GTA IV Complete Edition: can't mod .dat files anymore

[magellan]

Whenever I try to mod the .dat files (say for a greater view distance) the .dat files are overwritten before the game even starts despite the fact I set them read-only.
Where does the game executable or dll's get the necessary rights to change the read-only bit? What's even more bizarre is I don't have the option to take ownership of the files in question.

What if I change the permissions for the file so that everyone else except my (administrator account) username only has read and read & execute permissions? Would that stop Rockstar from butting in where they're not wanted?

 

[EarthDog]

No clue... I googled though and found this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GTAIV/comments/gkqgiv

Hopefully that helps.

 

[magellan]

None of the core .dat files or stream.ini can be modified in GTAV, it merely overwrites them when you load the game -- regardless of whether or not they're set read-only.

Why Rock* would care if people mod these files for a 13-year-old game is beyond me.

 

[EarthDog]

Did you follow the instructions in the link above? People in the thread are saying it works...

 

[magellan]

The game won't even run with those files loaded.

 

[EarthDog]

No clue bud. PEBKAC? Or maybe things changed, who knows.