Install guide
Written for build 1.0.4. Read it once before unpacking — steps 3 and 6 are where people get stuck.
About 35 minutes on an SSD
You need
- ✓315 GB free on the target SSD
- ✓7-Zip 24.09 or newer (zstd support)
- ✓Windows 10 21H2+ or Windows 11, fully updated
- ✓Latest GPU driver (NVIDIA 581.x / AMD 25.10.2 or newer)
-
01Verify the parts
Compare the SHA-256 of each part with the manifest. In PowerShell: `Get-FileHash .\VI-PC-1.0.4.part01.zst -Algorithm SHA256`. Re-download any part that does not match — a single bad byte fails extraction at 88%.
-
02Turn off real-time scanning temporarily
134 GB through Defender costs 20–40 minutes. Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings → Real-time protection off. Turn it back on afterwards and exclude the game folder.
-
03Extract part01 only
Right-click part01.zst → 7-Zip → Extract to `VI-PC\`. The archive is a solid stream: part01 pulls the rest automatically. Do not extract parts individually and do not extract to a USB drive.
-
04Run the launcher as administrator
From `VI-PC\`, run `VI-PC-Launcher.exe`. SmartScreen will warn once — More info → Run anyway. The launcher checks for missing parts and offers to repair them before it asks for a key.
-
05Activate
Paste the key from your delivery message. Activation binds to the current hardware fingerprint; the key stores its machine count so you can move it later with `/deactivate`.
-
06First launch — let the shader cache build
The first start compiles pipeline state for your GPU: 40–90 seconds, one time, with a progress bar. Do not alt-tab or kill it. Everything after that loads in under 8 seconds.
-
07Set graphics, then restart
The launcher's settings tab mirrors the in-game menu. Start at the preset for your GPU class from the requirements page, then tune. Changes to DLSS or resolution scaling need a restart.
-
08Optional: texture pack and save editor
Deluxe and Ultimate keys unlock the 4K pack. Extract it into `VI-PC\packs\4k\` and enable it in the launcher. The save editor is portable — point it at `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\VI PC\saves`.
Habits
After the first session
- ▸Keep `part01` and the manifest — patches are delta files applied against it.
- ▸Exclude `VI-PC\` from real-time scanning permanently; it costs 4–7 fps.
- ▸Save editor writes are not checksummed — keep a copy of the save before editing.
- ▸Back up `Documents\VI PC\` monthly. Cloud sync is off by default.
Troubleshooting
Known first-run issues
All four have fixes. Nothing here needs a support ticket.
Crash on launch, 0xc000007b
Missing Visual C++ runtime. Install `vc_redist.x64.exe` from the `_redist` folder in part01 — it is bundled exactly because download pages rot.
Black screen after the studio logos
Shader cache was interrupted. Delete `VI-PC\cache\pipeline` and relaunch; the launcher rebuilds it.
Stutter for the first 10 minutes
Normal on 8 GB VRAM cards — texture streaming settles once the cache fills. Cap the frame rate at 60 and drop textures to high.
“Hardware changed” on activation
A driver update can shift the fingerprint. Re-activate once; if it persists, run the launcher with `/rebind` and send the log.
Check the requirements page
Short version: RTX 2060 / RX 6600 minimum, 16 GB RAM, 315 GB SSD.