22 replies to this topic

[Muladhara86]

I, too, have heard before that ini edits are imperative for stability, though it was in the context of "many stability issues can be tracked down to faulty ini edits."

 

I have followed STEP/ENBoost guides to the letter regarding ini edits.  Because of those guides I knew what exactly I was changing and why.  I am reluctant to just blindly throw away those ini's and blindly use some pre-fab ini without knowing what is going on.

 

Here are the ini's I am currently using:

 

Skyrim.ini

Spoiler

 

[General]

sLanguage=ENGLISH

sIntroSequence=  

uExterior Cell Buffer=36

bBorderRegionsEnabled=0

 

;Helps prevent lighting pop-in

;fFlickeringLightDistance=8192

 

 

; The following line is for alternate start games. Comment out for normal starts.

;SStartingCell=AbandonedPrison01

;ENTER MANUALLY IN CONSOLE TO START MQ

;startquest mq102

;setstage mq102 30

 

[Display]

fShadowLODMaxStartFade=1000.0

fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=2000.0

fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048

bAllowScreenshot=1

 

;FoV

fDefault1stPersonFOV=81.0

fDefaultWorldFOV=81.0

 

;Transition time of sun-shadow movement

;fSunShadowUpdateTime=0.25

;Time between sun-shadow movement

;fSunUpdateThreshold=1.5 

 

 

[Audio]

fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0

fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

 

[Grass]

bAllowCreateGrass=1

bAllowLoadGrass=0

 

;increase grass diversity, small performance hit. Consider setting to 7 if using Skyrim Flora Overhaul.

;iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=3

;grass density - higher is sparser

iMinGrassSize=100

 

[GeneralWarnings]

SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

 

[Archive]

sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Invalidation.bsa, Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

bInvalidateOlderFiles=1

SInvalidationFile=

 

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

 

;This tweak shifts the point of aim to the center of the aiming reticule for arrows and crossbows (with this setting targets will be hit where the cursor is placed at approximately 100 feet from the target).

f1PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PArrowTiltUpAngle=0.7

f1PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.7

f3PBoltTiltUpAngle=0.7

 

[Papyrus]

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0

bEnableLogging=1

bEnableTrace=1

bLoadDebugInformation=1

 

[Water]

bReflectLODObjects=1

bReflectLODLand=1

bReflectSky=1

bReflectLODTrees=1

 

[Actor]

 

;This tweak will update the distance projectiles can travel to allow for "sniper" bow shots. In Vanilla, after ~4000ft your arrow will simply disappear into thin air.

;fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist=12288.0000

 

SkyrimPrefs.ini

Spoiler

[General]

fBrightLightColorB=1.0000

fBrightLightColorG=1.0000

fBrightLightColorR=1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0

[Imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField=1

iRadialBlurLevel=2

[Display]

iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3

fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000

fShadowDistance=4000.0000

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=1024

;iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=4096 by DEFAULT

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048

iShadowSplitCount=2

iMaxAnisotropy=1

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=5000.0000

fGamma=1.0400

fDecalLOD2=1500.0000

fDecalLOD1=1000.0000

fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade=200.0000

;fShadowLODStartFade=400.0000 per STEP CORE

fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000

iTexMipMapMinimum=0

iTexMipMapSkip=0

iWaterMultiSamples=0

iMultiSample=1

iShadowMode=3

bTreesReceiveShadows=0

;bTreesReceiveShadows=1 per STEP CORE

bDrawLandShadows=0

;bDrawLandShadows=1 per STEP CORE

bFull Screen=1

iSize H=720

iSize W=1280

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=10000000.0000

iScreenShotIndex=4

bShadowMaskZPrepass=0

bMainZPrepass=0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25

iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100

bFloatPointRenderTarget=0

sD3DDevice="AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series"

bFXAAEnabled=0

iShadowMapResolution=2048

fShadowBiasScale=0.2500

iShadowMaskQuarter=4

iAdapter=0

iPresentInterval=0

iShadowFilter=3

bShadowsOnGrass=1

bTransparencyMultisampling=0

bDeferredShadows=1

bDrawShadows=1

[Grass]

