Black screen, requesting access to protected item

[3kliksphilip]

Grand Theft Auto 4 continues to throw problem after problem at me. After reformatting to try and get it to work, I have finally updated to Service Pack 3 for XP again. However, Grand Theft Auto 4 now just goes black after it goes past the Rockstar logo as it loads up. Minimising the game shows a very old looking windows box telling me that

'An application is requesting access to a Protected item'

...how do I get rid of it?

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6930/protecedblah.png

I don't really want to have to reformat again, I've tried Verifying Game Integrity Cache, I've tried Google, I've even tried sacrificing animals to obscure Gods but it doesn't work. Help!

EDIT: Minimising the game before the rockstar logo disappears and closing the protected item thing seems to fix it. But any way to prevent having to do this is appreciated.

[Rumtruffle]

you sure it isnt some sort of anti virus protection?

what AV are you using?

[GoodFriend123]

Its windows error and i know how to fix this...
I had same problem but thank god i fixed this problem.

[3kliksphilip]

Are you going to say how?

EDIT: Quitting Kaspersky actually fixes the problem! Thanks Rumtruffle!

[3kliksphilip]

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5257/goodfriend.jpg

the cheek of some people...

[Cardboard093]

Its windows error and i know how to fix this...
I had same problem but thank god i fixed this problem.

Wow you really are a good friend...:p

Who do you think you are anyways? Sooner or later another person is going to come up with a solution to this problem. "I'm tempted to beat a lesson into you, kid."

[3kliksphilip]

Wow you really are a good friend...:p

Who do you think you are anyways? Sooner or later another person is going to come up with a solution to this problem. "I'm tempted to beat a lesson into you, kid."

I just hope he hasn't duped anybody out of £13 for a bit of advice. Let me give the fix I found away for free- if you minimise the game as the music starts and close the 'protected item' popup quickly, the game will continue to run. The old problem of the game freezing periodically, longer and longer each time, remains. But no, I'm not willing to buy some one a game to find out how to fix a game that I have already bought.

[unserene]

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5257/goodfriend.jpg

the cheek of some people...

I'd forward that to a moderator if I were you.

[MadPt]

I have the same error after upgrading my computer and had to reinstall everything.

"Grand Theft Auto 4 continues to throw problem after problem at me. "
I agree!!! since Rockstar makes us use windows live and whatever else system(s) to play GTA4, it's either no problem and everything is ok or we can't even login to windows live service and that way... it's no multiplayer for us...

I love the game but it makes me wonder if my money was well spent since i never know if it will work just right or not even being able to play!!! :(

Weird this is with old gta's we never had these problems altough we didn't have multiplayer either, except with MODs and now it's a mess!

I know this is almost surely not a steam problem ( i bought mine through steam ) but a Rockstar and most certainly ( at least for me ) a endless problem with Live service which i think is almost useless!
I know many of you have no problem with Live service but IMHO, it just sucks and we shouldn't need it to play our games!

Now this is my latest problem with GTA4 and say the samething again: "Grand Theft Auto 4 continues to throw problem after problem at me. "

We could use some help solving this problem :)

[logicaloutlook]

This is how I fixed the black screen/Protected dialog box problem:

1. Stop/Exit Steam from taskbar

2. Note down your serial numbers of both GTA4 and episodes which should be something like; AB0CD-12E3F-4GH5I-J6K7L-89MNO

3. Move or rename the file serial.dat which is in C:\Users\[yourname]\AppData\Local\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\Settings

4. Start Steam and then game

5. Re-enter your serial numbers

Hope this helps

[LedZepplin77]

I'm having this problem, old thread but anyone have a permamnent fix?

[LedZepplin77]

Oh and btw I have Vista 64