Mass Effect and Securom....Now it's personal!!!!!!!!!!

[Golgatha]

I've been trying to figure out why Explorer.exe has been crashing a bunch lately on me under WinXP Pro 32bit (Vista 64bit had no issues, as I did not install Mass Effect under this OS. I dual boot my system). I narrowed it down to the fact that when I right-click on files or desktop items, it seemed to cause memory errors and crashes.

A quick Google search led me to taking a look at Context Menus using a little program called ShellExView v1.23 (Downloadable Here), which other users had used to disable some old Divx menus that were causing a similar issue to mine.

I ended my journey for a resolution here.

Cause

These problems are caused by a bad context menu handler. A context menu handler is a shell extension handler that adds commands to an existing context menu (Example: cut, copy, paste, print, Scan with Norton etc). A poorly coded (edit: oh boy, what an understatement) context menu handler may be causing any of the above symptoms. As context menu handlers can be added in different areas (file class, folder, allfilesystemobjects, HKCR\* registry keys), it's a difficult task for an end-user to pinpoint which shell extension is causing the problem.

Here is the culprit on my system...

How to disable the right-click Securom context menu.

Disabling this Securom context menu (which isn't even visable on non-game files the context menu isn't assocated with mind you) solved my problem. You have to understand I even considered rebuilding my machine and have spent a ton of time (several hours) diagnosing what the problem was (it's not like a million other things couldn't crash Explorer.exe). I'm so fuming pissed right now I could just scream! Seriously, where has quality control gone in the software industry? Is it really too much to ask to beta test like 10 systems, where this bug would have been easily found out?


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Update: This was apparently caused by the Bring Down the Sky expansion I installed for Mass Effect or the 1.01 patch (I installed this and then 1.01a once it was available), which subsequently updated the Securom version.

Here is apparently what the right-click context menu for Securom is used for.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

that sucks man.
What game did you install that has securom?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Write an email explaining your problem and solution to Sony's support email and also report it to the publisher of the game so they can fix it.

 

[Ganeedi]

That sucks, plain and simple.

Some users had that same 'right click' issue with SecureROM after installing the downloadable content for Mass Effect. Bioware or whoever released a fix. Here is their tech support post:

A small number of users have reported a Windows Explorer crash when right-clicking after downloading the Mass Effect 1.01 patch or the "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content. This issue has now been resolved and any user encountering it is advised to download and install the hotfix.

Users that have already downloaded "Bring Down the Sky" or the 1.01 patch can fix this issue as follows:

1.) Download the repair file from: Click Here
2.) Extract "Repair.exe" to your desktop.
3.) Run "Repair.exe"
4.) When complete, right-clicking will no longer cause Windows Explorer to crash.

Users that have not yet downloaded the 1.01 Mass Effect Patch or "Bring Down the Sky" can simply download the 1.01a update from: Click Here

Edit: Please note that the "Bring Down the Sky" installer now includes the fix for this issue.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Ganeedi
That sucks, plain and simple.

Some users had that same 'right click' issue with SecureROM after installing the downloadable content for Mass Effect. Bioware or whoever released a fix. Here is their tech support post:

A small number of users have reported a Windows Explorer crash when right-clicking after downloading the Mass Effect 1.01 patch or the "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content. This issue has now been resolved and any user encountering it is advised to download and install the hotfix.

Users that have already downloaded "Bring Down the Sky" or the 1.01 patch can fix this issue as follows:

1.) Download the repair file from: Click Here
2.) Extract "Repair.exe" to your desktop.
3.) Run "Repair.exe"
4.) When complete, right-clicking will no longer cause Windows Explorer to crash.

Users that have not yet downloaded the 1.01 Mass Effect Patch or "Bring Down the Sky" can simply download the 1.01a update from: Click Here

Edit: Please note that the "Bring Down the Sky" installer now includes the fix for this issue.

This is probably the original culprit. I downloaded and installed this expansion, and now that I think about it, this is when my problems first started popping up. The only other Securom game I have on WinXP Pro 32bit is Bioshock, but that's been installed without issue for nearly a year now.

I've already written support@securom.com and I suppose I should write Bioware too. FWIW, I did install the 1.01a update following installation of the BDTS expansion.

Edit: I think C&C 3 has Securom too, but I've ran it without issue for awhile now too. Funny thing is both Bioshock and C&C3 are cracked (I own both games and Kane's Wrath for that matter too) on my machine, hence no Securom issues.

