Making DA: Origins LAA (Steam)

WARNING: please use this Steam guide with caution as I can't say if the LAA .exe used in this guide is legal or not. Past files I've discovered have been problematic, and while I've made an attempted effort to ensure that this .exe works and is completely safe... it's provided only for the sake of simply helping users with an issue that was never fixed in this game.

For those who think the file contained in this guide may be a virus:
https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/3dbef9b8f797495c848bde034cadea001eaba077798127b07b5241b1891b6833/analysis/1426291679/

LAA = Large Address Aware, aka. 4 GB launcher/loader.

LAA basically allows for a game's executable to use more than the standard 2 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, Steam's "daorigins.exe" file is encrypted and can't be LAA patched; thus this guide requires you replace it with the .exe provided.

This is helpful as it addresses the known memory leak that exists in this game that was never corrected with patches. Basically, when ~ 2GB of RAM was used by the game a lot of users find that their game either: slowed down to a crawl, had long loading times, simply crashed or did a combination of these. As such, the .exe used in this guide aims to remedy all of this. It's apparently the same version as this game and is reported by multiple sites and friends to work fine.

This is only recommended for 64 bit PCs, unless you perform the "3 GB Switch" on your 32 bit PC (allows you to use the full 3 GB of RAM instead of just 2 GB of RAM) : http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-enable-a-3GB-switch-on-Windows-Vista-Windows-7-or-Windows-XP-s.html


* Credit goes to Daniel Pistelli for their helpful "4GB Patch" tool ( http://www.ntcore.com/4gb_patch.php ) that is used in this community guide!

Pre-patched .exe

This section contains a linked 1.05 "daorigins.exe" file that's already been LAA patched. If you would prefer to LAA patch the file yourself: please visit the "Do-It-Yourself" section in this Steam guide.

With that out of the way -- I've put the .exe in a compressed .zip folder and the download link is here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f20a06alvt0ymeu/LAA%20DA-O%201.05%20.exe.zip?dl=1

All you need to do, once you've extracted the downloaded file, is to then move it into: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Dragon Age Ultimate Edition\bin_ship\


NOTE: The Steam overlay and all Steam-related features will all work and should not be affected by this fix. If, however, for some reason you are not able to have the Steam overlay open while this game is running: add the "daorigins.exe" file to Steam as a "non-Steam game". Then launch the game through Steam using the "daorigins.exe" Steam shortcut.

Do-It-Yourself

For those of you who want to LAA patch the "daorigins.exe" file yourself, I'll gladly point out the steps:

Download the 1.05 "daorigins.exe" file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bv2m5nbxfz6pr6y/Clean%20DA-O%201.05%20.exe.zip?dl=1

Download the LAA tool (same tool that was used for the .exe in the above section in this Steam guide) :
http://www.ntcore.com/4gb_patch.php


1. Extract both downloaded .zips and you'll be left with two files: "daorigins.exe" AND "4gb_patch.exe".
2. Move the "daorigins.exe" file into: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Dragon Age Ultimate Edition\bin_ship\
3. Run the "4gb_patch.exe" file and browse for the "daorigins.exe" file you just moved.
4. Once located, select it, and then you're all done!!

[SPACEWAVER]

It's been 8 years since the latest edit. Does this guide still work?

[Caradog]

I have windows 11 and this worked great for me.

Intially having crashes that lowering textures fixed. But then having consistent crashes in Cadash Thiag for the Witch Hunt dlc no other fix was working for.

Used the ready made exe and launched no problem into the game, loaded the save finished the DLC (and noticed a marked improved to loading the areas too). Started the game using the new exe directly not the steam option which wants to run the launcher first.

[ErgoDivided]

If you have a PC that runs Windows 11 this will not work for you!

[Mrrr]

This broke the game for me on Windows 11. Now it crashes almost immediately after launch.

[Lord of Bones]

This saved me from being so sad due to my game crashing, bless

[toxic.ninja]

Works without issues

[Battle Nun]

You are my hero :-) After getting a new PC I had always ctd until I applied this fix.

[banakawolatta]

thanks

[Mad Cobbler]

This just saved my game! Reporting in from 2024 o7

[celticmoon]

worked with no problems, tysm!