Reinstalling windows 10 & Saving all my Vortex files

[instyne49]

When I originally built my computer I only allowed 100 GB for C: drive, I had moved my downloads and other moveable folders to the D: drive on the same m.2 1 TB drive. I increased my C: drive size without properly moving Downloads, ect. to a different drive. This of course did a number on my registry. I need to refresh windows 10 to hopefully fix the registry. I'm asking you for help with saving my profiles, as I'm not sure they are kept in roaming %AppData%., Vortex is the only part of my game experience on the C: drive, I have a separate 1 TB m.2 drive for all my games. The help folder on Vortex does provide some links, but I couldn't find anything on saving or cloning my profiles, so I'm not sure just coping AppData is enough. Any suggestions on how and what to save before refreshing windows will be greatly appreciated. I can supply more info as needed. Could someone at least answer yes or no on whether Vortex profiles are kept in roaming AppData, I can't reinstall my email until I fix this darn registry? Thank you to whomever. I'm currently using the latest version of Windows 10 and Vortex.

[HadToRegister]

If you used the default Vortex install, then your Downloads and Mod Staging Folder goes in appdata\roaming

I'm curious as to why you just didn't move the folders using Vortex?
We've had other people in here do the same thing, they move the Download and Mod Staging Folder using Windows explorer, and then expect Vortex to know this.

 

 

 

 

[instyne49]

All of my games, from Steam, Origin, and Uplay are on drive F: this has not changed. Vortex and associated downloads are on drive C: in the default install folder. The items I had on the D: drive were all of my default Windows library folders, Documents, Pictures, Video, Music, and Downloads, including my One Drive folder that had email .pst files, those are the ones I copied over to a different drive, without using Windows Explorer to do the moving. This also had my Desktop files and folders. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do. I then deleted the D: drive so I could expand my C: drive. That part I did successfully, it also completly Borked my file associations. I believe I can fix the registry by doing a system refresh. My problem stems from not knowing how or where Vortex creates and stores my profiles. If Everything is stored in the AppData folder, and I copy it to a safe location, I think I'm good to go. I have too many hours on two separate Fallout 4 profiles and a start on New Vegas to just take a chance of loosing them by making another mistake. That was the purpose of the first post, trying to not make an uninformed decision. Do I just copy the AppData folder, reinstall Vortex after refreshing windows then copy the AppData folder back into Windows. My only excuse for these mistakes is that I didn't get into computers and software until around age 56, roughly 14 years ago. I can learn, sometimes the curve is steeper than I thought. And I do thank you for the response. I'm really hoping you answer yes, that coping the AppData is enough, I can't reinstall my Office program that contains Outlook until I straighten Windows out.

[HadToRegister]

Well, appdata is definitely the folder to backup, but I'm not sure if reinstalling windows is going to 'refresh' your registry, because when Windows reinstalls, it will create the Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc on the C:\ drive where it expects to find them already.
Unless THAT is what you mean by refreshing your registry.
However, everything you have installed, Windows will 'forget' about, because the registry has been refreshed

[instyne49]

Thanks, yes that's what I'm shooting for. Recreating all the folders. Once that and a couple of other details are nailed down, I can re-populate the restored folders, then reinstall the programs I want. I'll backup what needs backing up tonight and do the refresh over coffee in the morning. I'll post the results in case someone else in the future can use the idea. Ok, everything worked out. All my stuff is functioning now.

[instyne49]

 

 

I've run into a new problem. I didn't get to play until last night, I started the game and the only option was to start a new game, the load button was greyed out. I closed the game down and looked in Vortex, all of my mods are present, both profiles I have for Fallout 4 are present, but when I hit on saves, none show up. After searching the forums I found a post where you told someone else where to look for the saves. I went to C; users/my name/games/fallout and all of my saves are present. I tried to start a new game, after doing the player selection, I quit the game and rechecked the location, it appears that a new save was added but Vortex still will not recognize the old saves. Would you suggest the next steps to try please.

[HadToRegister]

 

 

 

I've run into a new problem. I didn't get to play until last night, I started the game and the only option was to start a new game, the load button was greyed out. I closed the game down and looked in Vortex, all of my mods are present, both profiles I have for Fallout 4 are present, but when I hit on saves, none show up. After searching the forums I found a post where you told someone else where to look for the saves. I went to C; users/my name/games/fallout and all of my saves are present. I tried to start a new game, after doing the player selection, I quit the game and rechecked the location, it appears that a new save was added but Vortex still will not recognize the old saves. Would you suggest the next steps to try please.

 

 

 

Check your fallout.ini

 

Savegame Managers do this as well, they change this line (Mine is shown with one of my Profile Identities)

 

SLocalSavePath=Saves\1pOarCluf\

 

I'm willing to bet your save path isn't pointing to a folder that has save games in it

[instyne49]

I believe I've found the problem. It does involve the fallout.ini . When I refreshed windows, I neglected to uninstall One Drive, ( I detest things that do pre-programed operations by themselves ) I ended up with multiple copies of files, mostly because of copies windows made, but also because of file backups I made before refresh. I think I have a handle on it, but may ask for other answers later. I think I'll put Vortex on my game drive if I have to redo things again. I'll add to this later on the chance it helps someone, even if the lesson is just, Don't do this.

[HadToRegister]

I believe I've found the problem. It does involve the fallout.ini . When I refreshed windows, I neglected to uninstall One Drive, ( I detest things that do pre-programed operations by themselves ) I ended up with multiple copies of files, mostly because of copies windows made, but also because of file backups I made before refresh. I think I have a handle on it, but may ask for other answers later. I think I'll put Vortex on my game drive if I have to redo things again. I'll add to this later on the chance it helps someone, even if the lesson is just, Don't do this.

 

Ah...I ran into this about 2 weeks ago when I was updating Stardock Fences

 

I couldn't remove any shortcuts on my desktop, and ones that I was able to remove kept reappearing, it was then when I found out OneDrive was backing up my Desktop

What a PITA, especially when it doesn't tell you that it can do that

[instyne49]

Okay, I'm back up and running. Sadly without my old profiles. In order to regain the uninstall function on Steam, I first had to reinstall Steam, then uninstall everything. Somehow that button had disappeared during my misadventures. After downloading everything, again, Fallout 4 refused to start, all my other games worked fine. I had to delete every .ini file associated with Fallout, before it would re-initialize. This time I'm going to get most all of my settlements and do a few side missions to create a save I can use later, if I need it. Then I'll reinstall Vortex and add mods. This is one of those afterthoughts I should have had at the beginning. I'm marking this solved, with the admonition that a bit of planning at the start, will save you countless hours of grief later.