What happens to Texture mods that are already installed manually in the Data Folder when using Vortex?

[Leadrainpbh20]

Am I essentially doubling the amount of disk space I'm using; if I instal both Manually and through Vortex? Or does Vortex already know what files to Stage and Deploy? How will this affect the game?

[IsharaMeradin]

A quick test shows that Vortex will backup any loose file that matches an installed file and replace that file when the mod that provides said file is removed. Thus, Vortex seems to disregard loose files already in the data folder and will supersede with its own files. That said, any loose file not overwritten by a Vortex installed file should be used by the game per normal.

 

To confirm (and I do not have time as it is late) take an object's texture file, one that a mod replaces, and radically alter its appearance. Disable all mods in Vortex, place your modified texture in the appropriate loose file location. Test in game that the change does work. Then enable the mod which changes that object and test in game again. If what you made is visible then Vortex retains usage of loose files over Vortex installed files. If what you made is no longer visible then Vortex replaces loose files with Vortex installed files.