Help with a fresh uninstall/install?

[Talore]

Almost a year ago I was playing Oblivion with all the mods. FCOM, script extenders, beauty mods, better cities/landscapes, Deadly Reflex, the works. However, eventually it all crumbled under the stress of load order hell. Now I want to play again and I see most major mods and programs are in new versions, so I just deleted and uninstalled everything, and now I have a clean install of a pure vanilla Oblivion and I want to do it right. The following is a list of things I want to install; what order should I install them? Can someone run me through it? (Remember I don't own KotN or Shivering Isles) I also think I need to patch Oblivion to the latest version.

 

Unofficial Oblivion Patch

OBSE

OBGE

Wyre Bash

OBMM (unless Wyre Bash makes that obsolete)

FCOM (OOO, MMM, Francesco's)

Better Cities + Open Cities

Unique Landscapes

Deadly Reflex

Darnified UI

Natural Environments

 

Halp?

Edited August 19, 2012 by Talore

[panterath]

Going with a fresh install is a good idea. Install Oblivion, then install the GOTY expansions (KotN and SI).

 

After that, I would recommend reading this tutorial for the next steps: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306005 (This thread includes all those files and talks about putting which in first). It helped me out a lot getting back into the mod downloading frenzy.

 

Also, download BOSS (the thread talks about it), it helps recognize plugins and putting them into the right order. If you find another mod you want to get later on, BOSS is even further help. Also, I could be wrong but do not have Open and Better cities at the same time. DarN UI doesn't have an esp, so it won't be a problem putting that in at anytime, unless you have another mod that alters Oblivion's .xml files (Alternate Loading Screens).

 

Hope it all goes well!

 

- P

Edited August 20, 2012 by panterath

[Talore]

Going with a fresh install is a good idea. Install Oblivion, then install the GOTY expansions (KotN and SI).

 

After that, I would recommend reading this tutorial for the next steps: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306005 (This thread includes all those files and talks about putting which in first). It helped me out a lot getting back into the mod downloading frenzy.

 

Also, download BOSS (the thread talks about it), it helps recognize plugins and putting them into the right order. If you find another mod you want to get later on, BOSS is even further help. Also, I could be wrong but do not have Open and Better cities at the same time. DarN UI doesn't have an esp, so it won't be a problem putting that in at anytime, unless you have another mod that alters Oblivion's .xml files (Alternate Loading Screens).

 

Hope it all goes well!

 

- P

That link looks like it will help a lot, however I have some concerns as the post hasn't been updated in over a year. Will the install orders still work with the new versions of files and programs? Also, the post is formatted into visual, sound, and gameplay elements. Should they be installed in that order?

[dubiousintent]

If it hasn't been updated, doesn't that suggest there haven't been problems?

 

Note that 'Install Order' is different than 'Load Order'. The Install Order is important in determining which files are the last to replace vanilla files. Usually only important for textures, meshes, and patches; and a good install order won't change because a mod is updated. Load Order determines which wins conflicts when more than one mod wants to change a record.

 

But here are some more resources.

You don't mention which OS you are running, but it's still a good idea to move your game out of the default Steam tree and/or 'Program Files'. Check out the thread 'Oblivion and Mods Install for Win 7 64? Any Issues?'.

'TweakGuides' has hardware specific tweaks.

'TESCOSI' has excellent configuration guidelines. It goes into Install Order and Load Order recommendations.

'Bben's Reinstall Procedure' was written for people in exactly your position.

'Oblivion reinstall procedure' has been updated to include Steam versions.

'Complete Modded Oblivion Installation Guide' is current.

 

BOSS is essential. So should be Wrye Bash, and now it's been designed to incorporate BOSS. Check the reasons why you should invest the time to learn WB in 'OBMM alternative or solution'.

 

-Dubious-

[Talore]

I have a standalone disk and Windows 7. However, from previous experiences I just completely disabled the whole administration permission system in Windows 7, so I don't think I will have problems with having it in program files x86/bethesda softworks. My heavily-modded Fallout 3 works just fine in the same directory.

 

Thanks for the help all, I'm going through the list that was posted. I think my big error last go around was that I didn't understand how BOSS worked and I thought it was an automatic thing. This time around though I know to run it after new mods are installed.