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DarkTankHunter's avatar
DarkTankHunter
8 years ago
Solved

can't authenticate mass effect 3 dlc

I have recently purchased all DLC for Mass Effect 3 as I want to play through everything before the Andromeda part. After downloading and installing all DLC on Origin, I started the game to get a message saying "The Mass Effect 3 server is unavailable at this time. Please try again later." I hit ok then it says that none of my DLC is able to authenticate. I can play the base game but none of the DLC I just spent a bunch of money on. It took me 3 days to find a proper solution on the forums but no joy. I noticed there where alot of 'workarounds' but it's strange after all this time since the game is on the market that this problem (why sell a game with dlc's if no servers are available to to authenticatie them) still occurs. Alot of time and money is spend to get this game running and I guess you would understand I want to use 100% what I paid for and not 25%. Here is what I have tried so far. Any help would be great. PS- this is all on Windows 7, 64 bit. 

-Repair game

-Run game and Origin as administrator on a new admin account

-Tried the game unplugging the internet cable (home network, not using wifi)

-Renewed binkw32.dll (and added binkw23.dll)

-Un-install Origin completely then re-install on C-drive

-Allow Origin and Mass Effect 3 through firewall

-Disable scan of Origin and Mass Effect 3 folders in Windows Defender

-Un-install Mass Effect 3 completely then re-install from Origin

-Checked ports and static IP address

-Activiated Origin Access (cost money) and upgraded the game (became N7 Digital Deluxe)

-Changed Origin password

11 Replies

  • holger1405's avatar
    holger1405
    Hero+
    8 years ago

    @DarkTankHunter

    What happens if you try to connect manually at the Start screen ("Laptop" on the right)

    Do you use any mods?

    Are you on a University or other public network?

    If not, restart your router this way:

    Pull the power plug > wait 5 minutes > connect the power plug.

    Make sure this ports are open at your router:

    Origin Ports:
    TCP: 80; 443; 9960-9969; 1024-1124; 3216; 18000; 18120; 18060; 27900; 28910; 29900
    UDP: 1024-1124; 18000; 29900

    Me3 Port:
    Port 3659

  • DarkTankHunter's avatar
    DarkTankHunter
    8 years ago
    Hi Holger1405,
     
    thx for the reply, I really appreciate the help.
    I rechecked your suggestions and I don't use mods, I use a Home network, restarted my router just like you said and checked if my port forwarding settings (and using a static IP address) are correct. Manually connecting to the EA servers won't work as well. 
    Got any other sugs I haven't tried?
    PS- your suggestion about port forwarding makes me believe the EA servers for ME3 are still available. Is that correct? And is it possible for me to ping the ME3 EA Server?


    Kind regards.
  • holger1405's avatar
    holger1405
    Hero+
    8 years ago

    @DarkTankHunter

    ME3 servers and Origin authentication servers are two different things.

    The Origin (EA) authentication servers (for games and DLCs) will be online as long as Origin exist, the ME3 servers for multiplayer are also still online.

    Here you can find a guide to run UOtrace. Of course you can also ping "easo.ea.com" manually if you wish.

    Does your password contain special characters?

    Is your PC connected via WLAN or via cable?

  • DarkTankHunter's avatar
    DarkTankHunter
    8 years ago

    @holger1405

    After I changed my password I added a special character, and my PC is connected via an Ethernet cable.

    I tried UOtrace and Windows Tracert to ping and trace route to the EA server, you can see the result below (same results when I used the IP address). Could not Poll easo.ea.com (159.153.234.54): 'Continuous ping halted'.

    I'm guessing the server is down, do I interper this right? 

    And which Server did I 'traced', the ME3 Server or the Origin authentication server?

    Am I doing something wrong?

  • holger1405's avatar
    holger1405
    Hero+
    8 years ago

    @DarkTankHunter

    No, the server is up and running.

    There is a different problem.

    You could give your ISP a call tomorrow and ask if they might have some problems.

    If you start the game without the DLCs, can you reach the multiplayer lounge?

    You also could try the Google DNS: Guide

    You said you tried the "binkw32.dll" and added "binkw23.dll"? Where did you get them from?

    Edit: The idea was that a special character was the problem, so if you didn't had any in your passwort it is not the problem.

  • DarkTankHunter's avatar
    DarkTankHunter
    8 years ago

    @holger1405

    Called my ISP but their lights already went out when I tried to explain the situation. They revered to their Community forum to find a solution of there. I was the first one to post an issue with EA server and ME3.......☹️

    Multiplayer won't start as well, I get the error msg that the ME3 server is not available, pls try again later.

    The Binkw32.dll idea was actually your idea: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-3/Unable-to-Authorize-ME3-DLC-s/td-p/5439424 

    I'll now research Google DNS and DNS Watch

  • holger1405's avatar
    holger1405
    Hero+
    8 years ago

    @DarkTankHunter

    @DarkTankHunter wrote:

    The Binkw32.dll idea was actually your idea: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-3/Unable-to-Authorize-ME3-DLC-s/td-p/5439424 


    Yea, I thought so, the funny part is, this should allow you to play the single player DLCs.

    • Disable automatic game updates in Origin. (Origin menu > Origin > Application settings > Application > Client update > Automatic game updates > off
    • Close Origin completely.
    • Go here and download the two dlls again.
    • Put both in to your "<drive>:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\Binaries\Win32" folder (overwrite)
    • test.
  • DarkTankHunter's avatar
    DarkTankHunter
    8 years ago

    @holger1405

    I'm convinced that there is a routing issue going on, my ISP got the relevant info and hopefully they will dig into it.

    Thank you for the Binkw32 link, if its the same files I used earlier this week then I'm affraid it won't work for me as well (or I did something wrong).

    I found a newer version of those files here, maybe usefull for the future. It's working for me (just single player) so I'm happy enough.

    Past week I've been reading a brain dump on info all you people come up with to help others with their issues and I really respect and appreciate the time and effort all of you put into sorting things out. Thank you very much @holger1405 for taking the time to help me out.

    Have a good one.

  • holger1405's avatar
    holger1405
    Hero+
    8 years ago

    @DarkTankHunter

    @DarkTankHunter wrote:

    Thank you for the Binkw32 link, if its the same files I used earlier this week then I'm affraid it won't work for me as well (or I did something wrong).


    I'm not sure, the other version of the DLLs should have worked too. I changed the link in my post regardless.

    I also changed the accepted solution because there are some information (game updates) in my post that are necessary for the DLLs to work in the long term.

    @DarkTankHunter wrote:

    Past week I've been reading a brain dump on info all you people come up with to help others with their issues and I really respect and appreciate the time and effort all of you put into sorting things out. Thank you very much @holger1405 for taking the time to help me out.

    Have a good one.


     You're welcome.

  • DarkTankHunter's avatar
    DarkTankHunter
    8 years ago

    @holger1405

    Update: I got it working!! 

    Feel stupid actually but I played a bit more with my router. Turned the firewall and UPnP off or to low and got it working. Routing issue.

    I only did this on Norton Security, not on my router, feel really stupid.

    Eventually UPnP didn't make a difference and I set my router firewall to low (reboot router and PC). 

    Thx again for all the help Holger1405.

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