Re: Possible fix for DLC not showing up in game with Origin installation. Note: Affects owners of the RETAIL version

I uninstalled the origin version of dragon age before trying to install the retail version. The retail version I installed in C>DragonAgeOrigins.  The Origin folder is in C>Program Files (x86).  I even checked to make sure all the files assosiated with dragon age origins were deleted before trying to reinstall yet again.  There is nothing in the origin folder labeled dragon age origins, but it still is trying to update my retail version.  I'm still new at windows 7.   I suppose I could try to install to another partition of my hard drive, but it's not windows.   I'm at a loss at this point.  Thanks for the help.

Okay.  I'm terrible at making these posts, but aparantly people have been having this kind of problem with Dragon Age for a while.  You can disable auto updates in origin for all games, but not individual ones.  I don't have a lot of games, so it's not that big of a deal for me.  Just do a search for

Prevent-Origin-from-updating-game-Dragon-Age-Origins

Like I said,  I'm terrible at the social posting thing.  I should never have downloaded the digital version. 

I tried a few things out and the easiest solution seems to be to install the Origin version, let that automaticlly patch to 1.05. Concact EA support to transfer all the DLC they can to Origin (thats Awakening, Warden's Keep, Ostagar a Feastday Combo Pack). The rest, you have to download from https://social.bioware.com/user_entitlements.php and install through daupdater.exe. So far it seems to work OK.  

With "transfer all the DLC to Origin", you mean that they unlock it for you in Origin I presume? I guess that could work too. But you'd have to provide proof of owning the DLC, like screenshots of your entitlement page and account name on it or something.

Although as you said earlier, if not all DLC is on Origin, and you want to get something new, you'd have to get it on the BSN, and then have it transferred or manually installed again or whatnot.

So either way it's a hassle to get it to work =3

Yeah, it's kinda difficult to convince them to do that. They are stubborn and insists that you do stuff that we all know doesn't work. Then they'll ask for CD key for the DLC, which is a thing none of us have, sicne they don't give them to you when you buy it. But it can be done.

EDIT: http://imgur.com/qwl3E4R Here is a proof :D I also told the guy to hurry up and add the other DLCs and he said he will forward it to somone but we all know how that works so...

If you want to buy something new and it's on Origin, than it's easy. If it's not, they can't trasfer it anyway (I asked if they could add Witchhunt to my Origin account and they said they did, but it never showed up so I guess that proves my theory that the other DLCs simply are not in Origin's database). You would have to buy it on BSN and install it manualy. My hope is that in time, they'll put all of the DLC on Origin. They went back and did it for ME2 and DA2 so there is still hope.

My fix was the following, it seemed to work the two times I tried it:

---

@the_Morzan wrote:

Yeah, it's kinda difficult to convince them to do that. They are stubborn and insists that you do stuff that we all know doesn't work. Then they'll ask for CD key for the DLC, which is a thing none of us have, sicne they don't give them to you when you buy it. But it can be done.

EDIT: http://imgur.com/qwl3E4R Here is a proof :D I also told the guy to hurry up and add the other DLCs and he said he will forward it to somone but we all know how that works so...

If you want to buy something new and it's on Origin, than it's easy. If it's not, they can't trasfer it anyway (I asked if they could add Witchhunt to my Origin account and they said they did, but it never showed up so I guess that proves my theory that the other DLCs simply are not in Origin's database). You would have to buy it on BSN and install it manualy. My hope is that in time, they'll put all of the DLC on Origin. They went back and did it for ME2 and DA2 so there is still hope.

---

How long did you have to wait? I started a case with support and it's been over 2 days now, and I haven't even gotten an email.

this fixed most of my problem.  i was able to DLed all my dlc but now witchhunt will not show up in other campaigns. i love how i talked to support 3 days ago and they said they would have it fixed within 24 hours, and all it took was to do this.

