How to Install Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Two Methods:Installing from CDInstalling from Download

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the second sequel to the seminal Grand Theft Auto 3. In GTA: San Andreas, players play as Carl "CJ" Johnson, a young gangster trying to navigate the wild world of San Andreas, a satirical state modeled on early 90's California. Originally released for the Playstation 2 in 2004, GTA: San Andreas was ported to PC less than a year later. See Step 1 below to learn how to install GTA: San Andreas for the PC!

_{Method 1}

Installing from CD

Insert the GTA:San Andreas CD into your computer's CD drive. To begin the installation process, put the San Andreas installation CD in your computer. Most of the time, this will cause an autorun window prompting you to begin the installation process to appear immediately.

San Andreas is a decade-old game and, as such, has relatively low system requirements. Most modern computers should be powerful enough to run it. However, if you're not sure of your computer's suitability, consult Rockstar Games' official system requirements for San Andreas.[1

- San Andreas is a decade-old game and, as such, has relatively low system requirements. Most modern computers should be powerful enough to run it. However, if you're not sure of your computer's suitability, consult Rockstar Games' official system requirements for San Andreas.[1

If the autorun window doesn't display, open the install file manually. For a number of reasons (for instance, because the game isn't designed for modern hardware), it's possible that the autorun prompt won't immediately launch when you insert the San Andreas CD. If it doesn't, try opening the game disc via "My Computer" and running the executable (.exe) install file.

Choose a directory in which to install the game. Follow the installation wizard's prompts as directed. Eventually, you'll be asked to specify a location to install the game in. The vast majority of users will want to go with the default location, but if you'd like to install the game elsewhere, specify your desired file location in the text box.

Choose between "Complete" and "Custom" install types. Eventually, you will be asked to choose whether you want a "complete" or "custom" installation. Most users will want the pre-selected "complete" option, as it's simpler and easier. However, if you'd like to save disc space by choosing which specific game components you'd like to install, choose "custom" and follow the additional instructions.

Wait for the game to install. When you've finalized your installation choices, the game will begin to install. This process can take several minutes to complete.

After the installation is ready, insert the ”Play” CD. Once the installation has completed, you should be able to play your game. Insert the "Play" CD and begin playing your game via the onscreen Autorun menu that should appear.

- If the autorun doesn't appear, try manually running the game's .exe file with the disc inserted.

Consult Rockstar Games' online troubleshooting resources if you can't get your copy of the game to run. As noted above, San Andreas is a fairly old game. Because of this, you may experience difficulty getting the game to run even after a successful installation. If you're having trouble, try visiting Rockstar Games' support forums^[2] for help.

Method 2

_{Installing from Download}

Download San Andreas from a reputable source. To begin, you'll want to obtain a functioning, virus-free copy of San Andreas. Only download from "clean", reputable online sources or reliable torrents. Never download anything from sites that you're not familiar with, that look suspicious, or that contain pervasive advertisements.

- If you're ever unsure whether a certain website is safe, try downloading and using any of the free or paid online security utilities available via a

Extract the downloaded file. Usually, downloaded or torrented copies of games come in a "compressed" form that must be decompressed (or "unzipped") before they can be used. Locate the compressed file you downloaded, right click on it, and choose "Extract" or a related option (which may vary based on the zip utilities you have installed). Then, specify a location for the decompressed file as directed.

- To unzip a compressed file, you'll need a special type of application made for this purpose. Luckily, there are a variety of free and paid solutions available for download. For example, 7zip, a free utility, should serve most unzipping needs.

Run the install file. After you've unzipped the .exe install file, find it in the file location you specified and run it. You should be presented with an introductory screen offering options for beginning the installation process.

Follow the install prompts as directed. Because "hacks" or "cracks" of games are, by their very nature, unofficial and non-uniform, the precise process for installing your downloaded game copy may differ from that of another. Usually, all you'll need to due is follow the prompts of the decompressed install file as you would for a normal copy of the game.

- One thing you may need to do to get the installed game to work is to "mount" an ISO image of the game disc to a virtual drive. Essentially, this is a process by which the computer is tricked into thinking that the game disc is inserted when it is not. See wikiHow's guide on mounting ISO images for more information.
  
  Avoid pirating games. The act of pirating computer games is considered illegal almost everywhere. Though anti-piracy measures are often not well-enforced (especially for decade-old games like San Andreas), piracy is still considered a crime. Additionally, there's virtually no way to determine the quality of a pirated copy of the game. Not only can pirating a game like San Andreas leave you open for criminal prosecution - it can also net you a buggy or non-functioning copy of the game. Finally, pirated copies of games are notorious for bearing viruses and other malware.[3]
  - If you choose to knowingly pirate computer games, you do so at your own risk.

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