Manually Install Mods on Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition via Steam?

[Satanael95]

So I have Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition from Steam and I was wondering if their was a method to manually install mods?

 

DAUpdater and DAO ModManager don't work on my Windows computer. Whenever I try using either of these programs I get an error code: 0x800F080C.

 

So I was wondering if their was a way I could install mods manually since I heard the dazip files are just zip files renamed. I don't think I have any issue with override files though.

 

Also do I use put the files in the steamapps Dragon Age folders or the Document Dragon Age folders? Since I keep putting the files in either one with no success.

[Thandal]

@Satanael95;

 

a. Nothing special about using mods with a Steam install, except knowing your game-folder path(s) will be slightly different than the vanilla ones.

 

b. Based on the error code you report, you may have a folder permissions problem that keeps DAUpdater (and DAMM) from working on your rig. Most likely it's permissions to the folder(s) where you placed the mods, or the game-folder(s) where the mods need to make changes. Check to see if the "Read Only" flag is set.

 

c. No, without a very thorough technical understanding of the various changes that need to be made you cannot install [.dazip] mods "manually".

 

d. With very few exceptions, (and these will be detailed in a mod's "Installation" instructions) mods other than [.dazip] mods go in the '\override' folder found under your user profile:

e.g. '\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override'. They DO NOT go under '\steamapps' at all. (But you will first have to "unpackage" any mods that are distributed as [.zip], [.7z], [.rar], etc.) And always, always read the author's instructions!

 

e. There is no way to get [.override] mods working without using the DAO ModManager (DAMM), so I'm surprised that you say you don't have any issues with them. (Or do you mean, "No issues with mods whose installation instructions say to place them in the 'override' folder"? That's completely different from [.override] mods, which have their own process.

 

See this article for a more detailed explanation of the various types of DA mods: Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies.

[Satanael95]

@Satanael95;

 

a. Nothing special about using mods with a Steam install, except knowing your game-folder path(s) will be slightly different than the vanilla ones.

 

b. Based on the error code you report, you may have a folder permissions problem that keeps DAUpdater (and DAMM) from working on your rig. Most likely it's permissions to the folder(s) where you placed the mods, or the game-folder(s) where the mods need to make changes. Check to see if the "Read Only" flag is set.

 

c. No, without a very thorough technical understanding of the various changes that need to be made you cannot install [.dazip] mods "manually".

 

d. With very few exceptions, (and these will be detailed in a mod's "Installation" instructions) mods other than [.dazip] mods go in the '\override' folder found under your user profile:

e.g. '\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override'. They DO NOT go under '\steamapps' at all. (But you will first have to "unpackage" any mods that are distributed as [.zip], [.7z], [.rar], etc.) And always, always read the author's instructions!

 

e. There is no way to get [.override] mods working without using the DAO ModManager (DAMM), so I'm surprised that you say you don't have any issues with them. (Or do you mean, "No issues with mods whose installation instructions say to place them in the 'override' folder"? That's completely different from [.override] mods, which have their own process.

 

See this article for a more detailed explanation of the various types of DA mods: Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies.

 

DAMN! That sucks! I was banking on their being a manual install based on unzipping the dazip files. Though since that's impossible I guess I'm out of luck.

 

Oh yeah, the Read Only attribute WAS checked for the bin_ship folder (as well as for all folders under dazip) but nothing happened. Plus, I even ran it as an administrator and DAUpdater & DAMM still doesn't work. Or rather neither one of those programs even open up when I click on them. Windows brings up the error message as mentioned earlier.

 

Also I'm 99% wrong about the override files "working" since I've never even downloaded one. I've downloaded about 10 different mods yesterday and ALL of them were dazip. However, now that you are telling me that those programs are needed for override files too I guess I'm once again out of luck.

[theskymoves]

 

@Satanael95;

 

a. Nothing special about using mods with a Steam install, except knowing your game-folder path(s) will be slightly different than the vanilla ones.

 

b. Based on the error code you report, you may have a folder permissions problem that keeps DAUpdater (and DAMM) from working on your rig. Most likely it's permissions to the folder(s) where you placed the mods, or the game-folder(s) where the mods need to make changes. Check to see if the "Read Only" flag is set.

