A noobish guide to installing mods with Windows Vista

[Anarkiu]

Some information I would have found helpful, being a noob to modding...I apologize now for the 'great wall of text' that follows...

 

First of all it is best to decide which ‘mods’ you want to use before starting. Some ‘mods’ are NOT compatible. Make sure that all the ‘mods’ you are planning on using are compatible with one another, you can find this type of information in the various ‘mod’ “read me” files or in reviews on such sites as Planet Elder Scrolls, TES.Nexus, UESP and even the Bethesda Softworks site.

 

It is also helpful if you are starting with a fresh game installation of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This is not necessary, but this guide is using that kind of set-up. There are other guides that explain how to ‘mod’ already existing save games and previously installed versions of the game available; but due to my limited experience with ‘modding’ I will not touch base on those processes in this guide.

 

In addition, I am using Windows Vista 32bit Home Basic with SP2 and a purchased copy of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game Of The Year edition (referred to from here on as TES IV: Oblivion GOTY).

 

This guide will be cover the installation process for the Official Downloadable Content plug-ins: Fighter’s Stronghold, Horse Armor Pack, Knights of the Nine (not used since it comes prepackaged with TES IV: Oblivion GOTY), Mehrune’s Razor, Orrery, Spell Tomes, Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower and The Vile Lair as well as the Oblivion Mod Manager and Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul ‘mod’.

 

Now, on with the guide…

 

 

Step One: Installing Your Game and Finding your ‘mods’

 

The first step is obviously to install your game. Using Disc 1 in the TES IV: Oblivion GOTY package, insert it into your DVD Drive and begin installation. Once installation is completed, insert Disc 2 for the Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine expansions. Once your game has been installed you are ready to start ‘modding’.

 

There are several ways to go about finding ‘mods’ for TES IV: Oblivion GOTY, most of the sites mentioned above in the introduction have links, direct downloads and reviews of the various ‘mods’ available. However, the first thing you should do is get the Oblivion Mod Manager (or a similar ‘mod’ management program).

 

Download the Oblivion Mod Manager and install it as directed through the various prompts and instructions provided in the ‘read me’ file. On Windows Vista you will have to go into the programs properties (by right clicking the program and selecting ‘Properties’) and enable the “Run As Administrator” option under the “Compatibility” tab found there (by using the check box near the bottom of the window).

 

Then you can start downloading the ‘mods’ you want to use.

 

So in Step One you will have done the following:

 

1 – Install your game using the installation discs provided.

2 – Download the Oblivion Mod Manager

3 – Install the Oblivion Mod Manager

4 – Enable the Oblivion Mod Manager to “Run As Administrator”

4a – Right click on the Oblivion Mod manager program

4b – Select the “Properties” menu

4c – Select the “Compatibility” Tab

4d – Select the “Run As Administrator” check box towards the bottom

4e – Select “Apply” or “OK”

4f – Close the window

 

 

Step Two: Downloading and Installing the Official Downloadable Content ‘mods’

 

Here we will begin with downloading the Official Downloadable Content. Find a reliable source for these to download from, each content package costs about $2 (US Funds) or a little less (prices may vary depending on your location and where you download them from). The ones you should get are any or all of the following: Fighter’s Stronghold, Horse Armor Pack, Mehrune’s Razor, Orrery, Spell Tomes, Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower and The Vial Lair. Notice I did not include the Knights of the Nine expansion in this due to the fact that it comes with the content on Disc 2 of TES IV: Oblivion GOTY.

 

Each of these comes as a self-extracting file that easily installs itself without issue, even without the use of the Oblivion Mod Manager. Simply double-click on the completed download file you wish to install and the Installation Wizard will take care of the rest. Pretty easy right? Well, don’t get too excited, even though the Official Downloadable Content files are easy to install, fan created ‘mods’ are usually not quite as simple, unfortunately.

