[PC] There is a problem connecting to the server. ME1 authorization issue.

@Jocobai

Did you installed patch 1.02?

Did you restarted your router?

Are you on a private or a public network? (University network for example)

If this don't helps, I can't say if the error is on EAs side or on yours and I can't reproduce this error, I never had the game on CD (bought it on Steam at the day of release) I cant even say if the Authentication-servers for the disk version are still on.

(a EA CM will probably answer this question tomorrow.)

But honestly, the easiest way would probably be to redeem the CD key in Origin and go ahead with a digital copy, or install the game with your cd, and than repair the game inside Origin.

Hello @Jocobai 

I am really sorry for those issues with the game. Have you tried to solve this by using advice from the previous post? Also, using Origin client to play the game just might fix this. Keep us posted.

Cheers,

Archi  

@holger1405  @EA_Archi

Thank you both for responding. Yes, I have installed patch 1.02, the configuration utility crashes without it (existing issue, I remember it happening when I last reinstalled Mass Effect a couple of years back). Yes, the router has been restarted, and I'm on a private home network. I've not had any problems with other games either, Mass Effect 2 installed smoothly and my dlc for it authorized fine (also a non-Origin install, but I don't think ME1 and 2's authorization processes work the same way).

That is my worry, if the authorization servers for the disk version are even still online. However, when there's similar issues happening over with Sims 3 for Mac OS (the same error message, and it seems to have started on Friday, the same day I tried installing Mass Effect) it gives me a little hope there might be some general server oops that can be fixed. That Mass Effect's deauthorization tool also had issues and threw up that error (when it worked fine last week) also makes me hope it's not just things being shut down. That seems to connect most of the time now, but it couldn't for most of Friday, while I was making sure it wasn't just the game having the issue.

I have a friend who has Mass Effect on cd too, so if she has time for it today, I'll ask her to give installing it a try and see if she gets the same error message.

With regards to Origin, I'd like to hold off trying it until it's looking like a last resort and the old authorization method is broken/shut down for sure. My internet connection is slow, and I've some anxiety issues around programs and games updating without my permission, so the less games I have linked to programs like Origin/Steam/etc, the better. Especially a "comfort blanket" game like Mass Effect - once it's got past that first-time launch authorization, it works fine and doesn't need the internet at all, so I can always trust it to start up and not tell me it's updating or something. If things are still looking broken through next week though, I'll give my computer a back-up and try Origin. I'll post if anything changes, either way, thank you for your time 🙂

@Jocobai

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Jocobai wrote:

I have a friend who has Mass Effect on cd too, so if she has time for it today, I'll ask her to give installing it a try and see if she gets the same error message.

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That indeed would be a very good test.

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@Jocobai wrote:

With regards to Origin, I'd like to hold off trying it until it's looking like a last resort and the old authorization method is broken/shut down for sure. My internet connection is slow, and I've some anxiety issues around programs and games updating without my permission, so the less games I have linked to programs like Origin/Steam/etc, the better. Especially a "comfort blanket" game like Mass Effect - once it's got past that first-time launch authorization, it works fine and doesn't need the internet at all, so I can always trust it to start up and not tell me it's updating or something. If things are still looking broken through next week though, I'll give my computer a back-up and try Origin. I'll post if anything changes, either way, thank you for your time 🙂

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Understandable, but you can turn off auto update for the games inside Origin. You also should be able to install from your disk inside Origin as well.

The Origin updates however are mandatory.

Same problem here. Cannot launch the game.

@holger1405  Don't think my friend is going to have the time to be on her computer today, but will ask her again if the issue is still around later in the week. And those mandatory Origin updates are exactly why it's a last resort for me sorting this out ☹️ Thinking on it, I might try a Steam install instead if it looks like the authorization servers are shut down/perma broken, stick with the devil I know over installing a whole new program for only one game. I've gotta have done over 50 playthroughs of the first Mass Effect, so it's more than worth the money to rebuy it.

@edersam2k  Hi there, sorry you've got the same problem. Can you give us some more information about what's going on at your end, to hopefully help EA narrow down what's causing the issue. What operating system are you on, and what method of installation (disk, Origin, Steam)?

@Jocobai

As mentioned I also have the game on Steam. For ME1 there is no backside.

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Jocobai wrote:

I've gotta have done over 50 playthroughs of the first Mass Effect, so it's more than worth the money to rebuy it.

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OK, with that you even beat me.  😃

But are you not interested in ME3 then? 🤔

@edersam2k What @Jocobai said.

You also install from disk?

If so, is that a Trilogy disk or a original one?

The error is the same?

Origin version. It's in portuguese, but it' the same error (There is a problem connecting..)

@holger1405  A lot of those playthroughs are levelling up runs. Since the story adds paragon/renegade skill points at certain times on its own, I do multiple playthroughs to level my different Shepards up, while putting my experience towards other skills (Those first runs can be rather awkward with no paragon/renegade points 😃 ) Then I notice something off about their face that starts bothering me, and have to start again. I've only ever got my 'main' Shepard through to ME2, and it took a few attempts to get her there 😳 Think 20+ of those will be slower playthroughs though, where I've taken my time, gently strolled around the hubs, done every side mission and so on, I never get tired of this game.

And no, you couldn't pay me to touch ME3. I really hate the direction the franchise took around ME2. Enjoy the gameplay and there's plenty of good moments, but there's a lot of things that I fell in love with in the first game that got either ignored or ruined, and my main Shepard often sounds really out of character 😞 The third game felt totally detatched from the series for me. I did watch a Youtube playthrough, and all it did was upset me. Felt like Bioware went through a list of things I didn't want to see in it, and made a game out of it 😢 So kinda run off doing my own thing with Mass Effect now, plotting out my own version of the Reaper invasion and rewriting ME2 a little so my Shep is in character. Will hopefully actually get it all written down properly someday, recent years haven't been kind for my writing, so it's currently just a collection of notes.

(Whoops, sorry for the word wall, I'm terribly prone to them when I get going 😳 )

@edersam2k  Thanks for letting us know. There's people having the same issue with Sims 3 on Origin, so this may be on EA's end, and I think it's being investigated now. Their problems might be linked to ours, as Mass Effect and Sims 3 have similar authorization methods. Have you done any checks to double check that the issue isn't on your end? Made sure your firewall isn't blocking Mass Effect or Origin?

The issue persist, oh God. My internet is working fine, i don't think this issue is from my side.