b30GrassVS=0

fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

;fGrassStartFadeDistance=18000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable=1

bCrosshairEnabled=1

fHUDOpacity=1.0000

bSaveOnPause=0

bSaveOnTravel=0

bSaveOnWait=0

bSaveOnRest=0

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1

bShowQuestMarkers=1

iDifficulty=3

[Interface]

bDialogueSubtitles=0

bGeneralSubtitles=0

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

bShowCompass=1

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=2.8900

fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0400

bAlwaysRunByDefault=1

bInvertYValues=0

bGamePadRumble=1

bMouseAcceleration=1

bUseKinect=0

[Particles]

iMaxDesired=750

[SaveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins=60.0000

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume=0.4500

fVal7=1.0000

uID7=1795368472

fVal6=1.0000

uID6=1795367094

fVal5=1.0000

uID5=3954

fVal4=1.0000

uID4=956717169

fVal3=0.6000

uID3=94881

fVal2=0.8000

uID2=466532

fVal1=1.0000

uID1=554685

fVal0=0.8000

uID0=1007612

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

bShowLODInEditor=0

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha=0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000

fEdgeThickness=10.0000

fPointSize=2.5000

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees=1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=20

[Decals]

uMaxDecals=1000

bDecals=1

bSkinnedDecals=1

uMaxSkinDecals=100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor=60

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection=1

bShowAllResolutions=1

uLastAspectRatio=3

[BlurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[BlurShader]

bUseBlurShader=0

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=512

iWaterReflectWidth=512

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

 

I'll be a good sport and give yours a try, but I'll admit I'm apprehensive.

[Muladhara86]

Nope, those are no better; still crashing all over the place.  My ini's are based off of fresh Skyrim ini's @ ultra settings and they run just fine.  Your high & ultra setting ini's both ate frames for breakfast.

 

Maybe, considering that most crashes happen around settlements, I am having ETaC compatibility issues?  My MERGED ETaC Patches file contains the ELFX, LoS, BFT, NSutR, and Millwater Retreat patches.

Edited by Muladhara86, 21 July 2014 - 02:22 PM.

[Lord Garon]

Unavoidable CTD's occur when you max your ram allocation. You might try running Skyrim Performance Monitor and watching your memory use. Your sig indicates you have 4GB to play with and Skyrim will "try" to use it (request memory from the OS). But the rest of your system is also using some of that 4GB as well. Check your ram use with taskmgr/resource monitor prior to playing and see how much is in-use. Fire up SPM and Skyrim and see how much memory Skyrim wants. SPM can log data and you can see how much memory Skyrim was using when it crashed. Not a perfect check, but rapidly increasing memory use up to 3GB or so may indicate a lack of ram necessary for your mod load.

 

PS: There is a Skyrim - Invalidation.bsa in your Skyrim.ini resource list. What is that for? Do you actually have that bsa in your data folder? Archive Invalidation is NOT required in Skyrim and is not a component of default ini files.

Edited by Lord Garon, 21 July 2014 - 02:49 PM.

[Muladhara86]

I've used the Memory Blocks Log and Skyrim Performance Monitor in the past and ruled out memory related crashes.  Also, I can Riverwood to Winterhold or from Riften to Winterhold; I'll still crash in the same place.  That tells me that it's not memory related.

 

As for the Invalidation.bsa, it is in my data folder.  It's last modified date is different than the rest of the files, so I'm assuming that Mod Organizer added it for me.  In MO's profile manager Automatic Archive Invalidation is unchecked.  Should I disable that .bsa?

 

EDIT: Disabling "Skyrim - Invalidation.bsa" made no difference.

Edited by Muladhara86, 21 July 2014 - 03:31 PM.

[Faelrin]

You were disabling mods. Did you do this and then continue to try playing that character and saving it? That might be your problem. Have you tried starting a new game and seeing if those crashes persist? Also you should always clean update.esm first before cleaning any dlc's and any mods that use the dlc's and/or update.esm.  I suggest you run steam's cache verifier and clean them again, starting with update.esm. 

