Troubleshooting#

Anyone can have problems modding their favorite games, and GTA IV is extremely prone to them.

Known issues without a solution#

I know about these issues, no need to report them to me, unless you know a solution.

Cutscenes freeze the game up if the game is out-of-focus for too long.
Car engine sounds occasionally appear and disappear (the solution involves bringing the taxi bug back - lower the traffic budget in GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini).
Social Club achievements cannot be acquired on downgraded versions.
Night shadows are limited (intended to reduce bugs).

Known issues & solutions#

Boot issues#

Asi Loader Error | Other Visual C++ issues

Make sure you installed the prerequisite software.

Error RMN60 on launch

Occurs on downgraded versions. Install ZolikaPatch (your antivirus may have removed it, aswell).

Error "SecuLauncher: failed to start application [2000]" on launch

Right click GTAIV.exe, click Properties, switch to the Compatibility tab and uncheck Run this program as an administrator. If it's already unchecked, see the next solution.
Make sure you installed the prerequisite software.
If even that doesn't solve the issue, install NET 3.5.

Game doesn't even show up

Make sure you don't have any duplicate mods - for example, you may have left FusionFix in both the plugins folder and the game folder. The game won't start in this case.
Reboot your PC.
Only launch a downgraded version from Steam or using PlayGTAIV.exe.
If using ZolikaPatch and FusionFix together, disable the incompatible options.
If the problem persists, try deleting/disabling mods one-by-one to see which one is causing the problem. Usually has something to do with .asi mods, so start there.

Game crashes immediately upon booting

Try turning off RivaTuner Statistics (with MSI Afterburner if using that) or any other software of this sort - overlays can mess the game up on boot.
On a downgraded version, try installing ZolikaPatch if you hadn't already.
Try deleting SETTINGS.cfg from C:/Users/(User)/AppData/Local/Rockstar Games/GTA IV/Settings.
If the problem persists, try deleting/disabling mods one-by-one to see which one is causing the problem. Usually has something to do with injectable mods, so start there.

Load screen issues#

Load times are too long

Remove ColAccel if you had installed it outside of the guide.
Remove the -managed launch option.

Game loads endlessly

Set the -availablevidmem launch option (with a value of up to 3072.0).

Game loads directly into the savegame on startup, no menu

You can hold Left Shift on boot for when you need the menu.

If you want to completely disable the feature off, change Skip Menu to Off in Settings - Game if using FusionFix. If the feature still triggers, set SkipMenu to 0 in ZolikaPatch.ini.

Settings / performance issues#

Game shows wrong VRAM value in settings

Set the -availablevidmem launch option (with a value of up to 3072.0).

The game does not start in desired resolution and there is no option to increase it in the settings

Set these launch options:

-width (horizontal resolution)
-height (vertical resolution)
-refreshrate (refresh rate)

Example:

-width 1920
-height 1080
-refreshrate 60

If that still doesn't help, add d3d9.forceAspectRatio = 16:9 to dxvk.conf. Change 16:9 with your exact aspect ratio if you don't use a 16:9 monitor.

Also, check for GPU driver updates.

Poor in-game performance

Make sure that DXVK is installed correctly.
Try using optimal game settings.
Make sure Shader Pre-caching is disabled in the Steam Settings - Downloads tab if using DXVK.
Make sure you don't have overlays such as Rainmeter running in fullscreen, they can tank your performance greatly.
Try lowering the graphics settings, in particular:
- Shadow Quality
- Night Shadows
- View/Detail Distance
- Depth of Field
- Motion Blur
- Reflection Quality

Constant unstable frame timing after a while of playing (i.e. a microstutter every 0.5 seconds)

Try disconnecting your gamepad. If the problem goes away, try enabling or disabling Steam Overlay. If the problem persists, try also enabling or disabling Steam Input alongside.

Crash issues#

Game crashes during or shortly after load screen

Make sure you started with a clean install (after pressing Uninstall on Steam, manually wipe the remainders in the folder).
If you have added modded cars and saved them near your savehouse, your savefile is corrupted. Change the saved car using this software.
Your savefile may be corrupted. Try temporarily removing your savefiles and start a new game to see if the problem persists.
If the problem persists, try deleting/disabling mods one-by-one to see which one is causing the problem. Usually has something to do with script mods, so start there.

Game randomly crashes mid-game

If using ZolikaPatch and FusionFix together, disable the incompatible options.
Open ZolikaPatch.ini and change HighFPSSpeedupFix to 0.
If the problem persists, try deleting/disabling mods one-by-one to see which one is causing the problem.

