I need help getting Mass Effect to work.

[NoobSauce]

I swear, this has to be the biggest ____storm I've had to wade through to install a game. A 5-hour install/download isn't that bad, but when the game doesn't even work, it's time to throw in the towel and ask for a refund.

So, I'm asking you all (because the Steam forums haven't validated my account yet) to please help me get Mass Effect working.

System specs:

Laptop
Intel Core 2 Quad (Q6700 @ 2.66 GHz)
3 GB RAM w/ PAE (the box said 4 GB )
NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT (512MB, 1920X1200 LCD)
Realtek HD audio device (wtf, dunno name, sorry.)
--Will update with more information if it becomes relevant

Problem I've been having is loading a game. The game goes to the loading screen, starts playing the world audio and... freezes. Nothing. Attempts to alt-tab or alt-F4 have only worked when another window overlaps the Mass Effect window (I refuse to play it fullscreen because it makes me have to restart on a crash). Ctrl+Alt+Del works about 90% of the time.

I wait 2-3 minutes for the game to load, then I restart my computer.
Full sound acceleration.
Lowest graphics settings possible; 1024X768 resolution IIRC.

 

[Fire2box]

That is odd considering I ran it perfectly fine with a 2.2 Ghz dual core, 2 gig DDR RAM and a 8800GT video card.

Maybe you got a bad download?

 

[NoobSauce]

...8800GT video card...

I am almost positive it's my 8700. It's a laptop graphics card -- the drivers are, apparently, a different version than the 'forceware' for the other chips.

Maybe you got a bad download?

I hope not. I had to leave it overnight just to install it. I guess I will have to check the files.

(I got it through Steam, and as far as I know, no patches have or can be applied. Please prove me wrong!)

 

[Fire2box]

Well I got my copy from _______...

now fill in the blank. so I can't help ya with patchs and what not.