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

 

[Guest]

It's not worth it, I ended up having to reinstall the game because it screwed everything up.

[Slothman]

if you read and follow directions you shouldnt have any problems

[Guest]

the link for the download doesnt work for me =(

could someone post the link on rapidshare or something?

[Guest]

Can't you guys make it work for V1.01 & V2?

it would be a lot easyer if you did.

i was looking forward to play MTA but i am having second thoughts as it seems to much Hassle.

Can You Make a client for V1, V1.1 & V2 People?

Then We Wouldent have this problem

[Guest]

Does it support German 2.00? It doesn't seem so.

[Jani]

Yes it does. However, it seems as though the patch has been removed from the only place it was hosted. If anyone has it then send me it and I can mirror it.

[Guest]

Are your sure it is permanently down? I should have a copy of the patch on my local PC.

btw: Several people with German 2.00 said the patch would recognize their .exe as "unknown" and refuse to patch it.

[darkdreamingdan]

No it is currently incompatible with German 2.00. I'll add it soon though (check your PM)

[Guest]

I downloaded the patch to down grade my san andreas second edition the vehicle mods work fine with SAMI but when I put on my outfits skin my game screen goes black and dissapears. please somone help me with this??

[Leviathan]

you downgrade it, and then you mod it?

but you need an unmodded game to play MTA

so there's no need of installing mods on the downgraded version.

you can have 2 installs, the normal 2.00 version. and the 1.00 version for mta.

[Guest]

I'm not trying to play multi theft auto with my ninja skin mod. I'm only trying to play 1 player but my down grade to 1.0 although it's only supposed to exclude hot coffee doesn't work for skins or weapon mods??

[darkdreamingdan]

Rainstorm it sounds like aproblem with the mod rather than the patch. I see no reason why the game would crash. Have you tried installing anything else?

[Guest]

Iv'e tried modding Cyborg ninja outfit replacing the txt and dff files for the pimp suit. Iv'e also tried other skins this particular skin says to replace only these files? my past skins said to put the main scm in the skins folder which both the new main scm or skins folder didn't exist?

Maybe you could see if the Cyborg ninja mod works for you??

http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/browse.ph ... Dir=&st=75

gimp suit cheat> bekknqv

I'm getting first edition in a few days from e-bay but I'm getting impatient been waiting three days already plus it will be a bummer if I still can't get this to work with 1.0 thanks for your reply.

[darkdreamingdan]

Iv'e tried modding Cyborg ninja outfit replacing the txt and dff files for the pimp suit. Iv'e also tried other skins this particular skin says to replace only these files? my past skins said to put the main scm in the skins folder which both the new main scm or skins folder didn't exist?

Maybe you could see if the Cyborg ninja mod works for you??

http://www.gtagarage.com/mods/browse.ph ... Dir=&st=75

gimp suit cheat> bekknqv

I'm getting first edition in a few days from e-bay but I'm getting impatient been waiting three days already plus it will be a bummer if I still can't get this to work with 1.0 thanks for your reply.

um there is no main.scm in the skins folder, and there is no skins folder anyway i dont know what you're talking about. GTASA doesnt features a skin installing feature without modding the game itself

[Brophy]

Talidan, shouldnt the title be changed considering it does more than patch the german version now?

[Guest]

I got my mods working after reinstalling my game Anyone now know how to use pedestrian editor??

[darkdreamingdan]

Talidan, shouldnt the title be changed considering it does more than patch the german version now?

well the title "Patching your German, 1.01 or 2.00 version of gta_sa.exe" means german, 1.01 or 2.00 version, since german 1.00's need patching for MTA too, as well as 1.01s, and 2.00s.

[Brophy]

FINE, F U PAL!

(was just saying seeing that it does usa versions etc too)

[Guest]

*Ahem*

Ok, I have German 1.01 (on the first post it says that's ok or w.e) and I download the degrader to get 1.0 but it says

"The program cannot patch the installed version of San Andreas because of the following reason : C:\Programfiles\(blahblah)\gta_sa.exe: unknown version"

Can someonebody help me with the problem, i'd really love to play online, thanks =).

[Jani]

Are you definately trying to patch the original 1.01 and not a no-cd crack or something?

[Guest]

Crap, it is a no cd crack 'cause I lost mine while moving house D=. Online looked so fun.

[Guest]

Yeah there wasn't infact a skins folder for my ninja gaiden mod but, that's because that was A GTA Vice City Mod In small letters to the left of the mod I later found that out. Also if a skin tells you to replace the main scm it should include a new main scm file that one had me replacing the main scm with the same main scm file I recently got 1.0 and my hot coffee was crashing at CJ'S ladies door I reinstalled my game and my second edition save games no longer work I assume so far that this is why my hot coffee wasn't working I'm gonna look for a 100% save game mod now l'll say this has all been hectic there should be a page on all of this stuff also the only way my gray fox skin works is if I don't rebuild achive with IMG tool explain that one thanks to all of you for your help I appreciate that action though.

Edited October 11, 2006 by Guest

[Jani]

Was there any need to post exactly the same thing twice?

[paul527]

Lucky me i got the disk when it first came out, umm please dont break it.

[Guest]

I get the following

This program cannot patch the installed version of San Andreas because of the following reason:

C:\PROGRAM FILES\GTA SAN ANDREAS\gta_sa.exe: unknown version

Why does it say this and how can i download V1.0