OK, its 2018 now and I run W10.
Stone Prisoner has all files including manifest installed and still zip, nada, zero. Nothing works. It shows as installed ingame.
I use the PC version from disc and not Origin or Steam.
Searched the net from every angle and still found nothing that actually solves the problem. Was on the phone with EA help desk and that was also a big zero. Still think a big company like that, stopping all social networks on several games not creating a fix for such links, shows a big disregard about the players that actually buy there games. There simply only interested in our cash and after that we can drop ****.
They create very good games but there "help" is to low to mention. Started all after there Bioware connection.

But enough rambling about this company, I need a fix for this problem that has not been fixed by the almighty EA even after all these years. My point on EA is made by themselves.
Anyone has suggestions for the PC version to get stone prisoner working again? Remember I tried everything already including deleting all story lines to start over "sigh".

So I'm guessing you are using the retail version and don't have steam or Origin running or interfering with it in any way?
If that is the case then it might be that because of the big move to Origin it simply doesn't properly register somehow. (The move has caused countless issues throughout many games so you're most definitely not the only one as this thread shows)

I would suggest trying to install it via my initial posts instructions and seeing if that helps? (Unless that's what you already did?)

What did they say when you called with them? If they can see that you are entitled to the Game & DLC via your account they could simply help you register it in Origin and then you could play it through there instead.

I have the Dragon Age Origins Collectors edition on CD complete with all codes.
I do have Steam and Origin but both only run when I activate them. There not auto started. So yup, all links are screwed in the game and EA never fixed that. The "helper" at EA was not even able to find answers to the problem. he came up empty and claimed "the game is no longer supported". Nice answer there.

I made a clean install. Did the update to 1.05 and then put the stone warrior in that is not working. I can find and buy all his crystals to upgrade him but the actual quest to get him is not starting. O yea, I did check that all files are present witch they are. So for me it's a big mystery

Well if you can buy the stones the DLC seems to be active...weird...the quest is not starting at all? 

And you could always try the route of letting them add it all to Origin for you instead if you can prove you own the real thing.

I'm not entirely sure what else to suggest atm. =/

As I understand from several answers across the net the merchant should be in the camp first time you get there after you have the nightmare.

But the Sulcher's Pass does show up on your map? And the merchant just isn't there when you visit it? Or what? The quest doesn't start in your camp.

You've made SURE that you have all the correct files installed and authorized? And Dragon Age Origins Updater service is running?


http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Downloadable_content_(Origins)#Manual_installation

Also note the part at the end

"Make sure the offer file is really installed, by looking in C:\Users\%username%\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\AddIns, there should be a folder of the same name. If it is not there, unpack it from the dazip file (from inside Contents\Offers). It might also help to put the manifest.xml file from the dazip to its respective folder within AddIns for main file and Offer folder for offer files).

All DLC's are included in the GOG version and is DRM free and doesn't require any authorization to use any DLC, however the collector edition items are release with a free patch.

You can bypass the offers files not working by doing the following:

1. Go to C:\Users\%username%\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings

2. Copy the AddIns.xml file somewhere safe (as a backup)

3. Open the original AddIns.xml in Notepad. (notepad++ works great as you can search for all instances of RequiresAuthorization="1" and then replace them all at once with RequiresAuthorization="0" using the notepad++ Find option. *The Find Option is the Binoculars icon*)

4. Search for RequiresAuthorization="1" and change each instance to RequiresAuthorization="0"

5. Save, start game, enjoy."

The pass is not on the map and quest will not start. Looked inside loots off xml to see what might happen there and replaced some that where empty for ones from the pack that where filled. You will not be leave what length I went to find the fault and just cannot locate it. Its almost driving me mad.

Somewhere there is a dot, comma or referral that sits not right and I will find it.........

@Mulroin;  Only fix for you I can suggest at this point is a complete uninstall of your current version and a reinstall from the Origin client.  Yes, I know...  The DLC for games as old as DAO can be a PITA to download and install on Origin since they weren't originally written to be handled that way.  But you obviously have a fatal flaw in you current install, so I think that's the way to go.

