Gamingnewslink.com’s self-help guide for Mass Effect 2 Errors, Freezing, Slowdown, Install and Crash to Desktop problems
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IMPORTANT NOTE : If you encounter errors or issues with Mass Effect 2 that are not included in the list below, issues which the solutions listed does not resolve, Tell us about it by Posting it in the comment box at the bottom of this page (No registration required). Include details about the Mass Effect 2 error and the specifications of the system you are running ME2 on. It doesn’t have to be a fullblown dxdiag log, just the Video Card, Processor and amout of RAM and of course the Operating System (and service pack versions) you are playing Mass Effect 2 on. REMEMBER to check the comments at the bottom of this post.

First thing’s first, ensure that you’re PC can handle Mass Effect 2. Here’s Mass Effect 2’s minumum system requirements

List of Known Mass Effect 2 errors and solutions/workarounds

Problem #1 : Mass Effect 2 random crash to desktop
Fix #1 (for location specific crashes):

-Resume from the last save before the location where it crashed
-Move up to the area before it crashed
-Save to a new save slot
-Continue to the crash area, game will crash
-Open Mass Effect 2 and load up the save you made
-The area should no longer crash.

credits: Okrean via gamingnewslink.com comments(for the location specific crash fix)
Fix #2: Reinstall the NET 3.5 Framework
credits: Gromenawer
Fix #3: Checkout the discussion about random crashes and stuttering for Single Core machines running Mass Effect 2 here : http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/106/index/905917/2
credits: Rhadok

Problem #2 : How to Enable Anisotropic Filtering (AA) for Mass Effect 2?
Fix : You have to force enable it with the tools provided by your graphics card vendors (Nvidia CP or ATI Catalyst) because AA is not supported in Mass Effect 2 due to DX9’s limitations
credits:

Problem #3 : How to adjust Mouse Acceleration in Mass Effect 2?
Fix : Navigate to the ‘Mass Effect 2/Biogame/Config/Pc/Cooked/Coalesced.ini’ folder and search for the lines for the mouse settings then adjust it from there
credits: Roostercoq

Problem #4 : I bought Mass Effect 2 Collector’s Edition but the cerberus code does not work/invalid
Fix : There’s a problem with codes that came with some PC Collector’s Edition of Mass Effect 2, you might want to check this thread out : http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/106/index/769145/1

Problem #5 : Mass Effect 2 Black Screen Problem / Mass Effect 2 Black Screen on Startup/Midgame then Crash to Desktop
Fix 1: If you have forced Vsync to OFF in your video card settings (Nvidia Cpanel or ATI Catalyst), then set it to Auto/Default or ON. Try whichever one works
Fix 2: Install the latest video Card drivers available for your Graphics Card
credits:

Problem #6 : Mass Effect 2 Freezing Intermittently
Fix #1: Try Fix#4 for Problem#8
Fix #2: Checkout the discussion about random crashes and stuttering for Single Core machines running Mass Effect 2 here : http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/106/index/905917/2
credits: Rhadok

Problem #7 : Mass Effect 2 Slowdown/Freezing on outdoor areas
Solution :

1. Pause your game (hit esc.).
2. Press Alt-Tab, so you back to desktop without quitting the game.
3. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del.
4. Choose the “Processes” button.
5. Find “Masseffect2.exe” (or something like that).
6. Right click on it, and set the priority high (I choose the “realtime” and it works fine, no more sudden lag. Maybe the “AboveNormal” or “High” would help you too depends on your CPU)

credits: Rivian via GNL comments

Problem #8 : Mass Effect 2 Stuttering/Skipping sound problem
Solution #1 : Turn down or disable Directsound Acceleration. If this doesn’t fix it remember to reenable it
Solution #2 :

Check your soundcard drivers as well. Most people tend to ignore those. If you have built in sound, go to your motherboard/computer (Dell, HP etc) manufacturers website and look for an update OR conversely, uninstall it, reboot and see what windows comes up with instead OR uninstall it, reboot and reinstall from the website or CD (even if there isn’t an update).
Check and make sure you don’t have AntiViri running ( or SpyBot S&D etc). If you do, disable it (them).

credits: low8all for the soundcard driver suggestion via ME2 forums
Solution #3Go to Start, then Run, then type in DxDiag. Find the audio/sound tab(s) and change the acceleration from full to a lower setting such as basic acceleration.
credits: CodeR3d Solution #4“Don’t know about you guys, but I have the G15 keyboard. And when I was running LCD Misc, it caused the game to stutter. Completely exited all of the G15 apps and the stutter is solved on my end! Good luck to everyone else!”
credits: Scorpion

Problem #9 : Cannot Install Mass Effect 2. Error message “Error: Switch from current encoding to specified encoding not supported. Line 1, Column 40 in inter XML settings.” during autorun
Solution #1 : Extract contents of english.rar to your Mass Effect 2 installation. (Found in Disk 2)
credits: Shadow328 for the DA disc conflicting with Mass Effect 2 installer fix
Solution #2 : If you have multiple drives, Eject the other disc ESPECIALLY IF IT’S A DRAGON AGE DISC!
credits: Inverness Moon via ME2 Forum for english.rar fix. nice catch there btw!