 

c. No, without a very thorough technical understanding of the various changes that need to be made you cannot install [.dazip] mods "manually".

 

d. With very few exceptions, (and these will be detailed in a mod's "Installation" instructions) mods other than [.dazip] mods go in the '\override' folder found under your user profile:

e.g. '\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override'. They DO NOT go under '\steamapps' at all. (But you will first have to "unpackage" any mods that are distributed as [.zip], [.7z], [.rar], etc.) And always, always read the author's instructions!

 

e. There is no way to get [.override] mods working without using the DAO ModManager (DAMM), so I'm surprised that you say you don't have any issues with them. (Or do you mean, "No issues with mods whose installation instructions say to place them in the 'override' folder"? That's completely different from [.override] mods, which have their own process.

 

See this article for a more detailed explanation of the various types of DA mods: Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies.

 

DAMN! That sucks! I was banking on their being a manual install based on unzipping the dazip files. Though since that's impossible I guess I'm out of luck.

 

Oh yeah, the Read Only attribute WAS checked for the bin_ship folder (as well as for all folders under dazip) but nothing happened. Plus, I even ran it as an administrator and DAUpdater & DAMM still doesn't work. Or rather neither one of those programs even open up when I click on them. Windows brings up the error message as mentioned earlier.

 

Also I'm 99% wrong about the override files "working" since I've never even downloaded one. I've downloaded about 10 different mods yesterday and ALL of them were dazip. However, now that you are telling me that those programs are needed for override files too I guess I'm once again out of luck.

 

 

You should be able to use MANUAL override mods with no problem... the install instructions for those would typically be something like, as Thandal mentioned, 'unzip the archive and place the contents into the game's override folder ([user]\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override)'. Manual overrides do not require an installer, at all.

 

.override packages, on the other hand, do require DAO ModManager for installation and configuration, and the mod description will make it very clear that is the case. (Configurable .override mods are very rare, so it is entirely possible that you may never encounter one.)

 

Did you verify that your AddIns.xml file is present and not set to ReadOnly? Both daUpdater and DAO-MM must be able to access and write to that file to install DAzips... (AddIns.xml will be located in [user]\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings.)

 

Are the DLC packages included in the Ultimate Edition working properly? Per the DA Wiki, there is a known issue with Steam and DAupdater not working. See here for more info: Bugs (Origins) - DLC_and_Dragon_Age_Updater_service. (Note my experience with this is entirely anecdotal, as I am not a Steam user.)

[Satanael95]

 

 

@Satanael95;

 

a. Nothing special about using mods with a Steam install, except knowing your game-folder path(s) will be slightly different than the vanilla ones.

 

b. Based on the error code you report, you may have a folder permissions problem that keeps DAUpdater (and DAMM) from working on your rig. Most likely it's permissions to the folder(s) where you placed the mods, or the game-folder(s) where the mods need to make changes. Check to see if the "Read Only" flag is set.

 

c. No, without a very thorough technical understanding of the various changes that need to be made you cannot install [.dazip] mods "manually".

 

d. With very few exceptions, (and these will be detailed in a mod's "Installation" instructions) mods other than [.dazip] mods go in the '\override' folder found under your user profile:

e.g. '\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override'. They DO NOT go under '\steamapps' at all. (But you will first have to "unpackage" any mods that are distributed as [.zip], [.7z], [.rar], etc.) And always, always read the author's instructions!

 

e. There is no way to get [.override] mods working without using the DAO ModManager (DAMM), so I'm surprised that you say you don't have any issues with them. (Or do you mean, "No issues with mods whose installation instructions say to place them in the 'override' folder"? That's completely different from [.override] mods, which have their own process.

 

See this article for a more detailed explanation of the various types of DA mods: Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies.

 

DAMN! That sucks! I was banking on their being a manual install based on unzipping the dazip files. Though since that's impossible I guess I'm out of luck.

 

Oh yeah, the Read Only attribute WAS checked for the bin_ship folder (as well as for all folders under dazip) but nothing happened. Plus, I even ran it as an administrator and DAUpdater & DAMM still doesn't work. Or rather neither one of those programs even open up when I click on them. Windows brings up the error message as mentioned earlier.