BTW:  I have had zero problems with DLC authorization for any of my BioWare games even though I switched from retail disc installs to strictly EA/Origin ones beginning with ME2, and went back to convert both ME1 and DAO to those versions.

@Mulroin; If you had bothered to read my response, I said "the only thing I can suggest to resolve your issue"  is a re-install using Origin. 

You don't want to take that advice.... That's on you.  I'm done trying to help someone who doesn't want to install the game the way the publisher has designed it to be installed.

The game was designed to be installed using the provided CD's. Origin is from later when EA had mayor problems with the social networks.

So I am using the installating as it is designed. Origin is a secondairy sollution from a manufacturer that doesent want to support a game anymore as concluded from my contact with the EA helpdesk.

Over the eight years since the game's initial release, the methods of purchase, deployment, and installation of the DLC have all changed dramatically.  You are having problems getting things working in the current  environment.  Talking about how things used  to work is worse than pointless, it actively confuses things.

I'm replying and heavily Necroing this because this is in the top three results when looking up this exact issue on google. Also, this conversation and entire topic has gone horribly off topic by the end but since it shows up often, a lot of people might still come to look into this.

Here's what I did that managed to get it to work. Not sure if all of these are needed or I just got lucky. These are in no particular order.

I installed the game fully through Origin (discs? ha!)

I deleted all of the previous installation and data that was saved from previous installs, both from other hard drives as well as the data/profile folder in C:/User/Documents/Bioware
       I quite literally deleted the entire Dragon Age folder in there.

I went into the install folder after all the downloads finished and deleted a couple of files and did a repair
I went into _Installer in the Dragon Age folder and ran both SetupAddins.exe and Touchup.exe

I also went into Dragon Age/addins and went through every folder. Every single folder that had an _Installer folder I went in there and ran Touchup.exe

After all of that all the DLC showed up under Downloadable Content in game. Again, not sure if all these are needed or just maybe the last step (After the 4th step nothing had changed), and again this was in no particular order. I mention the install because a lot of people are going to have trouble with that I feel as both Steam and Origin don't know what they're doing with the game. Steam had the trouble earlier than Origin from what I recall.

I think the Touchup.exe after doing the SetupAddins.exe goes in and adds the file but I think I had to do all the individual ones to actually get that to work. All DLC show including Awakening variants. Not sure what Cleanup.exe does however but I didn't play with it.

Hope this helps people. I think the big two were deleting the old stuff so nothing got confused.

Happy playing!

Not sure if it is mentioned but to fix the dlc not showing up for me. I had to Locate the offers.xml file in the main origins dragon age folder something like C:\Program Files\Origin Games\Dragon Age\__Installer. Use that file to replace the offers.xml file in [user]\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings

Also make sure there is an offer folder with all the data in the same directory from the main origin game directory.

That for me made the dlcs that were triggered by the map to show up.

Hope that helps anyone looking for this.

Note: Origin-only install, no discs

After changing the account to an Administrator account, a repair did the trick with one click. Was able to return the account to Standard user afterward.

This one falls into "The Administrator's Hall of Shame". It fails to request the apparently necessary permissions elevation during installation. Then when attempting to use the elevated-required apps to clean up things while elevated, it also fails to recognize that it is elevated and attempts to install some portions to an environment that isn't really loaded rather than installing it all to the initiating user's environment and it silently fails.

NOT using Administrator for day-to-day activity is a great first-line-of-defense against malware. So, "The Administrator's Hall of Shame" is reserved for day-to-day applications that fail to install under RunAs/elevated permissions or fail to run properly under Standard permissions after installation.

Another EA/Bioware game suffers from a similar shame despite being a currently supported MMO. On that one, one can build an install package that makes Windows 10 "lie" to the application to make it think it has Admin privileges when it does not - meaning the application in question doesn't even need Admin access to run. It even updates just fine without having actual Admin access. It's the hallmark of sloppy coding. One might start to think that care has not been taken with the Bioware properties.

@saitark Replacing the offers.xml file is also the only thing that worked for me. Thank you!