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Computer Illiterate Seeking Setup Help


happycheater

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Hello. I'm terribly sorry if this thread is redundant, but I've been searching around for a few hours and every thread/answer I could find was too vague (mostly because, as the title implies, I'm not very computer savvy) to be useful. So. Here's the situation as it stands.

 

Current location of Vortex = C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex

Current location of primary game (Fallout 4) intended for modding is installed = E:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Fallout 4

Current location of "Mod Staging Folder (Fallout 4)" = E:\Vortex Mods\fallout4

Current location of "Download Folder" = C:\Users\Edde\AppData\Roaming\Vortex\downloads

 

So, what am I supposed to do? When I open the Vortex program and go to Settings -> Downloads, the tooltip for "Download Folder" says not to put it in the "Vortex application directory". What the heck (and where the heck) is the "Vortex application directory"? And where SHOULD I put the Downloads Folder?

Same as above for Settings -> Mods, with the "Mod Staging Folder (Fallout 4)". Don't put it in the "Vortex application directory". So where DO I put it?

 

I've already downloaded a few mods off of the nexusmods site, but haven't installed them for fear of them ending up in the wrong place. Please help.

 

 

Edit: Sorry again. I just noticed the sub-forums (is that the term?), and realize that I should have posted this in the Vortex Support section. But, for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to DELETE/MOVE this thread, so... hopefully I can be forgiven and still get some help?

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The "Vortex Application Directory" is where the program itself is, in your case "C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex". But with the setup as you describe it, you shouldn't be seeing these errors, I don't think. Try moving the staging folder and the download folder to an empty place, like "E:\Games\Vortex" or anything that doesn't already exist. Also, please post what version of Vortex you're on - it can be found by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right, under the X.

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The "Vortex Application Directory" is where the program itself is, in your case "C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex". But with the setup as you describe it, you shouldn't be seeing these errors, I don't think. Try moving the staging folder and the download folder to an empty place, like "E:\Games\Vortex" or anything that doesn't already exist. Also, please post what version of Vortex you're on - it can be found by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right, under the X.

Ohhh... So I need to make sure not the put the staging or download folders in the same folder where Vortex is actually installed? Huh. Well, that clears that up a bit.

It's not that I'm getting errors (as I haven't tried to install, let alone play with, the mods I've preemptively downloaded), yet. I'm just trying to figure out how to arrange things so that I don't get errors in the future.

For the version... clicking About under the three dots you mentioned, it says "Vortex 0.17.11" at the top.

 

So, if I tried to install one of the mods I've downloaded NOW, where would its install location be? The Mod Staging Folder? Is that what "Mod Staging" refers to? Because I recall from some of the other threads/answers I read, something about mods needing to be installed in the same drive as the game (which in this case would be my E drive). But the Download folder is currently on the C drive; so do I need to move that to some random place on the E drive before proceeding, or would they automatically go into the aforementioned E drive "Mod Staging" folder?

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The "Vortex Application Directory" is where the program itself is, in your case "C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex". But with the setup as you describe it, you shouldn't be seeing these errors, I don't think. Try moving the staging folder and the download folder to an empty place, like "E:\Games\Vortex" or anything that doesn't already exist. Also, please post what version of Vortex you're on - it can be found by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right, under the X.

Ohhh... So I need to make sure not the put the staging or download folders in the same folder where Vortex is actually installed? Huh. Well, that clears that up a bit.

It's not that I'm getting errors (as I haven't tried to install, let alone play with, the mods I've preemptively downloaded), yet. I'm just trying to figure out how to arrange things so that I don't get errors in the future.

For the version... clicking About under the three dots you mentioned, it says "Vortex 0.17.11" at the top.

 

So, if I tried to install one of the mods I've downloaded NOW, where would its install location be? The Mod Staging Folder? Is that what "Mod Staging" refers to? Because I recall from some of the other threads/answers I read, something about mods needing to be installed in the same drive as the game (which in this case would be my E drive). But the Download folder is currently on the C drive; so do I need to move that to some random place on the E drive before proceeding, or would they automatically go into the aforementioned E drive "Mod Staging" folder?

 

 

Your Folders are fine as they are.

 

Vortex is just telling you not to put the directory INSIDE the Vortex install directory as a precaution, NOT because you're actually trying to do it.

 

When you download a Mod ARCHIVE it goes in the DOWNLOAD folder.

