Calling all Skyrim Technical Wizards!

[SteveD12290]

Being a user of low technical knowledge and know-how I noticed how few or how few noob-friendly guides to basic Skyrim and Modding there is. I figure this will be an opportunity to help both the community and myself. I would like to ideally start a new thread compiling all the knowledge I have gained through this (put in my own nooby easy to understand words). If you would like to help please contribute all that you can that you think is helpful and I will be certain to provide credit in the new guide!

 

A few things to consider:

1. I am fairly low on the tech totem poll of knowledge so if you could please try and keep your answers fairly simplified I would be very grateful. Remember to check back as I may have clarification questions or follow up questions that you may be able to help answer.

2. All helpful tips are welcome, anything that could help a newer player like myself to more easily enjoy Skyrim with as few hitches as possible and preventative measures to potential problems.

3. I will make a short list to be edited and added onto of questions of things I would like to know more about. If you have other suggestions of topics that should be covered please feel free to bring them to my attention, even if you are a fellow noob and have a question that you do not see answered, ask it!

4. Please keep links to other post, sites, tutorials and such as reputable as possible, No Spam Please!

5. Remember this is a guide for the community aimed at helping people become educated in the technical nuances.

 

List of issues I would like to become more educated on (some of these I suspect I know how to do but want to make sure my info is as accurate as possible)

1. How to back up your saves. (The most efficient process, best place to back them up, other useful tips)

2. Define a Clean Save

3. How to install mods manually, (Please be as specific and noob friendly as possible, I will post my current setup but if you could explain the process with other versions of windows [if you know that versions interface] that would be very helpful towards the guide.)

4. Any other useful tips to prevent common problems before they happen or how to solve them after they do, recommendations of how to set up your game, how to avoid game crashes etc.

 

A very big thanks in advance to all those who help contribute to making the transition into a knowledgeable Skyrimer easier.

Please remember that everyone had to start learning somewhere so please do not belittle others for their lack of information and know-how, this is meant to be a friendly and prosperous brainstorming community built guide. If we help to make better players out of our less knowledgeable players we can accelerate them to more advanced tasks like making mods and we can get better content faster and enjoy it more.

 

TL;DR: Making a guide for less knowledgeable players, please help contribute ideas/tips for basic Skyrim users.

 

THANKS!

 

My Rig:

 

Windows 7 home premium 64-bit

Intel core i5-2500 cpu @ 3.30 GHz

16GB DDR3 Ram

NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

(Anyother system info needed, just ask!)

Edited March 13, 2012 by SteveD12290

[RitualBlack]

1. Saves are located in C:\Users\Yournamehere\Documents\My Games\Skyrim\Saves

Just drag the folder into a safe location (even you desktop would work) before uninstalling and put them back after you are finished reinstalling.

 

2. A clean save is a save game that has no mod/dependencies currently installed. If you start up a new game before you install mods it would be a clean save. It is recommended you make a clean save to let the game launch once before you start going mod crazy :laugh: .

 

3. Mods normally have either one data folder or a few sub folders. If it says 'data' just merge it with the Skyrim data folder; C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\skyrim\(drop it in the skyrim folder as the data folder is held in here). There will be an esp. Use the nexus mod manager to make sure your esp/esm files are checked off. If there are data/texture folders just drop them into the data folder. There are utilities such as BOSS which will help you with load order. You will also want to get SKSE as some mods need\it(Skyrim Script Extender)

 

4. It becomes fairly straight forward with practice. If you are unsure you should always first see what the read-me says in the file. If the help you need can not be found in there feel free to ask someone.

 

Have fun and welcome to the nexus :happy: .

[Staind716]

BeyondTom pretty much covered it. I would add for number 4 to not go crazy installing mods (like downloading 20 at a time) because if you do have an issue it is much easier to figure out what is causing the problem then. Install a mod, try it out, if there are no issues then go to the next one. Texture mods do not normally cause any conflicts because they overwrite each other. The mods that generally cause conflicts are the ones that change some type of gameplay. If all else fails, ask. There are plenty of people who have no problem taking the time to try to help you. Enjoy your game and have fun!

[RitualBlack]

A very good point to add Staind716. I have done that before and there is always one which just doesn't want to get along and it causes a lot of grief :laugh:

[Staind716]

Lol. That's how I learned also. The hard way. :happy: By the way, I use your decap mod and you did a great job with it. Edited March 13, 2012 by Staind716

[RitualBlack]

Thanks for the compliment Staind716. I like to hear that people enjoy it my small changes :happy: .