 

[Golgatha]

Apparently I'm not alone...

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Ganeedi
That sucks, plain and simple.

Some users had that same 'right click' issue with SecureROM after installing the downloadable content for Mass Effect. Bioware or whoever released a fix. Here is their tech support post:

A small number of users have reported a Windows Explorer crash when right-clicking after downloading the Mass Effect 1.01 patch or the "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content. This issue has now been resolved and any user encountering it is advised to download and install the hotfix.

Users that have already downloaded "Bring Down the Sky" or the 1.01 patch can fix this issue as follows:

1.) Download the repair file from: Click Here
2.) Extract "Repair.exe" to your desktop.
3.) Run "Repair.exe"
4.) When complete, right-clicking will no longer cause Windows Explorer to crash.

Users that have not yet downloaded the 1.01 Mass Effect Patch or "Bring Down the Sky" can simply download the 1.01a update from: Click Here

Edit: Please note that the "Bring Down the Sky" installer now includes the fix for this issue.

Hmm, should I redownload BDTS? Is there a new installer?

 

[shortylickens]

I just got the game. Am liking it a little, but the crashing and other issues are pissing me off.

Now I have a new one.
Am walking around Citadel and I cant friggen save!
No quick save.
No hard save.

The game says I cant do it right now, but I AM TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED!

WTF?!??!?

 

[Piuc2020]

The save issue can happen if your Documents folder on Vista is at the root of your drive (or something like that, there's a workaround on the official forums) or if you are using a game crack.

I feel your pain, Mass Effect has crashed so much on me I just stopped playing it, I finally found a fix but I'm so disenchanted with the game I'll just play it some other time when I have nothing else to play.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I just got the game. Am liking it a little, but the crashing and other issues are pissing me off.

Now I have a new one.
Am walking around Citadel and I cant friggen save!
No quick save.
No hard save.

The game says I cant do it right now, but I AM TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED!

WTF?!??!?

Buy the game, jerk.

As for the Securom issue, a fix for it was released ages ago.

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I just got the game. Am liking it a little, but the crashing and other issues are pissing me off.

Now I have a new one.
Am walking around Citadel and I cant friggen save!
No quick save.
No hard save.

The game says I cant do it right now, but I AM TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED!

WTF?!??!?

Buy the game, jerk.

As for the Securom issue, a fix for it was released ages ago.

I know vista has problem with save games. Depending on where the folder is, Vista will block files from being created there.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I just got the game. Am liking it a little, but the crashing and other issues are pissing me off.

Now I have a new one.
Am walking around Citadel and I cant friggen save!
No quick save.
No hard save.

The game says I cant do it right now, but I AM TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED!

WTF?!??!?

Buy the game, jerk.

As for the Securom issue, a fix for it was released ages ago.

I moved the My Documents folder straight to the root of my C: drive when I installed Windows, meanie.
The QuickSave feature worked just fine on the first planet, then it stopped when I was running around Citadel.

And using the no-cd hack doesnt mean I didnt piss away 55 bucks for the game itself, poo-poo head.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
And using the no-cd hack doesnt mean I didnt piss away 55 bucks for the game itself ...

Mass Effect doesn't require a CD in the drive to play. At least it doesn't on my machine, and I never installed anything but the game itself.

 

[Modular]

The big "C" has been dropped.

:lawnchair;

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: Modular
The big "C" has been dropped.

:lawnchair;

Citadel?

 

[God Mode]

male chicken sucking fetish

 

[Golgatha]

TTT

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I just got the game. Am liking it a little, but the crashing and other issues are pissing me off.

Now I have a new one.
Am walking around Citadel and I cant friggen save!
No quick save.
No hard save.

The game says I cant do it right now, but I AM TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED!

WTF?!??!?

Buy the game, jerk.

As for the Securom issue, a fix for it was released ages ago.

Don't be a jerk, guy!

 

[mindcycle]

I can't wait until non-computer savvy people have to deal with this protection in Spore. Not to say that everyone who bought Mass Effect is savvy, but i'm sure the number is greater than those who are going to buy Spore.

