I'm truly at a loss and completely stuck...

[BlueBearOne]

I've done a LOT of modding over various collections on Fallout 4. Something went wrong when installing a new ENB (only a black screen). LONG STORY SHORT...I had to reinstall Vortex (I know, ostensibly unrelated). Nevertheless...upon Vortex reinstallation, Fallout 4 will not load. Not even to the the splash screen wherein you can select options.

 

ANOTHER LONG STORY SHORT, I couldn't fix it and gave up. I completely deleted the ENB files (left the ReShader stuff) and then deleted it from Steam. I did a fresh reinstall on steam. I started it up to create the .ini. I recleaned the 6 main esp files (the DLCs). I then cleaned the Unoffical patch. I reinstalled a NEW and FRESH copy of F4SE (seemingly the most likely culprit since it doesn't load).

 

I just tried to start up this FRESH install. The ONLY mods loaded are: xSE Pluging Preloader, Unofficial Fallout 4 patch, Fallout 4 Script Extender (again, a manual fresh install), and the F4SE Address Library.

 

*SAME PROBLEM*. Yes, the HD DLC is not selected (never was). Yes, this was working before that fated Vortex Install. Yes, all other games are working via Vortex including their mods. This includes the Fallout Series, they all work. This is just with Fallout 4.

 

What can I do? I have no idea what else to try so I can start over. Shame....it was working really well too. This all started when I wanted to switch from the NAC X ENB to the Parallax and ReShader ENB which is most likely a completely unrelated and coincidental thing.

 

Please help as I'm all out of moves. If a steam delete and reinstall + fresh F4SE + Recleaning of 6 DLCs and Unofficial Patch with latest FO4Edit doesn't work and the damn thing won't even start...I don't know what else to do.

 

Please note, I'm not sure I'd call this a CTD. It doesn't even seem to get that far. I see the spinning circle on Vortex when launching F4SE but NOTHING happens next. It just stops.

 

Also, trying to launch manually straight from Steam has the same end result. This is also true after the fresh install. I'm completely perplexed.

 

Thanks for you help. It is greatly appreciated!

 

 

[Guest deleted34304850]

none of this makes sense.

i'd suggest your reinstall of vortex is going to be a factor here. why would you need to do that?

if you want to go back to a "clean" install - then fire up vortex - purge all your mods - all of them.

then go to your fallout 4 folder and delete the data directory.

then get steam to validate your files - it will create a new data directory.

when its done - start fallout4 - does it work? it should.

 

from there - you have a stable and working base game that will allow you to mod it fresh.

[Dreadshow]

 

Also, trying to launch manually straight from Steam has the same end result. This is also true after the fresh install. I'm completely perplexed.

 

 

So first fix this ^.

Uninstall Vortex and reinstall Fallout4 from Steam in a new directory.

No mods loaded just Vanilla Fallout 4 with the DLCs minus HD, Start it once through the launcher, if you get to start menu, close the game and start it, from the executable not the launcher or Steam. (F4SE uses the executable not the launcher or Steam).

 

If you get to the start menu, Install Vortex and F4SE and nothing else and start it.

[BlueBearOne]

I had to reinstall Vortex because it froze up so bad that I couldn't even shut it down with windows task manager. And then it gave me some kind of error on loadup..waiting on an extension to load (gamebro something or other). But the error message said it was likely from an error and it was correct. It never resolved. So I reinstalled Vortex. The mod purging I had done several times without success but I never deleted the Data folder. I just assumed the data folder was part of the Steam install that Vortex (and mods) manipulates as it needs to and, thus, was deleted when I uninstalled from Steam and then reinstalled the game fresh. Sounds like maybe that was a bad assumption.

 

From your post, I'm gathering that the Data folder likely survived the uninstall and reinstall of the game using Steam? Does one need to go in and make sure everything in the {Steam}/common/Fallout4/ directory is deleted after an uninstall? Did the Data folder survive this process?

 

What *is* the data folder exactly? Is it a part of the game or completely separate and external and, thus, not deleted when you uninstall a game?

 

Thanks, I'm still very new to this and have learned so much but still quite the novice. Definitely still at the "don't know what I don't know stage". I appreciate your help!

