Hello!  Earlier tonight, I was able to launch and use GTAV and LSPDFR without any problem.  I actually don't "play" the game much anymore - usually just loading in to check livery projects that I am working on.   Usually don't even "force duty" - just spawn the models, take some screenshots, maybe drive around, etc.  Did that tonight - then drove around a bit and shot up some other cars for stress relief!

Literally an hour later - went to go into game again..........and had the "unable to launch, try reinstall" issue that a lot of people had the past 24 hours or so.  Worked my way through all the usual fixes - verified files, uninstalll/reinstall Rockstar Launcher, etc.  Then, saw the comments about removing the "args.txt" file - got that sorted out, and thought I was set!

Went throught my usual startup via RPH - starts out ok, loading Rockstar.....but, then a quick flash of an error message - and, everything stops.  Same thing happens when I try to launch just GTAV from my Steam Library.   When I try  to launch from the Rockstar Launcher app - the same process and error message happens......but this time, at least the error message stays on screen.  Here is what it shows

I usually use a revert game (currently 3411), and was doing so since the lastest update without problems.  Since this error message, I have tried not reverting - just using the current 3570 main files after Steam verifies integrity - still get this message from Rockstar Launcher and Steam Library GTAV attempts.  

Any thoughts on this one?  I am probably missing something obvious, right?  Thanks in advance!

Edited June 25, 2025Jun 25 by Medicmojo
resolved - solution posted

Well, I managed to sort this out myself - thanks to anyone who read it, and put some thought into it, though!

LOL........gotta love/hate this game, right?!?!  It definitely was a simple fix - I stumbled across another video on YouTube posted a few years ago.  And, it was something obvious.  Best advice - always backtrack through whatever you have done lately!

As part of working through the original "unable to launch, try reinstall" issue that many were having - which turned out to be that args.txt file - one of the possible issues I read about/saw in a different YouTube video, was changing compatability settings.  In the both the GTAV.exe, and GTAVLauncher.exe files - the suggested fix was to check off "Run as Administrator".  I did that, no help - until seeing all the args.txt comments here.

But, apparently the game ultimately did not like that!  The more recent video I watched for my specific issue now, the "unable to launch GTA5.exe" error, mentioned the same file compatability checks.......but to make sure those WERE NOT checked off.  I unchecked them.......

Sure enough.........problem fixed!   Maybe this weill help someone else down the road.

Man....this game!