Is there such thing as a bad install?

[Oruboris]

Is there such a thing as a bad install? I dumped everything-- seemed easier than trying to sort which mods I actually wanted-- and re-installed the game. Took several tries, I had to keep going back and deleting bits and pieces that didn't go when I un-installed.

 

Eventually got the game running, added the official unofficial obmm, realdays. All seem to be working.

 

Downloaded DarkDarnUI, but it won't show in obmm. Downloaded Robert's body replacer, but the 'data/meshes/character' folder in the game doesn't have the files I need to replace.

 

I've had Robert's working on other installs, how is it possible that the correct folder doesnt' exist when the game actually runs?

 

And has anyone else had issues with DarkDarn v. the regular one? I had that going before, too.

 

I'm so frustrated...

 

This is the GOTY if that matters, Vista machine with 64bit, but the game is installed to c:\games\.

 

I guess I want to blame the install since I know how to do that-- when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

 

Would really apppreciate any help...

[TotallyNotToastyFresh]

c:\games\

 

:rolleyes:

 

That would not be the ideal place to install it. It's supposed to be installed to c:\program files\bethesda softworks\oblivion.

[bben46]

My game is in C:\Games also.

 

It doesn't matter where you install it. The info on where things are is in the windows registry folder. Which may not be updated when you reinstalled, possibly giving you a bad install. This procedure allows for removing the references in the registry.

 

Bben46 Complete Reinstall Procedure for Oblivion

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this as it is something I expect to post often and I hate to give bogus or useless information.

 

Even though this has worked for many people, You get a disclaimer, just like the big software companies use to limit liability.

This is usually a last resort and your game is already trashed. I cannot be responsible for any damage you manage to do to your game when trying this. You are free to use this procedure and post it as you see fit. As far as I know, no computer, game or animals have ever been harmed by the indiscriminate use of this procedure.

 

When you uninstall Oblivion it doesn't really uninstall everything. Then when you start adding mods before you have started the game, some things may not get initialized properly. Here is my recommended procedure for uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

The game uninstaller does not remove your mods, save games or Oblivion.ini or the entries that the original installation of Oblivion placed in your Windows registry. It also does not remove helper programs such as OBSE, OBMM, Wrye Bash, The construction set or any other programs you have installed in the \Oblivion folder or the save game folder.

 

DO NOT delete the Oblivion.exe or the Oblivion folder as that will cause problems when you try to uninstall or reinstall - allow the game uninstaller to take care of it.

 

 

Uninstalling Oblivion - you gotta remove it completely before you can reinstall it.

 

DO NOT DELETE THE GAME FOLDERS YET! This is very important.If you delete them,it causes problems later.

 

My instructions assume you are using Windows XP and have installed Oblivion into the default location. If you are using Vista or Linux, the file locations may be different, however, the procedure will be the same.

 

For a full reinstall, first you can try to preserve your mods and save games. I recommend that you save them in a new folder with a new name. Create the new folder in C:\Backup_Oblivion - or any other name you will remember, just as long as it is not in the programs folder.

 

Then copy the data folder where your mods are to the new folder - do not erase them, copy them. And in the new folder, rename the \data folder to \olddata. Then copy and rename the folder that has your saved games and Oblivion.ini, C:\documents and settings\your user name\my documents\My Games\oblivion to something like \My games\Old Oblivion - this saves your saved games and the oblivion.ini file.

 

 

Then, using the original CD, NOT the Launcher on your Hard drive. Select uninstall.

 

After it completes the uninstall, reboot your computer - this is important as it allows Windows to remove some references to the original Oblivion.

 

This would be the time to erase all of the helper programs you have in the \Oblivion folder. Such as OBMM, OBSE and some others. The simplest way is to delete the folder completely. The new install will re create the folder for you along with a fresh oblivion.ini and when you start the game and make a save, a new save folder and new \data folder.

 

Now you can delete the game folders if you want to do a complete fresh reinstall. Your original saved games & mods are backed up if you want to try to resurrect them later.

 

Now to remove the registry entries that were left behind. If all else fails, this usually works to resurrect your game.

 

I do not recommend manually editing the registry unless you know what you are doing. A mistake here could make your entire computer unusable.

 

There are several good programs for removing left behind entries. The one I use is ccleaner. Be sure to reboot before using it, and again after. It is free and available here:

 

http://majorgeeks.com/download4191.html

 

This would also be a good time to do a file clean up. Run the built in Windows 'Disk Cleanup' routine. If you uses the ccleaner, most of this has already been done, but it won't hurt to do it anyway.

