ERROR: Unable to update masterlist, Failed to load master-/userlist

[philipjafry]

Hello, thank you for the reply... over the weekend I couldn't test out your solution. Finally yesterday evening I could have a try, but the result was the same as I wrote at the beginning of this topic.

 

I brought along the notebook to the office today, so I can perform a hard OS reset and reinstallation while I am working.

 

I think 99/100 this is OS related, so I backed up the few files I had inside this notebook and I am downloading windows from scratch.

Let's see what will happen after an OS restore.

 

I really want Vortex to work on this spare Notebook, as my daily driver is a mac OS, and recently I've received my Steam deck, so I got back into Skyrim modding.

At first, I used my GF windows laptop to install mods and then copy-pasted the data folder onto my steam deck. But since my LO is getting bigger and bigger and thus more time-consuming, it is not fair to steal her laptop for hours anymore.

 

Thank you again for the support!

I'll keep you posted later

[philipjafry]

HUGE UPDATE -I realized what is causing the problem!!!

 

While I was writing the last post, it came to my mind that it has been a few weeks since my last mod list update (on my GF notebook).

And currently, we are located in Mainland China for work. I actually hadn't verified if my GF notebook was having the same problem... and boom... here it is... UNABLE TO UPDATE THE MASTER LIST.

 

I am now sure this is 100% related to the connection then.

Probably the great firewall (I do not know if you are aware of it, but basically in China 3/4 of the internet is not accessible) is blocking the connection.

This was actually my first suspicion, but since I've tested Vortex both with a regular internet connection and also while running a VPN service (I've used Astrill for the last 5 years with no issue at all), I thought it was not related to me being in China.

The weird thing is that Vortex will not update the master list even if I have an active VPN connection.

 

So I guess the next question is:

 

HOW CAN I MAKE VORTEX WORK WITH A VPN SERVICE?

 

 

Thanks

[Pickysaurus]

If GitHub is blocked in China that makes sense (that's where the LOOT lists come from).

 

To use a VPN, just run the VPN as your primary network connection in Windows are Vortex will use it automatically.

[philipjafry]

If GitHub is blocked in China that makes sense (that's where the LOOT lists come from).

 

To use a VPN, just run the VPN as your primary network connection in Windows are Vortex will use it automatically.

 

I've run some tests:

 

Running a VPN or not, makes no difference.

 

The Astrill app allows for 3 different VPN protocols: OpenWeb, Stealth, and Wireguard.

I've tried one by one all the protocols. But I keep getting those errors and the problem seems to be affecting only the masterlist update.

In fact, I can browse the in-APP support tab, can download mods with manager with no issue at all.... but those 3 errors keep coming up no matter what I do.

 

Moreover, to my surprise, I can ensure sure that both GitHub and Nexus Mods are accessible even without a VPN...

 

I really have no clue now about what to do... the funny thing is that a standalone LOOT installation is working with no issue whatsoever.

 

So I guess: since we are apparently not able to solve this issue. How likely would be to use Vortex without?

 

If every time I need to sort mods, I'll exit Vortex and run LOOT will the changes to the load order be successfully transferred to Vortex once opened up again?

Would this be a reliable workaround? Another option that is coming to my mind is to add LOOT as an exe in Vortex. Would this be a better option?

 

Lastly, should I just ignore the errors, or should I entirely disable the plugin manager extension?

 

Thanks a lot!

[Pickysaurus]

Ultimately this is a permissions issue of some kind. (Which is what the original error was saying).

 

My only other suggestion would be to rename your %appdata% folder, then completely uninstall Vortex and delete the folder in Program Files. Install it fresh and see if that does anything. I'm not sure it will though, my suspicion is there's a security app getting in the way here.

 

Did you end up reinstalling your OS as you said? Did that help?

 

Without the LOOT lists Vortex's built-in LOOT support cannot operate. This means you can't sort or re-order your plugins in the app.

 

You can use LOOT externally to do this.

[philipjafry]

Ye

 

Ultimately this is a permissions issue of some kind. (Which is what the original error was saying).

 

My only other suggestion would be to rename your %appdata% folder, then completely uninstall Vortex and delete the folder in Program Files. Install it fresh and see if that does anything. I'm not sure it will though, my suspicion is there's a security app getting in the way here.

 

Did you end up reinstalling your OS as you said? Did that help?

 

Without the LOOT lists Vortex's built-in LOOT support cannot operate. This means you can't sort or re-order your plugins in the app.

 

You can use LOOT externally to do this.

 

 

 

I've tried every suggestion already. And yes, I am on a fresh windows install now, so permission shouldn't be an issue.

 

I will investigate a bit more once I can use my GF laptop, and see if I can successfully use Vortex on that.

 

Otherwise, the best option is currently to disable the plugin manager extension and run Loot externally.

[philipjafry]

Ultimately this is a permissions issue of some kind. (Which is what the original error was saying).

 

My only other suggestion would be to rename your %appdata% folder, then completely uninstall Vortex and delete the folder in Program Files. Install it fresh and see if that does anything. I'm not sure it will though, my suspicion is there's a security app getting in the way here.

 

Did you end up reinstalling your OS as you said? Did that help?

 

Without the LOOT lists Vortex's built-in LOOT support cannot operate. This means you can't sort or re-order your plugins in the app.

 

You can use LOOT externally to do this.

 

 

First, I am a freaking idiot!!

 

You'll be glad to hear that the problem has been solved! The VPN APP had a recent update (after 5 years) and introduced an option, selected by default, to only channel the browser through the VPN.

I do not know why standalone Loot seems to work even with this option flagged, and Vortex doesn't. It probably has something to do with how the masterlist fetching is configured... but anyway....

 

PROBLEM:

THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUE TO PERMISSION ISSUES.

THE PROBLEM WAS INDEED DUE TO A NETWORK ERROR.

 

SOLUTION:

GitHub is accessible even without a VPN, but this is probably partially true. I think the great firewall is killing the connection when you try to access certain hosted content, masterlists apparently being one of those.

I can't believe I lost my mind for more than a week over this, the solution was a simple option flag.

I am sorry to make you lose your time on this. But I am super grateful for the help given.

I truly appreciate the commitment

The closure here is. If you need to use Vortex with a VPN service. Ensure that the VPN APP does not have an option for tunneling the browser only active by default. In my case this was Astrill.

I can now confirm that this issue has been solved and that Vortex is working like a charm with VPN in Mainland China.

Happy modding!