 

Also I'm 99% wrong about the override files "working" since I've never even downloaded one. I've downloaded about 10 different mods yesterday and ALL of them were dazip. However, now that you are telling me that those programs are needed for override files too I guess I'm once again out of luck.

 

 

You should be able to use MANUAL override mods with no problem... the install instructions for those would typically be something like, as Thandal mentioned, 'unzip the archive and place the contents into the game's override folder ([user]\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override)'. Manual overrides do not require an installer, at all.

 

.override packages, on the other hand, do require DAO ModManager for installation and configuration, and the mod description will make it very clear that is the case. (Configurable .override mods are very rare, so it is entirely possible that you may never encounter one.)

 

Did you verify that your AddIns.xml file is present and not set to ReadOnly? Both daUpdater and DAO-MM must be able to access and write to that file to install DAzips... (AddIns.xml will be located in [user]\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings.)

 

Are the DLC packages included in the Ultimate Edition working properly? Per the DA Wiki, there is a known issue with Steam and DAupdater not working. See here for more info: Bugs (Origins) - DLC_and_Dragon_Age_Updater_service. (Note my experience with this is entirely anecdotal, as I am not a Steam user.)

 

 

1. Addins.xml located in the Settings folder is not set to Read-Only. :(

2. All the DLC have been working at 100% and I have never come across an issue with them.

3. Can someone just link me to an override mod since I can't seem to find one? Once again I've looked through 15 more mods and all of them were dazips.

 

4. I still can't use Updater or DAMM more than likely because I need .NET Framework 3.5 (this has happened before when I tried playing Sonic Adventure 2 Battle for Steam) installed on my computer. Though unfortunately I can't download and install that .NET Framework 3.5 either without getting the error I mentioned earlier.

[theskymoves]

There are tonnes of manual override mods on the Nexus, but some I've made are:

 

Wynne Robe Fix Complete. An override mod that alters Wynne's appearance at Ostagar by replacing her gear with more lore-correct mage

robes. You'll need to use a save from prior to entering the Ostager map.

 

Vignette Be Gone. A really simple texture mod that eliminates the darkened upper screen corners. Can be installed at any time.

 

WTF Lyrium Dust. Recolours the pink Lyrium Dust inventory icon to blue.

 

Any mod that changes the face of an NPC will generally be packaged as a manual override... if you look for an NPC replacer that isn't dependent on other mods for assets, that would be a quick and easy way to see if overrides are working, since NPC faces can be changed at any time. (Example: a replacement morph for Wynne at this link, which gives her a different base-game hairstyle.)

 

Hopefully someone smarter than me will have a solution for your larger problem not being able to install things w/o the error message, and I apologize for not being more helpful. :sad:

[Satanael95]

There are tonnes of manual override mods on the Nexus, but some I've made are:

 

Wynne Robe Fix Complete. An override mod that alters Wynne's appearance at Ostagar by replacing her gear with more lore-correct mage

robes. You'll need to use a save from prior to entering the Ostager map.

 

Vignette Be Gone. A really simple texture mod that eliminates the darkened upper screen corners. Can be installed at any time.

 

WTF Lyrium Dust. Recolours the pink Lyrium Dust inventory icon to blue.

 

Any mod that changes the face of an NPC will generally be packaged as a manual override... if you look for an NPC replacer that isn't dependent on other mods for assets, that would be a quick and easy way to see if overrides are working, since NPC faces can be changed at any time. (Example: a replacement morph for Wynne at this link, which gives her a different base-game hairstyle.)

 

Hopefully someone smarter than me will have a solution for your larger problem not being able to install things w/o the error message, and I apologize for not being more helpful. :sad:

 

Thank you! Now I can confirm "override" mods DO WORK on my PC especially with how simple they are to install.

 

It's only the "dazip" file mods that I cannot install unfortunately. I also learned that ALL of my folders on my PC in Windows 10 have "Read Only" checked on it.

 

Everytime I uncheck the box, apply, then hit ok to close the box, it returns to read only after I click on it again. I then went to my "C" Drive, highlighted all the folders, went to properties and unchecked the "Read-Only" box and applied it to all. Waited 15 minutes and all of my folders STILL say Read-Only. So I can officially confirm something is up with my PC even though I am an admin on it with full control.