Oblivion Sound Issue

[TheInvisibleMage]

Basically, I've been trying to get my copy of TES IV: Oblivion running properly once more. It has previously been installed on my computer with no issue, at one point running with over two hundred mods. However, at some point the sound cut out. All sound, including speech, menus, intro movie, the Bethesda ads at the start, everything. I thought it was a mod problem, but uninstalling everything and reinstalling did not solve the issue.

 

Eventually I discovered that reinstalling to a different directory allows the game to work properly, though after I reinstalled the mods, sound left again. I gave this several attempts, with fewer and fewer mods installed each time: On the last run, I got 5 mods installed (The 3 Omod parts of Better Cities, Cobl, and the custom race fix) before the sound left, immedietly after I attempted to install HGEC. HGEC, however, shouldn't do anything to sound files, being a mesh/texture replacer.

 

The fact that sound will still not play if reinstalled into a directory where the sound vanished previously makes me think that something on my computer is still pointing at that path and stuffing everything up.

 

So my question is: What the hell is wrong with it? Is it an archive invalidation issue? Should I not use Boss for load order? Its extremely frustrating, especially combined with the fact that my copy of Fallout is stuttering to the point of unplayablity, so I can't even spend time with that till I sort out which mod is stuffing that one up.

 

Any ideas?

 

OS: Win 7 Pro

Processor: Intel i5, 2 cores, 2.27 GHz

Ram: 4 Gig

Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 1 Gig

Sound: Realtek HD Audio (Updated to most recent, before you ask)

 

And it's not the ini, I've checked the audio settings, as well as disabling Accel and 3D. No effect.

 

Update: Had it running for a while yesterday, in a new directory. I got my basic need-to-have mods installed, and it ran fine in testing after each was added, but the sound dropped out after I used BOSS to sort the load order. Pretty sure I used BOSS when the HGEC killed the sound too. So it may be a load order issue?

 

Here's the order BOSS gave me:

 

Oblivion.esm

Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.72]

Better Cities Resources.esm [Version 4.8.3]

Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.2.0]

UOP Vampire Aging & Face Fix.esp [Version 1.0.0]

Better Cities .esp

VipCxj_BulletCamera.esp

Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.72]

Cobl Tweaks.esp [Version 1.44]

xuldarkforest.esp [Version 1.0.5]

xulStendarrValley.esp [Version 1.2.2]

xulTheHeath.esp

XulEntiusGorge.esp

xulFallenleafEverglade.esp [Version 1.3.1]

xulColovianHighlands_EV.esp [Version 1.2.1]

xulChorrolHinterland.esp [Version 1.2.2]

xulBeachesOfCyrodiilLostCoast.esp [Version 1.6.4]

xulBravilBarrowfields.esp [Version 1.3.2]

xulLushWoodlands.esp [Version 1.3.1]

xulAncientYews.esp [Version 1.4.3]

xulAncientRedwoods.esp [Version 1.6]

xulCloudtopMountains.esp [Version 1.0.3]

xulArriusCreek.esp [Version 1.1.3]

xulPatch_AY_AC.esp [Version 1.1]

xulRollingHills_EV.esp [Version 1.3.2]

xulPantherRiver.esp [Version 1.1.1]

xulRiverEthe.esp [Version 1.0.2]

xulBrenaRiverRavine.esp [Version 1.1]

xulImperialIsle.esp [Version 1.6.6]

xulBlackwoodForest.esp [Version 1.1.0]

xulCheydinhalFalls.esp [Version 1.0.1]

xulAspenWood.esp [Version 1.0.2]

xulSkingradOutskirts.esp [Version 1.0.1]

xulSnowdale.esp [Version 1.0]

Alternative Start by Robert Evrae.esp

SM Combat Hide.esp [Version 1.2]

RenGuardOverhaul.esp

KT_CustomRaceFix.esp

Better Cities Full.esp [Version 4.8.3]

Better Cities - Unique Landscape Barrowfields.esp [Version 4.7.0]

Better Cities - Unique Landscape Chorrol Hinterland.esp [Version 4.7.0]

Better Cities - Unique Landscape Cheydinhal Falls.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Better Cities - Unique Landscape Skingrad Outskirts.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Better Cities - VWD of the IC.esp [Version 4.7.0]

Better Imperial City.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Better Imperial City FPS Patch.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Better Cities - Unique Landscape Imperial Isle.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Better Cities Full FPS Patch.esp [Version 4.8.1]

Cobl Silent Equip Misc.esp [Version 01]

 

Unrecogised Mod Files

Unknown mod file: Emu's Marksman Enhanced - Fortified Arrows.esp

Unknown mod file: Emu's Marksman Enhanced - Modified Arrow Physic.esp

 

Also, just noticed that BOSS has a "Undo" bat file now. Tried it, but no change, still soundless.