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I would also get the latest version of FOMM, and run Load Order Report. This will display comments to your installed mods and suggest a better load order (the master list is still very much in beta, but it does handle the major overhauls).

You need to install the latest version of Games For Windows Live to solve that particular problem. Your other problem is due to you having installed Fallout 3 to the default location, which is protected from interference by Windows. The best solution (if you plan on using or even making mods) is to install Fallout 3 to a non-default location, such as C:\Games\Fallout 3. The whys is described here (yes, the article is on Oblivion and Vista, but it applies to Fallout 3 and W7).

In the FOMM thread, it has been noted that AVG may in some instances view the FOMM installer as a virus. You could try to (temporarily) disable your antivirus, download the latest version of FOMM, install and run it. If it works, it's the antivirus screwing around with you.

There are a number of possible reasons. If the HUD (compass, hitpoints, etc) disappear, the problem is that the cursor is placed outside of your screen. If the HUD does not disappear, another program interferes with Fallout 3. The solutions to the above problems are described here.

Not likely as there are a lot of programs using .NET. You could, however, uninstall .NET, download it from MS and reinstall it - an update or another program may have corrupted it somehow? Reinstalling your OS may also be an option, but (depending on your system) should be a last resort.

There is only one file in the "Main Files" tab: FO3Edit_2_5_3.

It looks like he used BOSS-F or FOMMs auto load order tool. No reason to call OP a noob for that. But to OP, please do as mechine specified to post your load order. It is immensly more readable that way - BOSS-F is still very much a work in progress.

Aside from the festering security hole from running FO3 as Administrator, there are a number of other issues. If you plan on using modding tools, such as FOMM, GECK or FO3Edit, they will also need to run as Administrators to be able to modify or add files in your Fallout 3 directory. Many people has been having problems with saved files being placed in virtual storage, causing mods files to be "invisible" or seem to "dissapear". Yes, you can fix most of them by running your modding programs as Administrator, but the more secure, easy and convenient solution is to install the game to a place outside of the Program Files directory. There is no taboo on this. It has been discussed extensively, and the arguments for it have been repeated ad nauseam. The top google link when searching for fallout program files is quite right in asserting that this is due to shoddy code standards on the part of Bethesda. The TES Construction Set wiki has an article on the issue that also applies to Fallout 3 and GECK. The closest similar article I could find on the GECK wiki is not good enough.

You will need to take that one up with Bethesda and Microsoft. The FOSE team has the choice between disabling LIVE or not making FOSE. I don't use LIVE nor do I care about it, so I'm glad they decided to make FOSE for us. @Voryn Glad you got it working ... but it is customary to post the solution in a separate post. The thread makes much more sense that way. Also, which file did you place in which directory? As far as I know, none of the files that comes with FOSE should go anywhere but the main installation directory.

Because FOSE modifies Fallout3.exe at run-time it has to disable LIVE. This may cause problems if you are signed into LIVE when starting the game. So, please log out of LIVE before starting the game with FOSE. Please note that in order to use the official addons you have to move them from the LIVE folder to the Data folder.

You need to place your Fallout3 DVD in your DVD drive prior to starting the vanilla launcher ;-) If that is not the problem, please open the event viewer and investigate if FalloutLauncher.exe has added an entry. If so, copy-paste it into a post. It would also be helpfull to describe exactly what happens when you doubleclick FalloutLauncher.exe. Does the window open? Is there an error message on the screen? If so, what does it say? And which other executables did you run?

You could try to make a stacktrace, as described here. You may also want to post it in that thread.

You could also take a look in the event viewer (Start+R and type eventvwr) to see if anything happens when you open FOMM. I also noted that you installed Fallout 3 to the default location. Usually, this is not a problem in XP, but in my case it is installed to a non-default location. Another option is to uninstall the latest Windows updates one by one, untill FOMM works again to find the offending update. This can be done by opening the Control Panel, choosing Add or Remove Programs, and making sure the "Show Updates" checkbox is checked (it may take some time to populate the list).

I just tested it on my XP box, and even after applying all updates (except that @#¤&!! search crap) I had no problem starting FOMM 0.9.17. Do you remember which update hosed your system? Also, which XP version do you have (Home/Pro) and if it is an OEM version, which company were behind it?

How about checking the Essential checkbox?

Try to have a look at this file and this post.

Vista does not like you writing to the Program Files folder. When you try, it moves the updated files into virtual storage. This page has more background as well as three possible solutions. My preference is to install the game to a folder outside the Program Files folder, such as C:\Games\Fallout 3.

Huh? Maybe if you don't go to today in the early morning, you would find a lot more. Try to look at recent. As I wrote earlier, about 10 new files are added per day (recently fallout3nexus exceeded 10000 files), and some 30-40 updates.

There is a checkbox in the armor dialogue that says "Playable". If the checkbox is unchecked, the item cannot be used by the player. Please note that you should only uncheck it on stuff you add yourself, as all instances of the item will become unplayable. As an example, making the Leather Armor unplayable means that the player will never be able to get a leather armor.

Glad you got it sorted ... and you are welcome :)

Don't edit the original data files! EVER! Instead use FOMMs ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated! toggle. Most of the mods you are going to be using will simply require you to extract them to the Data folder. The only reason to make bsa files is that they are easier to handle when it comes to installation and uninstallation. As noted earlier, as a mod user you do not need to convert the meshes/textures/sounds of a mod into a bsa file. In fact, the easiest way to install and uninstall mods with custom meshes/textures/sounds is to enable ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated! and convert the mod to a FOMOD, using FOMMs package manager. There is a tutorial here. If you are a mod maker, you may want to distribute your meshes/textures/sounds as bsa files. In this case, you make a folder somewhere and copy the meshes/textures/sounds you edited into that folder (keeping the folder structure). Then you open the bsa creator, press Add folder, and browse to your folder. Once it has finished looking at the contents, you press create and wait for it to finish. For the game to find the bsa file (so it can look for resources there), the prefix of the bsa needs to be the same as the esp (or esm) that uses those resources. I hope that was understandable :)

The PC version comes with the BSA archives. If you want to extract them, you have to use FOMM or FO3ArchiveUtility. If you want to use replacers, you have to install ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated. FOMM can do that for you. I'm not sure that you can't mod Steam games. As long as you keep away from editing the files that were installed, automatic updates should not be a problem for you either.

Same thing with Gothic II. It were different, but not that bad, once you got used to it. Or, well, it were annoying that you could only walk when checking your inventory. The closest that I've seen is my own real-time security overhaul, but it works by removing the hacking and lockpicking menu all together, thereby sidestepping the problem.

If you click on the number of :down:, it will be shown why someone chose to not-endorce the file. Last time I checked, you could also see who not-endorced it, so you can PM them and ask for an elaboration.

You could try Fallout Wanderers Edition *or* Arwens Realism Tweeks to up the realism of the game (not both!). Note that both mods change much more than just weapon damage. Take a look at the gameplay effects and changes section, quests section, or maybe browse the different categories? If you find the minigames annoying, want to hit on a door until it opens or similar, you may also want to check out my own security overhaul.