Need some help with mod load order...

Paxxis · October 16, 2022

Hey there, Storm!

No worries on the timing of your response. Real life comes first, and believe me, I can definitely understand coming home thoroughly worn out. :D

I miss some of the mods I used to enjoy, and I actually found one of the modders whose work I used to absolutely love on a personal website he set up. Unfortunately, he decided to monetize his mods, so, well, you know. LOL

I downloaded a body texture and face skin setup, and it included a save file as an optional file. I snagged that, and have been using that as a test since I deleted all of the other saves, because I remember all of the old warnings about deleting mods/uninstalling mods during a current playthrough.

Trust me, I got pretty excited when I was able to run around inside the vault as well! Once I made it outside, I was ecstatic! And then, well, Boom. lol Good feeling gone.

As for launching the game... I was using Vortex for pretty much everything (including launching the game), but I could find no way of rearranging the load order, which is why I looked at MO2, and finally WyreBash. With WyreBash, I can manipulate the load order, and I can launch the game with F4SE. I could try just running the game launcher, and seeing what that brings. Alternatively, I could run F4SE, and seeing if it will launch the game.

As for the game install, no, I never install games on the OS drive, unless there is no alternative. Currently, the game is on my other drive, which I believe is a HDD (it's a 10 TB drive, so I am guessing it is a HDD). Currently running Windows 11, and I have never used any CC mods.

Thanks again, man, and take your time. Get the rest you need. Real life comes first, and I am sure this problem will still be here. :D

StormWolf01 · October 16, 2022

Hey hey, Pax!

Thanks tons for understanding! And... yes indeed!

Nnnnh. Yeah.

I mean, I know that most of us do this as a hobby. One that sometimes takes a LOT of our personal time, effort, frustration, and sometimes a broken mouse or two :D So I personally can't hold it against modders for wanting to get paid for their work.

But like... if I have to join a patreon club to get a mod? Yeah think I'll probly pass.

But then I hardly ever play the game right now, so that kinda puts me in a different boat.

I do feel you on that tho. A lot of the mods that I've put off checking out, I missed that bus :( Or mods that I've used and try to recommend to others, there's that empty page with an orange stripe.

Sadly, things change. Nothing is gone from the internet forever. Except mods :( :laugh: :laugh:

Mkay. So we can now rule that it is most likely NOT lag from your system, as far as the drive. But try watching your device manager (CTRL + ALT + DEL then choose Device Manager. OR whatever they call it in 11 if they changed the name.) Click on More Details button (unless they changed that too) and watch your system resources being used when you're trying to load up the game.

10Tb, yeah, I'm definitely gonna think that's a magnetic drive. Unless you spent a TON of cash for a chip driven drive. Tho, 10 TB is HUGE for a single stack of platters. Before you head out for work sometime, you may want to run a defrag on that puppy. It will probly take about 18 hours on a drive that size :dry: Longer if it's the first time doing one on the drive. Fortunately it's not the primary drive.

If that's a SSD, DO NOT Defrag the drive. It puts excessive wear on the chips. And they have software compensation to make up for fragmentation of files, which can get buggy if you go moving large amounts of data bytes around by defragmenting. Heating the chips up is the biggest worry tho.

As for launching the game, I'd try doing so through the vanilla launcher first, and then thru f4se. If it works through the vanilla launcher, but not f4se, then that points out at least "A" problem that you've got. (Process of elimination! Tech support's BEST friend!)

If that's the case, then either some of the supportive, required software of f4se may need to be updated (especially with a New O/S like 11) or reinstalled. Or it might be a bad f4se mod that is causing the hang. I shouldn't say "bad mod", ummm... can't think of a better word choice ATM.

I'd do this before the defrag, btw.

Another thing that happens with secondary drives, and this is TEDIOUS, because windows doesn't handle it properly. Go thru windows explorer (or the alternative, if you use one) Open up the drive letter designation for the drive, and RIGHT Click on one of the folders on the drive. Then choose Properties. Check to see if the folders in that drive have any restrictions on them. Especially Read Only.

If so, you're going to need to manually remove those. I dunno about 11, but 10 and 8 flubbed that up. Using the "Do this for the entire drive" and "Do this for subfolders" doesn't work.

To this very day, I have to go in and redo that on my secondary SSD on my gaming laptop, because win10 resets it to read only repeatedly.

Wryebash I don't have any experience with. So I'm not familiar with it at all. I used Vortex for a very short time, but that was years ago. Tho I THINK you can manipulate the load order in Vortex via drag and drop in the list. I dunno tho.