[Lord Garon]

Yeah, you don't need Archive Invalidation; it was replaced with the much loved and error-free process of "load order".

 

Just to verify, does TES5edit load ALL your mods at once without complaining?

 

Is there ANY difference in the CTD locations using BOSS and LOOT load orders? (Make sure you run the DSR patcher/rebuild bashed patch when testing changed load orders)

[Muladhara86]

I don't use DSR/FNIS/ASIS while testing, because repatching each time is a pain enough already, what with me using TES5Edit and Wrye Bash.

 

Yes, TES5Edit loads all of the above mods without error messages.  It takes forever, but that's to be expected.

 

My copy of Windows thinks that it's pirated and won't accept my old key.  Because of this, it likes to pull me out of whatever I am doing to warn me that I might be a victim.  With Skyrim Performance Monitor in use, this causes me to CTD upon bringing the focus back to Skyrim.  These CTD's are unrelated to the crashes this thread is dedicated to solving.

 

I haven't tried BOSS with this setup yet, just LOOT.

[Muladhara86]

Okay, so I've been painstakingly adding mods one at a time, not using any of my merged mods (just the individual originals), making merged/bashed patches, and stress testing.

 

My method was to use "coc riverwood" at the main menu, setting my speed to 1000 and turning on god mode, and running circuits.  I ran from Riverwood to the W side of Falkreath, around to the E side, through the town, then up to and into Morthal, then back out again.  I'd jump off the cliff outside Broken Tower Redoubt and make my way into Solitude and back out again, then through Morthal and Dawnstar.  There I would use the carriage to take me to Windhelm.  I'd run around inside for a bit then go back out and make my way to Winterhold.

 

Everything was going fine until I added ETaC.  Afterwards I started getting ILS leaving Markarth.  Here is the load order: 

Spoiler

# This file was automatically generated by Mod Organizer.

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp

Dawnguard.esm

Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp

HearthFires.esm

Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp

Dragonborn.esm

Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp

ApachiiHair.esm

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm

AemersRefuge.esm

TTR_Skill_Overhaul.esm

ETaC - RESOURCES.esm

REGS - Resources.esm

ClimatesOfTamriel.esm

Cutting Room Floor.esp

SkyUI.esp

Moss Rocks.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp

AshRocks.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-DBForevertoMisc.esp

Disenchanting.esp

iHUD.esp

Chesko_LoreBasedLoadingScreens.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-Hearthfire.esp

ExpandedJewelryCrafting.esp

Barenziah.esp

BFSEffects.esp

AHZmoreHUD.esp

Convenient Horses.esp

FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul.esp

Babettes Feast v1_2.esp

Convenient Horses - Unique Frost.esp

CookingAlchemy.esp

ORM-Arvak.esp

DYNAVISION Dynamic Depth of Field.esp

Dawnbreaker_PeacefulExplosion.esp

SulfurRocks.esp

HarvestOverhaul.esp

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

Lore Weapon Expansion - Daedric Crescent.esp

ETaC - Complete.esp

ELFX - Dragonborn.esp

Moss Rocks_DB.esp

Beards.esp

LessTediousAlchemy.esp

Lively Followers.esp

Loadscreens Extended.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp

dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp

CrossbowReloading.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

Supreme Fog - CoT.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RealisticRoomRental.esp

