Mod noob: Mods and Vista?

[Zechleton]

Hey guys, first post here. I just discovered the world of Oblivion addons and spent hours reading, looking at screenshots and downloading. Then they didn't work.

 

I first tried VH:Bloodlines with straight-from-the-disc Oblivion and it sort of messed up my grass and wouldn't allow me to move anywhere. So i tried to download the latest patch but the installer gives me a msg along the lines of "not updated because an older file was found." I headed over to the tech support forum on the Bethesda site where i found out that Vista isn't supported and that DLC (i assume this includes 3rd party mods...?), including patches would not work.

 

So my question is, has anyone found a way round this or am i stuck with vanilla Oblivion forever? I don't have another computer or another OS, so simply playing on XP is not an option. I really really want to play some of these amazing looking mods so it would be greatly appreciated if anyone can help me out.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Palpenious]

You will probably get a post soon, but first thing is to deactivate UAC or make sure you are running as administrator. With that deactivated you should be able to update, what might have happened is the UAC stopped you from overwriting some files, I'm not sure but it likes to do that. Do a search for vista and you will probably find a more in-depth explanation.

 

In short, you can use any mods or DLC on vista you just have to work around the extra suckurity features.

[Deepblue686]

It may just be Vista 64, I don't know.

I haven't deactivated anything and I'm using Vista 32, DLCs and patches install fine.

[dezdimona]

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.

[bben46]

The only reason for not being to use the DLC mods is the installer Bethesda used for them in the downloaded version only.

 

Player made mods work fine. I am running 64 bit Win7 with no problems. I have all DLC mods except Battlehorn on the Knights of the Nine disk and they worked. Battlehorn I downloaded while I was still using Winxp x32. It works with the new system also.

[Qwaxalot]

INSTALLING Bethesda's DLC on Vista Machines

 

Only the installer is incompatible with Vista

 

You need: Universal Extractor

 

Here's a guide by JDfan:

 

1. Download and install Universal Extractor 1.5 or later.

 

2. Open each plug-in's executable file with Universal Extractor and extract the files using the "isxunpack method". This will place several files in a Disk1 folder under whatever folder you specify (the same folder as the executable, by default, so Oblivion_Horse_Armor_Pack.exe would create an Oblivion_Horse_Armor_Pack\Disk1 folder structure).

 

3. Use Universal Extractor again, and in each of the previous Disk1 folders, open data1.cab. (Do not open data1.hdr.) This will create a Data1 folder in the specified folder.

 

4. Copy the Data folder in each of the above Data1 folders to your Oblivion folder. When asked if you want to merge the two Data folders, say "Yes". (Alternatively, you can copy all the files in each Data folder to the Oblivion\Data folder, which will avoid the merge questions each time.)

 

* Should you wish to avoid this entire process in the future, you can use either OBMM or Wrye Bash's mod manager at this point to create mod files simply by including the entire contents of each Data folder.

 

5. Delete all the interim files you created in the above steps.

 

6. Launch the game, go into the Data Files section, and select the appropriate checkboxes.

[Zechleton]

Thanks for the help guys, BUT... (there's always a but, right?)

 

I tried installing in a different directory (C:\Oblivion) before i read this, and it hasn't worked either. I tried running Oblivion1.1Final.exe as admin... same error again, which reads: "Old file not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since contents do not match." To my untrained eye, that sounds like i didn't completely remove the old files when i reinstalled? But i'm quite sure i did.

 

I tried running as administrator, although i'm fairly sure i should be admin by default since this is the only account the computer has. I'm not entirely confident or comfortable with Vista, however, so this could be wrong. Never the less, i ticked the 'run as admin' box and got the exact same error again.

 

I haven't tried disabling the UAC, which, annoying as it is, i would rather avoid at the moment. I'll check this thread again in the morning and give the UAC thing a try if there's nothing new.

 

** EDIT ** the above post wasn't online when i started typing this, so i will try that in the morning as well. Thanks :P One thing though, Qwak: how do i patch the game in the first place since a lot (all?) mods wont' work with the un-patched Oblivion, i believe.

[Qwaxalot]

The error message "Old file not found" implies that your game is already patched.

 

The current version is 1.2.0416

 

If you have the Game of The Year version and install both disks, you are up to date.

 

The purpose of installing to a non-default location (ie. not under Vista's program files) is to avoid Vista's UAC protection of application programs.

 

The DLC's (Bethesda's Official Downloadable Content) work fine under Vista.

 

If you think the install is totally messed up, follow BBen46's guide Uninstall/Reinstall Guide

 

After uninstalling the game, reinstall in this order:

 

NON GOTY VERSION:

1. Oblivion (non GOTY Version)

2. The Shivering Isles (if you have it)

3. Install the v1.2.0416 patch for your version of the game (If you only have Oblivion get the Oblivion version of the patch, if you have the Shivering Isles, get the Shivering Isles version of the patch)

4. Unofficial Oblivion Patch

5. Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch (If you installed Shivering Isles)

6. Official DLC plugins (either Downloaded or The KOTN (Knights Of The Nine) disc.

7. Unofficial Official Mods Patch

 

 

GOTY VERSION

1. Disc 1 (Oblivion)

2. Disc 2 (Shivering Isles and KOTN) Updates Oblivion to current version, does NOT include any of the Official plug ins (DLC's)

3. Unofficial Oblivion Patch

4. Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch

5. Official DLC's (If you have them)

6. Unofficial Official Mods Patch

 

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you install the Unofficial Oblivion Patch, Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch (if you have the Shivering Isles) and the Unofficial Official Mods Patch (if you have any of the official DLC plugins).

 

 

It is not advised to get the unofficial patches from other sources than PES or TESNexus since they may be outdated or modified.

[Rapeoductions]

do youreself a favor and no matter what anybody says do not disable You're UAC at all you do not know how many computers i have had to fix due to somebody turning off the UAC. It pretty much sucks but i currently run a vista 64 bit and i have no troubles. Try this

Install OBMM search Tesnexuse and you will find it when after you get done installing

1. Right Click on Oblivion mod manager ( The one you that does not say Safe mod) Click run as administartor
   
2. Click allow (A screen will pop up saying warning click okay)
   
3. Make sure that the mods you wna t are checked in the left side box
   
4. On the right side under utilities check the old conflict detector and new conflict detector
   
5. If there is a problem and is not an official DLC plug in try disabling that plugin
   
6. Finally if you have OBSE installed click on the launch oblivion on the right side if you do not have OBSE installed just run oblivion if that does not work PM me