mod update & mod removal when starting a new game?

[ericjmz]

1/25

 

Good morning

 

I will be replaying Skyrim [sSE] and have 3 mod questions first, as I ‘prepare’

In background, I use NMM, have about a dozen mods, plan to keep ½ intact, probably get rid of ¼,probably add as many new ones…and lastly expect to find in some that I’m keeping that there will be more recent updates. I use Loot for load order, and if what it does is slightly different in load order than what mod author recommends, I still follow Loot’s load

 

Here are my exact 3 questions:

 

1. For mods I am removing, as it will be a new game, should I merely deactivate, or is it better to uninstall?

 

2. For mods that I find on the NMM site that there are more recent update-versions, I don’t know what to do. Like the above, do I deactivate, uninstall and then install more recent version, install more recent version without uninstalling old one first…or what?

 

3. Am I correct or incorrect to use Loot’s ordering vs mod author’s recommend, if there is a difference?

 

Any other advice for a replay for a guy with existing mods? :-0

 

Thank you in advance

 

ericjmz

[WastelandAssassin]

technically , If you plan on removing some of the mods you use while keeping others , If you have the time to do a fresh install of the game , and just install all the mods you want to use from scratch , that is usually the best thing to do

however , if you choose to work with your current installation , it's usually best to fully uninstall mods you don't wish to use (and you should follow the suggested instructions on the mod's page for uninstalling)

as for updates , usually you don't need to uninstall previous versions of the mod , though there are exceptions . the easiest thing to do is again to look on the mod's page , and follow the given instructions (while keeping in mind which version you have installed , as these instructions may differ regarding different versions)

as for LOOT , I believe that author's instructions are usually better than LOOT's order , though I may be wrong here . so on this you should definitely look for further clarification

 

as for further advice , the best I can give you is to decide which mods you wish to use before starting a character , follow all provided instructions on the mod's page , and check for compatibility before finalizing your mod list

you should never remove mods on an active game , and you should be careful when uninstalling mods , especially since some mods modify the same files . thus removing a mod might remove a file another mod is using . hence it's always best to start from scratch if possible (unless you use MO , which doesn't install mods into your game's directory)

[Algabar]

as for LOOT , I believe that author's instructions are usually better than LOOT's order , though I may be wrong here . so on this you should definitely look for further clarification

 

This seems especially true for Skyrim SE. LOOT is useful to prevent obvious mistakes like putting an esp before its master. Other than that, use common sense and stick to the mod author's instructions. E.g. "Realistic Water Two" MUST be loaded after anything modifying landscape - which LOOT doesn't seem to know. Also FNIS and XPMSE should (in this order) be placed very low in your load order. LOOT has a tendency to ignore this. The same goes for weather and lighting mods. Lighting mods like "ELFX" usually should be loaded after the weather mod - something which LOOT sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. Also, there are things only you can sort out, because you're the only one who knows what's intended, e.g. load order of multiple NPC replacers. LOOT simply can't know, if you want "Bijin" to overwrite your other overhaul or the other way round...

 

TLDR: Run LOOT, have a close look at the result. If it generally makes sense, accept LOOT output and modify where needed. Otherwise set up your load order yourself...

[ericjmz]

Thanks guys,

 

a single f/u question for WastelandAssassin, in response to when he says "...technically , If you plan on removing some of the mods you use while keeping others , If you have the time to do a fresh install of the game , and just install all the mods you want to use from scratch , that is usually the best thing to do

 

Okay...I will probably take that route

 

Assuming I do, do I FIRST Uninstall EVERY SINGLE MOD for Skyrm {SSE} installed by NMM, BEFORE Uninstall/Reinstall Skyrim?

IF yes, that makes sense

 

If NO, what happens when I first load up a newly uninstalled, then reinstalled Skyrim SSE, and then load NMM for the first time after such?

Won't it be looking for all the mods installed in the odler Skyrim?

Or worse, will it try to reinstall them all itself?

 

ericjmz

[WastelandAssassin]

well , If memory serves , NMM will still think you have mods installed if you just uninstall the game (I think)

you could go and delete every single mod from NMM , then uninstall the game , delete the folders (both installation folder and the one in "my games")

not sure if it's necessary , but I'm not really sure how NMM tracks installed mods (and it's been too long since I last used it)

 

the point is , as long as you delete your game's folder , no mods will be left when you reinstall the game

so anything you do in NMM is just to clean the mod list there , so you know which mods you have installed and which you don't