AWC.dll error with retail Trilogy version

I have the retail ME box set trilogy, which was expensive. Firstly, I'd like to know why, even though I have the box set, I still have to use Origin, and why it insists on wasting time copying gigabytes of files to itself when installing, rather than just installing the game. Also, on brand new discs, just out of the box, I got read errors, that prevented me from installing until I repeatedly cleaned the discs, used voodoo, threats and prayers before it actually worked.

However, more importantly, since installing Aegis, Firepower Pack and other DLC that I paid for, I am now rendered unable to launch the game due to the awc.dll error. I've tried researching all the solutions, the most common one being locating EACore.dll, EACoreServer.exe, and EAAccessInstaller.exe in the binaries folder and following the steps. But, I don't have these files anywhere on my PC. I assume its because my game is not a digital download, but a retail copy. I would appreciate some working solution to be able to get the retail copy working with this error. I haven't even finished the game, and after two days of messing with it, uninstalling, reinstalling and researching, I've reached the end of my patience. I shouldn't have to be a programmer to play a game that I paid for.

Edit - I'm running Win7, and I let the game install into the default path, which is in ProgramFiles(x86)/OriginaGames/MassEffect 2