please help, my evil vista won't let me save my new mod

[crastinus]

i created a mod using geck but when i go to save it it just disappears into a void. i save it to the fallout 3 data folder but when i go to see it it isn't there, when i go to check it off in data files it isn't there, and when i run a full computer search all it finds is the shortcut but no file. but when i go into the geck again i'm still able to load this seemingly nonexistent file. i've tried saving to other directories like the desktop or a more easily accessible folder but it won't let me because it says those directories are invalid. can anyone help me with this?

[Callighan]

Are you sure you've saved it?

I'm using vista and so far it's a-okay with mods.

[crastinus]

Are you sure you've saved it?

I'm using vista and so far it's a-okay with mods.

yeah, like i said i can exit geck and re enter it and i'm able to load the mod. the physical file itself doesn't seem to exist though.

[Skotte]

@crastinus: Sounds like you have Fallout 3 installed to "program Files", Which is actually a bad place to have it if you want to make or use mods.

 

I'd suggest reinstalling to another location ex: D:\Games\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3 <- Where mine is & Vista & GECK are both happy together

[rebel28]

@crastinus: Sounds like you have Fallout 3 installed to "program Files", Which is actually a bad place to have it if you want to make or use mods.

 

I'd suggest reinstalling to another location ex: D:\Games\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3 <- Where mine is & Vista & GECK are both happy together

 

I'm using Vista, and my Fallout is installed to Program Files, and it works fine, except for the occasional crash (but that's because I've got over 200 mods.)

[TheOutlander]

This is where your mods are being saved. It'll also be where your Fallout 3 screenshots end up.

 

C:\Users\"Your Username"\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3

 

You'll need to first enable "Show hidden files and folders" in "Organize > View" or Folder Options.

 

 

In order to bypass Fallout 3 putting the files there in the future you need to do this as an Administrator:

 

1. Right Click your Fallout 3 folder (not the VirtualStore one, this one : C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3)

2. Click Properties

3. Click Security

4. Click Edit

5. Click your Username in the list.

6. Check Full control.

7. Click OK.

[bben46]

I originally wrote this for Oblivion, But it should apply to FO3 also.

 

Vista Problems

 

You MUST be signed on as an Administrator to do any of this.

 

If you have downloaded and installed a mod, and the mod is appearing in your Data Files List, but not in your game And you are running Vista, you have run into a security feature of Vista called User Account Control. Or more simply, UAC.

 

Quoted from the Oblivion Mods FAQ WIKI

 

Alternate Install Directory

If you install your Elder Scrolls game into any directory OTHER than the default, none of these problems occur. Thus, you can bypass the Vista security issues by installing the game onto another hard drive or into a new directory that is not located within the "Program Files" root directory (such as "C:\Games").

 

Run as Admin

Another way to fix it is to right-click the ".exe" file and click properties, then check "Run as administrator". Then click OK. Do this for both the "oblivion.exe" and TESConstructionSet.exe", and any programs you are using that copies files to protected directories (such as WinRAR, 7z, or WinZip).

 

Disable UAC

Windows Vista users who are fairly confident in the security of their computers might also consider disabling UAC altogether. This will allow all programs writing privileges to the Program Files directory. Although this obviously creates a state of decreased security for your PC, it is a very helpful one-size-fits-all solution to a number of compatibility issues with the Vista OS.

 

Look here for instructions on how to turn UAC off. http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vis...-windows-vista/

 

Of these, solution #1 is STRONGLY PREFERRED. Solutions 2 and 3 (running as admin and disabling UAC) remove important safety features of the OS. In contrast, installing Oblivion elsewhere resolves the problems with Oblivion without reducing your overall security.

Wiki entry on installing Oblivion in Vista: http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index.php/Windows_Vista

 

Note that unless you opt to reinstall the game in a different location (option 1) when you start trying to make your own mods using the construction set, you will run into these problems again.

[TheOutlander]

@ bben46

My method is better.

 

Changing the install directory has the problem of causing missing textures if the modder in question hasn't used "detect game paths" in Nifskope (that happens ALLOT).

 

Plus my method keeps UAC* on and lets you make changes to the folder without having to admin confirm everyone (ie moving screenshots out of the folder...).

 

 

* = It's really disappointing whenever I see someone suggest turning off UAC, when it doesn't need to be turned off.

[overload1977]

you know the old good games don`t run on vista its because of UAC i have got game that are over 7 years old running Great on vista :)

[TheOutlander]

you know the old good games don`t run on vista its because of UAC i have got game that are over 7 years old running Great on vista :)

I have games that are older than that running fine with UAC on.

 

For example:

Dark Colony (12 years old)

Civilization Call to Power (10 years old)

Escape Velocity Nova (7 years old)

Age of Mythology (7 years old)

Warcraft 3 (7 years old)