Overview
So if you have bought GTA: Vice City, and it says somthing like “Needs at least DirectX 8.1”, or maybe it says “Cannot find 640×480 video mode”, this guide might help you. This seems to be common on newer computers. I made this guide because I have had this problem.Warning!!! GUIDE MADE FOR WINDOWS 10 !!!
Finding the problem.
First before we fix the problem, whar does GTA say when you start it up?
Does it say something like “Requires at leaast DirectX 8.1”, or “Cannot find 640×480 video mode”?
If it says “Requires at leaast DirectX 8.1”, then go to the “Configuring control panel” section.
If it says “Cannot find 640×480 video mode”, then go to “Configuring the game properties” section.
Configuring control panel
If it says somthing like “Requires at leaast DirectX 8.1”, then this is the section you need.
So first open control panel, not windows 10 settings.
Then follow:
Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > On the left select: Turn Windows features on or off (You may need the admin password) > Scroll for Legacy Componants (If you didnt see it already), then press the little plus sign to the left of it > Check the the box next to Legacy Components, and the one next to Direct Play.
Now press ok, it will download Direct Play (May help compatibility)
Now close control panel when done.
One of 2 things should happen, you should be able to play GTA: Vice City, Or you will get the message “Cannot find 640×480 video mode”. If you get that message, move onto the next section.
Configuring the game properties
If it says somthing like “Cannot find 640×480 video mode”, then this is the section you need.
So first locate you Steam folder, most likley in “C:Program Files (x86)”, then scroll or search for “Steam”.
Then follow:
Double click “Steam” > Then steamapps > common > Grand Theft Auto Vice City > Right click gta-vc (or gta-vc.exe if you have file name extensions on). Click “Properties” on the menu that appeared from the right click. Go to “Compatability”. Look for the area named “Compatibility mode”, then check to box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”.
Select the the option box (it will most likley say “Windows 98”), then change it to windows 8 (Even if your on Windows 10). Choose Apply, then OK.
Thats it, now try to run GTA: Vice City!
End
I hope this helped, let me know if it worked for you.