Maybe 1ae or another member can give more details on that.

Paxxis · October 18, 2022

Top of the morning to you, Storm!

Not a problem at all. Like I said, I get it.

Anyone who has the ability to create these mods is absolutely amazing, in my book. For one thing, they are doing things I do not have the time nor generally the patience to do. :D That being said, I am not one who is going to drop $25 for a patreon just so I can get a couple of mods. But that is just me.

And yes, mods can be removed from the internets, whether we like it or not. LOL

Sucks too, because I can't find a couple companion mods I used to really enjoy... Ah, well.

The Device Mangler (Ok, "Manager"... :D ) shows me that everything seems to be running just fine. And yes, even in Win11, it is still Ctrl+Alt+Del, Task Manager, etc. I took a look at the Device Mangler, and yes, it is a HDD, not a SSD. Gods, the thought of defragging this beast... *shudders* :D

I launched the game through the vanilla launcher. Well, ok, let me back up. I TRIED to launch the game through the vanilla launcher. Launcher loaded fine, I clicked "Play", the screen flashed black once or twice, and then... Nothing. So I tried via F4SE, and got the same exact result. And yes, troubleshooting through process of elimination is usually the way I go, but I just find myself in over my head on this one. Plus having the time to be able to actually sit down, and crunch through it sometimes is, well... :D

I tend to think of mods as either mods I would use, or mods I wouldn't. Rarely do I see a "bad" mod. Maybe some that are not to my tastes, but hey, to each their own. That being said, their can always be problems with the coding. So, problematic mods through faulty programming...? Nah, too much of a mouthful. LOL

I will look into the folder properties, and see how that looks, and see how much tweaking they need. Also, I have the most recent crash log from Buffout 4, if that would help at all. As for Vortex, I never figured out how to rearrange the load order, which is why I went to MO2, and then to WyreBash. LOL

Paxxis · October 19, 2022

Heyas Storm!

Well, I think I hosed my install. Someone was trying to walk me through a couple of things, and now the game won't even launch. So I am thinking I have to reinstall, and try again. :(

And if Round 2 is anything like Round 1, then yeah, I will most likely need help. LOL Not touching it today, as I am not going to be by my computer enough to be able to do so. But tomorrow... Now that's a different story! :D

And I still have the last Buffout log, and can also show you the mods I was hoping to load, if any of that helps at all.

StormWolf01 · October 20, 2022

Hey Hey Paxxis!

OH NO! Steps backwards are NOT good! :facepalm: :ohdear: :ohdear:

You can go ahead and post the log if you want to, it can't hurt. I myself don't have any experience with buffout, but I may be able to internet search the error codes. And there are others here that do use it, and work with it.

Device Mangler!! LMAO! I LOVE IT! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah. I have a 4 tb drive. 3 days. That's how long that puppy took on it's first defrag. And that was long enough to disabuse me of the notion of wanting to do That again!

So I cannot blame you in the Least!! :laugh: :laugh:

Or if I do, I'm plugging it into a spare computer, and just let that one do the work.

Ok. I'll tell you what. First and foremost, we need to get you into a working game. A working game with mods, that's step 2.

So don't go uninstalling anything yet. Post the codes, and we will see what that has to say.

In the meantime, since you have a nice, big, spare HDD, lets make you a working backup.

Just for the now. Go into your steam folder, and rename your Fallout4 folder, into something like CrapFallout4. Or something, LOL.

Redownload the game, Steam should give you the Fallout4 folder again.

Create a new folder in the drive. Name it something like Fallout4 Vanilla Backup.

Cut and paste the fresh downloaded copy into that folder. This way, you have a backup of the vanilla files, and will not need to download them repeatedly after this.

Then, go back and rename your original folder in steam back to Fallout4.

PS! Now ok, I haven't used Vortex in at least 2 years, and it was very minimally at that. So I don't know if this guide is relevant, still or not. it was written last year, and I haven't kept up to date on the developments of the software.

1ae would definitely know if they reads this.

https://www.spicybuffalo.com/how-to/how-to-change-the-load-order-in-vortex/

PS2: After you get the vanilla files copied over, post a list or screenshot (I prefer screenshots, but lists are fine) of the mods you're wanting to try out. And we will look at which ones you should start with, and go it bit by bit.

AFTER we get you actually able to play, tho! ;)

Paxxis · October 20, 2022

Hey Storm!

