Vortex, FNIS and a custom Skyrim SSE directory

[MaximumBooger]

So after the 6.640 update trashed some of my mods, I decided to rebuild my mods with a downgraded Skyrim (back to 1.5.97)

 

It runs fine. Except....

 

I've installed it to:

 

D:\Skyrim Special Edition-5.97\

 

(by copying my Steam Skyrim directory and running https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/57618 on it)

 

And when I try running FNIS it spits this warning back at me.

FNIS Behavior V7.6 XXL   1/18/2023 3:50:25 AM
Generator: D:\Skyrim Special Edition-5.97\Data\tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users\GenerateFNISforUsers.exe
>>Warning: Bad installation. Generator not run from <Skyrim_Data>\Tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users. If you use a mod manager, run FNIS from its list of supported tools.<<
Skyrim SE 64bit: ??.??.?? - D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\ (Steam)
>>Warning: Expected generator path: D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\data\tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users not found<<

The Vortex autogenerated tool shortcut has these entries:

 

Target: D:\Skyrim Special Edition-5.97\Data\tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users\GenerateFNISForUsers.exe

Start In: D:\Skyrim Special Edition-5.97\Data\tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users

 

So the question is... can FNIS be ran on a Skyrim install directory that is not in the Steam default location? Or perhaps this is a hard coded limitation related to the original mod author's attempts to encode anti-piracy protection into FNIS?

 

I've spent a couple hours searching for a solution online and I've got nothing.

 

The Steam install of (1.6.640) is in

 

D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\

 

I previously had a heavily modded version of (1.6.353) in that steam folder and I never had an issue with FNIS.

Edited January 18, 2023 by MaximumBooger

[Pickysaurus]

You're effectively running FNIS against what looks like a pirated copy of the game (I understand that it's not). FNIS does not play nice with games that don't look legit IIRC.

[MaximumBooger]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I started to suspect as much while writing the initial post. I recall when the FNIS author adding this anti-pirate "feature" back in the day, to much consternation.

 

However, after I uninstall Skyrim from within Steam I now get...

>>Warning: Generator not run from a legal (Steam) Skyrim installation directory. If you use SKSE, this can be fixed by starting Skyrim once through Steam.<<
FNIS Behavior V7.6 XXL   1/18/2023 9:37:39 PM
Generator: D:\Skyrim Special Edition-5.97\Data\tools\GenerateFNIS_for_Users\GenerateFNISforUsers.exe
Skyrim SE 64bit: ??.??.?? - 

And now it seems as if is working, or at least FNIS says it's working. The game runs, I've seen the wagon ride, and now I guess I should try installing everything else. I'll respond to this post if FNIS turns out to be lying.