[Oldrim] Windhelm CTDs without fail

[Archideas]

I've searched and searched and searched and found no solution to my problem with the frequent crashes in Windhelm. This city is cursed and I need help lifting it, as I enjoy visiting the city once in a while.

 

Whenever I try to enter the city of Windhelm, it loads like any other area with a loading screen but when it finishes the game instantly crashes to the desktop. I've seen solutions like forcing the weather to change and it has worked but it's very unreliable. If I go into a building for a while and then exit back into Windhelm the weather may have changed, thus causing an instant CTD.

 

I have even tried defying the laws of space and time by using the console command coc to teleport from building to building but the Palace of the Kings give me the same results: CTD.

 

This has been a longstanding issue and I'm at my wits end. I realize I might be forced to completely start over with fewer mods installed and a clean install of Skyrim, but before that I'd love to hear your opinions on the matter. Below is a list of my mods and their load order.

 

 

 

Skyrim.esm

Update.esm

Dawnguard.esm

HearthFires.esm

Dragonborn.esm

Wyrmstooth.esp

Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm

Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch.esp

EFFCore.esm

BSAssets.esm

BSHeartland.esm

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm

Campfire.esm

ClimatesofTamriel.esm

Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esp

FNIS.esp

dD - Realistic Ragdoll Force - Realistic.esp

WSCO - OcciFemaleVNL.esp

WSCO - OcciMaleVNL.esp

Beards.esp

SkyUI.esp

WetandCold.esp

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

Real Roads.esp

Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp

WetandCold - Ashes.esp

ELFX - Hardcore.esp

Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul.esp

ELE_S_Lite.esp

AOS.esp

Relationship Dialogue Overhaul.esp

Guard Dialogue Overhaul.esp

RealisticWaterTwo.esp

more idle markers.esp

RealisticNeedsandDiseases.esp

AOS2_RealisticWaterTwo Patch.esp

AOS2_WetandCold Patch.esp

OBIS.esp

aMidianBorn_ContentAddonExtra.esp

aMidianBorn_ContentAddon.esp

AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp

Differently Ebony.esp

Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim.esp

Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp

FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul.esp

Inconsequential NPCs.esp

DeadlyDragons.esp

AOS2_DD Patch.esp

Immersive Weapons.esp

aMidianBorn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp

Unique Uniques.esp

AOS2_GDO Patch.esp

iHUD.esp

WarmongerArmory_Vanilla.esp

WarmongerArmory_DLC.esp

WarmongerArmory_LeveledList.esp

OBISDB.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Legendary.esp

WerewolfPerksExpanded.esp

RND_Dawnguard-Patch.esp

Cloaks.esp

ELE_DG_Lite.esp

Better Vampires.esp

Run For Your Lives.esp

SMIM-Merged-All.esp

Complete Pack.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves.esp

Hunterborn.esp

Hunterborn_RND-Patch.esp

imp_helm_legendary.esp

CobbEncumbrance.esp

sandboxcylinderheight.esp

AcquisitiveSoulGemMultithreaded.esp

AHZmoreHUD.esp

EFFDialogue.esp

RDO - EFF v4.0.2 Patch.esp

UIExtensions.esp

Convenient Horses.esp

PC Head Tracking - MCM.esp

PC Head Tracking - Patch.esp

SRG Enhanced Trees Activator.esp

Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp

RaceMenu.esp

RaceMenuPlugin.esp

XPMSE.esp

Elemental Staves.esp

Predator Vision.esp

Warmonger Armory DLC - Beast Race Patch.esp

WSCO - Better NPCs.esp

Extended UI.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dawnguard-Patch.esp

ClimatesOfTamriel-Dragonborn-Patch.esp

CoT-WeatherPatch.esp

CoT-WeatherPatch_DB.esp

CoT-WeatherPatch_NL3.esp

TrueStorms.esp

TrueStorms-CoT-WeatherPatch.esp

mintylightningmod.esp

MintyLightningMod_COT_Patch.esp

Immersive Patrols II.esp

konahrik_accoutrements.esp

Frostfall.esp

Hunterborn_Campfire_Patch.esp

Chesko_WearableLantern.esp

1nivWICCloaks.esp

1nivWICSkyCloaksPatch.esp

Inconsequential NPCs - Enhancement.esp

OBISCloaks&IA7.esp

skycity3.esp

RND_HearthFires-Patch.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Dragonborn.esp

PrvtlRoyalArmory.esp

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp

HoldBorderBanners.esp

DIVERSE SKYRIM.esp

DIVERSE SKYRIM - Immersive Patrols Patch.esp

Imperious - Races of Skyrim.esp

PumpingIron.esp

WyldMenuPlugFemale.esp

WyldMenuPlugMale.esp

UltimateDragons.esp

Hunterborn_WearableLantern-Patch.esp

DeadlySpellImpacts.esp

DeadlySpellImpacts - Two Fire.esp

ImmersiveSpells.esp

Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim.esp

LessIntrusiveHUD.esp

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp

dD - Dragonborn-Dawnguard-EBT Patch.esp

Teleporting Scrolls And Spells.esp

Footprints.esp

DragonFastTravelRedone.esp

Skyrim Particle Patch for ENB - Flame Atronach Fix.esp

ELE_Wt_Lite.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Waves - Dawnguard.esp

