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vorbishooked.dll is a 32-bit third-party component used by CLEO 4 and Silent’s ASI Loader for the classic PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It is not a Windows file, and the safest repair is to rebuild the matching CLEO and ASI-loader files in the folder containing gta-sa.exe, not to copy a random DLL into System32.
What this file actually does
CLEO extends classic GTA: San Andreas with script and mod support. Its installation normally includes vorbisHooked.dll, cleo.asi, bass.dll, and a cleo folder. The loader also replaces the game’s original vorbisFile.dll with a loader-compatible version.
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That relationship matters because vorbishooked.dll, vorbis.dll, and vorbisFile.dll are separate files. Replacing one with another will not repair the installation.
The file normally belongs beside gta-sa.exe in the classic GTA installation directory. It does not belong in:
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C:WindowsSystem32C:WindowsSysWOW64- A general Windows DLL folder
- A random application directory unrelated to GTA
The known sample is a 32-bit DLL, matching the 32-bit classic GTA executable and modding stack. A 64-bit version of Windows can still run it through Windows-on-Windows support, but the mod files must match the 32-bit game.
CLEO 4 documentation concerns classic GTA: San Andreas. Do not assume that the same files apply to Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.
Causes by symptom
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Correct response |
|---|---|---|
| “vorbishooked.dll is missing from your computer” | The file was deleted, quarantined, or never copied during CLEO installation | Reinstall the matching CLEO and ASI-loader package |
| “The code execution cannot proceed” | A required file is missing or the loader package is incomplete | Compare the GTA folder with the package and reinstall it |
| “The specified module could not be found” | The named DLL or one of its dependencies is missing | Check the complete mod package, not just the named file |
| “The procedure entry point could not be located” | Mixed CLEO, ASI-loader, or game-executable versions | Remove the mixed files and install a compatible set |
| “Not designed to run on Windows” | Corruption, wrong architecture, or an untrusted replacement DLL | Remove the replacement and restore files from a trusted package |
| GTA crashes after a launcher update | Launcher verification removed modified files or the executable changed | Restore the clean game, then reinstall compatible mods |
| Antivirus reports the file | The file was quarantined or a repackaged copy is suspicious | Check Protection history and verify the file’s source and path |
Fix 1: Reinstall the matching CLEO package
This is the most likely fix for a missing vorbishooked.dll.
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- Open File Explorer.
- Browse to the folder containing
gta-sa.exe. -
Confirm whether the folder contains some or all of these files:
-
vorbishooked.dll vorbisFile.dllcleo.asibass.dll-
cleo -
Back up the entire GTA folder or at least the current mod files.
- Obtain the CLEO release from the official CLEO project and use the release instructions for your exact game executable.
- Install or extract the package directly into the folder containing
gta-sa.exe. - Do not rename the files and do not place them in System32.
- Start the game from its normal launcher or shortcut.
The current official CLEO 4 release list identifies version 4.4.4 as the latest release, but the correct package still depends on the installed GTA executable and other mods. Do not assume that the newest package works with every classic edition.
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The repair worked if the missing-file message disappears and the game reaches its menu or starts normally. If the error changes to an entry-point message, the files are probably mixed. Continue with the clean rollback below instead of downloading another copy of the DLL.
Fix 2: Match CLEO to the GTA executable
Classic GTA installations may use different executable builds, including older retail and Steam variants. A CLEO package built for a different executable can produce entry-point errors, immediate crashes, or a message saying that the DLL is not designed to run on Windows.
To identify the executable and its location:
- Open File Explorer and locate
gta-sa.exe. - Right-click it and select Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
- Record the displayed product or file information.
- Compare that information with the CLEO release instructions and the instructions for your other ASI mods.
If you recently installed Widescreen Fix, SilentPatch, an ASI loader, or another major mod, check whether it includes its own loader. Two loaders or files copied from different packages can conflict.
For a controlled test:
- Create a backup of the GTA folder.
- Remove or move third-party ASI files and mod folders to a temporary folder.
- Leave the clean game files in place.
- Start the game.
- If it launches, reinstall CLEO first.
- Test the game again.
- Add other mods one at a time, testing after each installation.
The successful configuration is the smallest set of files that launches the game with the intended mod. If the game fails immediately after adding one package, that package or its version compatibility is the likely cause.
Fix 3: Check Windows Security quarantine
Windows Security or another antivirus product may remove a mod loader because DLLs injected into a game resemble unwanted software. That does not prove that every copy of vorbishooked.dll is malicious, but it does mean you should verify the source before restoring it.
In Windows Security:
- Select Start.
- Type Windows Security and open it.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Open the detection related to
vorbishooked.dll. - Check the file path and action.
- If the file was in an unexpected temporary folder, bundled application, or unrelated program directory, do not restore it.