Yeah, I felt like I was hitting my head against the wall.

Yep. Device Mangler. Been using that one for many years. LOL

Wow. 3 days for a 4TB... Just trying to wrap my head around how long a 10TB would take... *shudder*

I will post the Buffout log at the end of this. If someone sees it and can figure it out, great. If not, well, that is ok too.

Ok. Working game first. I Have renamed the original folder from Fallout 4 to Crapout 4. :D I will reinstall, and then backup the vanilla files, so that I have a local copy. Once I have the backup, I will see if I can get the base game working, just as a test. I will also take a look at that guide you linked, and see what is offered there.

Oh, and I think the Buffout log has a list of the mods, but I will see if I can pull something from WyreBash as well.

Reveal hidden contents

Paxxis · October 20, 2022

Ok, Storm!

I have a backup copy of the install files securely tucked away in a separate folder, and I tested the fresh install. I am able (so far) to play. Went through making a new character, and it went flawlessly. Now to see if I can pull a complete mod list from WyreBash or Vortex. :)

Paxxis · October 20, 2022

Hey Storm.

Here is the complete mod list (or at least, it should be). Couldn't find an easy way to export it, so this is what I've got. I know, they're not really grouped very well, but for the most part, there shouldn't be very many conflicts. In fact, only 1 comes up as yellow in WyreBash.

Reveal hidden contents

I will hold off on doing anything with it until you are around though. And thanks again!

StormWolf01 · October 21, 2022

YES!!!

Phase 1: Success!! :dance: :dance:

Ok. so now that you've got a character in the game here's what I want you to do.

First I want you to load up your working character, then open the creator's console.

Type in showspecialmenu and then hit enter, and then exit the console. Once you exit, the menu will open up. From there, you can change your character's name.

Change your toon's name to something simple. Like Test01 or whatever. Exit the menu, and if the game doesn't do a save, then do a hard save right after.

Rinse and repeat this, til you have reached Test06 Or whatever.

What that does, it pretty much create 6 working copies of your character. All their current history (yeah, I know that's a paradox) and current save information is now transferred to Test01, Test02, Test03 thru Test06.

This is a method that I call "Forking" Because it forks your current save to other characters. Like a fork in the road, a fork in a tree, etc. As backups, or in this case TEST characters to test mods on. :wink:

Generally, I use a mod called Cheat Terminal to do this. But right now we're wanting to make clean saves with no mods.

Ok, once you've done that.

[EDIT] 1st make sure that you've done your .ini edits to enable mods! [/EDIT]

Install JUST your mod manager.

Test the game, on a test save.

Install F4se (if you're going to be using it), test. On the same test char.

Activate DLC material (if you are using any) Test. On the same test char.

Take this step by step by step. Testing on the same character each time. When/IF you get hit with a failure, we can definitely narrow down the culprit.

KK now I'ma gonna take a look at your list! :wink:

StormWolf01 · October 21, 2022

Ok, so once we've got test chars set up,and verified a working install... Load Order.

You've got a LOT on that list that I don't have any experience with, so lets just go with the tried and true Test, and use process of elimination.

On the same test char, start with the big ones first. Like the masters files. And the ones that affect the most stuff. Like Armor Keywords, Unofficial Patch.

Install only 2 or 3 at a time, and then Test. Yeah, that's gonna be tedious. :confused: I'm sorry :(

I Keep a notepad .txt file that I use to document the name of the mod I install, what it does, and when I installed it. Keeping a record of what you're doing, or a picture diary (screenshots) Could be a valuable thing.

During this testing phase do not let the mod manager go about setting up a load order. Just install, and see if it works.

If you start getting into the list, and you have a fail like before.

Stop.

Look over what you just installed, Document that you had a fail, and remove those two or three.

From the load character menu, DELETE that save char.

Test those two or three, one by one, on a DIFFERENT save char than the one you had just been using.

Rinse and repeat. A lot :(

Charlies God Chest. :laugh: :laugh: HEHEHEHE!! I'm sooo glad to be seeing that in a load order! That's a good mod! I've modified that mod with all kinds of goodies! Frag grenades, extra ammo, a few extra stim packs, all kinds of stuff! :D

Fallout 4

Need some help with mod load order...

Recommended Posts

Paxxis

StormWolf01

Paxxis

Paxxis

StormWolf01

Paxxis

Paxxis

Paxxis

StormWolf01

StormWolf01

Recently Browsing 0 members

Browse

Activity

My Activity Streams

Explore