Tried everything, every solution, every trick, disabling some things, enabling some others, every program that is allowed, every function related to Windows, every .exe, admin caps, forced windowing, ...

This game only works in distorted fullscreen whatever I do. I opened every web page, every forum page related to this and nothing can fix it. Only thing that works is the Silent Patch, nothing else works.

Spent a couple hours every weekend for months to make this game work just for nothing. While with Silent Patch it took me 5 seconds and game was running perfectly.

Now, I am asking for a wizard that has the great knowledge. At this point I will just give up. If you are just going to say "join the discord" don't bother answering. Thanks.

I mean, Silent Patch is totally forbidden from using on speedruns leaderboards, but, elaborate further on your issues with the game itself, did you download straight out of Steam?

Yes, I have the Steam version, tried to copy in another folder, tried replacing the gta3.exe by every other one that you can find, tried every combination of .exe / version / files locations. Tried a non legit version of the game. Tried all the fixes that I could find in this forum or sticky posts, without success.

The game works on my old laptops by the way (Win7 and 8.1). I just think that it's not possible to run the vanilla game on Win11 (legit) which is what I have.

Thanks for your input, but I did try everything. Only the vanilla version is not working, same with VC by the way. And with San Andreas it only works with DXWnd and some inputs do not even work with the fixes. At this point I think I will run the ps2 versions emulated because they work well and are considered legit?

have you tried using another windower or messed with anything in compatibility settings?

I use W11 and the game works completely fine. Check your DEP settings and send a screenshot of that and your compatibility settings for the exe, and your installation folder without mods

Tried all the windowers, tried all the combinations possible for the .exe files (all of them, no-cd, no-steam, 1.0, 1.01 etc.), installation folder is clean (used the steam one), when I try any windower it closes the game 1 second later without any error message. My game is legit, same with my windows. Unmodded, fresh from a steam install doesn't work etiher. Tried all compatibility settings in windows. Tried resetting the gta.set many times, tried downloading one, etc.

When I say everything I mean it. And I don't see how having a look at a folder would solve anything since I have the exact same folder on my older laptops and game runs fine and windowed. Still appreciate your help though.

By the way, the game runs with Silent's patch, and just discovered, if I put the Silent's windower (III.VC.SA windower) it works without issues (without the silent patch itself). I know it's illegal, but maybe add as rule the Silent's is authorized only and only if you show your installation folder when starting a run, and starting that run from the folder in question (in that case you can see if there are any scripts).

Anyway, I'll just not submit my runs for 3 and vc, whatever.