.exe and run it hope it helps worked for me (social club) non steam for steam its gta5.exe to replace i believe

[crashmask]

https://imgur.com/gallery/PL1HU4S