Windows 7: Mass Effect

I bought Mass Effect (1) yesterday and was really looking forward to playing it today. The install went well. However when I start the game and press play it gives me an error message about the configuration utility not working. Details as follows:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: MassEffectConfig.exe
Application Version: 1.2.0.13
Application Timestamp: 481b677e
Fault Module Name: MassEffectConfig.exe
Fault Module Version: 1.2.0.13
Fault Module Timestamp: 481b677e
Exception Offset: 000ad694
Exception Code: c000000d
Exception Data: 00000000
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: ff9e
Additional Information 2: ff9edcbcb3e6a6085944ade84596eb9c
Additional Information 3: 8596
Additional Information 4: 859648a67779ca7158769404c70ddbae

How do I fix this?



Thanks.

Have found a workaround by using this link C:\Program Files (x86)\Mass Effect\Binaries\MassEffect.exe

Still can't get the configuration utility to work though.

Do you have SP1 installed? If so, see this post - Games and Win 7 SP1 installed?

No. In fact I've never bothered with a single update...

Well on the other hand that could also be the issue as some of the updates DO provide compatibility fixes.

I mention the SP1 issue because it appears (to me) that it did cause ME1 to "break" and using compatibility mode fixes it. However if I had to choose between a single game and SP1, SP1 would always win hands down.

So, even though I appear to be contradicting myself (install updates, yet SP breaks ME) I would still suggest installing all the important updates and the compatibility fixes and use compatibility mode for the game as system stability and security is more important to me than a single game.

Will this fix your current issue with ME1, I don't know. It's just a cautionary statement.

BTW..... Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues - item #4

The other things you could do is update your DirectX files - items 5 & 6

Make sure you install the latest patch(es) - item 3

My two cents

What type of Mass Effect Game do you have?
Retail Disc, Steam, EA Digital?

I think I have been one of the lucky ones. I have it both as a Retail and STEAM edition and haven't had any issues yet.

What I would suggest however is this:
Install all games to a location other than Program Files or Program Files (x86).
Either on a seperate HD or make a folder for games on C, and do Custom installations. (I make this a habit for all games)
For Example: C:/Games/Mass Effect


After installing Mass Effect, do NOT start the game.
Go ahead and download and install the latest patch, 1.02 first.
Also, while you are there, you may want to make a Bioware account and register your game.
You get free DLC, "Bringing Down The Sky" You can install this afrter the patch before 1st launch as well.


-->>If you have the original version of the game, there are know Configuaration Tool crashes in Vista and Windows 7 unless its patched.


Personally, I have never had to run the game in any compatability.
However, each system is slightly different so this may be a good idea. Just to be safe. It certainly will not hurt anything.

Neither have I..... Until I re-installed the game after updating to SP1

Thus this post - Games and Win 7 SP1 installed?

Just curious, but do you have the retail disc?

Im just asking because I didnt have issues with ME & SP1, but ....
SP1 was installed after Mass Effect so that may be a difference.

On my clean install, I didnt mess with the Retail Disc and just used the STEAM digital version, which seemed to work fine.
I want to say I already had SP1 installed at the time ..

Kinda curious exactly what the issue may be with it. Quite a few people have problmes with it from time to time ... Fallout as well.

Yes I have the retail disk. In fact if it was up to me, all my games would be retail disks but that's another story.

Anyway I had just re-installed Windows before SP1 came out so I didn't have a lot of my non-steam games installed. Then SP1 came out and I of course upgraded. Then some months later decided to re-install ME 1 & 2 and that's when I discovered that Mass Effect 1 wouldn't run for me unless I ran it in "Windows 7" compatibility mode....



And that's when I made this post - Games and Win 7 SP1 installed? asking if anyone else had issues with other games but no one answered it.

I played Mass Effect 1 under Windows 7 and never ran it under comaptibility mode before. Now that SP1 is here it needs to be run in it (at least for me).

Thanks for all the replies. I have the retail disc. Like I said in the second post it works fine provided I use the link I mentioned. Is the configuration tool any good ie is it worthwhile having? I just wanted to play the game is all... And what with all the extra content?

Off topic: I know I should probably update my system but at the same time I can't be bothered...

Btw: is this a role-playing game? Never played anything like this before. I like.