[Solved] GTA San Andreas mouse problem - not working in Windows 7 64bit or Vista

[the doctor]

I recently ran in to a problem where the mouse on Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas will not work to look around.

Fixes I tried:

1. I kept moving the mouse and went to the menu and the press ESC to get back to the game. (This didn't work)
2. I tried to updating DirectX. (This didn't work)
3. I tried replacing DINPUT8.DLL In "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" directory, this worked but it effects other games too...
4. I tried alt-tabbing out of the program and setting the processor affinity to 1 core in task manager on the gta-sa.exe (This work in the menu, and about 5 seconds in the game)

The solution that worked for me in windows 7 64bit:

You go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\ [Your name]/ if you installed it with steam

Or

C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA San Andreas if you have the non-steam version


Right click the gta-sa.exe and go into properties.

then go into the Compatibility Tab.

Now check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and click Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

*important*
Then go look down and check and make sure to turn on:
"Disable Visual Themes" and

"Disable Desktop Composition" and

"Run This Program As An Administrator"

...and GTA - San Andreas should now work with full mouse functionality.

 

[Energizer]

I signed up here on the site because I searched all over the Internet for fix the mouse problem in grand theft auto San Andreas in Windows 7 64-bit. This was the only solution that works for me I try all the fixes you have listed above and in the more. I just want to say thank you for posting this it helped me out a lot.

 

[Freezexample]

hi thanks this works. but there seems to be a problem. trainers dont work with these settings. can you help me?

 

[phpminor]

hey i can't do "Disable Desktop Composition" im on windows 8 and after doing both other steps it didn't work.

 

[Ed the PC guy]

Unfortunately this is by design. In Windows 8 the Desktop Composition is always on. This is a requirement for the new "Metro" user interface.

Desktop Window Manager is always on
Platforms

Clients - Windows 8

Servers - Windows Server 2012
Description

In Windows 8, Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is always ON and cannot be disabled by end users and apps. As in Windows 7, DWM is used to compose the desktop. In addition to experiences enabled in Windows 7, now DWM desktop composition enables desktop composition for all themes, support for Stereoscopic 3D, and management, separation, and protection of the experience with Windows Store apps.
Desktop composition for all themes

In Windows Vista and Windows 7, desktop composition is enabled only with the AERO Glass Theme. Hence users of Windows Classic and high contrast themes cannot use experiences enabled by desktop composition such as Windows Flip, automatic scaling for high resolution (DPI) scaling, thumbnail Preview and full screen magnifier. In addition, in these earlier versions of Windows, app developers must write and maintain multiple code paths - one where desktop composition is enabled and another where desktop composition is disabled.

With Windows 8, desktop composition is enabled for all themes. Users of Windows Classic and high contrast themes can use the experiences enabled by desktop composition such as Windows Flip, automatic scaling for high resolution (DPI) scaling, thumbnail previews, and full screen magnifier. In addition, developers don't need to write and maintain multiple code paths, thereby simplifying development.

If I find a work around I will post it.

 

[TheMudpit]

Hi the doctor.
I registered on this site, purely for the purposes of THANKING you. so THANK YOU!!! This fix worked perfectly and was so easy to do. I didn't have this problem on my Windows 8.1 computers, but on the Win 7 one I use for gaming, it was quite vexing. I am very grateful to you for sharing your fix with the world.
Peace

 

[Dharshan]

Nice work.

Thanks Man!u wrote every thing is right man. Thanks once again.