CTD - have tried everything I can think of.

[Meeres]

I very recently got the Elder Scrolls Anthology and have installed Skyrim, plus a bunch of mods. I'll admit I am very new to modding, though I read everything I possibly could and have done as much research as I can so I (hopefully) know what I'm doing. Yet my game CTDs all of the time, and I haven't even reached Whiterun yet! Sometimes it can take a few minutes, but more often than not, I can manage to load my save game and take a few steps and it CTDs. I have looked into every way I can make my game work, so I use NMM, SKSE, LOOT, TESVEDIT, and Skyrim Performance Monitor, all of them up to date unless they've changed in the past day or two. At this point I'm left to believe it must be one of my mods... though I can't find which one it is, and I have checked, double checked, and triple checked for patches, compatibility, and recommended load order. I must have missed something, and this is my last-ditch effort of finding a solution so I don't have to check every single mod of mine one by one... which I will do if I have to, but I would really, really like to avoid it since that would take a loooong time.

 

 

 

Here are my specs:

 

Model: Dell Inspiron 5720

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit

Processor: Intel® Core i7-3612QM CPU @ 2.10GHz

Graphics card: Intel® HD Graphics 4000

RAM: 8GB, 7.87 GB usable

Hard drive space: 1TB (753 GB free as of right now)

 

 

 

Here is my load order as arranged by LOOT:

 

 

 