 

When you INSTALL a mod, Vortex extracts that ARCHIVE, to the MOD STAGING FOLDER where the Extracted Mod now sits in a folder, with all the files it has, like ESP, ESP, ESL, BA2, BSA, Meshes Textures etc.

 

Vortex then makes a HARDLINK from those files, to your Game\Data\ directory, but the actual installed Mods are in the Mod Staging Folder.

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The "Vortex Application Directory" is where the program itself is, in your case "C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex". But with the setup as you describe it, you shouldn't be seeing these errors, I don't think. Try moving the staging folder and the download folder to an empty place, like "E:\Games\Vortex" or anything that doesn't already exist. Also, please post what version of Vortex you're on - it can be found by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right, under the X.

Ohhh... So I need to make sure not the put the staging or download folders in the same folder where Vortex is actually installed? Huh. Well, that clears that up a bit.

It's not that I'm getting errors (as I haven't tried to install, let alone play with, the mods I've preemptively downloaded), yet. I'm just trying to figure out how to arrange things so that I don't get errors in the future.

For the version... clicking About under the three dots you mentioned, it says "Vortex 0.17.11" at the top.

 

So, if I tried to install one of the mods I've downloaded NOW, where would its install location be? The Mod Staging Folder? Is that what "Mod Staging" refers to? Because I recall from some of the other threads/answers I read, something about mods needing to be installed in the same drive as the game (which in this case would be my E drive). But the Download folder is currently on the C drive; so do I need to move that to some random place on the E drive before proceeding, or would they automatically go into the aforementioned E drive "Mod Staging" folder?

 

 

Your Folders are fine as they are.

 

Oh? Okay, thanks for the reassurance. Guess I'll give it a shot and just post again if anything goes wrong.

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Ah, I see.

 

The Mod Staging folder is where mods are installed, and it needs to be on the same drive as the game. You will also see the files in the Fallout 4 installation folder - basically, Vortex places data to make the operating system act like the mods are in both places.

 

The Download folder can be on any drive. I personally move it out of the AppData folder, but feel free to do what you like. Vortex will automatically move the necessary data to the Staging folder as needed.

 

EDIT: See HadToRegister's comment above.

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

 

 

The "Vortex Application Directory" is where the program itself is, in your case "C:\Program Files\Black Tree Gaming Ltd\Vortex". But with the setup as you describe it, you shouldn't be seeing these errors, I don't think. Try moving the staging folder and the download folder to an empty place, like "E:\Games\Vortex" or anything that doesn't already exist. Also, please post what version of Vortex you're on - it can be found by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right, under the X.

Ohhh... So I need to make sure not the put the staging or download folders in the same folder where Vortex is actually installed? Huh. Well, that clears that up a bit.

It's not that I'm getting errors (as I haven't tried to install, let alone play with, the mods I've preemptively downloaded), yet. I'm just trying to figure out how to arrange things so that I don't get errors in the future.

For the version... clicking About under the three dots you mentioned, it says "Vortex 0.17.11" at the top.

 

So, if I tried to install one of the mods I've downloaded NOW, where would its install location be? The Mod Staging Folder? Is that what "Mod Staging" refers to? Because I recall from some of the other threads/answers I read, something about mods needing to be installed in the same drive as the game (which in this case would be my E drive). But the Download folder is currently on the C drive; so do I need to move that to some random place on the E drive before proceeding, or would they automatically go into the aforementioned E drive "Mod Staging" folder?

 

 

Your Folders are fine as they are.

 

Oh? Okay, thanks for the reassurance. Guess I'll give it a shot and just post again if anything goes wrong.

 

For the future - leaving things like paths at default when setting up a program like Vortex is mostly the best way to go.

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Another vote for moving Downloads out of AppData.

AppData is typically on the C drive which is usually very limited in size (think small fast SDD for booting).

Downloads tends to grow - a lot - overtime as you get hooked on mods. You want that folder on big storage where you can keep an eye on it (who looks in AppData...).

 

Don't worry about it now - your current paths are fine. Install some mods and get playing.

Come back if you have problems.

It is nice working with someone who gives details, is looking for help, and is civil.

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Another vote for moving Downloads out of AppData.

 

That makes sense to me. However, in configuring default settings for Vortex, where would you put the Download folder?

 

EDIT

I deleted some things from my post that, on re-reading, made no sense to me.

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If it were me:

I would check where Windows defined "Downloads" is, and put it on the same drive. By preference :\Vortex\Downloads.

Theory being downloads are downloads...

 

For new users, AppData is as good as any. By the time it matters, they will understand Vortex - or gone elsewhere.

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