New to pc gaming as well as mods

[forfeitvalidity]

I recently got a computer that is able to run Oblivion on it. I've always wanted to play Oblivion on the computer because of the mods. I've read the guide on this board to install mods but it isn't very helpful for it is way over my head. I have winrar and I have successfully installed the unofficial update and the colored map. I have, however, done the same things that I did with those to other mods and they have all been unsuccessful. I really have no idea where each file should go. In fact I really have no idea what to do at all. I'm sure there are many posts like this and I appreciate any help that you can offer.

[minion5]

well heres a very basic quick tutorial, dump the contents of your winRAR archive into the Oblivion Data folder. This is located in the oblivion directery. ok so go to my computer, then local C: drive, then program files, then bethesda softworks, then Oblivion, then put your mod into the Data folder. hope this helped!

[BossDweebe]

READ THE READ ME that comes with the mod.

 

Save the guides that you get to word pad so you can have quick access to them.

Don't try to absorb everything at once. Take your time.

 

It is not all that difficult. There may be lots of folders, but the system is quite simple.

 

Unzip the mod into a folder of your own - call it what you like. Open the mod in a window next

to a window with your game folder open. Open the Data folder. So as minion said -

(drive and folder your game is installed to) \Oblivion\Data\ - from here you will find sub folders.

Among them you will find Meshes and Textures. If these folders have not been created already

then you can copy the equivalent folder from the mod to this location.

Then you will have Oblivion\Data\Meshes - and Textures (and maybe more). If this is the case

you may only need to add the esp and activate it for the mod to be installed.

 

Continue clicking through the folders in the mod and the corresponding

folders in the game, and after a short while you will see the relationship between the two.

 

If you have an existing Meshes folder there may already be sub folders called - Architecture - or Characters -

or Armor, or Clothes - etc. (The same applies with textures and other folders)

 

Your mod will have a similar file structure, however it may contain folders that are new. These sub folders may

use the name of the mod, or a simple identifier that the modder uses. Ex. - Throttle Kitty uses TK.

If your mod has a folder of this type the you copy that whole folder into the game.

Then you have Data\Meshes\Weapons\TK - or something similar.

 

If the mod does not have it's own folders then you will eventually find files is the last folder.

These files go in the corresponding folder in the game. Or as stated above - If there is no folder in the

game that corresponds with the folder in the mod you just copy that new folder into position.

 

For example: If you are doing an armor mod you may find a folder in the mod -

Data\Textures\armor\Ebony

If you game has no ebony folder then the folder from the mod goes here.

 

If the mod is an Ebony Armor replacer texture and you game already has an ebony folder

then the texture will go in this folder. (NOTE: texture replacers do not require an esp)

You will then have Data\Textures\Armor\Ebony\gauntlet.dds (and _n.dds).

There may also be a sub folder for male and female - m or f - If this is the case and the mod is for

female then the gauntlet.dds and _n.dds files go there.

 

If the mod replaces the whole armor it will also have a mesh file. Do the same with this and any other

folders/file in the mod.

 

The main reason for packaging the mod with the whole folder tree is to make it "easy" to install.

"Just drag and drop to your Oblivion Data folder". On the surface this is the easy way, but it leads

to people getting their mods installed incorrectly on a daily basis. I don't know why folders miss their

target with that method, but they do.

A manual installation takes a couple of extra minutes, but then when something does go wrong it is

way easier to trouble shoot, as you know what the mod is composed of.

 

Finally - Use OBMM (or Wrye Bash or whatever else may be availabel) for activating the mod,

archive invalidation, and sorting your load order.

 

EDIT: It is safer to copy files to an open folder than to the folder tree as it is easy to get the files into

on of the adjacent folders when using the folder tree.

[bben46]

I have a set of help files for people who are not computer geeks and are new to mods. They include downloading, extracting (unzipping) installing and activating mods. I have included a simple mod to practice on and instructions for installing and using 7-zip. If you are interested, click on the highlighted link below to be taken to the site where they are kept. I recommend starting with #1 and working your way through them.

 

http://s1.zetaboards.com/TheStormRavenLibrary/forum/256092/

 

If you use them I would appreciate some feedback as to what needs improvement and what works for you. Please be honest and don't worry about hurting my feelings with criticism as I have a thick skin.

[veteran75]

yeah pc's are so much better than consoles,i have aps3 and all the best games for it...i have not turned on my ps3 since august 2008 after i completed metal gear 4...consoles used to be quite good but the games they release for them are getting worse by the year..ill never buy another console again...pc is the king