Difficulty installing any mods.

[zion505000]

So after a while I decided to reinstall Oblivion again on my PC. Its worked nice and fine before in the past so the installation goes as should. Naturally, I cant play Oblivion without mods from this fine site, so after I download the first mod, I go to the Oblivion\Data folder and I find that all the files are as follows:

 

Music

Video

Shaders

Oblivion Voices.BSA

Oblivion Sounds.BSA

Oblivion Meshes.BSA

Oblivion Textures.BSA

etc...

Due to my computer illiteracy, I have no idea what these BSA files really are, how they became that format, or how to get them back to their original formats. I have tried BSA commander and BSA Unpacker, both resulting in the game crashing before the title screen. That's when I tried making every mod I download into OMOD, but some mods I just wasnt able to convert. The game runs fine modless and with the few mods that do well in OBMM format, but if possible, Id appreciate reverting to the old way of the individually labeled files so I can easily install mods. I have spent hours trying to fix this and any help is very welcome.

[Maigrets]

Those BSA files (and the others you listed) come with the Oblivion installation and are the original format. They are highly compressed archives and there's no reason to extract them unless you plan to make your own mods.

 

In fact extracting them and leaving them in the Data directory will cause all sorts of problems. If you wish to extract them make a new folder outside the Oblivion folders and put the files there. But, like I said there's no reason to do so unless you are making your own mods.

 

Make sure your game is patched to the latest for Oblivion or Shivering Isles if you have it. That would be v.1.2.0416.

If you have SI use only that patch, not the Oblivion one.

 

An unpatched game is often the reason mods don't show up in game. They will be listed in the Launcher or OBMM (Oblivion Mod Manager) but the content won't appear in game and can even cause crashes.

 

If you say which mod/s you're trying to install it would be a help.

[bben46]

As Maigrets said, leave the bsa files alone. They are supposed to be there.

 

Just downloading a mod does not make it work. You MUST unzip and install it.

In my opinion, OMODS do make it easier to add and remove mods. And almost all mods can be converted.

 

maybe you need a refresher - Here is a link to my tutorial for new mod users.

 

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.