I keep getting the error message of "Grand Theft Auto 3 reuires at least 12 MB of available video memory". The problem is that I have a Xtasy geforce4 mx 420 vid card with 64 MB of ram. Why then do I get this error?

I get the "12 mb Video Memory" error message when I try to start the game, and my video card meets/exceeds the minimum for the game. First close or disable all of your background programs that you may have running: Any online chat software (AIM, MSN, ICQ, TRILLIAN, YAHOO Messenger programs, java or system based). Microsoft Netmeeting (which has been recorded to stop GTA3 from working) Scanner, Fax or Printer software Kazaa/Napster/iMesh type software Any anti-virus that may be running. Everything needs to be disabled or turned off before playing the game. For Win 9x/ME Users: Close your background applications, use CTRL+ALT+DEL. This will bring up close programs. END TASK on each item except for EXPLORER and SYSTRAY. You will need to repeat for each item. Now when you do this give about 8 seconds in-between hitting END TASK and doing CTRL+ALT+DEL. If you do not you will reboot your system and will have to start this task all from the beginning. If a another window pops up just hit END TASK again. After all but EXPLORER and SYSTRAY are left, Then start your program up. For XP/2000 Users: To close your background applications, use CTRL+ALT+DEL. This will bring up the Windows Security Box and you need to click on Task Manager. END TASK on each item except for EXPLORER.exe as that is Windows itself. You will need to repeat the above step for each item. Now when you do this give about 8 seconds in-between hitting END TASK and doing CTRL+ALT+DEL. If you do not you will reboot your system and will have to start this task all from the beginning. If another window pops up just hit END TASK again. After all but EXPLORER.exe is left, you can then start your program up. Once you reboot the system, all of the items you just removed will be back.

There's been a lot of problems with this game and the amount of resources it consumes. I would strongly recommend obtaining the patch from rockstargames.com (I think!). this apprently corrects a lot of problems with the game, including some of the invisible cars problems. Steve