Problem #10 : Mass Effect 2 Freezing on loading screen
Solution : No known fix at the moment. If you know the solution or if you get this error, post your system specs on the comment box below

Problem #11 :Mass Effect 2 Crashing at the Galaxy Map
Solution : No known fix at the moment. If you know the solution or if you get this error, post your system specs on the comment box below

Problem #12 : Mass Effect 2 character voice volume problems / speech dialogue volume too low
Solution : For Realtek users

- open speakers properties
- go to enhancements tab
- check disable all enhancements box
then I opened ’sound’ by right clicking the speaker icon in the system tray and clicking ‘playback devices’ (this is also accessible from the mass effect 2 configuration utility among other places in the OS)
-click on the icon for the ’speakers’ from the playback device menu
-hit the ‘configure’ button in the bottom left corner
-from this menu i selected ’stereo’ from the options and hit next
-from this menu i selected both front speakers as ‘full range’ by checking the box and hit next
finally i hit ‘finish’ and then ‘ok’

credits: tetracycloide

Problem #13 : Mass Effect 2 Opening Cinematic Slowdown/Lagging
Workaround #1 : Create a shortcut to the game exe, then changing the command to
“X:\Programs\Mass Effect 2\Binaries\MassEffect2.exe” -nomoviestartup
credits: Kheldrion (in gamingnewslink comments)

Problem #14 : Mass Effect 2 freezing on the main menu
Solution : Freezing in the main menu was can be caused by Zone Alarm (firewall) denying MassEffect2.Exe accest tp internet. Allowing it to access the net can fix the problem
credits: Andrzej (through gamingnewslink comments)

Problem #15 : Mass Effect 2 error message during install “A required Setup file is missing [Z:\\\\\\\\data\\\\\\\\english.rar]”
Solution :

1. Copy ME Disc 1 using an image burner (used Daemon Tools Lite and saved it as a .ISO not .mds)

2.
Finish copying Disc 1 and then repeat the process for Disc 2 (my disc 2
appeared to quit at about 50%, and disc 1 was only about 2.67 gigs big).

3.
Virtually mount Disc 1 (using Daemon) and let it install, leaving Disc
2 inside the tray after burning (I can’t say if you should or shouldn’t
burn disc 2, but mine was in the tray and I did not have to mount the
.ISO from disc 2 so you do the math).

4. It should run through, no disc swaps.
5. After install put in Disc 1 and play. Confirmed. No errors. Succesfully connected to cerberus network and started game.

Daemon tools download here – http://www.disk-tools.com/download/daemon

credits: Brian from the comments and torrin, lyssol from the ME2 boards YOU!

Problem #16 : Mass Effect 2 IFF Crash/Black screen problem (Reaper IFF crash)
Solution :

Ok people. IFF problem (black screen)resolved (single core AMD):
1. copy original movies(load*.bik) back to the …\BioGame\Movies\ directory
2. run the game (do not press any key)
3. wait for play the movie (trailer)
4. load your game
5. enter the galaxy map

credits: muller and aries32487 from the comments YOU!

Problem #17 : Post Your Mass Effect 2 error at the comment box below if you are experiencing errors that are not listed here
Solution : Help out and post solutions to ME2 errors at the comment box below if you know one
credits: YOU!

Important!: If you are experiencing errors with Mass Effect 2 that are not listed above or is not solved by the specified fixes, Tell us about it by posting in the comment box below (include system specs, OS, and description of the error you encounter in Mass Effect 2, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO POST/ASK QUESTIONS/POST SOLUTIONS

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The Latest Patch for Mass Effect (PC) fixes a few bugs and also added support for downloadable content. The Latest Mass Effect patch can be downloaded here :

Download Mass Effect patch 1.01


Size 34.90 MB (36,594,024 bytes)

The DLC titled “Bring Down the Sky” can be downloaded here
Download Bring Down the Sky – Mass Effect DLC
Instructions for Mass Effect DLC Installation

Mass Effect 1.01 Patch Changes
Update 1.01

* added some infrastructure support for additional downloadable content
* updated the image of the Batarian race in the codex
* fixed an issue where the center channel for hardware audio wouldn’t play correctly sometimes
* fixed an issue where the hardware mouse pointer would disappear when first selected
* fixed an issue where Shepard did not auto-crouch when entering cover in some places
* fixed a tool-tip indicating a game restart is needed before enabling hardware or software audio if the option was changed
* fixed an issue where ambient conversation would not be heard from rear speakers sometimes
* fixed a text string to make it clearer on how to exit a vehicle
* fixed a text string so the tool top for dragging the map is clearer in French languages builds

Mass Effect Configuration Utility

* fixed a crash running on certain multi-core AMD systems
* fixed an issue where video RAM was not being reported properly on certain cards

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