Mass Effect 3 LE won't start on PC
Whenever I try and play ME3 LE on steam, it crashes to the launcher after I get to the first loading screen. This happens on both trying to start a new game with a new character, loading an old save, and trying to import an ME2 save. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling, deleting my saves, running as an administrator, uninstalling and reinstalling the EA app, and running the EA app first then opening steam. Nothing works. I have no problems with ME1 or ME2.
I saw another post where someone asked for a dxdiag, so it's attached. That same post also asked for the results of a "perfmon /rel", so here is that result:
Description
Faulting application name: MassEffect3.exe, version: 2.0.0.48602, time stamp: 0x60aef0c4
Faulting module name: MassEffect3.exe, version: 2.0.0.48602, time stamp: 0x60aef0c4
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00000000000ccee6
Faulting process id: 0x5F20
Faulting application start time: 0x1DD1E3FF8BE9801
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME3\Binaries\Win64\MassEffect3.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME3\Binaries\Win64\MassEffect3.exe
Report Id: e52a743a-22f0-4b96-b42c-37591c9698f6
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:
Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.
Thanks for providing the DxDiag and Reliability Monitor details.
The 0xc0000005 error indicates an access violation. Let's try few basic troubleshooting steps:
Open the game’s Steam properties and temporarily disable Steam Cloud for Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Back up and rename this folder:
Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Save\ME3
Then launch the game and allow it to create a completely new ME3 folder.
Open the game installation directory and delete the following folder:
Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\ME3
After deleting it, verify the game files through Steam so that Steam downloads a completely clean copy of Mass Effect 3.
Temporarily close or disable programs that can hook into the game, including:
- Steam Overlay
- EA app Overlay
- Discord Overlay
- NVIDIA Overlay
- MSI Afterburner
- RivaTuner Statistics Server
- ReShade
- Mod-management tools
- Logitech G Hub
- Alienware Command Center
- Recording, monitoring or RGB-control software
You can also perform a Windows clean boot.
The DxDiag lists several Steam Controller virtual devices, USB receivers and Steam Streaming audio devices. For testing, disconnect controllers and unnecessary USB receivers, disable Steam Input for the game, and launch it using only a keyboard and mouse. It may also help to temporarily change the default audio output from the Logitech headset to the monitor or Realtek audio device. Set the audio format to 16-bit, 48000 Hz or 24-bit, 48000 Hz, then disable spatial sound and audio enhancements.
Repair or reinstall both the x64 and x86 versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages. It may also be worth reinstalling the legacy DirectX runtime components used by older games.
In Windows Graphics settings, add:
...\Game\ME3\Binaries\Win64\MassEffect3.exe
Set it to:
High performance — NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
The DxDiag also shows an Intel UHD 630 graphics driver from 2021. Updating it through Dell or Alienware may help, even though the monitor is connected to the NVIDIA card.
The DxDiag shows approximately 21 GB of free space on the C: drive. This is unlikely to be the direct cause, but freeing more space would help ensure Windows has enough room for temporary files, shader caches and updates.
