game installed but will not start

You ignored the stickied request for information.  The question cannot be answered as posted, sorry. 

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect/How-to-deal-with-tech-problems-and-tech-questions-the-report/m-p/317302#U317302

No Data in = No Data out !

Try to run Mass Effect 1 as Administrator (right click on icon). It should help. Else you have to provide us with more information (manual : http://goo.gl/qSkl0 )

Some of the rawest of the noobs treat their system descriptions as if it was gold that they were showing us, and we'll steal it if they let us look at all of it. 

Two of the forum stickies mention one common problem, if they would just take the blindfolds off! 

I seem to have the same problem. I'd been playing the first game with no problem. Now, suddenly, the game crashes without the start screen coming up. I've tried to repair install and run the .exe as administrator to no avail.

dxdiag:

 Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: h8-1010
               BIOS: Ver: CAR_711.ROM vCAR7.11
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2390T CPU @ 2.70GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
             Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8174MB RAM
          Page File: 2720MB used, 13627MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11

          Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
       Manufacturer: NVIDIA
          Chip type: GeForce GTX 550 Ti
           DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1244&SUBSYS_15573842&REV_A1
     Display Memory: 4049 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 977 MB
      Shared Memory: 3071 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: SMS27A550H
         Monitor Id: SAM07CB
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
        Output Type: HD15
        Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.1070 (English)
     Driver Version: 9.18.13.1070
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 12/3/2012 09:47:14, 18045968 bytes

I hope this is the info you need to give me some suggestions.

Edit: It's showing that it's patched to 1.02.

ME1 will not launch for me either.  I recently purchased  Mass Effect TriloIogy on disc, and I had never had an Origin account or any of the Mass Effect Games before.  When I try to launch ME1 by clicking the desktop icon, Origin opens, the cloud sync window pops up, the progress bar goes to 100%, and it disappears.  The next thing that comes up is a windows popup saying "Mass Effect has stopped working."  It has the following problem details:

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:    APPCRASH
  Application Name:    MassEffect.exe
  Application Version:    1.2.20608.0
  Application Timestamp:    4a55fea1
  Fault Module Name:    MassEffect.exe
  Fault Module Version:    1.2.20608.0
  Fault Module Timestamp:    4a55fea1
  Exception Code:    c0000005
  Exception Offset:    008b752d
  OS Version:    6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
  Locale ID:    1033
  Additional Information 1:    0a9e
  Additional Information 2:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
  Additional Information 3:    0a9e
  Additional Information 4:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

The same thing happens whether I try to run the binary as administrator or just click on the desktop shortcut. 

I have not installed the other two games yet, but I will do so tonight to verify that they launch.

and to check the block, here's my DXDiag info:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/10/2013, 21:38:58

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3740QM CPU @ 2.70GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
       Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
          Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
           DAC type: Internal
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0166&SUBSYS_71021558&REV_09
     Display Memory: 1774 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 2085 MB
      Shared Memory: 3785 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: CMO1720
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.010Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumd32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2712 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.951.6.0
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 3/26/2012 03:09:58, 8087040 bytes