AOS.esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

Weapons & Armor Fixes_Remade.esp

Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp

imp_helm.esp

imp_helm_imp.esp

imp_guard_helm.esp

CollegeOfWinterholdImmersive.esp

ELFX - Dawnguard.esp

AOS2_CoT3_1_patch.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound.esp

ExpandedSnowSystems-CoT.esp

Warmer Magic Lights v2.esp

Prometheus_No_snow_Under_the_roof.esp

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remade.esp

Immersive Sounds - Compendium.esp

MERGED TTRSO.esp

TradeBarter.esp

ThatsRacist.esp

ISCompendium AOS Patch.esp

Immersive Potions.esp

RRR_ELFX-Patch.esp

Better Dynamic Snow.esp

SkyrimCoinReplacerRedux.esp

HarvestOverhaulCreatures.esp

REGS - Cities.esp

RavenRockExpanded.esp

RoyalElvenBow.esp

Prometheus_NSUTR BDS Patch.esp

ShockFrostFamiliars.esp

SkyFalls + SkyMills + DG + DB.esp

Solstheim - The Lost Levels.esp

RealisticWaterTwo.esp

Bring Out Your Dead.esp

ESFCompanions.esp

BetterQuestObjectives.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-Dawnguard.esp

Book Covers Skyrim.esp

CWIELnFXPatch.esp

Better Skill and Quest Books Names.esp

Lore Weapon Expansion - Goldbrand.esp

Improved Potion Recipes.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-BSaQBPatch.esp

Better Stealth AI for Followers.esp

CWINPCImprovements.esp

Immersive Weapons.esp

Lore Weapon Expansion.esp

CCO_WAFTrueWeapons_Patch.esp

DragonBlood.esp

REGS - Better Docks.esp

MoonAndStar_MAS.esp

MoonAndStar_ImmersionPatch.esp

TheEvilMansionFE.esp

ETaC - Complete LoS Patch.esp

Sky Haven Temple M&M3.esp

AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp

Slightly Reduced Distance NPC Greetings.esp

Supreme Storms - Cot Version.esp

The Dance of Death - Ultimate Edition.esp

TimingIsEverything.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-TimingIsEverythingPatch.esp

Training Dummies XP.esp

RBB Long Boats.esp

Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp

BetterDGEntrance.esp

BFT Ships and Carriages.esp

DF127MillwaterRetreat.esp

DF127MillwaterRetreatHFCOT.esp

ETaC - Complete NSutR Patch.esp

RBB Long Boats - REGS.esp

EMCompViljaSkyrim.esp

throneroom.esp

FollowerNonara.esp

LocalizedGuildJobs.esp

ETaC - Complete ELFX Patch.esp

Thieves Guild Requirements.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-ThievesGuildRequirementsPatch.esp

ThievesGuildReq_LocalizedGuildJobs_Patch.esp

Nightingale Hall.esp

Brynjolf & Vex Followers.esp

ANSKA ENHANCED.esp

EMViljaInSolstheimAddOn.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp

Run For Your Lives.esp

Stealth Skills Rebalanced_COMPLETE.esp

Better Vampires.esp

Predator Vision.esp

Traps Are Dangerous.esp

AOS_TAD Patch.esp

Understone Keep Repair.esp

Dwemer Goggles & Scouter.esp

quest_thebiggertheyare.esp

TheChoiceIsYours.esp

Immersive Orc Strongholds.esp

DragonmournInn.esp

Point The Way.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-TheChoiceIsYoursPatch.esp

