Grand Theft Auto IV Bug with PL

[emxiaks]

I hope I'm posting this in the correct forum, if not, I apologize.

So, I've been using ProcessLasso for a while now and I noticed that the day after I installed it I couldn't run Grand Theft Auto IV anymore.  I have done a lot of testing and have determined ProcessLasso to the the cause.  that because said, I completely deactivated it and tested multiple video display settings and different game settings and every time it would load up.  I loaded the game up in safe mode, loaded up.

I turned ProcessLasso on and tried the process:
Open Game
Go into options
Go to video
Run benchmark

while loading the benchmark it just says "Loading..."  it gets stuck there for an infinite amount of time.  i've left the game on over night and such, no luck.  except when PL is deactivated.


e: please just let me know any information you may need in order to check out this problem and I will do my best to provide you with it.

e2: I'm on Windows XP professional SP3
GTX 9800
Quad core phenom amd 9850

[Jeremy Collake]

Thanks for the report.  [speculation removed] With your help, let's figure this out.

[emxiaks]

Thanks for the report. [speculation removed]

Thanks for the reply, I await a version that could fix this problem.  While on my CPU, GTA doesn't use that much, so I'm not too worried about it.  I will test it for you, every new release and make a new post for every new release (if you would like me to) about the in compatibility.

[Jeremy Collake]

I appreciate that. You know, I really haven't figured out what exactly is causing this phenomenon. In my tests, I just don't see the same problems that are reported (likely due to differing system configurations). However, in my tests, I'm not seeing Process Lasso take any actions. I suspect these problems are highly specific to the software environment on the computer.

Is there any chance you can submit your log of events when you run that game, with gaming mode on? I'd like to see what actions Process Lasso is taking on these systems. If you do submit the log, please turn on 'Options / Log settings / Log all executed processes' so I can see what facilitating processes are launched, if any.

If you do get a chance, I appreciate it. Thanks, regardless.

[emxiaks]

Alright, here is the log:

11-06/2009 13:02:47.593,EMXIAKS,Cory,ProcessGovernor.exe,2016,Core engine started - version: 3.60.3 [x32],Config from: D:\Documents and Settings\Cory\Application Data\ProcessLasso\prolasso.ini
11-06/2009 13:02:47.593,EMXIAKS,Cory,ProcessGovernor.exe,2016,Beginning process management,Managing processes for user(s): All users
11-06/2009 13:02:49.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,processlasso.exe,3180,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: processlasso.exe
11-06/2009 13:02:49.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,processgovernor.exe,2016,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: processgovernor.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:06.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,LaunchGTAIV.exe,2768,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:06.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,launchgtaiv.exe,2768,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 2;3,Process matches user default for: launchgtaiv.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:19.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,2824,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:19.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,2824,Automatic gaming mode ON,Automatic gaming mode was turned on because a specified game process was found running.
11-06/2009 13:03:28.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,RGSCLauncher.exe,2668,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club\RGSCLauncher.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:28.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,gtaiv.exe,2824,Automatic gaming mode OFF,Automatic gaming mode was turned off because no specified game processes are still running.
11-06/2009 13:03:29.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,RGSC.exe,3408,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club\1_1_3_0\RGSC.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:29.984,EMXIAKS,Cory,csc.exe,3144,Process launched,D:\windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\csc.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:33.0,EMXIAKS,Cory,LaunchGTAIV.exe,2460,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:47.15,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,1344,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:47.15,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,1344,Automatic gaming mode ON,Automatic gaming mode was turned on because a specified game process was found running.
11-06/2009 13:03:56.15,EMXIAKS,Cory,wmiprvse.exe,2300,Process launched,D:\windows\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:58.15,EMXIAKS,Cory,rundll32.exe,1780,Process launched,D:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe
11-06/2009 13:03:59.15,EMXIAKS,Cory,gta4Browser.exe,2188,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\gta4Browser.exe
11-06/2009 13:05:04.78,EMXIAKS,Cory,taskmgr.exe,976,Process launched,D:\windows\SYSTEM32\taskmgr.exe
11-06/2009 13:05:06.93,EMXIAKS,Cory,gtaiv.exe,1344,Automatic gaming mode OFF,Automatic gaming mode was turned off because no specified game processes are still running.






I closed ProcessLasso, reopened it, opened up GTA, which cause a lot of things to open up from windows.  RGSC is rockstar games Social club (that's the launcher)  i had to Ctrl Alt Del to close the process, because it'll just stay at the loading screen infinitely if I don't. 
Now, from what I know.. GTA has a lot of security in it to prevent pirated copies, blah blah.. while that may not be the problem, there is a launcher involved that may screw with the system.  I also noticed when I clicked on it the game started to load up (PL went into gaming mode) then it got taken out because the process got redirected to the launcher then it started back up (i didn't click anything other than the icon on my desktop during the launch) 
Once the game finally launched I clicked Start game and it began the infinite loading screen.

I hope this information helps, if there's anything else I can do let me know.

[Jeremy Collake]

Thank you, that is very helpful. Have you tried to remove the default affinity you have set for LaunchGTAIV.exe? I assume you probably did, but I have to ask to be thorough. Based on the log, this seems to be the most likely cause of problems like you are seeing. If it isn't that, GTA4 must be sensitive to foreground boosting..

[emxiaks]

Thank you, that is very helpful. Have you tried to remove the default affinity you have set for LaunchGTAIV.exe? I assume you probably did, but I have to ask to be thorough. Based on the log, this seems to be the most likely cause of problems like you are seeing. If it isn't that, GTA4 must be sensitive to foreground boosting..

Yes, I have tried to remove the default (ie it being on all 4 cores, right?) I'll try again and post a log with it on all four if you like, as I am not 100% sure if I have.. but I think I did.

[Jeremy Collake]

Right, make it so that it uses all cores -- by removing the default affinity or setting the default affinity to all cores (first option preferred). Considering the problem you are having is an infinite stall, this is definitely the most likely cause, so you should try again to be sure.

[emxiaks]

This is the first one:

11-06/2009 15:31:51.156,EMXIAKS,Cory,ProcessGovernor.exe,3188,Core engine started - version: 3.60.3 [x32],Config from: D:\Documents and Settings\Cory\Application Data\ProcessLasso\prolasso.ini
11-06/2009 15:31:51.156,EMXIAKS,Cory,ProcessGovernor.exe,3188,Beginning process management,Managing processes for user(s): All users
11-06/2009 15:31:53.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,processlasso.exe,2096,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: processlasso.exe
11-06/2009 15:31:53.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,processgovernor.exe,3188,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: processgovernor.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:09.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,LaunchGTAIV.exe,1256,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:09.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,launchgtaiv.exe,1256,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: launchgtaiv.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:23.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,3796,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:23.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,3796,Automatic gaming mode ON,Automatic gaming mode was turned on because a specified game process was found running.
11-06/2009 15:32:23.546,EMXIAKS,Cory,gtaiv.exe,3796,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 2;3,Process matches user default for: gtaiv.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:32.562,EMXIAKS,Cory,RGSCLauncher.exe,1948,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club\RGSCLauncher.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:32.562,EMXIAKS,Cory,gtaiv.exe,3796,Automatic gaming mode OFF,Automatic gaming mode was turned off because no specified game processes are still running.
11-06/2009 15:32:33.562,EMXIAKS,Cory,RGSC.exe,1280,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club\1_1_3_0\RGSC.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:33.562,EMXIAKS,Cory,rgsc.exe,1280,Process CPU affinity was adjusted to: 0;1;2;3,Process matches user default for: rgsc.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:37.875,EMXIAKS,Cory,csc.exe,3552,Process launched,D:\windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\csc.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:43.890,EMXIAKS,Cory,LaunchGTAIV.exe,1136,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\LaunchGTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:57.890,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,3580,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV.exe
11-06/2009 15:32:57.890,EMXIAKS,Cory,GTAIV.exe,3580,Automatic gaming mode ON,Automatic gaming mode was turned on because a specified game process was found running.
11-06/2009 15:33:05.906,EMXIAKS,Cory,wmiprvse.exe,2756,Process launched,D:\windows\system32\wbem\wmiprvse.exe
11-06/2009 15:33:09.906,EMXIAKS,Cory,gta4Browser.exe,2388,Process launched,D:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto IV\gta4Browser.exe

This worked, my game loaded up while on all 4 affinities.  BUT I changed the affiinities of all the apps involved.. those being GTAIV.exe LaunchGTA.exe and RGSC.exe

I may post more in which the affinities for certain programs are different.

[Jeremy Collake]

Ah, glad that worked.

It sounds like that, for whatever reason (there are a few possibilities), the GTA launcher isn't compatible with a CPU affinity that gives it less than all the CPUs/cores. There won't be anything I can do to fix this problem. I simply have to recommend not setting a custom default affinity for the GTA launcher.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to guarantee the compatibility of custom default CPU affinities. That said, before now, I'd never heard a report of an application that responds this way to CPU affinity adjustments. However, I can envision scenarios where it is possible.

So.. I'll note this, and check the issue out first hand. If I discover any new information, I'll let you know.

Thanks for the assistance and experimentation!

[emxiaks]

Ah, glad that worked.

It sounds like that, for whatever reason (there are a few possibilities), the GTA launcher isn't compatible with a CPU affinity that gives it less than all the CPUs/cores. There won't be anything I can do to fix this problem. I simply have to recommend not setting a custom default affinity for the GTA launcher.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to guarantee the compatibility of custom default CPU affinities. That said, before now, I'd never heard a report of an application that responds this way to CPU affinity adjustments. However, I can envision scenarios where it is possible.

So.. I'll note this, and check the issue out first hand. If I discover any new information, I'll let you know.

Thanks for the assistance and experimentation!

Anytime!