Registry Problems?

[Zeke2112]

I've been using The GOTY disc set since 2004. Basic setup and mods at different times. Other than the typical mod problems I've never had an issue with the basic game.

 

Recently though I used just the Rebirth and Code Patch combo with nothing else. It too worked fine. Then the latest issue of Rebirth came out and I noticed two problems when I loaded that version. First is at every "OK" button there is a lower case "S" in front of the OK. The s shows up also in front of every choice button in the chargen menu at the start of the game. It doesn't affect play but that seems real weird.

 

It's the other problem that is a game breaker. Character reach distance is shorter. You can't pick up paper off the ground, open trap doors on the floor, and you have to be a lot closer to activate anything. It's a real PIA.

 

So I figured that it was either the code patch or the latest iteration of rebirth. I uninstalled everything and did a fresh installation. I used the code patch again because I saw nothing in the choices that would do this. I used different mods this time instead of Rebirth. But the problem remains.

 

I guess I need to try this now without the code patch.

 

But my question is whether the registry might retain something. I always do full uninstalls between games and reload everything when I'm in the mood to run a new game.

 

Rebirth and code patch are more like actual programs than mods, and there is no uninstall for them. Could there be something in the registry that reloads these problems every time I install the game? I always empty out any leftover files after an uninstall, btw.

 

Running registry cleaners is a dicey thing. I'd rather ask if anyone has seen these problems before (reach distance and the "s" thing) or if anyone knows if the registry could retain some issue that carries over when you reinstall the game.

[Dragon32]

The "s" thing is a characteristic of GMST contamination. Sounds like you've got a dirty mod. mlox has information on quite a lot, but not all, in its rule-set. I'd recommend using TESTool's "Clean Active Plugins" function (see UESP). Enable Restricted Dialog Cleaning and Restricted Cell Cleaning. Do not use the Just Fix It button as Merged Dialogs.esp breaks quests.

[Zeke2112]

Odd how I would have that on a setup of just Rebirth and code patch only, and then later with a bunch of mods, code patch, and no Rebirth. Both being fresh installs of the game from scratch.

 

But I have to believe you are telling me the truth on the "s" thing because you wouldn't call it characteristic if it didn't happen often enough.

 

Yet though a useful clue it still doesn't narrow down where I'm getting the reach distance issue. The "s" issue just being one of annoyance but the reach distance being a real problem.

 

Is there a console code option to adjust reach distance? Any other ideas on how something like that could happen? I've got to solve that somehow or it's first try a registry cleaning and after that begin to suspect that somehow my old game discs have suddenly decided to read improperly...and I've never heard of that happening without physical disc damage.

[Dragon32]

At a guess a mod's messed with the "iMaxActivateDist" GMST. That's the maximum distance for the player to be able to ‘Activate’ an object - approx 9 feet or 192 by default settings.

 

You could use a grep tool (I use TextCrawler) to search your *.es? files for the string "iMaxActivateDist"

[Zeke2112]

Well, that's definitely beyond my skill set today. But it is a direction to start learning and the first time anyone anyone has identified the potential code problem location for me. Also, it's weird that the only commonality is the code patch in the two iterations of this problem.

 

Not something I can modify via console command?

 

Time to start learning and investigating, I guess. Thanks.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Zeke2112

[Dragon32]

Don't know of a console command.

 

The code patch changes the Morrowind executable rather than the game's data and I really, really, really doubt it's that

 

Using Textcrawler is pretty straightforward: set the target directory, set the file name mask (*.es?, although not mandatory just stops it searching files you're not interested in like BSAs) and add the text string you want it to find. Click go and wait a minute or two.

 

Ignore any results from morrowind.esm, bloodmoon.esm and tribunal.esm (if I'm not teachng you to suck eggs)

 

When mod's identified either report it to mod author (if they're active) or disable it

 

Could always use the CS to create your own mod just change that one GMST to 191 or 193 (so won't get cleaned by TESTool), make sure you have morrowind.esm and tribunal.esm (or bloodmoon.esm) active to avoid creating your own mod with evil GMSTs in. Or use GMST Vaccine. See UESP.

[Zeke2112]

Thanks for the help. :smile:

[jellybeantiger]

Definately the worst game in history for modding Morrowind.

CTDs,errors just a cluster F.