Mass Effect 2 fails to start

Pre-downloaded/installed, won't run

from Stardock Forums

I pre-purchased Mass Effect 2 and downloaded and installed it. On the day the game became active/available to play, I received my activation/registeration codes.
I open Impulse and click on the game to start playing. Here's what I see;

Error:Switch from current encoding to specified encoding not supported. Line1, Column 40 in inter XML settings.

Hmmm, grrrr!

So I go into the Electronic Arts folder and click on the Mass Effects 2 icon to start the game from there. Same error.

This time I decide to re-download the game via Impluse, but I have to request the email with the download links, which I did. When
I went to re-download the game for a fresh install (hoping to correct the problem), I see this link in the email of my Impulse/stardock.net games lists;

Product Name Mass Effects 2
User Name: Me
Download : http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup.exe

Notice if you will , that the download is for the impulse app itself and not Mass Effect 2.......

So now what.... What is causing this error and how can I fix this so I can finally play this pre-ordered game?

5,984 views 5 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

The download from Impulse does something to the install that breaks the game's startup process. Every time I try to start the game either from the desktop icon or from the Impulse menu itself, the error noted above displays. Since I cannot re-download the game and start from a fresh install, I cannot see if that clears the error.

I found a work aound that requires opening the game files and starting a coreserver exe and then click on the ME 2 icon in that folder. This starts the game, but is a pain to do.

Win 7 64 bit, Intel i7 multi core cpu, 12 gigs ram. All drivers/software updated. Nvidia GTX 285 video cards. Impuse installed game in program files (x86)\electronic arts\mass effects 2 folder.

Just to note, there was a 'fix' posted here that did nothing to fix the problem for me.

Bottom line, playing the game, but whatever Impulse's install did to the game, broke it....

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Since I cannot re-download the game and start from a fresh install, I cannot see if that clears the error.
End of quote

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling through Impulse?  The link when you request product information is for Impulse because there is no alternate installer.  You should simply be able to uninstall and reinstall through Impulse itself.  There should be nothing wrong with the Impulse install.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I had the exact same problem and was directed on a forum post to download a microsoft xml parser..... however, the parser download didn't work.  I had a similar problem with another game and to solve that issue I started the game from the binaries folder.  Try doing that..... go to your game folder, open up the binaries folder and inside is a mass effect application - it has an icon of a "M" and is Silver in colour...... double click - BINGO :D :D 

 

Good Luck

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

billybusbey ....it's a fair assumption that this issue was solved already.  The thread is four and a half years old....;)