@JohnFromGWN
ok thanks.
In my GTA folder I only have 2 .exe's (dont seem to have a launcher one) - its the EPIC version.
I do (on another drive) have have a rockstar launcher folder with a "launcher.exe" - this I didnt back up but it looks it was not recently modified.......
will just try to replace the x2 .exe's in the root and the update file and see if it works?
(do you think I might need to replace the launcher.exe (in the rockstar folder?)
Update: strangely just tried to delete the GTA5.exe - and it said can't be deleted because its open/being used? (although its not GTAV is closed!)