TheDomain.esp

UniqueBorderGates-All.esp

more plants all extra.esp

UnreadBooksGlow.esp

VLCollisionFix.esp

WM Trap Fixes.esp

WeaponsArmorFixes_GuardDialogueOverhaul_Patch.esp

1nivWICCloaks.esp

Smithing Perks Overhaul_Remade.esp

UniqueWeaponsRedone.esp

Unique Uniques.esp

AOS2_WAF Patch.esp

skyforgedWeapons.esp

aXeUnburdened.esp

imp_help_dbrn.esp

quest_nomercy.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves.esp

SFO - Dragonborn.esp

AdalMatar.esp

tos_laintardale_hf.esp

Lore Weapon Expansion - Relics of the Crusader.esp

quest_seaofghosts.esp

RBB Row Boats.esp

RBB Long Boats - NSUtR.esp

CerwidenCompanion.esp

exploreskyrim.esp

CerwidenAppearancePatch.esp

Apocalypse - The Spell Package.esp

Inigo.esp

HothFollower.esp

SlavePackRiekling.esp

LeazersOpenLock2_0.esp

tos_amber_guard.esp

AemersRefuge-DG-DB.esp

Skyrim Flora Overhaul.esp

ETaC - Complete BFT Patch.esp

tos_granitehall.esp

GrassOnSteroids_NaturalEdition_SFO.esp

quest_pitfighter.esp

Better City Entrances - All in one.esp

quest_sorcery.esp

quest_andtherealmsofdaedra.esp

The Pit.esp

REGS Patch - CRF.esp

CWIDawnDragonPatch.esp

Snowbound Acres.esp

Alchemy Tomes.esp

CompanionArissa.esp

AK- Elder Scrolls Music.esp

Del_ConditionalCombatMusic - Dragon Reserved FIXED.esp

ColdharbourDaedra.esp

Crossbows_Basic_Collection_EN_LL.esp

itbeatsforher.esp

CuralmilsPhial.esp

UniqueBorderGates-All-BetterDGEntrance.esp

BatTravel.esp

Waterwalking Spell, Tomes and Scrolls v1.1.esp

Boots of Waterwalking v1.1.esp

Tentaclegraspenchant.esp

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp

ETaC - Complete Millwater Patch.esp

Gifts Of The Outsider.esp

BetterQuestObjectives-PaarDilemmaPatch.esp

Thieves Guild Followers.esp

Vampirelordroyal.esp

HearthfireChimneys - ETaC.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Dawnguard.esp

PP_OgmundsTomb.esp

Training Dummies XP Dawnguard.esp

BVandRB_Formlist.esp

When Vampires Attack.esp

high hrothgar overhaul.esp

portal2mod.esp

Gildergreen Regrown.esp

RBB Row Boats - NSUtR.esp

RBB Large Boats.esp

TheChoiceIsYours_Dawnguard.esp

UniqueBorderGates-All-PointTheWay.esp

Apple garden.esp

PP_WindcallerPass.esp

My Home Is Your Home.esp

PP_EngelmannRest.esp

RBB - Row Boats - Hearthfire Hotfix.esp

RBB Row Boats - REGS.esp

RedMountainErupts.esp

spelleraser.esp

bettersoultrapALLDLC.esp

bettersoultrapNODLC.esp

Actualize Apparel.esp

EnhancedGauldurAmuletENG.esp

ISCompendium CCO Patch.esp

ScopedBows.esp

quest_pitfighter_dlc01.esp

towConversation.esp

Conflict Resolution.esp

Bashed Patch, 0.esp

 

It's basically the same thing as before, sans Inconsequential NPCs, TPoS, SIC + HLE, Deadly Dragons, and a couple housing mods.

 

Am I just going to have to abandon ETaC?  Could it maybe not be just ETaC, but an interaction it's having with another mod?

Edited by Muladhara86, 21 July 2014 - 09:19 PM.

[Muladhara86]

@Little Vampire:  I have cleaned update.esm.  That was my mistake.  What I meant to say was that I hadn't cleaned Skyrim.esm/unofficial patches.  I've updated my original post to reflect this.

 

And yes, I know not to remove mods from an active playthrough.  All tests were conducted on fresh characters; see my previous post.

[Lord Garon]

I can only recommend one thing... I have the STEP REGS pack installed, along with many other mods. The "many other mods" were all installed AFTER the REGS pack was in and working (not a completely painless effort). ETaC is a core mod for REGS; I'm concerned that you are finding the ETaC problem now, with so many non-REGS mods in your load order.

 

Its a pain, but I would get REGS working first, including ETaC, before adding non-pack mods. THEN determine if a mod conflicts with existing mods. Saying ETaC is "causing" the problem is a point-of-view issue meaning you consider the existing set of mods is a reference. I would treat REGS as the reference standard and determine which mod conflicts with REGS. I would do it that way, simply because the REGS pack has been compatibility checked, unlike your current load.

 

As you are discovering, multiple mod compatibility is an art, not a science. Its why there are so few Skyrim mod sets out there (gems, step). I would build upon the STEP pack, not just add it in as you go. FWIW.