Gameplay issues#

Broken LODs / textures

Set the -availablevidmem launch option (with a value of up to 3072.0).
Tone down the amount of texture mods you're using - especially stuff like road textures.

Can't get into helicopter on last mission | Other timing-related issues at high FPS such as arcades being broken

Install FusionFix.
Some issues can only be omitted by setting a 60 or 30 FPS lock. Can be done in Settings - Graphics if using FusionFix.

Softlock on TLAD - Shifting Weight

Open ZolikaPatch.ini and set HighFPSSpeedupFix to 0. You can put it back to 1 after the mission.

Cannot access internet cafe computers or interact with entertainment assets (pool, bowling)

You can do one of the following:

Start a new game and forget about your existing save.
Remove LibertyTweaks files from IVSDKDotNet\scripts (if you don't use IV-SDK .NET for anything else, you can remove safely all files and folders starting with IVSDKDotNet from the game folder aswell).

Steam achievements disappeared after downgrading

Install SteamAchievements.

GFWL / Xbox Live achievements don't work

Remove SteamAchivements.asi - you can't use both at once.
Set TryToSkipAllErrors and VSyncFix to 0 in ZolikaPatch.ini.

Multiplayer issues#

"Unable to connect to game session", "Unable to join a game you were kicked from" or joining an empty lobby in GFWL

You were either actually kicked by the host, or you're experiencing what's known as kickbug.

If you're indeed experiencing kickbug, you have to do manual port forwarding for the following ports in your router's settings and your system's firewall (look online for instructions for your specific router or ISP, or contact your ISP):

TCP: 3074, 80, 88
UDP: 3074, 80, 88

If you can't perform port forwarding, use a VPN service instead. I recommend Mullvad VPN.

Alternatively, give up. Seriously, just give up and try other multiplayer methods - some people are just stuck with the kickbug with no way to fight it.

GFWL overlay doesn't appear

You are using XLiveless (xlive.dll). Rename the file to dinput8.dll.
GFWL files are missing. You need GTAIV.exe.cdf, GTAIV.exe.cfg and GTAIV.exe.cat.
Try reinstalling GFWL.

"This session no longer exists" in GFWL

The license key you're using is also used by somebody else who's already in the lobby. Log out and find yourself a different key or re-run the keygen.

The game asks to sign in to Social Club in GFWL

You need ZolikaPatch.

"The downloadable content required for this autoload is not available" in GFWL

Restart the game.

"You have been disconnected because your computer is running too slowly" in GFWL

Enable Windowed, Borderless and disable Block on Focus Loss in Settings - Game if using FusionFix.
- If not using FusionFix, set BorderlessWindowed and DoNotPauseOnMinimize to 1 in ZolikaPatch.ini and add -windowed to your commandline.txt instead.

"The profile could not be signed in to LIVE" in GFWL

Install the Xbox App and sign in to it with the same account you're trying to use for GFWL.
Try reinstalling GFWL.

Error code: 0x80048821 or "Password contains special characters" in GFWL

Create a new app password and use that to log in.

Error code: 0x8007065b in GFWL

Only known solution is to use another account to sign in.

Error code: 0x80151906 in GFWL

Xbox LIVE servers are likely down at the moment, try again later.

Error code: 0x8015403A in GFWL

Try logging in on the website.

Error code: 0x80150001 in GFWL

GFWL only allows 100 friends maximum on the account. Reduce your number of friends on the account below 100, then try logging in again.

Getting kicked by the anticheat in GTAC

Your files are likely modified - make sure you're using a clean copy from Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher.

The only way to find out which file doesn't pass through is to ask somebody with access to server logs (normally, the owner).

Miscellaneous issues#

I'm using the Rockstar Games Launcher and my files get constantly replaced

After downgrading or using the drag-and-drop archive for 1.0.8.0, avoid using the launcher and start the game with PlayGTAIV.exe instead.

Otherwise, if you want to use CE, avoid file replacements and use modloaders.

Game is using the wrong GPU (NVIDIA laptop)

Go to the NVIDIA Control Panel, 3D settings, add GTAIV.exe and select Max Performance in Power Plan Mode.

EFLC disappeared after downgrading

Make sure you are using ZolikaPatch and set LoadDLCs to 1 in ZolikaPatch.ini.

.NET mods don't work on Linux

See Getting ScriptHookDotNet and IV-SDK .NET to work on Linux

If you know an issue and a solution that I missed, let me know on the Discord server.