If you can't get the just-launched Grand Theft Auto V game installed on your PC despite meeting the hardware requirements, you're not alone, as both Rockstar Games and Valve Software have provided a quick fix for a specific installation issue for those not wanting to wait for an official patch.
Both companies currently report that the installation problem stems from the use of specific characters in the customer's Windows User Account username.
"We have identified an issue where players with Windows usernames that include characters not found in the table at the bottom of this page will likely run into difficulties when attempting to download, install, or play GTAV. We are currently working on a fix for this issue," Rockstar reported.
Both posts state that players having the installation issue are likely experiencing two errors: the game freezing up when it's trying to download an update, and/or a message stating that "the Rockstar update service is unavailable (code 1)."
To possibly fix the installation issue, PC gamers are encouraged to create a new Administrator User Account on Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1. The name must include letters A to Z, a to z, and/or numbers 0-9. The characters must also be pulled from the basic Roman alphabet, Rockstar's update stated.
Rockstar and Valve point out that PC gamers can't simply rename their current Windows User Account to fix the issue: a new account must be created using the characters referenced above. Alternately, customers can use a Windows User Account that already has the supported characters in the name. For those who are creating a new User Account, they must reboot and login to that account to download, install and play Grand Theft Auto V without issues.
"We will update this support article with any new information as soon as we have it, including expected timing of a fix and whether you will be able to transfer progress on the newly-created Windows username over to your original Windows user account," Rockstar's report said.
As a refresher, the minimum hardware requirements for Grand Theft Auto V include an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor clocked at 2.40 GHz or an AMD Phenom 9850 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5 GHz. The specifications also include an Nvidia GeForce GT 9800 with 1 GB of VRAM or an AMD Radeon HD 4870 with 1 GB of VRAM, 4 GB of memory, a DirectX 10-compatible sound card, a DVD drive and 65 GB of hard drive space.
As for the recommended specifications list, PC gamers will need at least a quad-core Intel Core i5-3470 processor clocked at 3.2 GHz or an AMD eight-core X8 FX-8350 CPU clocked at 4 GHz. Also required is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 with 2 GB of VRAM or an AMD Radeon HD 7870 GPU with 2 GB of VRAM, 8 GB of memory, 65 GB of internal storage, a DVD drive and a DirectX 10-compatible sound card.
Grand Theft Auto V launched on Windows PC today and includes the Rockstar Editor for recording and sharing gameplay footage from within the game.
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