help a poor newbie to mods?

[iacuoj47]

alrighty, im having trouble with them. i download, then i go to data files, and it doesn't appear there. i downloaded it in the Data file of the Oblivion game, but it just won't even show.

[Sin911]

It sounds like you haven't uncompressed and installed the files. Read this: http://thenexusforums.com/index.php?showtopic=21998

Hopefully this will help :)

[bben46]

I have a set of help files for people new to mods. They include downloading, extracting (unzipping) installing and activating mods. I have included a sample mod to practice on and instructions for installing and using 7-zip. If you are interested, click on the highlighted link below to be taken to the site where they are kept. I recommend starting with #1 and working your way through them.

 

http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheStormRavenLibrary/forum/256092/

[iacuoj47]

I have a set of help files for people new to mods. They include downloading, extracting (unzipping) installing and activating mods. I have included a sample mod to practice on and instructions for installing and using 7-zip. If you are interested, click on the highlighted link below to be taken to the site where they are kept. I recommend starting with #1 and working your way through them.

 

http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheStormRavenLibrary/forum/256092/

hey thanks for making the guide, i am having troubles with the following part:

There is a description that you should read, an image (picture ) of what the file looks like when it is used, and, near the center of your screen you should see a Files(1) - this is where the downloadable file is located. left click on it. Now you should see 7-ZIP 457. (The 457 may be a different number as that is the revision number)

 

Left click on the 7-ZIP 457. A pop up window will appear with Opening 7-ZIP_457 at the top.

 

no square ---->There are 3 choices, 2 indicated by round selection boxes and the third is a square.

 

just see open, save and cancel, and when i press save it wants me to save it somewhere. where should i save it?I put it in Data but cannot find ------>You want the second, Save to Disk. Click on the circle and it will be filled by a green dot indicating that is your choice Don't worry about the Open with circle.

You can also select the square so it will automatically save to disk instead of asking next time you download something.

 

not showing in Data ---->Now click on the OK. you may have to click twice, once to 'wake it up' and the second to select it. A new pop up should appear. At the top it should have

'Enter Name of File to save to...' then below that Save in and a data entry box. On the left below the save in: look for Desktop and click it. then find your new 'Oblivion Downloads' folder in the window and click on it. The window should go blank. (you haven't put anything in it yet.) as we don't want to change either the file name or save as type, leave them as they are. click on the SAVE block Both of the pop up windows should vanish. You have now finished your first download. Next, you should check out the thread on how to File compression Basics to see what to do with your newly downloaded file.

[bben46]

If you followed my directions, your downloaded compressed file (zipped) will be either on your desk top or in a new folder that you created. For the 7-zip file it doesn't matter because it is not a mod, but a program that will be used to uncompress the mods after you have downloaded them. The z-zip has a self installing function that mods don't have. When you click on it, it will uncompress itself and install itself in the proper folder on your computer. That is covered in the next section of the help files.

 

My instructions are using Firefox browser, if you are using Internet Explorer the screens may look different, but should be similar.

 

So what you do with the 7-zip is download (copy it from the tesnexus to your computer) , then click on what you downloaded - and follow the instructions to install it. Once it is set up it will automatically run when you want to uncompress (unzip) mod files.

 

I don't have the time right now, I will try to get a set of screenshots of the process up tomorrow.

Hope you can hold out till then.

[iacuoj47]

If you followed my directions, your downloaded compressed file (zipped) will be either on your desk top or in a new folder that you created. For the 7-zip file it doesn't matter because it is not a mod, but a program that will be used to uncompress the mods after you have downloaded them. The z-zip has a self installing function that mods don't have. When you click on it, it will uncompress itself and install itself in the proper folder on your computer. That is covered in the next section of the help files.

 

My instructions are using Firefox browser, if you are using Internet Explorer the screens may look different, but should be similar.

 

So what you do with the 7-zip is download (copy it from the tesnexus to your computer) , then click on what you downloaded - and follow the instructions to install it. Once it is set up it will automatically run when you want to uncompress (unzip) mod files.

 

I don't have the time right now, I will try to get a set of screenshots of the process up tomorrow.

