GTAIV command line arguments

One can use the commandline.txt with ths single line -help to get a pop up with the list of available options for launching GTAIV. I used SnagIt to capture the pop ups output.

This output is from GTAIV steam version 1.0.7.0 (the latest version as of writing).

LaunchGTAIV.exe [options]
Where [options] are one or more of:

==== [ Global ] ====
-adapter: Use the specified screen adapter number ?zero-based?
-disableimposters: Turn of the imposter rendering for vehicles
-noBlockOnLostFocus: Don't block the window update when it loses focus.

==== [AUDIO] ====
-fullspecaudio: Force high-end CPU audio footprint
-minspecaudio: Force low-end CPU audio footprint

==== [GLOBAL] ====
-benchmark: Determines if we run the benchmark immediately
-safemode: Sets graphics setting to lowest setting

==== [GRAPHICS] ====
-forcehighqualitymirrors: Enable 64 bit mirrors
-forcer2vb: force r2vb
-frameLimit: number of frames to limit game to
-framelockinwindow: Force framelock to work even in a window ?works best with
 60Hz monitor refresh?
-fullscreen: Force fullscreen mode
-gpucount: Lets you manually set the GPU count if query fails
-height:  Set height of main render window ?default is 480?
-managed: Use D3D runtime managed resources
-nominimize: Disables the ability to restore the game from minimize and
 changing resolutions - Reduces System Memory Footprint
-norestrictions: Do not limit graphics settings
-noswapdelay: Disable sleep delay before Present ?disable fix for hard Present
 stalls?
-novblank: Disable wait for vblank
-refreshrate: Set refresh rate of main render window
-stereo:  Set game to support stereo rendering mode
-unmanaged: Use application managed resources
-width:   Set width of main render window ?default is 640?
-windowed: Force windowed mode

==== [INPUT] ====
-usedirectinput: Allow DirectInput alongside XInput support.

==== [MEMORY] ====
-availablevidmem: Percentage of available video memory
-memrestrict: Set the restriction the amount of available memory for managed
 resources
-no_3GB:  Disable 32bit OS with /3GB
-nomemrestrict: Do not restrict the amount of available memory for managed
 resources
-noprecache: Do not precache resources
-percentvidmem: Percentage of video memory to make available to GTA
-reserve: Amount of memory to set aside for other applications
-reservedApp: Amount of memory to leave available within application space

==== [QUALITY SETTINGS] ====
-autoconfig: Automatically adjust quality setting to maintain desired frame
 rate ?15-120?
-detailquality: Set detail distance ?0-99?
-renderquality: Set anisotropic filtering ?0-4?
-shadowdensity: Set the number of lights that cast shadows
-shadowquality: Set the shadow quality ?0-4?
-texturequality: Set texture quality ?0-2?
-viewdistance: Set LOD view distance ?0-99?

==== [TIME] ====
-notimefix: Disable Time Fix

Props to:
mkey82 @ GTA Forums for publishing some great related info

My experience migrating GFWM (GFWL) from Vista to 7

First a bit of background, I had the horrible task of migrating from Windows Vista to 7 on my personal PC. I say horrible, because Microsoft don't seem to of thought things through for people with hardware and drive configurations outside the norm. I wasted a number of hours recovering my old Vista install and re-building the boot cfg to get everything working, however I will leave the details for another post.

So I had a few games under Games For Windows Marketplace, formally Games For Windows Live. I was wondering how I could avoid re-downloading the games/DLC again on my windows 7 clean install.

After a little trial and error I got things working and saved a bunch of time/bandwidth. I will focus on GTA4, which I purchased via Steam and subsequently purchased the DLC via GFWM.

This process could easily be streamlined, but I wanted to include everything. Please feel free to take your own approach to speed things up.

Note, Microsoft have updated the Games for windows client, so its now called Games For Windows Marketplace (GFWM). In GTA4, the GFW system is still called Games for Windows Live (GFWL).

UPDATE 2012-MARCH-10: I did a registry backup, then used the Games For Windows Marketplace to install one of the GTA4 DLC's. Then did a registry diff using Beyond Compare. Studying the diff revealed no specific changes related the DLC downloaded from the GFWM. So I'm very confident that all of the magic that makes the GTA4 DLC work via GFWM/GFWL, is located in the file/folder structure located at:

\Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\XLive
\Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GFWLive

VERY IMPORTANT: If you change the location of your installed games, or DLC via the Games for windows Marketplace UI, it COULD delete any game content in the original location and perhaps even the new location. Make sure you have a backup of your content that is NOT located in your old or new content folders.

1. Ensured I had a tested backup of my games and DLC.
2. Ensured I had a tested backup of the following folders from my Vista install
   \Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\XLive
   \Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GFWLive
3. Sorted out my Windows 7 clean install, drivers, cfg etc.
4. Launched steam, this is on a dedicated games drive.
5. Launched GTA4, this did some "first run" steps.
   This included installing GFWL, though a very old copy.
6. GTA4 launched, Social Club sign in etc.
7. Signed in via GFWL, allowed the GFWL update to download.
8. Exited the game, GFWL update ran.
9. Loaded GTA4 again, issues with activation, GFWL crashing.
10. Did a windows update on GFWL and it upgraded to GFWM.
11. Launched GTA4 again, GFWL sign in worked.
12. Launched GTA4 TBOGT DLC but save games were missing.
13. Placed my backed up save games in:
    \Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames\user_{some number}\
    Check that {some number} is the most recent folder created.
14. Loaded GFWM (direct from Start Menu) and checked my Game/DLC status, it was not correct.
15. I updated my GFWM settings with the ones from my screenshot from Vista.
16. Exited GFWM.
17. Deleted and Replaced the following folders on my Windows 7 install with ones from my Vista install.
    \Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\XLive
    \Users\$youruser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GFWLive
18. Loaded GFWM (direct from Start Menu) and checked my Game/DLC status, it was correct, settings were also still correct.
19. Exited GFWM and launched GTA4.
20. Signed in to GFWL.
21. Entered my GTA4 key (available via Steam game properties).
22. Everything works, save games were also as desired.

citation:
Props to:
Rjck @ Seven Forums.com for his post on save games