Patching your 1.01 or 2.00 version of gta_sa.exe

[darkdreamingdan]

Important note: before using this patch, first re-download the latest version of MTA from https://multitheftauto.com/ and re-install it, as the installer contains a procedure to automatically make your GTA installation compatible (without modifying original game files) that for technical reasons isn't included in the MTA auto-updater, on which many users may rely for years without installing MTA, therefore creating a problem if their GTA installation changes at some point.

So, if you currently have no compatibility or have an unsupported version of GTA (prompting you to come here) or any other similar problem, please first re-install MTA. If  this doesn't help, then proceed with the below instructions.

This topic offers a patcher which will patch the following unsupported versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas:

• USA 1.01
• USA 2.00
• European 1.01
• European 2.00
• German 1.00
• German 1.01
• German 2.00

This patch does NOT turn your gta_sa.exe into a crack/No-CD, but converts your gta_sa.exe to a 1.00 EU version. Please make necessary backups in case something goes wrong; we are not responsible for damaged or lost files.

I have tested this personally, though please post if you have any problems while using the patcher.

Although you will be reverting back to a fully moddable version of the game, you will also lose improvements contained within 1.01+, so downgrade at your own risk. Remember, you can always upgrade back to 1.01 from this patched version. Should you experience any problems you can always reinstall GTA:SA.

Pick one of the following mirrors to download:

• DOWNLOAD MIRROR 1 (files.mtasa.com)
• DOWNLOAD MIRROR 2 (MediaFire)

Thanks to Mike for testing and mista.maja for helping me get a German gta_sa.exe, and to nippy401 for letting me get ahold of GTA:SA 2.00

I have added 2.0 support for DE, untested.

Regarding users of the Steam version of GTA: San Andreas

This patch is not compatible with the Steam version of San Andreas, primarily because the .exe is completely different. You don't need to use this patcher for the Steam version, as the procedure to make MTA compatible with it is now included in the installer of recent MTA versions.

So if you have the Steam version, follow these steps:

1) install the Steam version of GTA. If you already have it installed, make sure the game, more specifically the EXE is unmodded, or else MTA may be unable to perform the operation.

2) download the latest version of MTA (make sure of this) from https://multitheftauto.com/ > "Download" and install it. If MTA was already installed, make sure to re-install it (your files and saved settings won't be lost, MTA will be overwritten only) to ensure the Steam compatibility operation is performed by the installer.

* Make sure to repeat this process every time you re-install your Steam version of GTA, or "verify files" (repair install it) in Steam, or whenever a problem occurs with launching GTA.

 

Last resort

This topic and the patcher was created to help a group of users that happen to have either modded, or upgraded versions of GTA:SA.
MTA San Andreas is designed for, and thus best supported on, the original versions of GTA:SA (US 1.0 and EU 1.0 EXE's) without later GTA updates (1.01 and later) applied to it.. these updates only change the EXE and not other game files, and break MTA compabibility.

So that also means if nothing in this topic works for you, the last resort (actually the method of preference in any case) would be to re-install GTA from DVD so that you will get the original EXE (US or EU 1.0) which MTA supports entirely. As far we know, no DVD version contains an updated EXE (1.01 or later) and they are all 1.0.

If you find a retail version with an updated EXE, this patcher is still likely to work for it, unlike any modded GTA versions (based on 1.01 or later) from shady sources which the patcher may not recognize. So because of the higher success rate for original game in any shape, we recommend you to only get the original game from retail (DVD or digital download) and we tend to only offer support if this is the case. MTA will not provide support for attempts to downgrade/make compatible cracked, or heavily modded installations of GTA. Besides the ethical aspect, MTA is also designed to best support unmodded versions and stability or functioning isn't even guaranteed in other scenario's.

For more information on places where you can buy legitimate and supported versions of GTA, we advise you to visit this wiki page: 

https://wiki.multitheftauto.com/index.php?title=Where_to_buy_GTASA

 

NOTE: There have been numerous cases of people externally linking directly to the file. If you wish to link to the downgrader, I request that you link to this TOPIC, not directly to the file. This is to ensure that users having trouble post in this thread rather than creating new topics. If you would like to mirror it please contact an administrator.

* Topic update date: 29th March 2020

Changelog: 

updated Steam compatibility information
added more information

 

[Jani]

Nice add. Hopefully this will allow a lot of people with other region exe's and the hot coffee patch to play MTA.