 

Now that everything is cleaned up, do a full defrag on your hard drive to leave a large uncluttered area to reinstall to. This prevents your game from installing in a fragmented way, with parts scattered all over the drive. It also will speed up the install a little. It takes a while, but may speed up your game as well as the rest of your computer.

 

At this point Oblivion should not exist on your computer.

 

 

Now to Reinstall.

 

Again using the original CD, install Oblivion.

 

NOTE: If you are using Vista, DO NOT install to the default directory. Instead make a new directory I recommend C:\Games. Install Oblivion there to avoid the hassle with Vista UAC blocking mods.

 

Before adding any mods, patches, helper programs, Shivering Isles or anything else, start the game and make a save. This initializes some stuff that needs to be initialized.

 

If you are using the Game of the Year version of Oblivion you should not need any patches, skip the patching part.

 

Now, If you DO NOT use Shivering Isles, patch the game using ONLY the latest Oblivion patch. All of the stuff from the earlier patches is included.

 

Be sure you use the proper language patch. If you use the wrong one it may work, but with a strange mixture of languages. (Germanglish?) Or it may crash.

 

NOTE: there are two English Patches UK & US and they are different. (Some people actually think we speak the same language) Use the one that matches your original disk.

 

If you use Shivering Isles, Install it now. DO NOT install the Oblivion patch. Install Shivering Isles, then ONLY the latest Shivering Isles patch. All of the updates for Oblivion are included. There is only one Shivering Isles patch for both US & UK English (Maybe sometimes we do speak the same language.)

 

Now, again start the game, make sure it looks right, move around a little to test it, and make a save. Test to be sure everything is working right (No purple objects or yellow blocks)

 

Before adding any mods, back up both your \data folder and the save game folder. Copy them, don't move or rename them, to a different folder - such as \Bethesda\Clean Oblivion\data and \Bethesda\clean Oblivion\saves. Note that this is a different folder than the one used for your old data and saves.

 

Note, Your Oblivion.ini file is in the same folder, but separate from, the save game folder.

 

Now, if you want to try to run with your old mods, first rename the original folders. The \data folder to \newdata and the \oldata back to \data. this restores all of your mods. You should now have 2 data folders \data, and \newdata in your \oblivion folder

 

To restore your original saves and ini file, rename the new My Games\Oblivion to something like \New Oblivion. and the \Old oblivion to \oblivion - this restores all of your saved games and your original Oblivion.ini file.

 

DO NOT erase the files you renamed. These are your backup files in case the original mods do not work or give you the same problem.

 

If you have the same problem, it is most likely caused by a mod. However, you now have a clean install to fall back on. You can You can COPY (NOT move or rename) the backup files back to what they were and be back to your clean install without having to reinstall again.

 

Sounds like lots of work, but you will have a clean install and a back up clean install when you are finished.

[Oruboris]

Toasty: if you are running Vista, it's nearly impossible to use mods if you install it under 'program files'. It's part of Vista's security system.

 

Ben: I dunno, I think I was just rushing too much. Worked my way through your tutorial again, unzipped and copied only the needed folders into the oblivion/data, and now most of them are working fine.

 

Not darkdarnified, though: that's the omod I'm having trouble with. It's got a high rating, so it must work for some people, or maybe they are using the manual install, or maybe my obmm is mucked up...

[TotallyNotToastyFresh]

Toasty: if you are running Vista, it's nearly impossible to use mods if you install it under 'program files'. It's part of Vista's security system.

 

I'm using Vista. I've never had a problem installing mods. ???

 

The only problem with installing mods in places other than the default, is that some mods have that directory as where the .nif file's textures refer to. Then you get the missing texture issue.

[bben46]

If you have the game in the default location on Vista and no problems with mods, then you have UAC - a security feature - turned off, and are running as an administrator. This works very well. However:

 

Turning UAC off is not recommended as it opens a security hole. :ninja: That hole MAY be covered by your Antivirus and a Firewall better that the default MS one. Check your AV & Firewall documentation to see if you are covered. The MS firewall stops a lot of malware from getting IN, but does nothing to stop that which is already on your computer from calling home - And sending a coded message with all of your personal info that it was able to get by having access to the programs that were supposed to be protected by UAC. Yes, UAC is a pain, but so is locking your doors at night. :thumbsup:

 

Installing in a folder NOT the specially protected Programs folder allows Oblivion mods to co exist with UAC. There is no getting around the requirement to run as administrator though.