• Skyrim.esm
  CRC: C665FD56
• Update.esm
  CRC: 1FDAB215
  Delev, Relev
• Unofficial Skyrim Patch.esp
  CRC: 4A395AFA
  Version: 2.0.5a
  Delev, Names, Relev, Stats
• Dawnguard.esm
  CRC: 31FEA081
  Delev, Relev
  • Warning: Contains 6 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• Unofficial Dawnguard Patch.esp
  CRC: A3FDFD8D
  Version: 2.0.5
  Delev, Names, Relev, Stats
• HearthFires.esm
  CRC: F4DDC851
• Unofficial Hearthfire Patch.esp
  CRC: DF1E97D
  Version: 2.0.5
  Names
• Dragonborn.esm
  CRC: A9F83BFF
  • Warning: Contains 61 ITM records, 8 UDR records and 1 deleted navmeshes. Clean with TES5Edit.
• Unofficial Dragonborn Patch.esp
  CRC: FB2715AC
  Version: 2.0.5
  Delev
• ClimatesOfTamriel.esm
  CRC: 918881A7
  Version: 3.1
• ApachiiHairFemales.esm
  CRC: 49FFE3B5
  Version: 1.4
• ApachiiHair.esm
  CRC: 783F7167
  Version: 1.4
• ETaC - RESOURCES.esm
  CRC: F2D8DE3C
• ApachiiHairMales.esm
  CRC: 60EC6077
  Version: 1.2
• 01ERA.esp
  CRC: EE79E975
• seraticarmor.esp
  CRC: CA8B6980
• NB-Scars.esp
  CRC: 8A54FBB8
• DiethardtWarpaint.esp
  CRC: 5D00E69E
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp
  CRC: 9FFF2A85
  Version: 3.1
• AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp
  CRC: A6C0975C
  Delev, Relev
• Differently Ebony.esp
  CRC: 4DEB61E7
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Nights-Level-3.esp
  CRC: 18F68EDC
  Version: 3.1
• Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp
  CRC: 9229A0B4
• Bizarre Magnetic.esp
  CRC: D93F8FA9
• SkyUI.esp
  CRC: 9330CAF7
  Version: 4.1
• Rough Leather Armor.esp
  CRC: 4E65F1F5
• NK_EyeCusomizationOverhaul.esp
  CRC: 910D1C99
• RaceMenuPlugin.esp
  CRC: 8A8A009F
  • Note: RaceMenuPlugin is optional and provides support to alter Height, Breast, Glute and Biceps. If you experience issues with it, disable RaceMenuPlugin.esp and inform the author.
• Magnetic Eyes.esp
  CRC: AF07A017
• NK_EYESLIDER.esp
  CRC: 23745865
• EnhancedLightsandFX.esp
  CRC: 2F172642
• ETaC - Complete.esp
  CRC: E39F117E
  • Note: It is recommended to also install the 3DNPC patch for Expanded Towns and Cities.
• ELFX - Exteriors.esp
  CRC: C4817E64
• ELFX - Dawnguard.esp
  CRC: 8692787A
• Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp
  CRC: 56988D38
• ForgottenSettlements.esp
  CRC: 810FA2E3
• ELFX - Dragonborn.esp
  CRC: DB9BE7F9
• ETaC - Dragon Bridge South.esp
  CRC: E625319
• 3DNPC.esp
  CRC: 7A8399E6
  Version: 3.06
• humble abode.esp
  CRC: 412497C5
• MountainCitys.esp
  CRC: BED42038
• ELFXEnhancer.esp
  CRC: 31D9D865
• ethereal_elven_overhaul.esp
  CRC: 1841112C
  • Warning: Contains 6 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• eyes for elves.esp
  CRC: 83CA5CC9
• Beards.esp
  CRC: 85B4CEFA
  Version: 28363
• RaceMenu.esp
  CRC: 2765B7D0
• RaceMenuOverlays.esp
  CRC: 7C24FBC4
• ShootingStars.esp
  CRC: 5B89D5C9
  Version: 1.041
• Skyrim Bridges.esp
  CRC: 6DADE3F4
• SolitudeCapitalEdition.esp
  CRC: A50216
• SoS - The Wilds.esp
  CRC: C1743294
  Version: 1.13
  • Note: Do not use the Crash Fix ESP for this mod. It is flagged as a master and is only meant as a last resort for fixing crashes.
  • Warning: Contains 8 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
  CRC: 6DEDE258
  Version: 3.1
• SoS - Civilization.esp
  CRC: 5EF1D362
  Version: 1.02
  • Note: Do not use the Crash Fix ESP for this mod. It is flagged as a master and is only meant as a last resort for fixing crashes.
• RealShelter.esp
  CRC: 44048304
• RealShelter_ETCPatch.esp
  CRC: 8C971853
  Version: 1.2
• ETaC - Complete ELFX Patch.esp
  CRC: 179F90D8
• Windhelm Exterior Altered.esp
  CRC: D4DBCAD1
• Bring Out Your Dead.esp
  CRC: F9A54B0A
  Version: 1.2.7
• Immersive Weapons.esp
  CRC: E41D31D
  Delev, Relev
• SoS - The Dungeons.esp
  CRC: 79377267
  Version: 1.23
  • Note: Do not use the Crash Fix ESP for this mod. It is flagged as a master and is only meant as a last resort for fixing crashes.
• DawnofWindhelm.esp
  CRC: EECE8723
• Windhelm Bridge Overhaul.esp
  CRC: 4353B717
• Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
  CRC: 2A9F7DED
  Version: 7.1
  [object Object], [object Object]
• aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp
  CRC: 4B3CBB77
• Complete Solitude.esp
  CRC: C46A266
• Solitude A City Of Trade LITE!.esp
  CRC: 4E0AC62B
• DawnofRiften.esp
  CRC: 356D10D1
• Cloaks.esp
  CRC: D8F94C02
  • Warning: Contains 2 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• The Honered Dead.esp
  CRC: 73BD0621
• fallentreebridges.esp
  CRC: B6B2A54C
• SMIM-Merged-All.esp
  CRC: 46D0D2C0
• SoS - The Wilds-PatchCoT.esp
  CRC: 809A34DA
  • Note: Use only one Sounds of Skyrim - The Wilds and CoT patch.
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound.esp
  CRC: 75A1B6EA
  Version: 3.1
• SoS - Civilization -PatchCoTSounds.esp
  CRC: E023E60D
  • Note: Use only one Sounds of Skyrim - Civilization and CoT patch.
• SoS - Civilization-PatchCoT.esp
  CRC: A82D649E
  • Note: Use only one Sounds of Skyrim - Civilization and CoT patch.
• SoS - The Wilds-PatchCoTSounds.esp
  CRC: 53090D51
  • Note: Use only one Sounds of Skyrim - The Wilds and CoT patch.
• ClimatesOfTamriel-Sound-Dawnguard-Patch.esp
  CRC: DA95740E
• TrueBrows.esp
  CRC: 39161B60
• TrueEyes.esp
  CRC: 114EF264
• WetandCold.esp
  CRC: BEAB0A2F
  Version: 1.422
• WetandCold - Ashes.esp
  CRC: 1510365E
  Version: 1.09
• WhiterunAlivePiano.esp
  CRC: 89DB59DC
• RavenNest.esp
  CRC: F23D3F87
• lowerhrothgar.esp
  CRC: FD061425
• oakwood.esp
  CRC: F4857CA5
• Capes.esp
  CRC: 9A7BAE45
• isilNarsil.esp
  CRC: A43571C0
  • Warning: Contains 17 ITM records. Clean with TES5Edit.
• CampingKitNorthernRanger.esp
  CRC: 21A8DEC9
  • Note: Use only one CampingKitNorthernRanger esp.
• Imperial Assasin Armor.esp
  CRC: 1A9D51
• WSCO - Better NPCs.esp
  CRC: BDF72EB9
• WSCO - OcciFemaleVNL.esp
  CRC: F5522805
• WSCO - OcciMaleVNL.esp
  CRC: 4A060D3A

I cleaned Dawnguard and Dragonborn once already though I probably should do that again. I'm hesitant to clean any of the mods I have since I haven't seen anything about it, so I've not done that. I installed Skyrim with Steam, so the directory is OS (C:)/Program Files (x86)/Steam/SteamApps/common/Skyrim.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! As said, I'm pretty much new at modding (I only ever modded the Sims 2 years ago and that was a very different experience as well as a mess), and maybe this is my fault for basically jumping on the mod train the day I installed Skyrim, but I would hate to miss out on the mod experience.