 

So in review of Step Two you should have:

 

1 – Purchased and downloaded the Official Downloadable Content that you want to use in your game

2 – From the storage folder, double clicked on the Official Downloadable Content you wanted installed

3 – Using the Installation Wizard, successfully installed each Official Downloadable Content package

 

 

Step Three: Downloading Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul ‘mod’

 

First let me say that this ‘mod’ could nearly be a full game all to itself. There is a ton of content with this ‘mod’, including new armors, new quests, new enemies, new NPC’s and new quests. Oscuro really, out did himself and even though he personally no longer is adding to this mod, his development team continues to provide excellent updates and content for this massive ‘mod’. Thanks folks!

 

There are a couple of ways that you can handle the downloading of Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul (from here on referred to as OOO). You can get the latest completely updated version, OOO v1.3.3 which is a massive download that I could only find on Planet Elder Scrolls in it’s entirety. I however, decided to break it down into smaller sections, since Planet Elder Scrolls also uses File Planet to store their large files and you have to be a registered user with File Planet to get the download.

 

So, what I did was download the following: OOO v1.3 Base file (this is the basic OOO file and contains all of the files and folders that are needed for the OOO ‘mod’), OOO v1.3.2 final Update (an update to the OOO v1.3 Base file) and OOO v1.3.3 Patch (the latest patch for OOO v1.3, it does require the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update to have been installed already).

 

Once you have downloaded these three files or the complete OOO v1.3.3 Complete file you are ready to begin installation.

 

To review Step Three you should have done the following:

 

1 – Downloaded Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul v1.3.3 Complete

or

2 – Downloaded Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul v1.3 Base file

2a – Downloaded Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul v1.3.2 Final Update

2b – Downloaded Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul v1.3.3 Patch

 

 

Step Four: Preparing to install OOO v1.3.3 Complete

 

If you were patient enough to download the OOO v1.3.3 Complete file, congratulations! There is still another step to be made before you can install this marvelous ‘mod’. This file came as a compressed file, either .7z, .rar, etc. and now you will have to use the Oblivion Mod Manager to get it installed correctly. You will be turning the compressed file into an OMOD.

 

So, open your Oblivion Mod Manager (here on referred to as OBMM) program. You did get the OBMM program, didn’t you?

 

Once the window is opened go down to the bottom of the window and select “Create” and a second window will open. In this second window, you will want to select the “Add Archive” button, opening a search window. In the Search window you will want to find your OOO v1.3.3 Complete file and highlight it, then select “Open”. This may take a few minutes, depending on location and your computers power (it’s not a small file). The program will prompt if you want to use the data available including the ‘ESP’ files, select “YES”. It will then prompt to let you know that “OMOD conversion data is available, would you like to import it?” Select “YES” again. The program will then switch back to the second window. Here you will want to choose the “Create OMOD” button.

 

From here the OBMM will start creation of the OOO v1.3.3 ‘mod’. This process can take several minutes and may prompt for authorization to overwrite several files, select “YES” each time. Once it completes, you will be able to use the OOO v1.3.3 ‘mod’ with your TES IV: Oblivion GOTY game.

 

To review on how to install OOO v1.3.3 you should:

 

1 – Open OBMM

2 – Go to the bottom of the program screen and select “Create”

3 – On the next screen, select the “Add Archive” button near the center of the screen

4 – Use the search window to locate your OOO v1.3.3 Complete file

5 – Highlight the OOO v1.3.3 Complete file and select “Open”

6 – When prompted, select “YES” to the data files including ‘ESP’ files

7 – When prompted, select “YES” to import OMOD conversion data

8 – Once the files are transferred, select “Create OMOD”

9 – Wait for completion of the OMOD OOO v1.3.3

10 – Close the OBMM program

 

If you use the OOO v1.3.3 Complete file you can skip Step Five & Step Six and go directly to Step Seven, however, if you are using the three part system for OOO, read on...

