Crash before Main Menu

[KibouSN]

When trying to play Mass Effect 2, I get all the way to the "press start" menu, it goes through the transition, and then promptly crashes. Can someone help me with this?

[mcsupersport · Accepted solution]

@KibouSN

One of the leading causes of the crash MSVCR80.dll, is save file corruption.  You may want to see if you can rename your save folder and then check to see if it loads...AFTER making sure your cloud saves is off.  IF the game loads, then I would load back saves slowly until you find the one or ones that are corrupted.

[mcsupersport]

Not without information....

simple things to start, like Platform you are playing on??

Specs/DxDiag if on PC...??

Have you tried repairing install/Verifying install??

Have you tried restarting the system??

Is ME2 fully installed and was if fully installed BEFORE you started trying to play or add dlc??

[holger1405]

@KibouSN

If you play on a PC:

Create a DxDiag in text file format, also go to your Reliability monitor (Press the windows key and "R" at the same time and copy or type "perfmon /rel" (without the quotes) in > ENTER and look if it has ME2 entries.

 If yes double click at the last one, copy it to the clipboard, (Bottom left corner) save it to a text file and load it up together with the DxDiag. You can do that with the "choose file" button at the bottom right corner of the reply window.

[KibouSN]

Here's the information I got. 

Don't ask why the path is like that. I thought removing the game from the Origin Games folder would prevent updates that would change how the game would operate. 

[holger1405]

@KibouSN

• Make sure the game and Origin is closed.
• Go to your "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mass Effect 2\__Installer\vc\vc2005\redist" folder and run the "vcredist_x86.exe" as Administrator (right click the exe > run as Administrator) > reboot > test.

Furthermore, you can prevent updates for games directly in Origin > (In Origin, menu top left corner > Origin > Application settings > Application > Client update > Automatic game updates> OFF

Moving the Game directory will not prevent updates.

[mcsupersport · Accepted solution]

@KibouSN

One of the leading causes of the crash MSVCR80.dll, is save file corruption.  You may want to see if you can rename your save folder and then check to see if it loads...AFTER making sure your cloud saves is off.  IF the game loads, then I would load back saves slowly until you find the one or ones that are corrupted.

[KibouSN]

Welp, I feel stupid for not knowing this. Thanks for the help.

[danapmonster]

Same issue

[holger1405]

@danapmonster 

• Turn off "Cloud storage" in Origin.
  (Origin menu > Origin > Application Settings > Install & Saves > Cloud storage > Off (Grey)
• If you use Steam you don't have to do anything, unless you have added Mass Effect 2 manually to Streams cloud save function.
• Make sure Origin or Steam are completely closed.
• Go to "C:\Users\>your username>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2" folder and move the "Save" folder and the "BIOGame" folder to your desktop.
  (Just to make this clear, the named folders must be gone from the "C:\Users\>your username>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2" path.)
• Test.

If the game works then it is likely that one of the last saves you made is corrupt.