DAO_Toolset_VO_Fix

SYMPTOM

The toolset itself works fine - you can open areas, edit conversations, browse the database. BUT when you try to Generate VO (placeholder voice-over) for a conversation, it fails every time. The toolset Log Window shows:

Failed to do Local post of placeholder voice over data

RPU process failed with a return code of '1'.

no FESL allocator defined

Error opening environment.  HRESULT = 80040203

Note: the toolset displays 80040203, but the REAL error in the RPU log is "Bad HRESULT: 80040e73".

This happens on Windows 10/11 with SQL Server 2016/2017/2019/2022/2025 installed. On Windows 7 with the bundled SQL Server 2005, it does not happen.

ROOT CAUSE

This is NOT a missing PhysX dll, NOT a wrong Resource Build Path, NOT a missing SQL Native Client, and you do NOT need a virtual machine or SQL Server 2005.

When you Generate VO, the toolset launches a separate tool, RPU.exe, and passes it the database connection string on the command line (the -connection argument). RPU then uses that string to open its own connection to the database.

The connection string the toolset hands to RPU is stored here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BioWare\Dragon Age\Toolset\Environment

value name: DatabaseConnection

Modern SQL installs use the Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL) version 18 or newer. Starting with v18, this driver defaults to requiring an encrypted connection. RPU is a 2009-era tool and sends an old-style connection string that never negotiates encryption. The driver refuses the handshake, and RPU dies with 80040e73 ("provider/string not recognized"). The toolset just reports the generic 80040203 and hides the real cause.

THE FIX

Tell the driver NOT to require encryption, by adding two parameters to the end of the connection string:

;Use Encryption for Data=False;Trust Server Certificate=True

That is the entire fix. One registry value. No reinstalls.

BEFORE YOU APPLY THIS - IMPORTANT

Open the .reg file from this mod in Notepad (right-click - Edit) before running it. Look at the last lin