Troubleshooting Mod Installation Issues

JohnFromGWN

TL;DR

The essentials. If game doesn't run or crashes or hangs after modding, disable your mods to ensure it runs in vanilla mode. If it doesn't, do a verify integrity, you seldom need to do a reinstall. If that still doesn't work it could be corrupt game save file. Check for error messages if you get any. If game does run without mods, but not with mods, check out this guide or search through this forum. And...ensure you have updated gameconfig files with the heap limit and packfile asi files recommended by their author, these may no longer work after GTA5 updates.

Section 1- Before you start your modding journey

Ask yourself, does my game run properly without mods installed – let’s call this plain vanilla mode?

If the answer is no, it could be a bad installation or perhaps your system doesn’t meet minimum requirements (CPU, memory, graphics, OS, disk space, outdated video drivers, etc.). A corrupt saved game file can also cause unexpected crashes - and reinstalling will not generally overwrite saved games.

And of course mods are unlikely to work with a cracked version. So if your game doesn't run "modless", this is the wrong post. You’ll likely have better luck on a Windows 10 Forum or just searching Youtube.

How can I run my game without my mods? Simply rename the file dinput8.dll in your root/installation folder and start the game. Once you are confident it runs without issues, stable, then rename the file back (rename it whatever you want or move it out to your desktop). This process also allows you to play GTA Online.

Take home: don’t install any mods if you can’t even run the game without mods – in other words if the game won’t run out of the box, don’t expect it to run with mods.

Section 2 - Getting Ready

2.1 Is your file structure correct for installing mods?
It is strongly suggested you watch some modding videos or read some tutorials to get you ready to install your first mod. If that's the case, without going through all those necessary steps, the first thing you did was to find the folder where a file called GTA5.exe is located. This is your installation folder or game folder. (Some people call it your root folder). This folder will vary depending on whether you use Steam or Epic and also if you install GTA 5 other than in the default installation path. This is very basic stuff and beyond the scope of this post.

2.2. Did you create all the required folders for modding?
There are many excellent “how to videos” on youtube and many tutorials on forums as well. I’ll link to one below. We will not duplicate this information here, rather we will just provide some troubleshooting information. Your folder structure, to support mods, should look like this:

Installation folder\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks Remember, the Installation folder is the folder where your GTA5.exe is located.

Mods is a folder you will create to store your addons and mods. Update is a second folder (subfolder of Mods) that you will need to create. Keep in mind that your game also contains an update folder. Make sure you always work in the mods update, not the game one. X64 is another folder you needed to create (subfolder of Update). The last one is dlcpacks. Your mods/addons will end up in that final folder which you will also create.

Just as an example, yours will look different:
C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto V\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks\MyFastCar
where MyFastCar is the name of your addon. It will contain a file called dlc.rpf.

Step 2.3. Did you install Scripthook, do you have the latest version.
Without this file, in its latest version, you will not be able to install mods. Make sure dinput8.dll, included with your download, is there as well. Both go in the installation folder where your GTA5.exe is located. This link will give you the current version:

http://www.dev-c.com/rdr2/scripthookrdr2

Step 2.4. Did you install the mod with Open IV (not Open intravenous, roman numeral 4)
Did you follow the instructions of the mod creator, usually included in a read me text file. When using Open IV remember to always work in the mods folder. If not you will overwrite game files instead and your mods will not work.

Step 2.5. Did you update the dlclist.xml properly in Open IV.
Again follow the instructions that came with the mod or addon. Two important things to keep in mind. For cars and peds, the name of the addon folder and the name used to spawn the entity should be the same but there are often exceptions. Also, remember to be in your mods folder. There is another dlclist.xml in the installation folder, you don’t update that one.

One final point and possibly the most important. Before you add your second mod, ensure your game is stable running the first one. Only then should you add your second mod. The reason behind this is that when your game crashes, and it will inevitably do so, you will be pretty sure it was the last mod installed that crashed it. So no reason to uninstall and reinstall your game and all your mods when you know it is the last one that caused the issue. Likewise, when something goes wrong, ask yourself what changes you made recently. A windows update, a game update, a new mod, and so on.

Other references:

Excellent guide for dlclist by a63nt-5m1th (yes, the one from the Matrix).
https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/27607/tutorial-dlclist-xml-troubleshooting-syntax-rules-all-dlc-stopped-working-possible-fix/6
A very good video for installation in general.