I actually bought Mass Effect. It crashed constantly. I had to stop playing it it got so bad, and now I feel like I wasted my money. I can't even sell it since who's going to want to buy it with two activations left and a serial number that's already tied to an account? Lets just say it's the last EA game for the PC that i'll ever buy unless they get rid of this ridiculous DRM.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
I can't wait until non-computer savvy people have to deal with this protection in Spore. Not to say that everyone who bought Mass Effect is savvy, but i'm sure the number is greater than those who are going to buy Spore.

I actually bought Mass Effect. It crashed constantly. I had to stop playing it it got so bad, and now I feel like I wasted my money. I can't even sell it since who's going to want to buy it with two activations left and a serial number that's already tied to an account? Lets just say it's the last EA game for the PC that i'll ever buy unless they get rid of this ridiculous DRM.

This kind of thing is why i ordered mass effect for my xbox 360 instead.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Soviet

Originally posted by: mindcycle
I can't wait until non-computer savvy people have to deal with this protection in Spore. Not to say that everyone who bought Mass Effect is savvy, but i'm sure the number is greater than those who are going to buy Spore.

I actually bought Mass Effect. It crashed constantly. I had to stop playing it it got so bad, and now I feel like I wasted my money. I can't even sell it since who's going to want to buy it with two activations left and a serial number that's already tied to an account? Lets just say it's the last EA game for the PC that i'll ever buy unless they get rid of this ridiculous DRM.

This kind of thing is why i ordered mass effect for my xbox 360 instead.

This kind of thing is why I might sell off my copy and just wait for it to hit the Playstation 3.

 

[shortylickens]

The DVD drive just disappeared from My Computer.

I uninstalled the game, and reinstalled, and DIDNT use the hack which is supposed to fix the Star Map and the Save issue.

The game plays now. But the Star Map causes it to crash, and I cant save games.

Is it official?
Do I now have persmission to be mad at EA?

 

[IEC]

I fvcking hate this crap. I think I'm going to move to Vista 64-bit and stop caring about the slight FPS loss. I'll have some more headaches for certain things, but I'll be fine for gaming...

 

[jonks]

I picked up ME a couple weeks ago off ebay and I must say, holy crap this is fun.

I'm one of the lucky ones and am not experiencing any crashes at all. I disabled SLI for that one part in the citadel which slows everything to a crawl but discovered that game runs perfectly totally maxed out on just one 8800gt.

I probably am loving the game because minus the story and lack of lightsabers, this feels like KoToR3. Hell, biotics are just force powers really. Heard on xbox you had only 2 biotics mapped to buttons and if you wanted to use others you had to do the pause thing. That must have sucked serious dick. But with 8 hotkeys combat is seamless and awesome.

And jesus, how much backstory is there? They wrote a freaking encyclopedia for every race in the game, the amount of dialogue is staggering, and the aliens don't make me chuckle in disbelief the way SW Ep 1 did (remember the horrible asian accents? "it's da jedi, ro no!)

Anyway, since I have zero interest in the real Kotor3mmorpg, ME will have to do, and since it is a planned trilogy, I am one seriously happy camper.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: jonks
I picked up ME a couple weeks ago off ebay and I must say, holy crap this is fun.

I'm one of the lucky ones and am not experiencing any crashes at all. I disabled SLI for that one part in the citadel which slows everything to a crawl but discovered that game runs perfectly totally maxed out on just one 8800gt.

I probably am loving the game because minus the story and lack of lightsabers, this feels like KoToR3. Hell, biotics are just force powers really. Heard on xbox you had only 2 biotics mapped to buttons and if you wanted to use others you had to do the pause thing. That must have sucked serious dick. But with 8 hotkeys combat is seamless and awesome.

And jesus, how much backstory is there? They wrote a freaking encyclopedia for every race in the game, the amount of dialogue is staggering, and the aliens don't make me chuckle in disbelief the way SW Ep 1 did (remember the horrible asian accents? "it's da jedi, ro no!)

Anyway, since I have zero interest in the real Kotor3mmorpg, ME will have to do, and since it is a planned trilogy, I am one seriously happy camper.

I beat it three days after I got it.
DUDE! FUCKING EPIC! :Q
The thing I hated most about Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2 is I never gave a rats ass about anybody.
Not one character evoked any love or hatred like Baldurs Gate 2 did.
But Mass Effect actually made me give a shit about people again. And not just people but the universe.
They make you believe you are actually saving humanity and thats a pretty difficult feat to pull off.

I want so badly to see whats in Shepards future.