Here is a ranked list of fixes, from easiest to most technical. Follow them in order.
Follow these solutions in order. Start with #1, as it solves 80% of cases.
| Cause | Explanation |
|-------|-------------|
| DEP (Data Execution Prevention) | Windows blocks the game from executing code in protected memory regions. |
| Audio/Driver Conflict | Legacy DirectSound or audio acceleration issues (especially with USB headsets or Realtek HD Audio). |
| Frame Rate Sensitivity | Vice City’s engine breaks when frame rates exceed ~60–85 FPS (common on modern GPUs). |
| Save Game Corruption | Invalid data in GTAVCsf.b (e.g., modded or incomplete saves). |
| Single-core affinity requirement | Game expects single CPU core; multi-core CPUs cause race conditions. |
| Missing or incorrect gta_vc.set | Corrupted settings file from previous crashes or different resolutions. |
| MOD conflicts | Cleo scripts, limit adjusters, or asi loaders incompatible with game version. | gta vice city unhandled exception c00005 at address link
The Vice City engine crashes when two CPU cores try to handle its main thread simultaneously.
How to do it:
Note: You have to do this every time you launch the game. To automate this, use a tool like "WinAffinity" or a simple batch script.
Before we start tweaking files, let’s translate the error. In Windows-speak, c0000005 is an Access Violation. This is the operating system’s way of saying: "The game tried to read or write to a piece of memory that it does not own." Here is a ranked list of fixes, from
Think of your RAM as a hotel. The game checks into Room 101. Suddenly, the game tries to open the door to Room 202, which belongs to your antivirus, or Room 303, which belongs to Windows itself. The security guard (Windows) tackles the game and throws up this error.
In Vice City’s case, this usually happens for three reasons: Note: You have to do this every time you launch the game
For older systems:
Start → dxdiag → Sound → Hardware Acceleration → Basic acceleration.
Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Performance → Data Execution Prevention →
Select: “Turn on DEP for all programs except those I select” → Add gta-vc.exe.