Installing FO3 on Vista/Windows 7: Froggy Style

[FrogDemon]

First off, this should work whether it's GOTY or original. I cannot stress this enough: Do NOT use the auto installer.

 

Install every thing in the order specified. I have NEVER had any issues when doing it this way.

 

 

1. Open the disk, right click setup and run as administrator. This is a MUST.

 

2. Install the games for Windows Live, right click the setup, run as administrator.

 

3. Install the official 1.7 patch. This MUST also be installed as admin, so right click the setup and run as administrator.

 

4. Installing the DLC Pack is the same as above. Right click setup, run as administrator.

 

 

Once those are installed in that order, you then need to open disk 2 and right click the DLC installer and run as admin. If you followed the steps above, you will remember how to do that. If you do not install using these steps, then good luck running FO3.

 

 

NOTE:

Installing in safe mode is a load of hoopla. It is not recommended to do so. So NEVER do it that way. It may work, but there is no need to do so.

 

 

After you have installed the game as admin and are wanting to install mods, get FOMM and FOSE. Make sure you install FOMM as admin. Once installed goto the FOMM folder where it was installed, right click the FOMM exe select properties, then click the Compatibility tab, click the box next to Run as Administrator, click apply. Do this also for the FOSE launcher and you should then be able to Rock & Roll!

 

I hope this helps others.

 

 

Edit:

Let me clarify this post. This is how I install it. You do not have to do it this way. Also this is with UAC on. My mode of install will allow you to install it to the programs folder on C:

[lostone1993]

I have vista and I have never needed to do this, I have had no trouble with the auto installer may i ask is this is install with UAC on ?

[bben46]

I use Win7 x64 and never installed the GFWL (Games For Windows Live) Used the installer on the DVD and installed to C:\Games\Fallout 3. Worked fine.

[FrogDemon]

I use Win7 x64 and never installed the GFWL (Games For Windows Live) Used the installer on the DVD and installed to C:\Games\Fallout 3. Worked fine.

 

My way will install it to the programs folder, which is where I like it to be. Where in my opinion it should be. This is HOW I do it. You don't have to do it this way.

 

Also, yes this is with UAC on. I never turn UAC off. It's there for a reason, so I'm not going to disable it.

[bben46]

And, the UAC will try to prevent mods from working when you install in the program files folder (Unless you are using WinXP)

 

The game was designed to work on WinXP which does not have UAC and they installed it to the Program files because that was where nearly every program was installed in XP - In order to make it 'more uniform'.

 

UAC was introduced after the game design had progressed passed the install part and as it works fine there in the vanilla game. BethSoft saw no reason to change it.

 

I am in favor of NOT disabling UAC also as it does perform a valuable service in protecting programs that need protecting - But games do not need the protection UAC provides. Your system files, financial programs and antivirus as well as many others do need that protection.

 

It will only give problems when you start using mods. Yes, you can selectively disable UAC for certain programs, but every time you install a new utility or anything besides a standard mod you will have to selectively exclude it from UAC also.

 

By installing outside of the protected Program files location, you will not be forced to deal with the UAC when working with mods at all.

[FrogDemon]

All the UAC does is tell you that you will need to provide admin auth to install/overwrite a file/folder. It does not prevent it. To me that is no biggie. I have not had any issues with the UAC trying to block mods from running. If you set FO3/FOMM/FOSE to run as admin you will not have any issues.

[lostone1993]

All i found with UAC is that is clogs up your system and eats ram up, it has never protected me or my friends from a virus or hacker when we have been attacked