Thoughts on general guidelines for individual mod updating?

[mac2636]

Curious as to other people's thoughts on general guidelines for updating mods. Any types or specific mods that you always completely uninstall old version first, then install new versions? Any types, you try not to uninstall when upgrading?

[damanding]

The most important rule of thumb is to read the mod's description and/or sticky comments to see if there are already instructions on updating/uninstalling and then follow those instructions. Any mod which adds items to the settlement workshop menu with scripts to inject a custom menu section for example need to be handled in a specific way so you don't lose the workshop menu. However injection scripts may also be used by other mods which add items to a formlist such as mods that add new weapons or armor to spawn lists and those will have similar uninstall/update needs, so it's not just settlement workshop menu mods that may be affected.

 

The tool you use to handle your mods also matters, are you using NMM or Mod Organizer? The answers may vary.

[mac2636]

The most important rule of thumb is to read the mod's description and/or sticky comments to see if there are already instructions on updating/uninstalling and then follow those instructions. Any mod which adds items to the settlement workshop menu with scripts to inject a custom menu section for example need to be handled in a specific way so you don't lose the workshop menu. However injection scripts may also be used by other mods which add items to a formlist such as mods that add new weapons or armor to spawn lists and those will have similar uninstall/update needs, so it's not just settlement workshop menu mods that may be affected.

 

The tool you use to handle your mods also matters, are you using NMM or Mod Organizer? The answers may vary.

Thanks for the input damanding. I personally use NMM. My question is more of what others do as a general rule, mostly for those instances when a mod author doesn't give any specific info on upgrading. I do try to keep a lookout and even explore all zip files ahead of time to check if there is an injection script used.

 

For me, I like to get rid of previous versions in NMM's Mods screen, it just makes it easier to reduce those listed as much as possible. Might be part of my personal OCD.

 

Thanks again for giving your feedback.

[Vormina]

I always follow the MA's instructions, I always save and exit the game inside a small interior location before doing any kind of upgrades and make a backup of that save.

 

If there are no instructions I deactivate the old one, activate the new one and do a test run in game ( fast travel, workbench menus, weapons, etc.) before deleting the old one.

 

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do, save games still get corrupted, I recently had all mine corrupt and had to fresh install everything and start over. No biggie, since I love this game and always find new ways to build things. ;)

[bill8872]

For myself I have never had an issue updating mods. Unless the author says to remove a previous version first, I always overwrite it, then remove the old version.

 

The only exception, and as already mentioned, are settlement, and settlement workshop mods.

I have one I can think of right now, that has very specific instructions on updating/ removed during a play through.

Some settlement mod will make you remove everything first, or you lose it.

 

When a settlement mod has an update, I do check it to be sure nothing might be messed up with it. In most cases I do not update it if I have found the location, and using it.

Even if the author says there should be no issues. I did have one where I had to rediscover it, and redo the entire settlement, as it stopped working. I was glad that I did not due much with it, so all I had to redo was the power connections. I have not been back to it to see if the settlers were under my control. When I left them they were not.

 

I use NMM.

Edited October 14, 2016 by bill8872

[mac2636]

For myself I have never had an issue updating mods. Unless the author says to remove a previous version first, I always overwrite it, then remove the old version.

Â

The only exception, and as already mentioned, are settlement, and settlement workshop mods.

I have one I can think of right now, that has very specific instructions on updating/ removed during a play through. Â

Some settlement mod will make you remove everything first, or you lose it.

Â

When a settlement mod has an update, I do check it to be sure nothing might be messed up with it. In most cases I do not update it if I have found the location, and using it.

Even if the author says there should be no issues. I did have one where I had to rediscover it, and redo the entire settlement, as it stopped working. I was glad that I did not due much with it, so all I had to redo was the power connections. I have not been back to it to see if the settlers were under my control. When I left them they were not.

Â

I use NMM.

Thanks for the feedback. I actually take the same approach quite often. Installing the new version for many mods, before removing the old one. This helps keep load orders from changing sometimes. I do wonder if a file is installed by v1 of a mod and overwritten by v2, does NMM always know to leave the updated file alone when uninstalling v1 of the mod?

[bill8872]

 

For myself I have never had an issue updating mods. Unless the author says to remove a previous version first, I always overwrite it, then remove the old version.

Â

The only exception, and as already mentioned, are settlement, and settlement workshop mods.

I have one I can think of right now, that has very specific instructions on updating/ removed during a play through. Â

Some settlement mod will make you remove everything first, or you lose it.

Â

When a settlement mod has an update, I do check it to be sure nothing might be messed up with it. In most cases I do not update it if I have found the location, and using it.

Even if the author says there should be no issues. I did have one where I had to rediscover it, and redo the entire settlement, as it stopped working. I was glad that I did not due much with it, so all I had to redo was the power connections. I have not been back to it to see if the settlers were under my control. When I left them they were not.

Â

I use NMM.

Thanks for the feedback. I actually take the same approach quite often. Installing the new version for many mods, before removing the old one. This helps keep load orders from changing sometimes. I do wonder if a file is installed by v1 of a mod and overwritten by v2, does NMM always know to leave the updated file alone when uninstalling v1 of the mod?

 

I never had an issue with NMM removing the new version after updating mods.

Only if a mod has special upgrade instructions, or overhauls the game play, can it be an issue, and I often don't update those right away. I find the chance of a corrupted save it too great, and forced to start over.

Edited October 17, 2016 by bill8872