Mass Effect 1 won't launch

[GrrrSnarlArgh]

Just what it says on the tin.

I can't launch Mass Effect.

I open up origin. Go to my game library. Click the button to play Mass Effect.

A box that says "launching" comes up.

It says "Synching Cloud Data" and a bar fills up to 100%

Then...nothing. The "Launching/Synching" box closes and nothing happens. I tried rebooting and that had no effect.

[EA_David · Accepted solution]

There's a Mass Effect-support board here, you might get some more in-depth steps there. 

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-1/bd-p/mass-effect

However, to start with, try running ME in Windows XP Compatibility mode. 

To do this, go to Origin Games > Mass Effect > Binaries, then right-click the Mass Effect exe file, and go to the Compatibility tab, where you should see a checkbox for available modes. 

[GrrrSnarlArgh]

Just tried ME2 and 3, and both of them launched without trouble. Only Me1 I won't launch. Someone please help.

[GrrrSnarlArgh]

WTF? Am I in the wrong place? Where do I go for some customer support?

[EA_David · Accepted solution]

There's a Mass Effect-support board here, you might get some more in-depth steps there. 

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-1/bd-p/mass-effect

However, to start with, try running ME in Windows XP Compatibility mode. 

To do this, go to Origin Games > Mass Effect > Binaries, then right-click the Mass Effect exe file, and go to the Compatibility tab, where you should see a checkbox for available modes. 

[GrrrSnarlArgh]

Thank you. Once I had a better idea of where to search I also found this thread which helped too

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-1/PC-Mass-Effect-Won-t-Start-A-New-Solution/m-p/1435670#M2911

[gigashadow07]

You got it right. Had the same problem, repaired (per EA tech support) w/o success.  I was placed on hold for 20+ minutes, during which I tried right clicking on masseffect.exe, clicked compatability, and set it to xp sp3 compat. mode and it worked fine

[ElagRetep]

This worked for me.

Initially had a message stating that Directx was not installed (although I was at Directx 11).

Many Thanks

[Bemily_17]

I tried this but I can't find a .exe anything having to do with Mass Effect. The folder is under downloads, and I can get to the Binaries folder, but there is no Mass Effect .exe in there.

[Triskonn]

 Now it says: General protection fault!

I have a screenshot of it, but where can i send it to someone from the support?

[captains3m]

still not working for me