Nothing Working Right. Even Install Seems Wrong

[Telonna]

Okay, after years of not playing this game I went and bought the disks again. I have the Ultimate Edition Dragon Age Origins for PC. I can tell by the activity here, or lack there of, that most gamers have moved on and away from DAO. Nonetheless, if there's anyone out there who might be able to answer any of my questions I'd appreciate it - otherwise I'm just going to set this game aside and move on myself.

 

First off, I'm running WIN 10, which I have a bad feeling about, as I believe there's no update out there to make this game compatible with WIN 10.

 

I have installed the game a few times, trying to see if the 'missing' files may show up, as well as the launcher onto my desktop. Nothing. It still links up fine to my EA (once Bioware) account and shows me all the achievements I got years ago, but to launch the game, I have to manually go into the drive and click on Run to get it going. It won't even allow me to place a shortcut onto my desktop to launch from there.

 

Then, since it's been years, I wanted to get the Console running, so that I could throw a few commands in there to get used to the game and get my bearings without dying every few minutes - yeah, the Fade is kicking my ass at the Circle of Mages at the moment. I used the guide at Dragon Age Wiki, but the funny thing is, there's no file in the bin_ship folder that says "daorigins.exe". I looked in every folder available, that file is not there. So, I am unable to add -enabledeveloperconsole- and there's no place to put the command line

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dragon Age\bin_ship\daorigins.exe" -enabledeveloperconsole ... without error messages telling me that many of the characters neededcannot  be used in the target box.So, is it my attempting to run this with WIN 10 the issue? The missing .exe file causing issues? Did I get my hands on a bad copy of the game? This is the samecomputer I used when I played it before, so I am assuming it's the WIN version I have running now. I could be wrong. Anyone with any advise, information or witty wisps of wisdom would be appreciated. Otherwise I'm just going find another game to play.Thanks in advance.

[balmz]

maybe try talking to ea and origins, maybe they can give you a digital download for the game

[theskymoves]

Unless something has changed recently, you should be able to use your physical edition serial number to access the fully patched digital version of the game... and I can confirm that the patch 1.05 version of DAO from Origin does work on Windows 10, and the dev console can easily be enabled with that version. (See: EA Code Redemption FAQ)

 

For optimal performance, I strongly suggest patching the game game executable with either the 4GB patch or Large Address Aware (LAA) patch.

 

If you are determined to use the physical discs, you can download the final patch for the game (DAO Update 1.05) from the EA support site > Dragon Age Downloads.

 

WRT your not being able to locate the executable (daorigins.exe)... if the game starts at all, there MUST be a daorigins.exe executable. Do you have your file manager set to display file extensions? (File>Option>View>untick 'Hide extensions for known file types')

Edited August 19, 2020 by theskymoves

[Telonna]

I'll give the patch a go. Other issues keep popping up.

 

My computer is now saying the game isn't even installed, when it's sitting right there in Program Files x86, the disk is in the drive and it's in my Settings/Apps.

 

Still can't figure out why on install I never got a launch icon for the desktop.

 

File Manager is unticked, no hidden files. Still not there.

 

I've been fiddling with this for days, I'm coming to the conclusion that my husband keeps harping on me about: I need a new computer.

 

A lot of things aren't working right, not just this game. Like a ghost in the machine, it starts programs up without prompting, shuts things down - including itself - without warning (a total b&@*$ when I haven't saved a game recently), and does random quirky things I can't explain.

 

It's an old Alienware that's been upgraded numerous times, but I think it's trying to tell me to let it go. Ah the memories, but I think it's right.

 

I have just been trying to get more play on older games before I set it out to pasture. Might save me a lot more headaches with a new one and I'm so Old School, I'm still leery of downloading games. My son says I need to move on and learn how gaming works now. Yeah, I know he's right but I'm stubborn like that.

 

Like I said, I will give all your superb advice a go, get those patches and such and see if I can't get this going like it used to run - back in the day.

 

I appreciate your help! Crossing my fingers that it all works. Otherwise, I shall just get a new rig, download what I want to play and go from there.

 

Thanks

[Thandal]

@Telonna;

 

As @tsm said: install EA/Origin, then install DAO using the "Product Code" you got with the new copy.

 

(BTW: You did not have to buy the game again. Your old code would have worked, presuming you still had it.)

[Telonna]

Thanks Thandal, that's what I did. I have an EA/Origin account, had it forever it seems. The game linked right into it - had all of my Achievements from when I first played the game. (Didn't realize I had so many Achievements lol). Also registered the game as well as all the DLC - those are all there when I play the game.

 

Just still having problems finding the daorigin.exe file - it's simply not there, well, it has to be somewhere or how can I even play at all? But it's not in any of the accessible DAO file folders. I'm perplexed. And I still can't figure out why the install never created a desktop icon as well.

 

Worse comes to worse, when I get my new computer (at my husband's insistence - think he's tired of my grumbling) I can just download a complete copy from Steam or GOG and everything should be fine. I thank you both for the assist ... actually still trying to make this copy work - I'm stubborn like that.

 

By the way Thandal, I love your signature! I have a Dachshund named Deekin ... he's my little Kobold. :yes:

[Pasquale1223]

Just still having problems finding the daorigin.exe file

Mine is located in C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games\Dragon Age\bin_ship, which I believe is the standard default installation location used by Origin. Once you've located daorigins.exe, you can highlight it (left click once), then right click and choose Send To --> Desktop (Create shortcut).

 

Don't forget to do the 4GB/large address patch as TSM suggested. I would suggest doing that before you send a shortcut to your desktop.

 

Also, if you plan to install mods, be sure to configure Origin to NOT update it automatically, else things can become... compromised.

 

Worse comes to worse, when I get my new computer (at my husband's insistence - think he's tired of my grumbling) I can just download a complete copy from Steam or GOG and everything should be fine. I thank you both for the assist ... actually still trying to make this copy work - I'm stubborn like that.

I've never tried registering a game I purchased elsewhere on Steam, though I suppose it could be done. Were you to download/install it through Steam instead, it would install to a different location. I don't think GOG uses any sort of DRM platform.

 

Anyway, enjoy your game!

[fraquar]

GOG is DRM free. Personally, that is the way to go as the only thing you need to do to that install is apply the 4G patch.

 

I'd look at the youtube video by Just Call Me Frosty - should help somewhat. The first 1/3rd of that video is on the installation of the game, the rest on his mod selection. Even then it's only about 8 minutes long.

 

I reinstalled this today and have my mod list done. Now I'm just tinkering with Antimicro to see if I can get a decent controller mapping done. Got the basics done today, now just need to fine tune it and create the additional sets.