RealisticWaterTwo - Dawnguard.esp

Brevi_MoonlightTales.esp

ELE_DB_Lite.esp

konahrik_accoutrements_db.esp

ICH - Konahriks Accoutrements Patch.esp

Apocalypse - The Spell Package.esp

Apocalypse - Ordinator Compability Patch.esp

UltimateCombat.esp

malecompilationv1.esp

CompilationV1.esp

frea.esp

Dual Sheath Redux.esp

When Vampires Attack.esp

Supreme Storms - Cot Version.esp

CoT-WeatherPatch_SupStorms.esp

TrueStorms-SupremeStorms-CoT.esp

Immersive Citizens - ELE patch.esp

Immersive Citizens - ELFXHardcore patch.esp

ELE_HF_Lite.esp

Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp

Alternate Start - New Beginnings.esp

Dual Sheath Redux Patch.esp

 

 

[Deleted3082751User]

1. have you sorted your load order using LOOT (Load order optimization tool) and cleaned any file the is reported by LOOT

 

2. you have a lot of weather modifiers, their is very likely chance they are conflicting with each other (and could very well be why you are crashing, especially given the fact that you mention weather)

 

Potential Conflicts

 

 

==================

Main Potential mod Conflicts (Due to OP)

========================

CoT-WeatherPatch.esp

TrueStorms.esp

MintyLightningMod

Supreme Storms

Other Potential Mod Conflicts:

========================================

Possible Cell Edit Conflicts or Area Based Conflicts

========================================

Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esm

Skyrim Project Optimization - Full Version.esp

ELFX - Hardcore.esp

ELE_S_Lite.esp

Lanterns Of Skyrim - All In One - Main.esm

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp

==============================

Possible NPC related Conflicts

==============================

Guard Dialogue Overhaul

EFFDialogue

Immersive Citizens

FCO - Follower Commentary Overhaul

EFFCore.esm <-- assuming this is extensible follower framework, might conflict with FCO

Relationship Dialogue Overhaul <-- might conflict with FCO and EFF

Immersive Citizens

=====================================

Possible Leveled List Based Conflicts

=====================================

Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation

WarmongerArmory_LeveledList.esp

Immersive Weapons

Cloaks

Immersive Weapons

WetandCold

=====

Notes

=====

1. OBISCloaks&IA7.esp is not needed if you are running version 8 of immersive armors which is the current version (and as far as i remember cloaks do get assigned to OBIS enemies anyway)

2. you have several mods that use leveled lists, yet no bash patch, i recommend making a bash patch to prevent conflicts. if you need help in doing this let me know

3. the other mods i either dont recongizne or probably would not be the cause.

4 why is their an esm and a esp for the Skyrim Project Optimization ? (i dont remeber this mod needing both, however i have not played in a long time so cant really remember, it is strange though)

5. is the issue only applicable to windhelm, or is it every town ?

6. if all of the above fails, then your only other option is to disable all mods, and enable a 5 at a time until the crashes occur. to narrow down the potential mod that may be causing the crashing (assuming it is mod based)

7. most of the mods above i have used personally for many years, and had no such problems with em, however i wrote them simply for the fact that they should be the priority mods to disable first simply because they all edit windhelm in 1 way or the other, either directly or indirect, but all of em would effect anything related to windhelm, Be it Location, Npc Specific or Other.

Edited October 3, 2017 by Guest

[Archideas]

1. I use LOOT to sort my mods, via Mod Manager. But I do not know how to clean files.

2. Tried disabling all the mods you mentioned, but the game still crashes when it's done loading me into Windhelm. And yes, this problem is exclusively for Windhelm. I can visit the other cities a-ok.

 

=====

Notes

=====

 

1. Gotcha, that was an oversight on my part.

2. I've heard of it, but I have no idea how to create a bash patch, unfortunately. Part laziness, part confusion.

4. I have no idea, I thought it was normal?

5. Windhelm only, all other cities work just fine.

6. That might be my only option left.

7. Windhelm is a city riddled with racism and bugs and crashes.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Archideas

[Deleted3082751User]

Creating a Bash Patch:

 

 

1. Download Wrye Bash --> https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/1840/? <--

 

2. run it - on the left pane window right down the bottom (where all your mods are) you should see bash patch,0

 

3. right click on bash patch,0 - Click on Rebuild Batch - this will then merge all Leveled List based mods together (important as this can prevent problems, it can also merge mods, thus saving esp spaces, and lastly without it, mods will override each other, thus making any previous mod that uses the vanilla leveled lists Redundant)

 

4. you will need to do the above steps every time you add a mod that has leveled lists, or delete a mod that has leveled lists, also it is recommended that you sort your load order before creating a bash patch,.because of form id

 

Note: Skyrim (and Fallout) uses a load order as you know, however the load order is priority based, meaning the mods lower in the load order, have higher priority then the ones higher up the list (towards the master files) so what this means is that if 2 or more mods add the same type of content (leveled lists being a main example of this), then the mod lower in the load order will override the other mod, thus potentially making the other mod redundant, as its content will not appear in the game. however with a bash patch, it will merge all leveled lists together, thus allowing multiple mods that use the same leveled lists have their content appear in game. their is however another method of putting content in the game and that is script based injection (which both Immersive Armour, and Immersive Weapon mods use).

