Mass Effect

[bigseb]

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.

 

[bigseb]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

Do you have SP1 installed? If so, see this post - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/152222-games-win-7-sp1-installed.html

 

[bigseb]

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

 

[sygnus21]

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

 

[Wishmaster]

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 Win7 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.

 

[sygnus21]

Personally, I have never had to run the game in any compatability. However, each system is slightly differnt 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?

 

[Wishmaster]

Personally, I have never had to run the game in any compatability. However, each system is slightly differnt 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.

 

[sygnus21]

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).

 

[bigseb]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

OK, you should be able to access the Configuration utility from here..... (Configure)



If that doesn't work, try.... C:\Program Files (x86)\Mass Effect\Binaries\MassEffectConfig.exe

This is what it looks like.....



Now click on Repair and choose one of the shortcut repair options and see if that works.



Let us know.

And as I mentioned before, make sure you patch the game. Please let us know!

And yeah, Mass Effect is a Role Playing Game..... and darn good one

 

[bigseb]

This might be a silly question but why must I patch it?

 

[sygnus21]

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

This might be a silly question but why must I patch it?

I gather you're the if it ain't broke don't fix it type of user

Basically patches and updates address issues discovered after release, or address/fix potential problems/bugs/security issues.

You can decide to patch/update or not but I can definitely tell you to expect problems such as you're the one you're experiencing now, and some yet to come. That's on both the game, and Windows.

At any rate I've given you a solution for the game. It's up to you to use it or not.

My two cents

 

[bigseb]

I appreciate your help, Sygnus. Don't think I'm blowing it off. Bandwidth is expensive here though and I'm reluctant to use it if I don't have to...

Here's another puzzler: On the case it says internet connection required to play (I assume both to register and during the game) but mine doesn't seem to need it. I expect this is because the game is now three years old and has been re-released and has had the 'safeties' removed. How do I know that it has been patched already?

 

[sygnus21]

I appreciate your help, Sygnus. Don't think I'm blowing it off. Bandwidth is expensive here though and I'm reluctant to use it if I don't have to...

I would think security and proper operation of games/OS/software would be worth the usage, but I've never been in your position so....

At any rate you needed to have internet service so the game could authenticate the product ID number you were supposed to supply when you installed the game. If this didn't happen, well I can only guess at the game's legitimacy - which could also be the reason for your troubles.

Anyway to find the patch version of the game re-read my post - http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/163298-mass-effect-2.html#post1400294 - click Game in the left hand pane and where it says MassEffect.exe, if it says v1.02 you have the latest patch. If it says v1.00, the game is NOT patched.

Other than that I have no other advice other then make sure the game is legit, and to patch the game.

 

[Wishmaster]

In terms of Internet Connection & Activation:

The game does in fact call home.But, only the 1st time you launch the game.

It calls home, verifies your game is legit, and downloads a really small activation file to your PC.
It does this in the background, and only 1 time ever, at first launch. After that, no internet connection is required to play.


Also keep in mind, Mass Effect will only allow you to have a set number of activations at any given time. (I can not remember if it is 3 or 5)

So, if you decide to Re-Install Windows, it may be a good idea to De-Authorize your game. This revokes the activation from the PC and gives it back to you to be used on any other machine.
The tool can be found at EA's website. Just Google EA De-Authorization Tool if you ever need it.



As far as the patch goes, its 73MB in size.
It can be found here: Mass Effect Community - Game Information

That link will also let you know what the patch changes.
As soon as you can, I would certainly get it. The vanilla ME can be rather buggy at times.


As for the Configuration tool -- Aside from showing the Game Version as Sygnus has pointed out,
theres some options in there that are not available in the games settings.

For example, I have to use it to change to a 16:9 resolution. In game only offers 4:3 and 16:10.
Theres a few other settings as well however that can only be changed in the Config tool.


This is certainly one of the better RPGs out there IMO
If you've never played it before, try to avoid any spoliers and just explore everything you can. Talk to everyone.
Theres tons of side missions to do etc, and it has a great story line.

 

[DustSailor]

The game itself had a few patches, if that wasn't already mentioned, that I would recommend downloading and installing. Might do the trick http://masseffect.bioware.com/me1/pc/updates/index.html

They recommend having all updates, especially driver updates (graphics driver is a good example because thats a big part of playing the game) http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-winvista-64bit-270.61-whql-driver.html

you say you have a bandwidth limit, perhaps before they charge you extra? I wonder if there are download managers, perhaps for firefox, that keep bandwidth to a minimum. That would be a cool thing to look into; wonder if the computer itself could be limited, and I just think it may.

 

[bigseb]

Thanks everyone. Here in South Africa bandwidth is expensive. We're way behind the rest of the world in that regard. And if you do happen to find a good offer then its unreliable. Unfortunate but there you go...

The game is legitimate. Generally I only buy 3-4 years after their release due to the massive drop. I think Mass Effect was around R400 when it first came out. Now its available for R50. I have heard many people tell me that the activation is left off the re-releases which is why I brought it up earlier. One thing I can say is I don't buy pirated software (or any stolen goods for that matter). Perhaps we get a different release to you guys in the states?

 

[Wishmaster]

Perhaps we get a different release to you guys in the states?

Possibly.


I know thats generally the way the activation works for the most part, unless they have changed it.
I was thinking it was the same method for all regions. But Im not 100% sure on it either.

 

[bigseb]

Quick question: this patch I am supposed to download and install (still haven't ), must it be installed before I start playing? I am halfway and not too keen on starting over. If I install the patch now can I make configuration changes (resolution, etc) to my current game?

Ta.