Hope you can hold out till then.

 

k thanks for pictures, i got to this far

Open the Bben_Test_Dagger sub folder and double click on the Bben_Test_Dagger.7z file. It should open a window showing you what files are in the zip file. There should be 3 files showing, Bben_Test_Dagger.esp, Readme.txt. And bben_test_dagger.bmp. There may be as few as one and as many as over a hundred files in a zip. That's why I recommend a simple file first.

 

I open it, anbd it gives a msg saying that it cannot find the file.

[bben46]

Is it opening with the z-zip program? If not, you likely didn't associate the various types of zip files with 7-zip when you installed it.

 

Instead of reinstalling, try this. From the Windows Desktop, click on Start, Settings, Control Panel, Folder options.

 

On the Folder Options screen, click on the File Types tab at the top.

 

You should see a list of program extensions ( the 3 letters after the dot in a file name) and the application that opens them.

Scroll down until you find 7Z. click once on it.

 

Below you will see a section labeled "Details for '7Z' extension"

under that you will see Opens with - and it should say 7-Zip File manager. If it does, move to the next type. If it does not, then click on the CHANGE block. A pop up should show you a list of programs. 7-Zip should be in the recomended programs. if it is, click on it. If not, click on browse and search your file structure for wherever you installed 7-zip. in the 7-Zip folder, select 7-ZIP 7zFM.exe

 

Scroll on down the file types and find RAR and do the same with it - associate it with the 7-zip file manager (7zFM.exe)

Then way down at the bottom of the list, find ZIP and associate it also.

 

If you do not see RAR, don't worry, that just means you don't have any .rar files yet. The important one here is the 7-zip.

 

After you have set up the files to associate with 7-zip, click on the Apply block, then the close block.

 

Now try opening the Bben_test_dagger.7z again.

[iacuoj47]

Is it opening with the z-zip program? If not, you likely didn't associate the various types of zip files with 7-zip when you installed it.

 

Instead of reinstalling, try this. From the Windows Desktop, click on Start, Settings, Control Panel, Folder options.

 

On the Folder Options screen, click on the File Types tab at the top.

 

You should see a list of program extensions ( the 3 letters after the dot in a file name) and the application that opens them.

Scroll down until you find 7Z. click once on it.

 

Below you will see a section labeled "Details for '7Z' extension"

under that you will see Opens with - and it should say 7-Zip File manager. If it does, move to the next type. If it does not, then click on the CHANGE block. A pop up should show you a list of programs. 7-Zip should be in the recomended programs. if it is, click on it. If not, click on browse and search your file structure for wherever you installed 7-zip. in the 7-Zip folder, select 7-ZIP 7zFM.exe

 

Scroll on down the file types and find RAR and do the same with it - associate it with the 7-zip file manager (7zFM.exe)

Then way down at the bottom of the list, find ZIP and associate it also.

 

If you do not see RAR, don't worry, that just means you don't have any .rar files yet. The important one here is the 7-zip.

 

After you have set up the files to associate with 7-zip, click on the Apply block, then the close block.

 

Now try opening the Bben_test_dagger.7z again.

not getting a File Types Tab, what would be the alternative to do it? and i thank you again for your patience with me

[bben46]

Folder options - this is part of windows. The arrow is pointing to the File types tab. Click on it.

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions1.jpg

 

This is the File Types menu. scroll in this window

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/Folderoptions2.jpg

 

When you find 7z, stop and click on it

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions3.jpg

 

To change the file association That means the program that opens this type of file click on change.

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions4.jpg

 

Change it to 7-zip.

[iacuoj47]

Folder options - this is part of windows. The arrow is pointing to the File types tab. Click on it.

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions1.jpg

 

This is the File Types menu. scroll in this window

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/Folderoptions2.jpg

 

When you find 7z, stop and click on it

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions3.jpg

 

To change the file association That means the program that opens this type of file click on change.

 

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/bben46/Screen%20Shots/7-Zip%20Instructions/FolderOptions4.jpg

 

Change it to 7-zip.

will not show up for me. does this mean i can't mod my oblivion game?