 

Note: Bash Patch,0 Should always be at the very bottom of your load order, the only mods that should be below this, is mods that absolute have to be last in the load order. (LOOT will almost always place the bash patch,0 last in the load order. which is correct.)

 

 

 

Cleaning Mods:

 

1. Download Tes5Edit --> https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/25859/? <--

 

2. Run it - On the Master / Plugin Selection Window - Select the mod that needs cleaning

 

3. Now wait for the background loader to finish (on the right pane window) As indicated by this text ([00:05] Background Loader: finished) ignoring the numbers

 

4. right click on the mod (in the right pane window) - Click on Apply Filter For Cleaning - wait for this text to appear ([Filtering done] Processed Records) - (again on the right pane window down the bottom)

 

5. now the mod is ready to be cleaned, so first right click on the mod again - Click on Remove Identical Master Edits, Wait for it to finish, then click on Undelete And Disable References

 

6. Now the mod will be cleaned, do this for all mods that need cleaning, it is Highly Recommended to clean the Skyrim's Master Files, but only on a Modded Game, it is Not Necessary if your game is Vanilla (Unmodded)

 

Note: To save the Cleaned File simply close the Tes5Edit, and make sure that the newly cleaned mod is ticked - You will have to do this for every mod. that means you will need to clean a mod, close the program, load it again and then clean the next mod, rinse and repeat.

 

Very Important Notes:

 

1. The Only Skyrim Master Files you Clean are - Update.Esm, Dawnguard.Esm, Hearthfires.Esm and Finally Dragonborn.Esm - Do Not Clean: Skyrim.Esm

 

2. Always do Research on Dirty Mods before attempting to clean them, as some mods require the Dirty Edits to Function (and if cleaned will Break the mod), LOOT is a good start as it will tell you if the mod should not be cleaned, However for all other mods that LOOT reports as Being Dirty, will need to be researched.

 

3. Cleaning mods that actually need to be cleaned is Extremely Important to Game Stability, failure to clean mods that actually need cleaning, will result in, CTD (Very Highly Likely), Freezes, and Possibly Save Game Corruption (although Save Game Corruption is usually caused by save bloat, Deleted Scripted mods that are no longer present on an active playthrough - Or Badly Scripted Mods (which are mods that Constantly Spam Scripts - as in scripts that are constantly firing) other issues can also arise from not cleaning mods that need cleaning.

 

4. Only clean one (1) Mod at a time, do not clean multiple at the same time (basically don't attempt to clean all 4 master files at the same time, always clean 1 file, close the program, and then load it and proceed to the next file)

 

Note: click on Show to view content

Edited October 4, 2017 by Guest

[Archideas]

I've done everything you've mentioned but now I can't even get near Windhelm without a CTD. Wrye Bash does show an error regarding JKs Skyrim when I patch it, do you think that's the problem?

Edited October 5, 2017 by Archideas

[Deleted3082751User]

its possible, although i cant imagine JK Skyrim causing crashing unless, either the textures you are using are not correct size, or you are using high res textures (that JK Skyrim is using and is causing you to run out of available memory).

 

for a test, try disabling JK skyrim and its patches, and see if you can proceed beyond the crash (as in see if you can get into windhelm at least, if you can, then proceed to the other test below).

 

i dont know if JK Skyrim has its own custom textures, or it uses whatever custom texture mods you might have applicable to JK Skyrim.

 

it seems a lot of people are having issues with windhelm, and apparently changing the weather seems to fix it.

 

so for another test:

 

Open Console - and type: Fw 81a

 

this will change the weather to Clear Weather

 

also their are 2 fixes you could try, and could very well help

 

Crash Fixes --> https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/72725/?

 

Bug Fixes --> https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/76747/?

 

they both require SKSE however. but they may even eliminate your issues. i know they are very good plugins, and should of recommeded to you from the start, but forgot about em. even if you might have to restart, atleast you will be 1 step closer to a proper stable game (with these 2 plugins).

Edited October 5, 2017 by Guest

[Archideas]

I already use Crash Fixes but I'll give Bug Fixes a try along with disabling JK and let you know what the results are.

[Archideas]

Shocking news!

 

Disabling JKs Skyrim and installing Bug Fixes by themselves did nothing to improve my situation. However, disabling Noble Skyrim (texture mod) and replacing it with the official high resolution pack seems to have solved the issue. I won't celebrate prematurely and will test further and see if it stays stable.

 

Many thanks for your continued support twistedfatal, you've been a great boon in these dark times!

[Deleted3082751User]

You're Welcome

 

now that you have bug fixes, you are 1 step closer to a nice stable game

 

i am guessing JK Skyrim does indeed use whatever texture mod you have