i had the same prob
To Automatically Delete the Files
On Windows XP: Assuming you have Steam installed to the default directory, navigate to folder: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\mass effect\Binaries\ and run MassEffectConfig.exe. On the left hand sidebar, select the Repair option. Click the Delete Local Shader Cache Files button. That's it, you can close the config program and start the game normally.
On Windows Vista: For some reason the Repair option is not available by default in Vista. Navigate to the same folder listed above, and right click on MassEffectConfig.exe and select properties. Go the Compatbility tab activate the checkbox to run in compatiblity mode for Windows XP. Select OK and double-click the EXE as normal. Select Repair and Delete Local Shader Cache Files as above.
To Manually Delete the Files
The file you need to delete is in two different locations.
Delete the file named LocalShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM3.upk in the following directories:
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\mass effect\BioGame\CookedPC\
I really appreciate the help but I have Windows 7 and I own an original retail copy of the game.
He never mentioned anything about having a naughty version of the game, you have to do what is said (if on 7 follow the Vista explanation) and remove those local shader cache's or else you will have problems.
When I said that I owned an original retail copy of the game I didn't mean that he thought I had a naughty copy of it just that if I understood him right in his example he used steam instead of retail.
i had the same prob
To Automatically Delete the Files
On Windows XP: Assuming you have Steam installed to the default directory, navigate to folder: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\mass effect\Binaries\ and run MassEffectConfig.exe. On the left hand sidebar, select the Repair option. Click the Delete Local Shader Cache Files button. That's it, you can close the config program and start the game normally.
On Windows Vista: For some reason the Repair option is not available by default in Vista. Navigate to the same folder listed above, and right click on MassEffectConfig.exe and select properties. Go the Compatbility tab activate the checkbox to run in compatiblity mode for Windows XP. Select OK and double-click the EXE as normal. Select Repair and Delete Local Shader Cache Files as above.
To Manually Delete the Files
The file you need to delete is in two different locations.
Delete the file named LocalShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM3.upk in the following directories:
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\mass effect\BioGame\CookedPC\
Thank you so very much I followed your instructions and it worked like a charm. Thnaks again for the haelp.