Mass Effect 3 not recognizing saves from previous ME games

[KungLing]

I played ME 1 and 2 extensively and have many saves from both.  However, now that I've finally gotten ME3, it doesn't recognize any of the saves from my ME2 playthroughs.  I'm not sure what to try since the saves are there in the documents/bioware/masseffect2/save, where they're supposed to be.  I tried copying the ME2 saves into the ME3 save folder, but that didn't work.

Not sure if it matters or not, but I'm now having the same problem with importing saves from ME1 to ME2.  The saves are there, but the game doesn't seem to recognize them.  When I boot up the ME2config to import saves from ME1, it shows nothing in the save file for ME1 despite the fact that if I open the folder manually, all the save files are there.

Any ideas?

[holger1405]

@KungLing

Did you tried to run Origin and Mass Effect 3 as Administrator?

[KungLing]

Yes, I tried that.  They both have run as admin permissions.

[holger1405]

@KungLing

Do you use onedrive?

As for ME1 > ME2:

You have a folder named "ME1" under "Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2\Save" and the ME1 Save Games are in there?

If not, go to your ME2 "Save" folder (As said under "Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2" and create a folder with the name "ME1". (without the quotes) inside the "Save" folder

Then copy (not relocate) your ME1 save games into that folder. > Now ME2 should "see" your ME1 character.

[KungLing]

The ME1 saves are in the ME2 save folder, but just like my problem with ME3, when I launch the game, no profiles/saves from ME1 show up in-game to import.

[KungLing]

No, I do not use Onedrive.

[holger1405]

@KungLing

Your user account is an Administrator account?

You only have one copy of the games installed? (For example, not an Origin and a Steam installation to the same time)

This sounds like a permissions or Registry problem. 

Press the Windows key and "X" at the same time > Click on "Command prompt (Administrator)" or "PowerShell (Administrator)"

• In the CMD or PowerShell window, at the prompt type or copy:  takeown /F "xxxxxxxxxxxx"   (With the quotes. Replace the X with the full path to the ME2 folder, C:\Users\>your user name<\Documents\Bioware\Mass Effect2) > hit "ENTER"

• Reboot > Test.

If this don't works, create a new Windows user account > reboot > log in to the new account > test.

[KungLing]

I must be entering something wrong.  It keeps giving me error messages or saying the format is incorrect.  Screenshot below:

[holger1405]

@KungLing 

Copy and past the line beneath: (Copy normal, then right click into the command prompt window, that will past the line)

takeown /F "C:\Users\Nathan\Documents\Bioware\Mass Effect2"

If that don't works, is your "Documents" folder on your C: dive?

[KungLing]

I copied and pasted that line, and it said: ERROR:  the system cannot find the file specified.  Documents is on the C drive near as I can tell, but there is a public and individual user locations.  I don't know if that matters or not.