So apparently*, if you have certain pre-order bonuses or party members from DLC (Shale), and you transfer your save files to a copy of the game without the DLC unlocked, your save files will be inaccessible. In other words, if you lose your CD-key, reformat or uninstall, and purchase a new copy of the game, your save files will not work. Because you can't get pre-order items on post-launch copies, that means you are absolutely screwed.
Extremely lame.
*Tested and confirmed with a friend's copy. Ick. Really ick. Thumbs down Bioware/EA.

I was under the impression that the game and DLC serials attach to your "BioWare Social" account (or whatever it's called) which means you don't need the DLC serials again and only need the account itself to access them.
Also note that some of the pre-order/bundled DLC has no DRM and thus isn't affected by this issue at all; there's a complete list in my earlier post of what falls into what category. Bear in mind that having as little as one DRM-protected DLC active when you save your game will "infect" that save and make it require activation.

I'll have to try logging into my account when I do it. Either way, that means save files are locked, which annoys me.

I think you may be making too big of a deal out of this. Let's go over why you would need to do this:
You somehow did something so bad that Bioware destroyed your account. I honestly can't think of anything that would result in this, but I think that, at this point, you aren't a valued customer :p
You are playing at a friend's house: Reasonable, but DA is a very SP oriented RPG, so I can understand if that wasn't really a priority.
You are giving a friend a save file with the DLC: Do we really need to say why this wouldn't be supported? :p
That being said, all DLC is linked to your Bioware account. It is possible that your serial number and your Bioware account are linked, but whatever. Either way: Just don't lose your serial or your bioware account log-in.
Seriously, I don't understand how people lose serials and discs. Just keep your crap in the box the game came with. With the DVD-case style boxes these days, you don't even get the "I don't have room for the Starcraft Battle Chest" excuse.

All the promo-DLC items are in that link I gave earlier (yes even the DRM locked ones) They're posted on Bioware's social site, with any DRM removed. They've been like that for a few days and Bioware still hasn't removed them (even with employees being active in that forum), so I'm guessing they don't plan on doing anything about it.
Shale is something that'll come with every copy of DAO, and is tied to your social account, so you just log in and it'll unlock it if you reinstall. And your friend should have it as well assuming he purchased the game new.
I'm thinking that some people will complain about anything given the chance. Keep in mind this is a SINGLE PLAYER game, it's not going to bother worrying about compatibility with other copies of the game, because there is no huge issue with needing to.

I am planing on geting this game after reading all the good things said here.That and i love rpgs.
Now heres the thing.I was on the dragon age website.It list the stone prisoner comes with every box of dragon age origins. I then go to the ea store where it lists the stone prisoner only comes with the collector's edition of dragon age origins.So who is right here. Does the stone prisoner come with every box of dragon age origins, or does it come with the collector's edition only..

I have the regular edition, and I have the Stone Prisoner DLC.

Thanks for clearing things up.It will be a great deal of help ,when i go to order the game and ask my self which edition should i get.

from everything I've seen, the stone prisoner and the blood armor SHOULD come with every new copy of dragon age... there are other items that people got depending whether they got the collectors edition, or pre-ordered

The Stone Prisoner will always come with every new copy of DA, but the Blood Armor is apparently only going to be in the first run (which is all that's been made so far) of the game, as it's more of a tie-in with Mass Effect 2.

I took the CE mainly because of the clothmap, too. It's, without a doubt, one of the worst I encountered in 25+ gaming years.
Cheap linen cloth that will fall apart with time, small (not even 4 DVD-boxes big).... will never hang it on a wall. I wouldn't buy the CE again if I had a choice.

So anyone else in love with Leliana? I'd certainly like to give her a slow fade to black with suggestive noises followed by an achievement

(Laughs.)
I originally set out trying to get in good with Morrigan because... you know... Claudia Black. But... Leliana is just such a wonderful character. Personally, I just -like- her a lot more. So... yes, I agree with you. She really -is- Imoen with a French accent (As I saw her described somewhere,) which is just fine with me.

Then you never purchased NWN1 :p That map was even worse.
And honestly, I think Bioware/EA still get an A for effort. They are trying to give us incentives, and that is all I ever wanted.
Aye, Leliana is just a much more likeable character, even if her voice actress is not the most talented of the bunch. Plus, it is so rare to hear a french character who isn't a caricature (even if the French accent feels a bit forced).

Oh yes. Oh, YES!
(And I actually love that accent as well. )