 

 

Step Five: Preparing to install OOO v1.3 Base file

 

Now comes the tricky part, if you were like me, and decided to download the OOO ‘mod’ in its three parts, you have a little more work to do than mentioned in Step Four. The OOO v1.3 Base file shows up as an EXE file (even though it is a self-extracting file) and due to the constrictive security of Windows Vista, has a hard time extracting appropriately.

 

So here is what you will need to do:

 

First of all, locate your OOO v1.3 Base file. Then create a new folder in the same location naming it “OOO v13 Base Files” (or whatever else you may want to name it, that is the name I used). Once the new folder is created, double-click the OOO v1.3 Base file EXE, opening the file extraction window. Here you will want to extract the files to the newly created folder, “OOO v13 Base Files” (or whatever you named the new folder). Once the extraction is complete, the extraction program will close automatically.

 

After the files have been extracted to your newly created folder “OOO v13 Base Files” (or whatever), open this folder. Inside you will find several other folders, such as: “meshes”, “textures”, “sound” and “Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul”. Now, go to the directory where Oblivion is installed (for instance mine is C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion) and find the “Data” folder (for instance mine is C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Data) and open it. With both the “Oblivion\Data” folder and the “OOO v13 Base Files” (or whatever name you used) folders open, move the “meshes”, “textures” and “sound” folders into the Oblivion\Data folder (simply drag and drop or copy and paste). Once those folders are in the “Oblivion\Data” directory, open the “Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul” folder. Here you will find a few more folders; “OOO-ADD-ONS”, “OOO-FULL” and “OOO-LITE”. As well as an “OOO” icon, the “OOO Trailer” video and the “OOO v1.3 Information” word document.

 

Watch the video (it’s a good one) as you see fit. And then read the word document, it provides information about the two types of OOO ‘mod’, “FULL” and “LITE”. Once you have made an informed decision about which OOO ‘mod’ you want to use, move the ESP file from either “OOO-FULL” or “OOO-LITE” to the “Oblivion\Data” folder. Then move the “OOO-ADD-ONS” folder to the Oblivion\Data folder as well. Thus completing the preparation needed for the OOO ‘mod’ install.

 

But, wait! We still need to update the OOO v1.3 Base file, so that it has all the perks, privileges and fixes of the OOO v1.3.3 Complete.

 

In Step Five you should have completed these steps in preparation of installation of OOO:

 

1 – Locate the OOO v1.3 Base file

2 – Created a new folder in the same directory as OOO v1.3 Base file

3 – Extracted the files in OOO v1.3 Base file into the newly created folder

4 – Located and opened the “Oblivion\Data” folder

5 – Moved or copied the folders named “meshes”, “textures” and “sound” into the “Oblivion\Data” folder

6 – Reviewed the “OOO v1.3 INFORMATION” document in the “Oscuro’s Oblivion Overhaul” folder

7 – Moved or copied either the “OOO-FULL” or “OOO-LITE” ESP file into “Oblivion\Data” folder

8 – Moved or copied the “OOO-ADD-ONS” folder into the “Oblivion\Data” folder

 

 

Step Six: Updating and Patching OOO with the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update & OOO v1.3.3 Patch

 

Alright, now that we have gotten the hardest part out of the way, we can update and patch our out of date OOO.

 

You will now need to locate the other two files we downloaded, OOO v1.3.2 Final Update file and the OOO v1.3.3 Patch file. These both should have some as compressed file folders (.7z, .rar, etc.). So, once you have located these two files, open your OBMM. We will need to update and patch the OOO in order for it to work correctly.

 

Once the OBMM window is opened go down to the bottom of the window and select “Create” and a second window will open. In this second window, you will want to select the “Add Archive” button, opening a search window. In the Search window you will want to find your OOO v1.3.2 Final Update file and highlight it, then select “Open”. This may take a few minutes, depending on location and your computers power (it’s not a small file). The program will prompt if you want to use the data available including the ‘ESP’ files, select “YES”. It will then prompt to let you know that “OMOD conversion data is available, would you like to import it?” Select “YES” again. The program will then switch back to the second window. Here you will want to choose the “Create OMOD” button.

