gta_sa.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close?

Question

This is the error message I get just before the main menu loads for San Andreas. I don't know why its started this now. I was playing the game a few months back making videos for YouTube. Thought I'd make another yesterday and loaded the game and before I get to the main menu it crash's back to the desktop with an error message, headed with "gta_sa.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close".

I have not changed my system in the slightest in the past four months but its decided to go up the wall the last few days (the game) my computer more than meets the requirements. I have installed the patch, re-installed the game serveral times, deleted old save games and changed screen resolutions. No luck at all.

System:
AMD Athlon 3800+ 64bit 2.4GHz
ATI Radeon X1600Pro
512MB RAM
Western Digital 250GB SATA
C-Media Wave Device.
NEC 8x DVD-Drive

Don't tell me I need more RAM because I used to run it on 512MB.

Any other answers are much appreciated.

Please read what I've said before answering. Its obvious that people havent read what's been said, due to their answers telling me to do something that I've already tried several times. Thanks.

Answer 1

I agree, re-install the game.

If you have been using cheats or mods, this affects the game's exe files among other things.

Usually resulting in what you have described.

Good luck

Answer 2

I encountered the same concern and had to change to firefox. I additionally propose which you run an anti-spyware software like Spybot OR advert-conscious (do no longer run the two concurrently).

Answer 3

You can try to re-install GTA SA again, that should fix the problem.