I want to make a clean save file without losing my character...

[abefromansk]

I've been using my current character for some time now, and over the course of his lifespan I've added and removed several mods, which obviously harms the stability of the save files. It's been getting noticeably unstable recently and I was hoping to make a completely clean save. What I mean is that I want to reinstall Skyrim with no mods, then add only the essential ones (limit it to a reasonable number) and keep it that way, perhaps adding a few more mods here and there.

So... is this possible? If I do this, will everything be fixed, or am I going to have to do something more? I really like this character and I'd hate to lose him. As a last resort, I was thinking that I could just create a new character and use the console to get me back where I was (complete all of my quests, get my items back and boost my level back up). If all else fails, would this work?

I'm practically clueless when it comes to this sort of thing. I appreciate any help you can give me.

As a side note, what is the maximum number of mods would you guys suggest running at once? I've tried to limit myself recently (a few months ago I was probably running more than 150); I think my current character is using about 60 or 70, but most of them a considerably small and don't add tons of new things to the game.

 

I attached my load order, too. Note that I do have the Dragonborn DLC, but it is not actively selected. As such, I haven't updated any of my mods to be Dragonborn compatible (such as SkyRe). I was playing earlier and was attacked by the Cultists that start the DLC even though I hadn't activated Dragonborn.esp (evidently it got activated on its own somehow), but I didn't have any issues while it was on.

Thanks.

Edited July 23, 2013 by abefromansk

[Skayrum]

Its possible but you'll have to delete the skyrim folder before you re-install.

[abefromansk]

Alright... so, delete the Skyrim folder (should I delete the .ini too?), reinstall the game, and reinstall the mods I want. Will that work?

[ripple]

That won't clean orphan data already baked into your save game. To do that, you can use SKSE's 'clearinvalidregistration' function (the documentation for setting that up is in the readme), which will address orphan onupdate events. There are more invasive methods, but in my opinion, they are so destructive to save games that you are actually better off starting a new game. Using console to edit a new character's perks and skills is easy. Just Google for the appropriate console codes and gather what you need. Consoling past quest stages or to force their completion is not recommended. It can break quests and various things dependent on quest stages or quest specific variables as condition checks. If you are not doing testing for a mod, it is better to play the game and complete quests normally.

Edited July 23, 2013 by ripple

[prod80]

corrupted save = corrupted save

 

doing a reinstall in an attempt to fix it will in all likeliness only make matters worse.

 

there's no save way to fix a save game gone bad... SKSE might fix some thing, but it will not be able to fix a whole lot of others... the process to "zero" the papyrus section of a save game in order to erase all scripts is not recommended and should only be used in a very last attempt to save your game. Beware... your game might break (quests, etc) and is really everyone's best guess if it will work or not. I tried it twice in my live -> same result -> great game, very clean right after, and two days (not game days) later everything going banana's. Though for some people it has been successful. Application here: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/31675/

 

if your current mods are what you wanna use, your best way is just to remove the save games and simply start over... (that's what I would do) be more careful this time and don't remove/add mods just for the heck of it.

 

Your save game remembers everything that happened, and mods change things in it in ways that your save game relies on them. Then when they are removed it causes conflicts which may or may not show themselves initially, or might not be sufficient to break the game into a state where it constantly CTD. However if you keep removing/adding mods this point will be reached and will be very hard to recover from.

[Skayrum]

A word of advice, before installing new mods you should always make a clean save in case things go wrong

[abefromansk]

Alright. So I guess completely saving this character isn't going to happen. Thankfully, my save files aren't completely corrupted. Not yet anyway.

 

Let's change the topic to one of the big issues I'm having: I can't use any crafting stations, or sit down. Well, that's not quite true. I can use the stations for about 2 seconds, and then my character is forced away and the crafting menu closes. Same thing with sitting: I'll sit for a second or two and stand back up. This isn't a huge issue, since I don't use smithing at all, but I still need to tan leather on ocassion, and I really want to build my own house later on (and I'm pretty sure the quest Season Unending requires you to sit). At first I thought this was Economics of Skyrim, a mod that, among other things, made you pay to rent public crafting stations, that I uninstalled not too long ago. I reinstalled that mod, though, and the problem still persists. Is there anyone who could point me in the right direction here?

 

EDIT: Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! I just updated a few mods, and what do you know: I can sit down and craft stuff again! I guess that takes care of that.

Edited July 24, 2013 by abefromansk