 

From here the OBMM will start creation of the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update ‘mod’. This process can take several minutes and may prompt for authorization to overwrite several files, select “YES” each time. Once it completes, you will be able to use the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update ‘mod’ to update your OOO v1.3 ‘mod’. Here you will select the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update ‘mod’ from the list towards the center of the screen and the select the “Activate” button at the bottom of the screen. You will then be prompted to overwrite several files, select “YES” to each. When the process completes, you will have successfully upgraded the OOO v1.3 ‘mod’ to OOO v1.3.2.

 

You will have to repeat this process with the OOO v1.3.3 Patch file in order to patch OOO v1.3.2 in order to get the full benefit from OOO v1.3.3.

 

To review on how to Update and Patch OOO v1.3 you should:

 

1 – Locate the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update and the OOO v1.3.3 Patch files that you downloaded

2 – Open OBMM

3 – Go to the bottom of the program screen and select “Create”

4 – On the next screen, select the “Add Archive” button near the center of the screen

5 – Use the search window to locate your OOO v1.3.2 Final Update file

5 – Highlight the OOO v1.3.2 Final Update file and select “Open”

6 – When prompted, select “YES” to the data files including ‘ESP’ files

7 – When prompted, select “YES” to import OMOD conversion data

8 – Once the files are transferred, select “Create OMOD”

9 – Wait for completion of the OMOD OOO v1.3.2 Update

10 – Select the OOO v1.3.2 Update OMOD from the center of the window

11 – Select the “Activate” button at the bottom of the screen

12 – Repeat the process for the OOO v1.3.3 Patch file

 

Step Seven: Getting ready to start playing TES IV: Oblivion GOTY

 

OMG!!! You mean I finally get to actually play? Well, no. But, you are VERY close…

 

Once you have done everything else listed in Steps One through Six, you only have one last task to complete before actually playing the game.

 

Double-click the TES IV: Oblivion GOTY icon on your desktop, as if you are going to start a game. But, instead of selecting the “Play” feature, go to the “Data Files” menu. Here you will find a list of all the ‘mods’ available for your game (if properly installed). Select the ‘mods’ you want with the check boxes to the left of each ‘mod’. Once you have the ‘mods’ you want selected, return to the previous screen and select “Play”.

 

Enjoy your game!!!

[Anarkiu]

20 views and no responses...not even a 'you are a noob' :biggrin:

[sclerocephalus]

I highly recommend to install BOSS and Wrye Bash before proceeding to step three.

[Anarkiu]

Thanks for the suggestion - i did not need use of it (I'm not saying it would not have helped). But I appreciate the input. :thumbsup:

[bben46]

From my own experience in posting tutorials and help, most noobs will not read through a wall of text to filter out what the think they need. they stop when they see something that looks like it addresses their particular problem.

 

In my recommendations, I recommend NOT starting with a complex mod like FCOM, but with something simple. then one that is a little more complicated, then moving up until you actually understand what you are doing and where things go. Then tackling game changing mods like OOO, MMM and FCOM.

 

Forum posts like this one move off of the main page fairly quickly and get lost.

Make this into an article, post it in the articles section. And then when you see someone who needs it, post a comment with a link to the article. It will save a lot of typing, and you can go in and revise it at anytime as you get new ideas and feedback.

 

You could even break it into a series of shorter articles, with each linking to the next and previous article.

[Anarkiu]

@bben46: Thanks for the input. I will definately look into turning this into an article (or series of articles). I agree with the 'most noobs...' comment, luckily I have never fallen into the 'majority' category of any classification. :biggrin:

 

Although I am new to these forums and 'modding' in general I think it is always important to share information with fellow new players as I discover it and begin to understand it, that way I still have a 'noob' perspective and do not 'jump over' basic steps that 'should be known'. I look forward to being a contributing member to the already vast wealth of information that is available here.

 

And once again :thanks: