So by modifying the EXE, origin will refuse to run an elevated game executable. Mass Effect boots up, and then immediately closes as the DRM unlock doesn’t work because there is nothing to talk to it from Origin’s side as it refused to elevate. If it is not signed by EA, it doesn’t elevate its DRM communication module. Origin, when running an elevated process, checks to see if the EXE is signed by EA and is valid. Once the file is modified, the signature is no longer valid. By modifying the LAA flag, the digital signature on MassEffect.exe is broken – the signature is used to verify the file is not modified. This allows the 32-bit Mass Effect process to use up to 4GB of ram instead of the usual 32-bit limit of 2GB. What gives? File signaturesīoth MEUITM and ALOT modify the MassEffect.exe executable to use Large Address Aware. But install MEUITM or ALOT and you won’t be able to run the game anymore through Origin as a standard user.

Now, this all works (though two UAC prompts) on an unmodified game. Origin communicates with MassEffect.exe and game execution continues like it does from the DVD version. MassEffect.exe is run as administrator.In order for the DRM to work it must be able to interface with the process, so it elevates one of its internal services so it can communicate with the game for DRM purposes. Origin is unable to run the executable because it requires elevation.

Origin checks your entitlement to the game and will then run MassEffect.exe as specified by the registry (not the one you booted specifically) and attempts to run the executable.

At the end of the MassEffect.exe image there is code to call Origin to run the game, as a form of DRM.

It immediately asks for elevation to administrator. Lets break down how Mass Effect works with Origin in a non-modified state, on Windows 10. It’s actually a perfect storm of security, bad coding, and people trying to make others lives easier. And since you cannot have origin startup as admin on boot it is really annoying. One issue I have had is that Origin will not launch the game once ALOT is installed unless run as admin. I have been working with CreeperLava and Aquadran to implement this, which should make life way easier for end users installing ALOT and its Addon (textures by others). I’ve also been working on Mod Manager 5.1 which has some slick new importing of third party mods, but it’s been on the back burner since I’ve been working on the new ALOT Installer front end. Been working on my own ME3Explorer fork which has many quality of life improvements and even some new tools. I have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes.

This post was published originally on Januand has only been slightly modified to make it easier to read here. This post originally appeared on my now deprecated ME3Tweaks Blog that was hosted on Blogger.

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