     Name: AMD Radeon HD 7970M
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6800&SUBSYS_71021558&REV_00\4&3A75479&0&0008
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\atikmdag.sys, 8.01.0001.1235 (English), 3/29/2012 07:42:58, 10859008 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ati2erec.dll, 1.00.0000.0024 (English), 3/29/2012 06:06:22, 53248 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\atikmpag.sys, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:10, 328704 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumd64.dll, 7.14.0010.0894 (English), 3/29/2012 06:20:00, 7552000 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumd6a.dll, 8.14.0010.0350 (English), 3/29/2012 06:35:00, 4958208 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atitmm64.dll, 6.14.0011.0023 (English), 3/29/2012 07:06:44, 120320 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiicdxx.dat, 1/10/2012 01:10:08, 601728 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\amdpcom64.dll, 8.14.0010.0023 (English), 3/29/2012 06:05:46, 54784 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atimpc64.dll, 8.14.0010.0023 (English), 3/29/2012 06:05:46, 54784 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiadlxx.dll, 6.14.0010.1095 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:56, 512000 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumd6a.cap, 3/29/2012 06:30:54, 2425664 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atimuixx.dll, 6.14.0010.1002 (English), 3/29/2012 07:06:02, 21504 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiapfxx.exe, 6.14.0010.1001 (English), 3/29/2012 07:13:58, 159744 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiapfxx.blb, 3/29/2012 07:14:38, 235136 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiumd6v.dll, 7.14.0010.0184 (English), 3/29/2012 06:35:48, 1113088 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\ativvsva.dat, 3/29/2012 06:30:54, 157144 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\ativvsvl.dat, 3/29/2012 06:30:52, 204952 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe, 6.14.0011.1117 (English), 3/29/2012 07:08:02, 235520 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atieclxx.exe, 6.14.0011.1117 (English), 3/29/2012 07:08:42, 496640 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atipdl64.dll, 6.14.0010.2563 (English), 3/29/2012 07:06:26, 426496 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiedu64.dll, 6.14.0010.2514 (English), 3/29/2012 07:05:56, 59392 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\ATIDEMGX.dll, 2.00.4471.39868 (English), 3/29/2012 07:08:58, 442368 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atio6axx.dll, 6.14.0010.11568 (English), 3/29/2012 07:17:26, 26166784 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\aticaldd64.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:26:26, 16069632 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\aticalrt64.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:26:48, 51200 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\aticalcl64.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:26:40, 44544 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atipblag.dat, 9/12/2011 02:06:18, 3917 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiu9p64.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:07:06, 39936 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atiuxp64.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:07:20, 43008 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atig6pxx.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:34, 17408 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atig6txx.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:26, 39936 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atibtmon.exe, 2.00.0000.0000 (English), 5/11/2009 01:35:30, 118784 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atidxx64.dll, 8.17.0010.0425 (English), 3/29/2012 06:47:26, 7646208 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiumdag.dll, 7.14.0010.0894 (English), 3/29/2012 06:29:32, 5954048 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiumdva.dll, 8.14.0010.0350 (English), 3/29/2012 06:24:08, 5062656 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\amdpcom32.dll, 8.14.0010.0023 (English), 3/29/2012 06:05:38, 53760 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atimpc32.dll, 8.14.0010.0023 (English), 3/29/2012 06:05:38, 53760 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiadlxy.dll, 6.14.0010.1095 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:48, 356352 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiumdva.cap, 3/29/2012 06:22:50, 2427392 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiumdmv.dll, 7.14.0010.0184 (English), 3/29/2012 06:35:14, 1828864 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiapfxx.blb, 3/29/2012 07:14:38, 235136 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ativvsva.dat, 3/29/2012 06:30:54, 157144 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ativvsvl.dat, 3/29/2012 06:30:52, 204952 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atipdlxx.dll, 6.14.0010.2563 (English), 3/29/2012 07:06:18, 360448 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ati2edxx.dll, 6.14.0010.2514 (English), 3/29/2012 07:05:52, 43520 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atioglxx.dll, 6.14.0010.11568 (English), 3/29/2012 06:54:26, 19739136 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atidxx32.dll, 8.17.0010.0425 (English), 3/29/2012 07:02:46, 6200320 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\aticaldd.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:22:10, 13715968 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\aticalrt.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:26:46, 46080 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\aticalcl.dll, 6.14.0010.1703 (English), 3/29/2012 06:26:38, 44032 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atipblag.dat, 9/12/2011 02:06:18, 3917 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiu9pag.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:06:58, 30208 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiuxpag.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:07:14, 33280 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atigktxx.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:18, 33280 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\atiglpxx.dll, 8.14.0001.6257 (English), 3/29/2012 06:08:30, 14336 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\atiogl.xml, 2/16/2012 19:45:36, 37533 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\amdave64.dll, 1.03.0001.0004 (English), 3/29/2012 06:16:34, 70144 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\amdave32.dll, 1.03.0001.0004 (English), 3/29/2012 06:16:28, 71680 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\atisamu64.dll, 7.01.0000.0001 (English), 3/29/2012 06:16:16, 70656 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\atisamu32.dll, 7.01.0000.0001 (English), 3/29/2012 06:16:10, 65536 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\aticfx64.dll, 8.17.0010.1119 (English), 3/29/2012 07:12:06, 958464 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\aticfx32.dll, 8.17.0010.1119 (English), 3/29/2012 07:13:42, 791552 bytes
   Driver: C:\Windows\system32\coinst.dll, 1.00.0003.0005 (English), 3/29/2012 06:13:12, 58880 bytes

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0892&SUBSYS_15587102&REV_1003
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6581 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail

            Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0892&SUBSYS_15587102&REV_1003
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6581 (English)

Just an FYI update: My game is working fine now. I didn't do anything, so I don't know what the solution was.

For everyone's basic information, ME-1 is simply too old to fall for the foolish smoke and mirrors trickery that Intel prefers to palm off on the public in place of the real gaming graphics that this game was designed to run on.  If you don't have a real graphics card from a real graphics company, you can EXPECT a variety of bad behaviors from your junk video chips. 

That also goes for attempting to run the game with the cheapest possible of business graphics from AMD and nVIDIA, that aren't even as efficient as theinadequate Intel stuff: 

Video [b][i]Card[/b]:[/i]
NVIDIA GeForce 6 series (6800GT or better: G.205, 210, 310, 520, 620, 7100, 7200, 7300, 7400, 7500, 7600 GS, 8200, 8300, 8400 GS, 8500, 9100, 9200, & 9300 are below minimum system requirements)

ATI Radeon X1650 XT or better (X1050, X1300, X1300 Pro, *X1550*, HD 2400, HD 3100, HD 3200, HD 3450, HD 3470, HD 4200, HD 4250, HD 4270, HD 4350, HD 4550, and ("[u][b]probably[/b][/u]") HD 5450 / 6350 are below minimum system requirements) no video device with Intel's name on it is supported in any way, shape, or form.

(Varying amounts of VRAM beyond 256 have no detectable influence)