jyujinkai Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) I would like to try my hand at some modding... but I also liek to PLAY the game... I have a large mod list installed and was wondering if there is a way to have a completely clean install in a different directory and use that for modding with out affecting the main game SOLVED I can't speak for this as I've never used it, but it may do the job for you. Skyrim Installation SwapperDescription===========Create and swap up to ten unique installations of Skyrim via GUI or hotkey. Test mods safely, set up unique installations for different characters, eliminate disagreements among computer sharers about what mods should be installed! Edited October 31, 2012 by jyujinkai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formalrevya Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I would like to try my hand at some modding... but I also liek to PLAY the game... I have a large mod list installed and was wondering if there is a way to have a completely clean install in a different directory and use that for modding with out affecting the main game although I vaguely remember there being a thread about using sandboxie to do exactly what you want, I can't seem to find it here or anywhere else on the net. Your best bet if you have a really really good computer would be to use a virtual OS to install two copies. but unless you have a copy of OS software just laying around, this one is rather costly. If you're new to modding and worried about messing up your install, I would suggest only adding a few simple mods and gradually building on them as you learn more about modding. If you have any questions. Feel free to ask them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jyujinkai Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 well I have a ton of mods installed and I am 1/2 way though a play though... i would like to try modding.. but I do not want to break my current game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formalrevya Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) well I have a ton of mods installed and I am 1/2 way though a play though... i would like to try modding.. but I do not want to break my current game... Well, If you're using the Nexus mod manager to install your mods, then when an error does occour, a lot of times it can be solved simply by deactivating your most recently added mods until you find the problem child. I happen to be the worst repeat offender, but the golden rule is to never add more than two or three mods at a time. Always play test a few before adding more. Makes it easier to find which one is causing the problem. and you should also have a clean save from prior to adding a new set of mods. so you can revert to it should worst come to worst. and lastly absolute worst case scenario where removing the mods doesn't solve the problem, you can still use steam to fix the broken files. Nifty little function. Though how many mods do you have active right now? Edited October 19, 2012 by formalrevya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jyujinkai Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) I'm sorry.. I must not have been clear.. I have a stable game running many mods. This is all well and good and fine. I have a ton of mods installed to make a nice playthough experience and I am currently about 1/2 way though a game. I'm not talking about adding new mods to trying to get mods to work together.. I am asking if there is a way to run a completely separate version of skyrim that has NO mods in it while not affecting my other game that has tons of mods installed in anyway. So I have 2 dirs.. "Skyrim", and "Skyrim-dev".. 2 exes, 2 data folders.. completely separate "versions" of the game. I ask this as I am interested in trying modding but I do not want to affect my "game" in any way. I wish to have a "clean" install with no mods of any sort so I can add my mod and experiment make new characters to test on and stuff like that. I have some experience with programming and modding in other games and I always thought the best way was to reduce the variables as much as possible during development. Though how many mods do you have active right now? This is my current mod list for this play though.. but I think it is irrelevant to the question in the original post.. incidentally this is a Lets play on Youtube... .. . *********************************** Playlist - http://is.gd/xs1cDs *********************************** This is a LONG play of Skyrim! I nvr finished it the first time I played... I am also running some visual entrenchment mods as well as some location, quest and utility mods. The idea here is to not radically change the game... everything is pretty much just a visual improvement apart from a few things. The quests especially "Moonpath to Elsweyr" and "The Elder Scrolls Quests Series" are pretty much free professional grade DLC. By adding them at the start of the game should mean I can discover these new quests naturally as I explorer. I am trying to get an enhanced version of the game.. rather than "I have finished the game and I am walking around godlike and just want to put on some awesome armour" type thing. As most weapon and spell and armour mods are super powerful or just crazy badass looking. The goal is to preserve the game itself.. as I said.. kind of just a enhanced version. Finally I put in some extra locations, just for fun to spice it up a bit... as well as 2 fancy player houses I could "find" naturally as I play. I have Dawngaurd and Hearthfire offical DLC --Tragic **************************** Visual Enchantment Mods **************************** aMidianBorn Book of Silence - http://is.gd/oeoi8KRivers for W_A_T_E_R v2 - http://is.gd/XevVVyRealistic Lighting With Customization - http://is.gd/QSoiXJWarmer Magic Lights - http://is.gd/XPgwgHSkyrim Scary Monster Makeover v2 - http://is.gd/MGKMBREnhanced Blood Textures - http://is.gd/szP8GEImmersive Armors - http://is.gd/UuZXzrSoul Gems Differ - Full and Empty - http://is.gd/KZoumN Texture Pack Combiner - http://is.gd/lTe8CN= Official HD Textures - http://is.gd/BpEbMi= Serious HD Retexture Skyrim - http://is.gd/pZfCpb= Skyrim HD - 2K Textures - http://is.gd/BD37Qa= Skyrim Realistic Overhaul - http://is.gd/ScViQ4= Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM - http://is.gd/ATPXQO= Ruins Clutter Improvement HD - http://is.gd/zNtNZS= Intricate Spider Webs - http://is.gd/c2b8ko= Enhanced Distant Terrain - http://is.gd/eiGbMt= Better Dynamic Snow - http://is.gd/mwsxZy= Designs of the Nords - http://is.gd/Jun0QZ= Enhanced Night Skyrim - http://is.gd/4pCZdy= HQ Milky way galaxy - http://is.gd/w5qhNS= Re-Defined Dungeons - http://is.gd/kqoD0a= Snow and Rocks TEXTURES HD - http://is.gd/jR4LpC *************************** Animation Enchancments ***************************The Dance of Death - A Killmove Mod - http://is.gd/dHRHFb *********** Quests ***********Quest: Into the Depths - http://is.gd/8G4femThe Elder Scrolls Quests Series - http://is.gd/quYEaXTamrielic Lore: Chrysamere - http://is.gd/kKkwMs ******************* Locations Mods *******************Towns and Villages Enhanced: Collection - http://is.gd/talpmQMoonpath to Elsweyr - http://is.gd/uI7zXsThe Elder Scrolls Places - http://is.gd/eSXrfp ****************** Player Houses ******************Rayeks End - Mini Hideout - http://is.gd/wezcn3Dragon Falls Manor - http://is.gd/pDcNPjHalls of Dovahndor - http://is.gd/xUivID ************** Utilities **************A Quality World Map - With Roads - http://is.gd/eEW4SXUnread Books Glow - http://is.gd/bwAJf7IMAGINATOR - Visual Control Device for Skyrim - http://is.gd/NC9ZzGMore Hotkeys Please - http://is.gd/A1qtitSimple Borderless Window - http://is.gd/IeeU2DRealistic Ragdolls and Force - http://is.gd/gMPXy8Vanilla Mannequin Script Fix - http://is.gd/uND7q4 *************** Companions ***************Wisplicker - http://is.gd/n0W02C Follower Trap Safety - http://is.gd/ynx3NgMove it Dammit for NPC Companions and Followers - http://is.gd/t6g93LUFO - Ultimate Follower Overhaul - http://is.gd/XR7uht ****************** Game Changers ******************Skyrim Monster Mod - http://is.gd/LdTFqySkyrim Monster Mod Additions - Replacers - http://is.gd/vLusWGApocalypse Spell Package (2.03) - http://is.gd/ESFRgfBound Weapon Redux - http://is.gd/MQQGHe Edited October 19, 2012 by jyujinkai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsharaMeradin Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I can't speak for this as I've never used it, but it may do the job for you. Skyrim Installation SwapperDescription===========Create and swap up to ten unique installations of Skyrim via GUI or hotkey. Test mods safely, set up unique installations for different characters, eliminate disagreements among computer sharers about what mods should be installed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamKingMods Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) If you have the disk space, I believe you can just make a copy of your whole Skyrim directory and then swap installations based on renaming directories--whichever is named "Skyrim" will be the active installation. (I haven't tested this myself, but I have seen multiple people say that this works for them.) Edited October 19, 2012 by DreamKingMods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaronofHe11 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Mod Orginzer You can use mod organizer to load only the mods you want. You see with MO mods are not installed at all. All mods live in a virtual directory. The mods are only loaded when you run MO. You can use different profiles to load different mods. This setup is perfect for testing mods. So in your case you can have all the mods you are playing on one profile and only the mod you are working on on the other profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jyujinkai Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 this sounds exactly what I am looking for.. dose this only work for deactivating esp or enb or w.e.. like for example.. many of the textures are over written as individual files... so just disabling dose not infarct remove teh mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaronofHe11 Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 It works for all mods even textures. The textures do not exist in the data folder they are put in virtual directories. So un checking the texture mods in MO completely removes them from skyrim. Nothing is overwritten. For example I have 3 different moon mods installed using MO. The textures files are in "D:\GAMES-PRIME\STEAM\steamapps\COMMON\skyrim\ModOrganizer11\mods" not the data folder of Skyrim. Each mod has it own directory. If I have all three moons checked off in MO the lowest moon in the list will be used. If I un check all of them the default skyrim moon is used. If I only check off say the Deathstar moon only the deathstar moon is only used regardless of load order. The idea is simple, Skyrim has no idea the files exist and can not access them unless they are checked off in MO. The only way this can work is by launching skyrim though MO witch links the virtual directories to skyrim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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