Can't Start New Game

[EvanescentMemory]

I have un-installed and re-installed Oblivion so many times it's not funny... or is it, well anyways I decided to start new and re-install Oblivion to get rid of any unused and unnecessary Mods that I have.... wah 10G of mods does that. Well I did manage to cut it down to 5G and make everything nice and neat, I couldn't start Oblivion because of binkw32.dll missing, well I didn't want to download the dll so I reinstalled, leaving the data files still there intact, Oblivion launches fine no worries... it's just that I cant seem to start a new game, I click yes to start a new game, but it just stays at the main menu, but you can hear the background music for the game thing (I have a custom TES4Title song), I have loaded once but it was with a race mod I no longer had so it crashed, kinda puzzled. I still left UOP and things like that still installed with Oblivion gone and Added KoTN and SI afterwards. Is it because of some of my mods? I am using all the Unique Landscape Mods, Better Cities (Use the compatibility patches and fixes for things I need), Anvil Bay Expansion, Bank of Cyrodiil, Clocks of Cyrodiil, Exnem Body Replacer, Robert's Male Body Replacer, Streamline, Operation Optimization, Illumination Within/Revised/Optimized, Natural Weather, Natural Interriors... and a lot of others that don't really do much... plus I can't rememer, plus I don't really think the mods have anything to do with it... I am open to suggestions, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

If it comes to it I guess I will just reinstall everything again :mellow:

 

- Evanescent

[bben46]

When you uninstall Oblivion it doesn't really uninstall everything.

 

It does not remove your mods, save games or Oblivion.ini. It also does not remove helper programs such as OBSE, OBMM, Wrye Bash, The construction set or any other programs you have installed in the \Oblivion folder or the save game folder. I recommend that you go ahead and delete them, then re download and install the latest version of them again later. After you have verified that the game works.

 

Then when you start adding mods before you have started the game, some things may not get initialized properly. Here is my recommended procedure for uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this as it is something I expect to post often and I hate to give bogus or useless information.

 

Uninstalling Oblivion

 

My instructions assume you are using Windows XP and have installed Oblivion into the default location. If you are using Vista or Linux, the file locations may be different, however, the procedure will be the same.

 

For a full reinstall, first you can try to preserve your mods and save games. I recommend that you save them in a new folder with a new name. Create the new folder in C:\Program files\Bethesda Softewrks. Name it Old Files. So it will be C:\Program Files\Bethesda softworks\Old files.

 

Then copy the data folder where your mods are to the new folder - do not erase them, copy them. And in the new folder, rename the \data folder to \olddata. Then copy and rename the folder that has your saved games and Oblivion.ini, C:\documents and settings\your user name\my documents\My Games\oblivion to something like \My games\Old Oblivion - this saves your saved games and the oblivion.ini file.

 

Then, using the original CD, NOT the Launcher on your Hard drive. Select uninstall.

 

After it completes the uninstall, reboot your computer - this is important as it allows Windows to remove some references to the original Oblivion.

 

This would be the time to erase all of the helper programs you have in the \Oblivion folder. Such as OBMM, OBSE and some others. The simplest way is to erase the folder completely. The new install will re create the folder for you along with a fresh oblivion.ini and when you start the game and make a save, a new save folder and new \data folder.

 

This would also be a good time to do a file clean up and defragment your hard drive.

 

If you are worried about the registry entries that were left behind. There are several good programs for removing left behind entries. The one I use is ccleaner. Be sure to reboot before using it, and again after. It is available here: http://majorgeeks.com/download4191.html

 

 

Now to Reinstall.

 

Again using the original CD, install Oblivion.

 

Special instructions for Vista only: Do not install to the default location - make a new folder such as C:\Games and install there. That way you will not be bothered by the problems caused by the Vista UAC security not allowing mods to work.

 

Before adding any mods, patches, helper programs, Shivering Isles or anything else, start the game and make a save. This initializes some stuff that needs to be initialized.

 

If you are using the Game of the Year version of Oblivion you should not need any patches, skip the patching part.

 

Now, If you DO NOT use Shivering Isles, patch the game using ONLY the latest Oblivion patch. All of the stuff from the earlier patches is included.

 

Be sure you use the proper language patch. If you use the wrong one it may work, but with a strange mixture of languages. (Germanglish?) Or it may crash.

 

NOTE: there are two English Patches UK & US and they are different. (Some people actually think we speak the same language) Use the one that matches your original disk.

 

If you use Shivering Isles, Install it now. DO NOT install the Oblivion patch. Install Shivering Isles, then ONLY the latest Shivering Isles patch. All of the updates for Oblivion are included. There is only one Shivering Isles patch for both US & UK English

 

Now, again start the game and make a save. Test to be sure everything is working right (No purple objects or yellow blocks)

 

Before adding any mods, back up both your \data folder and the save game folder. Copy them, don't move or rename them, to a different folder - such as \Bethesda\Clean Oblivion\data and \Bethesda\clean Oblivion\saves. Note that this is a different folder than the one used for your old data and saves.

 

Note, Your Oblivion.ini file is in the same folder, but separate from, the save game folder.

 

Now, if you want to try to run with your old mods, first rename the original folders. The \data folder to \newdata and the \oldata back to \data. this restores all of your mods. You should now have 2 data folders \data, and \newdata in your \oblivion folder

 

To restore your original saves and ini file, rename the new My Games\Oblivion to something like \New Oblivion. and the \Old oblivion to \oblivion - this restores all of your saved games and your original Oblivion.ini file.

 

DO NOT erase the files you renamed. These are your backup files in case the original mods do not work or give you the same problem.

 

If you have the same problem, it is most likely caused by a mod. However, you now have a clean install to fall back on. You can rename the files back to what they were and be back to your clean install without having to reinstall again.

 

Sounds like lots of work, but you will have a clean install and a back up clean install when you are finished.

[EvanescentMemory]

Wow... thank you so much again. I am following the list as we speak, will get back to you tomorrow, as I think that is when I will re-install it, Your help is much appreciated.

Oh wow I can keep all mods without re-installing?

That is awesome because I took a lot of time making things all neat and nice (aesthetic appeal only) plus it helps me tell which are the new mods which I just installed.

 

- Evanescent

[EvanescentMemory]

Finally got around to re-installing it following your guide, everything is running smoothly and I have all my mods as before and then some. The CCleaner tool is awesome and you reminded me to defrag :P I used to have system mechanic to do most stuff for me but I don't have it on this computer so I kinda neglect my PC. Have backup files so I no longer need to wait a few years shy of a billion for Oblivion to install. Given you a well deserve Kudos for all your help and time :D

 

- Evanescent

[bben46]

Great! Happy to help. Glad you are able to play again