Most of these archives are based on the US v1.0 Hoodlum executable. Why v1.0? Because Rockstar removed the "Hot Coffee" minigame in v1.1 and later versions. Furthermore, v1.0 allows for the highest level of memory hacking. If you have this file, you do not need to run a "downgrader" script.
When dealing with compressed archives of decade-old games, security is paramount. Community scans (VirusTotal) of reputable versions of this file show a false positive rate of about 3/65 engines. Why?
How to verify safety:
A graphical overhaul that replaces every texture with 4K equivalents. Vanilla v2.0 crashes on the "Median" preset. Mod-Friendly runs the "Ultra" preset at 60 FPS if you have a GTX 1060 or better.
Open the Mod-Friendly folder. It usually comes with a _MODS subfolder. Drag the SilentPatchSA.asi and WidescreenHack.asi into the root folder. The "Mod-Friendly" moniker guarantees these will hook properly. Grand-Theft-Auto-San-Andreas-Mod-Friendly.7z
Once you have the Mod-Friendly base, you have a stable canvas. Here is the "Mount Rushmore" of mods that run flawlessly on this setup:
Once the Grand-Theft-Auto-San-Andreas-Mod-Friendly.7z is running, you can push it further. Most of these archives are based on the US v1
You have downloaded Grand-Theft-Auto-San-Andreas-Mod-Friendly.7z from a source like Archive.org or a community mirror. Now what?
Tools you need:
Restores the PS2 graphical effects (motion blur, rain reflections, sun haze) that were removed from the PC version.