If you just want to play the game as is, no mods or patches etc. Uninstall the game delete the infograms/gp4 folder. Reinstall the game as is, launch and let the game do the default graphic test. Albiet if you did download the game, by what ever means, I am not accusing you of anything, GP4.exe will look for the CD, if it can't find the CD the game will not launch. Then, you would need a NOCD patch.

Send me a personl message if you are interested in more help.

Have you considered going back to GP2?

I went from GP1 to GP2 to GP4, racking up thousands of hours on each. Then my PC just refused to launch GP4 and for over a year I did not play it as I did not want to rebuild my PC.

Then I fired up GP2 again. Now I've found GP4 once more on my new PC, it just drives "weird". I have to say that I prefer GP2 now. Plus, there are still active modders who release a new carset for F1 after every race! (some Dutch guys).

AI is slightly different - for example, CPU cars don't close the door on you aggressively. On the other hand, you can also go wheel to wheel with them without them chickening out like they do in GP4.

edit for f1graphics.cfg or something else. im forgot ..