[Guest]

great job man... it really works... i can play without a nodvd crack now well done

[Exoskeletor]

I want to ask something. if finally you made this great patch to work with version 2 also, when we are aplying it we loose every or some of the updates and fixes that 1.01 or 2 has made to san andeas and it is like that we havent install any patch?

[darkdreamingdan]

I want to ask something. if finally you made this great patch to work with version 2 also, when we are aplying it we loose every or some of the updates and fixes that 1.01 or 2 has made to san andeas and it is like that we havent install any patch?

Yes, you will lose fixes. however, i could have made the patch also modify your main.scm back to 1.0 version, but this would result in your savegames being corrupt. So although you are reverting back, your savegames will remain compatible, and you will lose any bug fixes in other version.

Good question, i'll add it to the first post

[Exoskeletor]

Except that we can make a backup. Does this patch has an uninstall feature or will have in the future?

[Guest]

Hey, I've got a v2 gta_sa.exe file, which I would be happy to contribute. I bought the game only 2 weeks ago.

[Guest]

yeah i have a v2.00 its all legal and 3 days old, please help

[supersam]

dude i cant do shit with mine it says something about my gta.sa.exe folder saying tht it cant find it i only bought mine yesterday and i tried loades of stuff

[darkdreamingdan]

2.0 support was just added! Please test it i would like some feedback

Except that we can make a backup. Does this patch has an uninstall feature or will have in the future?

No, i dont plan on having an uninstall - if people would like to revert back they always have the option of going to http://www.nomorehotcoffee.com or reinstall

[Guest]

I have USA version 2.0, and when I tried to run the patch, it said it couldn't because I had an unknown version... I tried uninstalling and reinstalling SA, then applying the patch, but got the same error.

[Guest]

I also have the USA second edition, and I get an "unknown version" error. It may not be functional on US versions of 2.0 just yet.

Edit: Yes, I've been looking everywhere for something that will allow me to add *any* mods to the game. Yes, I registered just to provide feedback on this, which seems to be the closest I'll get without buying another copy.

[Guest]

I also have the USA second edition, and I get an "unknown version" error. It may not be functional on US versions of 2.0 just yet.

Edit: Yes, I've been looking everywhere for something that will allow me to add *any* mods to the game. Yes, I registered just to provide feedback on this, which seems to be the closest I'll get without buying another copy.

[Guest]

HI i just bought 2.0 ,2 days ago . i tried the patch to revet it to lower or reverse patch . it said unknown version. how hard would it be to make a patch to update all ver to 2.0 or higher? im probly ask a lot but had to ask

i played vice city and have been anticapating san andreas

thanks maxx

[Big Smoke]

I've got one question about V2. Is only the .exe changed? Because some other friends say other files are also changed, but they don't know wich are changed .

[Blokker_1999]

mutliple files have changed because R* had to remove the hot coffee content. However, as far as we know you only need to have a 1.0 exe to play MTA.

[darkdreamingdan]

I am 90% sure that the no hot coffee patch changes .dlls that come along with the .exe. I am also fairly sure replacing simply the .exe will work with MTA. However, i have heard that this causes crashes in single player from somewhere, and other adverse affects. This patch however patches the .dlls too.

I also have updated the patcher, it now supports everything i would like it to support. This also means USA 2.00 support

[Guest]

This program cannot patch the installed version of san Andreas because of the following reason: c:/Program Files/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/gta_sa.exe:Unknown version.

this is what it says when i try it dosent work for me just bought the game today

[orappa]

This program cannot patch the installed version of san Andreas because of the following reason: c:/Program Files/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/gta_sa.exe:Unknown version.

this is what it says when i try it dosent work for me just bought the game today

Which country did you buy it from?

[Guest]

I bought it from usa a target in califorina in sacermento

[Guest]

Well it still dosent work for me i guess im never going to get it to work

[Ryan_]

Well, don't ask me what my SA DVD was doing on the floor but I stepped on it and I scratched it. I have the game fully installed and can play with the DVD still, But no chance of installing from this DVD agian. I do have an Image of the DVD on file, but is very hard to burn with no need of emulation.

So, im gonna go buy V2, only $30.00canadian @ futureshop.

And I will test ur patch.

U say this patch wont cause problems in SP mode cause u included the dlls right?

Does it include script.img or any other files?

I will edit post with results.

I assume this will be a US version that I buy in Canada right?

[Jani]

Correct.

[Guest]

I am thinking of buying GTA SA and i was wondering is the europe version of the game version 2.0 ? thank you

[darkdreamingdan]

The cover the 2.0 should say "Second Edition" on the cover, i believe.

[Guest]

ok thanks. think i might just buy it