External Drives are sometimes too slow for the game. (Compatibility Mode may move the save game to the Public Documents File, from the User Document File). Try *compatibility mode* XP (vista, Windows 7). Always play with the DVD in the drive if you use a "Crack" to bypass the disc "key" we cannot help.
If you have the DVD (v1 or v2) examine the disc for damage, scuffs, scratches. If it does not validate then the game will not run. If the game is the legal down loaded v3 game Be sure you are connecting to STEAM to validate the game, something it does every time it starts. Gta_sa.set file is a Config file when major changes are made the data in the file is no longer accurate, that is why it (gta_sa.set) would be deleted, It recreates itself on successful completion of the game play. This part of the Forum is for GTA San Andreas UNMODDED games. We could go around in circles for hours fixing what cannot be fixed. We don't help with "fixing" Stolen (Torrents/Warez/Pirated) games, Among other reasons is that there are too many reasons for them to not work. Once everything was installed, I tried running as admin the gta_sa.exe, nothing happens! It's the same old deal! Though, I don't think that has anything to do with it being installed on an external hard drive because I've been able to play GTA: SA and MTA with GTA: SA installed on an external hard drive for years! Edited Septemby backsage I installed it onto my external hard drive. He said I wouldn't experience any problems with this method. Already did that and nothing happens! A friend of mine on IRC gave me a torrent link for GTA: SA and it comes with an installer to install GTA: SA. A lot of the solutions are always the same thing "Delete the gta_sa.set file" Umm.I don't have that to begin with! Other solutions are to try restarting the computer. gta_sa.exe will show briefly on Task Manager processes and then it'll just disappear and nothing happens! I've tried looking for solutions on google searches and YouTube. But on this new one, I cannot get it to start up. GTA: SA and MTA was working fine before on the old hard drive. Ok, I recently bought a new 2TB internal hard drive for my dad's computer.