I deleted the entire data folder.

[sean120]

I wanted to pretty much start over cause I screwed up a few meshes, so I uninstalled the game. I noticed that the data folder stays even though I uninstalled the game. So I deleted that, then emptied the recycle bin. Now I re-installed the game, and now I don't have a data folder at all. When I try to start the game It just crashes during the first load menu... Help!

[Trandoshan]

What is your operating system? I have heard of this problem arising with other games due to Vista's Administrator Permission function thing. The real name escapes me at the moment, but It has always punched holes in Oblivion's functions. If you do not have Vista, or have already disabled that feature, then I suggest you reinstall Oblivion again. If not, the Administrator function will prevent Oblivion from reinstalling without special permission.

 

If the problem persists, it might also be a directory location problem. Oblivion may have installed in Program Files vs. Program Files(86x). check both, and see if you can find either.

 

Last troubleshoot, is to manually add a Data folder, and reinstall. Probably won't make a difference

 

A note to you sean120, is that Oblivion has a very special feature that you can use in case you mess up meshes in your Oblivion/Data/Meshes folder.

 

When you install Oblivion, you may notice that most of the meshes that make the game up are not present anyways. This is because you have these handy files called .BSA files in your data folder. If you ever mess up meshes, or want to mass uninstall mods, just delete all of the content in each of the folders in your data folder. Also remove all .esps, and foreign .esms (all esms that are not Oblivion.esm, Shivering.esm, or Knights.esm. These are the main game files, and it will ruin your game if you remove them. The game will then use the DEFAULT game meshes that are stored in the .BSA...

 

Bethesda did this to completely remove the chance of a new modder messing up Oblivion totally. If you ever come to this point, just remove the files in all of the folders in the data folder in your Oblivion directory. The BSAs will kick in, and your game will play.

 

Remember, do not delete the .BSA files, Oblivion.esm, Shivering.esm, or Knights.esm. This will make your game completely unplayable.

[nosisab]

I wanted to pretty much start over cause I screwed up a few meshes, so I uninstalled the game. I noticed that the data folder stays even though I uninstalled the game. So I deleted that, then emptied the recycle bin. Now I re-installed the game, and now I don't have a data folder at all. When I try to start the game It just crashes during the first load menu... Help!

Since you are redoing from scratch, make sure you do NOT install in C:\Program files, use any other folder to it, something like c:\Games\... or even another partition

that will spare you from many problems and issues later.

 

Beyond that, delete the Oblivion folder under the "(my)Documents" structure, you may want to backup the savegames there but it's not aways a good idea trying to reuse saves which were made under heavily moded environment, your call.

[bben46]

Here is a link to my complete uninstall/reinstall procedure located in the articles section of the Nexus

http://www.tesnexus.com/articles/article.php?id=240

 

It covers having to clean a borked uninstall.

[sean120]

I fixed it. Thank you guys so much.