Forum FAQ
https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/4935/readme-frequently-asked-questions-general-modding
Asking for Help on the Forums
https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/13256/how-to-ask-for-help-and-support

JohnFromGWN

Path Locations for Open IV

Some additional information specific to Open IV.

Note: if you're using some Addon to install mods, your path could be different. Follow the instructions of the mod creator.

Where are my car addons?
installation folder\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks

Where are my ped addons?
installation folder\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks\addonpeds\dlc.rpf\peds.rpf

Where is my gameconfig.xml file?
installation folder\mods\update\update.rpf\common\data

Where is my dlclist.xml file?
same as your gameconfig.xml
installation folder\mods\update\update.rpf\common\data

Finally, don't use Addon Peds mod because there is a much better, easier, and more flexible way of adding peds. Refer to this post.

https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/22644/tutorial-using-add-on-peds-without-using-meth0d-s-add-on-peds-script
If you use the method and template from that post you will need to edit the file called peds.meta from Open IV.
installation folder\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks\addonpeds\dlc.rpf\

Addon Props however, is a good addon if you are creating your own props. In Open IV:
installation folder\mods\update\x64\dlcpacks\addonprops\dlc.rpf\props.rpf\

WARNING: Make sure, when using Open IV, or if placing mods in your folder using Windows Explorer, that you are in the mods folder and not the game folder. Both contain files with exactly the same names such as dlclist.xml, gameconfig.xml, and both have Update folders.

Another common mistake is a misplaced update.rpf file. Make sure it looks like this:
installation folder\mods\update\update.rpf

JohnFromGWN

ScriptHook and important addons

If your game still crashes after all the steps above it is very likely because you are missing some critical files or addons.

If you are running script addons, you will need to ensure you meet the requirements for that addon, for example ScriptHookVDotNet and a Scripts folder as well.

https://github.com/crosire/scripthookvdotnet/releases/tag/v3.0.0

If you are installing vehicles, cars, you will certainly need:

gameconfig.xml
https://www.gta5-mods.com/search/gameconfig
a heap limit adjuster, can correct errors/crashes that give you message that looks like ERR_MEM_EMBEDDEDALLOC_ALLOC
https://www.gta5-mods.com/tools/heap-limit-adjuster-600-mb-of-heap
a packfile limit adjuster (I think these are discontinued but older mods may still refer have them installed)

Large map addons, MLOs, may require no boundaries addons.
https://www.gta5-mods.com/scripts/no-boundary-limits-unknown-modder

Keep in mind that there are many gameconfig file addons in the mods section and you may need to try several ones before getting the right combination. As you get more experienced you can edit those files yourself but that's pretty advanced stuff. Remember that the best thing to do is one mod at a time. Install, test, runs stable? Yes, you can install the next one.

Please feel free to add any tips, missing information, corrections, or clarifications to this thread.

Update after reading another posting here: It could be an issue with your Rockstar Profile if your game doesn't launch, even without Mods. I'm adding this here although as I said before, this post was meant to address issues with mods, not issues with un-modded installations.

So, If you choose to uninstall your game (using Windows Uninstall or a software uninstaller) and reinstall your game, it is very likely that your profile folder will not be deleted and recreated. If there are corrupt files in your profile folder (ex. a saved game), that might be causing game not to load. So, when all else fails you might want to backup that folder and let the installer recreate it. Having said, make sure your game starts and runs stable before adding back any files (ex. saved games) from the backed up copy of your profile folder in case they are corrupt or causing the problem.

Update: As we just learned from another user experience here on the forums, a corrupt saved game file can also cause your game to crash.

JohnFromGWN

alt text

and this what the mods folder structure will look like

alt text

JohnFromGWN

Update: Noticing all the issues around random crashes on the forums together with all the threads on how to tweak or even just edit critical files such as settings.xml or gameconfig.xml or dlclist.xml etc. - they are very likely related.

If you are going to tweak/modify game settings, even your graphics settings, make sure you know what you're doing, Backup your files before tweaking, and hopefully don't make wholesale changes - in other words do one change at a time. For example, if you increase your vehicle density or a similar change, ensure your system is stable before you start making other changes.

It's next to impossible to get help on these forums if you've made dozens of changes and don't even keep track of what has changed.

JohnFromGWN

Another thing I've noticed recently is that there are definitely some "bad" mods out there - either due to poor conversion, outdated, or maybe polygon counts in the millions.

A bad vehicle model can be harder to troubleshoot because it may only crash your system as you spawn other vehicles - rarely when they are spawned alone.

DugiHowser

@JohnFromGWN said in Troubleshooting Issues such as "my addon won't run, my game crashes".:

@JohnFromGWN Another thing I've noticed recently is that there are definitely some "bad" mods out there - either due to poor conversion, outdated, or maybe polygon counts in the millions.

A bad vehicle model can be harder to troubleshoot because it may only crash your system as you spawn other vehicles - rarely when they are spawned alone.

This may be my problem... I'm currently trying to trouble shoot a problematic "mod", a car mod which I'm sure is the culprit of my crashing. I don't want to hijack this thread with the plethora of questions I have but, I will agree with your statement on trouble shooting bad models.

JohnFromGWN

Unbelievable number of issues after the new update - and everyone is creating their own threads.

Reinstalling the game is not the solution, very rarely is. What is more likely is that that your mods are no longer reflected in dlclist.xml because you overwrote update.rpf in your mods folder based on what OpenIV told you to do or you need a new gameconfig (which is now available).

So check your dlclist.xml, in your mods folder, to make sure it is complete and intact.

For those who have issues without the update, this post should be a good start.

JohnFromGWN

This post is deleted!

ricotiga666

Hello im a noob in this and my 1050 16Gb fx504 asus cant handle much but this is what i came with if okay
make copy of the game but not in rar or zip that take long to unpack but just change name will do i think.
mostly after a menyoo mod install rules in dlclist will be gone i see
make copy of the list the rest is mostly still there.
this is my way i came out stable gane :
after lots unable to load game i planning not using menyoo
its to heavy i think
so these are mostly oiv they call like that ..

my orderlist:

ScriptHookV_1.0.2372.0
ScriptHookVDotNet
nativeui
MenyooSP
script map
mod map
687a10-VisualV 1.0.520 (see no change)
Real _ads _v_0.4
LA_ROADS
MULESKINS1.0
Milka Billboard
Real Airport V V2.06
Water
Real Billboards V 9.9 Open IV Package Install files
Real Shops in Downtown v.1.0
Anglosphere Bikini Pack V1.0
citylights1_3 //need change in config 4000 to 6000 orso
L.A Vegetation

not oiv
Real Life Venice Beach v.1.0
b92d36-RCA-Real California Architecture
f858d5-Rmod_Customs_Lamborghini_Centenario 1.4

next hollywood not oiv

51b64f-Hollywood sign
43701b-Hollywood Skin für Tourbus
f4ca07-HollywoodWOF on store

mcdonalds:

5e45c0-mc_donalds_add_on beachhut
9ef28d-MCDO STAND
758a89-Mcdonalds venice eatstackcorner
ef9401-mcdonaldsvan
f268fb-KFC GTA V
fb52d9-Renault Master McDonald FoodTruck
f22192-McDonalds and A&W
5e45c0-mc_donalds_add_on
4bb6ec-McDonald'sro\

(here game starts not handling fluid)

kfc

4a35b6-benson-fctruck
150f42-KFC VAN

fun
some dlc lis houses
e2920e-Stark Mansion by JDeezNutz

menyoo

7a79b8-enchanted 1.4 beach by daniel 7111

not worth it takes
la roads
Real California Architecture
??
out of dlclist text

done for know with menyoo . upto megamap after copy

JohnFromGWN

added section regarding getting banned online, not possible, with mods.

https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/35378/banned-from-gtao-with-a-modded-game-possible

Becky Rhodes

@JohnFromGWN wow, the way you fix mod game is amazing, I am also learning mods but everything seems too difficult for me, hope with your detailed article I can improve my skills more

JohnFromGWN

@Becky-Rhodes Thanks.

That's an old guide. A newer Troubleshooting Guide can be found here.

For a more complete review, you can check out GTA5 911 Help and Checklist

And for Modding 101.

alishakihn

The first impression when playing Flappy Bird is that this game is very difficult to score. Some people don't even get the bird in the floating game through the first hole. This game is so difficult that it makes players both angry and funny, and find it difficult to play but extremely interesting.