-M

Edited August 2, 2014 by Meeres

[Morgwynn]

What I do when I get a CTD is run all the plugins through TES5Edit until a fatal error occurs then I look at the mod plugin just before the fatal error occurs and remove it from my load order and usually the game loads up fine. However the problem might be your integrated video graphics card, I've done some reading on it and it sounds as if your graphics card might not be able to handle the game graphics. but I would try doing what I do to correct the problem. Like 90% of CTD's are caused by conflicting mods in your load order and TES5Edit can tell what mod is causing the crashing.

[Meeres]

What I do when I get a CTD is run all the plugins through TES5Edit until a fatal error occurs then I look at the mod plugin just before the fatal error occurs and remove it from my load order and usually the game loads up fine. However the problem might be your integrated video graphics card, I've done some reading on it and it sounds as if your graphics card might not be able to handle the game graphics. but I would try doing what I do to correct the problem. Like 90% of CTD's are caused by conflicting mods in your load order and TES5Edit can tell what mod is causing the crashing.

 

That's the strange thing - I've run my plugins through TESVEDIT and no fatal errors occur. I have all of my graphics set to low, too - would that change whether or not my card can handle them?

[MDeckman]

please put your mods from Loot into the

 [spoiler][/spoiler]

tags. It will make everything much easier to read.

 

As for why it's crashing, your graphics card is indeed not good, as Morgwynn stated. It's an integrated card only meant for every day use, with only 128 MB of maximum shared memory, which is using the i7 as the processor. Your processor is actually decent. My first recommendation is to eliminate the hardware, so make sure that your hyperthreading is enabled and that your turbo boost technology (both according to Intel's website when googling) is enabled. This way you're drawing all the power you can from your machine. Also make sure that your video ram is set as high as possible.

 

Afterwards, I fear that your graphics may actually be proving too much, along with the amount of mods you have. Your biggest burden right now is the graphics card since your cpu has to do everything. You may have to go through your mod list one or two at a time and find out which one is causing the slow down to CTD because i had the same issue at one point and it was a mod that was killing it.. I uninstalled it and everything was fine. It was one of those mods that the scripts weren't designed well and i had to deal without it.

[Meeres]

please put your mods from Loot into the

 [spoiler][/spoiler]

tags. It will make everything much easier to read.

 

As for why it's crashing, your graphics card is indeed not good, as Morgwynn stated. It's an integrated card only meant for every day use, with only 128 MB of maximum shared memory, which is using the i7 as the processor. Your processor is actually decent. My first recommendation is to eliminate the hardware, so make sure that your hyperthreading is enabled and that your turbo boost technology (both according to Intel's website when googling) is enabled. This way you're drawing all the power you can from your machine. Also make sure that your video ram is set as high as possible.

 

Afterwards, I fear that your graphics may actually be proving too much, along with the amount of mods you have. Your biggest burden right now is the graphics card since your cpu has to do everything. You may have to go through your mod list one or two at a time and find out which one is causing the slow down to CTD because i had the same issue at one point and it was a mod that was killing it.. I uninstalled it and everything was fine. It was one of those mods that the scripts weren't designed well and i had to deal without it.

 

Thanks, I looked for something to hide all of that but didn't know if spoiler tags would work.

 

 

After Morgwynn's response and reading up more, I'm very sure it's just that my graphics card isn't up to par for what I want to do. I'm facing a new bout of confusion since after checking out Dell's support site and entering the service tag of my laptop, I'm getting nVIDIA graphics card drivers being recommended to me... yet I'm not finding an nVIDIA card in my system info. Not sure what that's all about, but I'll keep looking.

[Morgwynn]

You might try investing in an external video card rather than trying to upgrade your whole motherboard. A friend of mine had a laptop that was actually pretty decent but the video card only had 512 of video ram and that wasn't good enough for some of the online games he was playing so he tried selling for months and finally he decided to move out of his apartment and into a trailer that he was buying. <--( Rent to own type deal. ) So he was going to throw it in the dumpster but I talked him into giving it to me and I bought an 2g external video card off ebay and hooked it up and the laptop worked great for years but I gave it away to my nephew to play his online games with. I guess what I'm saying it might be cheaper just to buy an external video card. Also there are ways you can upgrade your video ram by adjusting your BIOS setting during startup/restart and you can also dedicate some of your hard drive memory to virtual/video ram.

[MDeckman]

 

Also there are ways you can upgrade your video ram by adjusting your BIOS setting during startup/restart and you can also dedicate some of your hard drive memory to virtual/video ram.

That's good and all, but I believe your external video card is the best option for him. The intel HD 4000 can only allocate up to 128 MB of the shared RAM.

 

 

yet I'm not finding an nVIDIA card in my system info. Not sure what that's all about, but I'll keep looking.

Grab this program

https://www.piriform.com/speccy

 

Install. It will literally give you every piece of information you need about your computer. Go from there. If you have the base driver installed for your graphics card, it will give you the manufacturer, model and what you need to update it. btw, it's completely free.