[Guest deleted34304850]

the data directory holds mod files and script extender files and is where your mod manager will write to.

after purging all your mods, the data directory should be empty - but often isn't. so deleting the directory completely takes care of that.

then, after validating your game files via steam, it will recreate a new, empty data folder for you.

start the game - it should start up and let you do the opening quests. if it does, you're fine and dandy, if it doesn't, then something else is in play. this method is pretty much foolproof.

before you mod a game, any game, you first have to make sure it works "out of the box" to give you a stable environment to start modding. the method i documented above, is how you do that.

[BlueBearOne]

Thank you! I will remember this always. It has been very helpful. It worked great! Now, interestingly enough...when I booted it up the first time (never opening Vortex so not modded in ANY way yet with the exception of ReShade (remember, I said I never deleted that? it was literally the ONLY thing I never deleted). It booted up fine and I could hear it running. Black screen though. Which is what ultimately started this journey (when I installed the Parallax ENB + ReShader mod, I assumed I messed up the ENB install...oops). But it is stable and working. Matter of fact, as I was sifting through all of ReShader's options in vain looking for something I could tick off to see the game instead of a black screen (first time user...man am I clueless on this one), I scrolled through the...statistics page? Lots of scrolling...I noticed it appeared ReShade was showing different things it was doing to the screen (just a guess) and LO AND BEHOLD...one version of it was showing on this page was, ostensibly, the game screen not post processed. And I could play the game through this window and see it just fine! Obviously, this isn't a fix but at least I know the game is working.

 

Obviously, I could just delete ReShade and take my losses. But I'm too stubborn and I want to learn! So, I've been researching. nVidia and others recommended if you have two graphic cards that the ENB and ReShade might not be loading different .DLL files appropriately and I should revisit the mod page and reread the directions. So heading there now. nVidia also recommended that I manually tell the nVidia program to use my 2080 RTX (I have a Dell Alienware m51 which has both integrated graphics card and a desktop version of a 2080 RTX). So I did that. I think I passed out at this point because I can't remember the results. Be back soon to report if it worked. Meanwhile, know of anything I need to check off to get ReShade to not stick me with a solid black box? When I hit home, the ReShade overlay comes up and operates just fine (which is how I saw what I saw on the statistics page...if I'm remembering that correctly).

 

All drivers are 100% up to date.

 

Also, no mods at all nor is there ANY ENB at all.

 

Thanks again and hope to talk to you soon :)

[StormWolf01]

Ok this is totally off topic, and I apologize for that. Also that this isn't a problem that I can currently weigh in on.

I did want to make a suggestion tho.

BlueBear: Change your avatar! Facial recognition software has come a very long way in recent years. And there can be some very, very mean people on the internet. You wouldn't put your fingerprints, or your social security number on the 'net. Don't put your face out there, either.

 

But good luck with the problem that you're having, glad to see that you're making some progress.

[BlueBearOne]

hmmm. Dang. Why didn't I think of that. Thanks mate! I will do it now! Anything until I find something cool that I feel represents me. What a "duh" moment for me! Thanks bro!

[StormWolf01]

I like the dragon! Great choice, even if it's just as a placeholder :D :thumbsup:

No worries, and glad to be of some help. We gotta look out for each other in these weird times :wink:

Good luck with getting the game running. I wish I could help you out more with that. But I don't use Vortex. But 1ae is one of the specialists at it, and really knows what they're talking about when it comes to that. :wink:

[G4M3W1NN3R]

in fallout 4 root folder - open: xSE PluginPreloader.xml - look for: <LoadMethod Name="ImportAddressHook"> and change *importAddresshook* to *OnThreadAttach* <-- (without the asteriks)

 

so it will now be: <LoadMethod Name="OnThreadAttach">

 

save the xml, and try launching f4se again.

 

Note: the above assumes you are having problems getting Fallout 4 to launch with Reshade + Pluginpreloader, and likewise also assumes that Reshade uses a DLL, (i dont use reshade so im not sure if it does), if Reshade does not rely on DLL files, then you can ignore this post as it wont be relevant.

Edited September 9, 2022 by G4M3W1NN3R