Unofficial RealVision Troubleshooting Guide

[NewThalos]

INTRODUCTION:

 

 

RealVision ENB is by far one of the most popular and endorsed ENB Presets on the Nexus for a number of reasons, but largely because it's the only preset that comes with an installer, has a really detailed installation guide, but also because it just looks stunning. This simplicity and ease of access is both it's greatest strength, and it's greatest challenge.

 

The challenge presents itself because due to its really approachable setup and notoriety, it attracts all sorts of modders of varying experience levels, including those who have absolutely no idea what they're doing. If you're one of those newbies and isn't shamed to admit it, then this guide is for you!

 

The objective of this guide is to help you build a bare bones installation of Skyrim, utilizing a stable foundation. This foundation will have all of those essential backbone mods that all of us pro-modders use to ensure our game runs smoothly and without issue.

 

The importance of this proper installation foundation for Skyrim is because most problems occur from user error by failing to understand what they're installing, how to install it, and why-- which ultimately means incorrect mod installations, neglected settings, and crash-inducing load orders.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER:

 

As a quick disclaimer, I use Mod Organizer (MO) as my preferred mod manager. It is my pro-modder opinion that it is a superior mod manager due to numerous reasons, but mostly because of the expert method it uses to load mods within a controlled space, individually packaged, allowing one to swap, install, uninstall, and move around mods within a load order menu, without even touching your game folders. If you do not use MO, then please refrain from asking me questions, I likely won't be of much help to you.

 

 

The following is a 100% fail-safe and fool-proof installation.

 

1) Make a fresh install of Skyrim in order to create the initial controlled variable.

2) Now copy that clean folder called "Skyrim - Copy" for backup purposes.

3) Manually Install ONLY the following: (do not use a mod manager!)

• Copy ENB v279 binaries into your Skyrim root folder (enbhost.exe and d3d9.dll only)
• Manually install SkyUI (do not use MO or NMM)
• Manually Install SKSE (do not use MO or NMM)
• Make sure you have THIS file inside your SKSE folder.
• Manually install Stable uGridsToLoad (do not use MO or NMM) (OUTDATED! DO NOT USE!)
• Manually install OneTweak (do not use MO or NMM)

4) Correctly install the latest version of TES5Edit v3.1.

5) Correctly install the latest version of LOOT from the Official Loot Dropbox archive.

6) Run LOOT in order to identify which plugins need to be cleaned with TES5Edit

• Clean Update.esm with TES5Edit
• Clean Dawnguard.esm with TES5Edit
• Clean Hearthfire.esm with TES5Edit
• Clean Dragonborn.esm with TES5Edit
• Clean anything else LOOT tells you to (however there shouldn't be yet)

7) Download RealVision via your mod manager and install the option of your choice.

• Make sure you use the RV launcher
• Make sure you tell the launcher to set your ini files.
• Make any required ini edits as per Step 4 of the RealVision Installation guide.

:cool: Run Skyrim to test if your game runs correctly.

• IF it fails to start, then this means you screwed up somewhere. Start back at beginning.
• IF it runs correctly, then this means you now have a basic bare bones built Skyrim controlled installation. You might want to make a backup copy of this folder like we did originally and call it something like "Skyrim - ENB Ready". Proceed to the next step.

9) Install recommended mods from Step 2 and Step 3 of the RealVision installation guide.

• Double check EVERY mod for required ini tweaks.
• Double check EVERY mod for compatibility patches.
• Run LOOT
• Double check EVERY mod for essential load orders that Loot missed.

10) Run Skyrim.

• IF it runs correctly, then go on to the next step.
• IF it fails to start, then this means you screwed up somewhere. Start back at beginning.

11) Install other mods that you want to install.

• Run LOOT occasionally to check for dirty plugins that require cleaning.
• Take extra care to read absolutely every mod description page for important details.
• Double check EVERY mod for required ini tweaks.
• Double check EVERY mod for compatibility patches.
• Double check EVERY mod for essential load orders that Loot missed.

12) Run Skyrim.

• IF it fails to start, or crashes, then you screwed up. Start back at beginning.
• IF it successfully loads and plays correctly, then ENJOY!

Edited July 1, 2016 by SkyrimCliff

[DuckRogers]

OMG this guide is awesome! I know its all sort of no-brainer stuff, and I've been modding a while, but it was through the process of going through this guide that forced me to slow down, clean up my game folders and really take the time to make sure all of the basics were done correctly. Making copies of the different stages of game folders was brilliant as well, I already had a clean fresh install copy, but making the ENB-Ready version was key, it allows me to have that fresh pre-built feeling every time I wanted to experiment with new stuff.

For the love of all that is holy, someone sticky this :P

THANK YOU!!!!! :D

[NewThalos]

You're welcome bud, glad you got some use out of it. If you're looking for an advanced version, I have a copy of it somewhere, I might consider posting it here for people who want to take things to the next level.

 

Happy modding and cheers

[NewThalos]

Minor out of date info on my guide, namely the version numbers of certain stuff, etc. Other than that, it's still valid and truly is a bullet/fool proof method for the novice modders to troubleshoot why their RV installation isn't working. Maybe I'll update further in the future.