Re: "press start" VERSUS "press any key to start"

So I just let Origin repair the game and tried again.  Same results.  Same start up screen with "Press Start" and nothing works to get past this screen on the keyboard.

@GarrusBearus

Do you or did you used mods?

Did you edited game settings files? 

Do you have a controller attached to your PC?  (If so disconnect it > reboot > test.)

What exactly does "Combed the config files and moved around/deleted recommended things" mean. (What did you do exactly?)

Please create a DxDiag in text file format and post it with your next reply. You can do that  with the "Choose file" button at the bottom right corner of the reply window.

No Controller currently attached to PC.

Replaced all ini files with their originals just in case I accidentally bumped anything while trying to discover my issue in them.

When I do connect the [ps3] controller I have, with a mod to make Windows think it is a 360 controller, the game does let me press start on the controller and start the game using mouse and keyboard.  HOWEVER, on the very first dialogue interaction with Joker in the cockpit, the game wants the controller to move the cursor.  The game will not let the mouse choose anything no matter what I do.  Extremely annoying.  When I disconnect the mouse at that point, I am stuck and cannot do anything.

@GarrusBearus

This is a strange issue...

ME1 on PC doesn't has Controller support.

There are however some entries left in the ini files for the use of controllers. (Probably leftovers from the PC port.) but they still should not cause this behavior.

You never had the Mod that adds controller support for ME1 installed?

• Unplug the controller.
• Restart your computer.
• Make sure the "Mod" (Should be a wrapper program) for your controller doesn't run in the background. 
• Test.

If that don't helps, preform a clean boot and test the Game afterwards.

Hey - not bumping this short thread to be a nuisance... but I fixed the issue after years of not being able to play.
Strangest part is, all I did was rename the config folder to 'Config Old', instead of deleting the entire Config folder like people had suggested in other older threads I read back then.. poof - problem gone.  Played until it crashed on me that night (lol - different issue not related).

Thanks for the support, though!

@GarrusBearus 

Renaming the Config folder is equivalent to deleting it, the game cant see or use it anymore. 

Be that as it may, good to hear that you solved the issue.

Have fun gaming.