Error in opening Mass Effect 1 on Windows 7

Ok, so I have spent several hours troubleshooting this.

This is the error I keep getting. This is what I get both when I open the Launcher and hit play, and when I directly open the .exe file that it claims to not be able to find.

I have done the following to try to attempt to fix this:

  • Installed the 1.02 Patch
  • Running in Windows XP Compatibility Mode
  • Running as Admin
  • Updating Graphics Driver
  • Setting UseEffectsProcessing from True to False in the BaseEngine.ini file

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm trying to run it on my Windows 7 Toshiba Satellite, Intel Centrino processor, and 3GB of ram.


Solution 1:

The reason you cannot play is because of your GPU

The error that is occurring is stemming from a problem between the game and your Video Card, specifically the command to use GMatrix2D (GPF Error).Source

Your are trying to run the game on a Mobile Intel Express Chipset. According to a few sources, linked here will be the steampowered forums, the game does not support the use of Mobile Intel Chipset. I would recomend you upgrade your GPU, but seeing you are using a mobile GPU, this would not be easier/impossible.Source

Try to play on your desktop if you can, or get a more modern Laptop that has a newer mobile GPU that can run it

NOTE: Not all Mobile GPU fail to play the game, only Mobile Intel Express Chipsets and old GPU


Sources:

Yet another annoyed Mass Effect customer

Mass Effect PC problems