- If it came from the trusted CLEO package in the GTA folder, verify the package and scan it before considering restoration.
- Prefer reinstalling the official package over restoring an isolated quarantined DLL.
A file restored to the wrong directory will not repair GTA and may create a second security problem. If antivirus repeatedly removes a file from a package, stop launching the game and scan the installer, archive, and computer before adding an exclusion.
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Fix 4: Restore a clean game before rebuilding mods
If you have mixed several mod versions, the fastest reliable path is to return GTA to a clean state.
- Copy your save files and personal backups.
- Move mod folders and custom files out of the GTA directory.
- Use the launcher’s Verify, Repair, or Verify integrity of game files command.
- Wait for the launcher to replace modified or damaged files.
- Start the unmodded game once.
- Close it and reinstall the compatible CLEO package.
- Test CLEO before adding other ASI or script mods.
Verification may remove vorbishooked.dll, cleo.asi, the cleo folder, and other modifications. That is expected. Reinstall the mod stack after verification rather than restoring random DLLs manually.
If your copy is not managed by a launcher, restore the original vorbisFile.dll and other backed-up game files, or reinstall the game from its legitimate installer. The clean game should launch before any mod is added.
Fix 5: Do not use System32 or regsvr32
vorbishooked.dll is loaded by the GTA mod stack from the game directory. It is not a Windows component that should be registered globally.
Do not run:
regsvr32 vorbishooked.dll
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose registration functions such as DllRegisterServer, commonly used by certain COM components. An ASI loader is loaded by the game and normally does not need registration.
Do not copy the file into System32 or SysWOW64. Doing so can cause path conflicts, leave an untrusted DLL in a sensitive location, and still fail to fix the game.
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Fix 6: Repair Windows components only for separate Windows problems
SFC and DISM do not normally restore a third-party CLEO DLL. Use them only if Windows itself shows unrelated corruption, built-in apps fail, or system components are damaged.
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- Type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for it to finish.
- Run:
sfc /scannow
- Restart Windows.
- Test GTA again.
If these commands report that Windows repaired protected files but vorbishooked.dll is still missing, that result is normal. Reinstall CLEO and restore the correct GTA files instead.
Repeatedly hunting through Windows repair commands is slower than identifying the GTA package that owns the file. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for broader Windows issues and show what needs attention, while its repair functions require the full version; reinstalling CLEO remains the definitive fix for this game DLL.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix 7: Do not update drivers for this DLL error
A graphics, audio, or chipset driver is not the normal cause of a missing vorbishooked.dll. Device Manager will not recreate a CLEO file.
If you are troubleshooting a separate hardware problem:
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- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand the relevant category.
- Right-click the device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows if a driver is installed.
Do not use Device Manager as a substitute for reinstalling the GTA mod package. Outbyte Driver Updater can scan for outdated drivers and identify updates, but the full version performs the driver installation; it will not replace a missing CLEO loader, which still requires the correct game package.
Avoid isolated DLL downloads
Do not search for vorbishooked.dll and copy the first result into the GTA folder. Random DLL download sites sites may provide:
- The wrong CLEO or ASI-loader version
- A file for the wrong architecture
- A modified or repackaged DLL
- A file missing required companion files
- Malware disguised under a familiar filename
The safe source is the official CLEO project release that matches your classic GTA executable. Install the complete package so vorbishooked.dll, vorbisFile.dll, cleo.asi, bass.dll, and the cleo folder come from one compatible distribution.
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- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti’s tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Five years ago, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption. Now, it's the early 90s. CJ’s got to go home - his mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart, and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster.
If the file appears outside the GTA directory, identify the parent program first. Do not repair it merely because the filename looks familiar.
Frequently asked questions
Is vorbishooked.dll part of Windows?
No. It is associated with CLEO 4 and Silent’s ASI Loader for classic PC GTA: San Andreas. Windows does not require it, and it does not belong in System32 or SysWOW64.
Is it the same as vorbis.dll or vorbisFile.dll?
No. They are separate files. CLEO’s loader works with the game’s original Vorbis-related file and may replace vorbisFile.dll during installation.
Should I register it with regsvr32?
Normally no. The game loads this mod DLL as part of its loader stack; it is not normally registered as a Windows component.
Does this apply to GTA Trilogy: The Definitive Edition?
Do not assume so. The documented CLEO 4 setup concerns classic GTA: San Andreas, not automatically the Definitive Edition.
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That message can mean a dependency of vorbishooked.dll is missing. Reinstall the complete matching package and check for mixed loaders instead of copying only the named file.
What information should I provide if it still fails?
Record the exact error text, the full path of gta-sa.exe, the game edition and executable details, the location of vorbishooked.dll, your CLEO and ASI mods, and any antivirus action. That information distinguishes a missing file from an incompatible loader or a quarantined copy.
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