How do I use mods at all?

[Reviarc]

It seems that when I updated the game to the latest version I lost the ability to load data files before launching fallout 3. There was an .exe file that allowed me to select which mods to use and it isn't available anymore.

 

Question #1: I've downloaded around 5 new mods to use this time around in the game but do I extract the folders to the data folder or do I extract the folder contents into the data folder? I'd like to keep the separate mods organized if I can without 90 separate files hoarding my data folder (in case I decide to get rid of a few).

 

Question #2: I've tried to use Fallout Mod Manage 0.8.4 but upon launching it only shows Fallout3.esm. Shouldn't there be other .esm's if I've extracted the mods to the data folder? (They are within a folder in the Data Folder).

 

Sorry to annoy with this noob question but I'd really like to try some different mods while beating the game the second time around. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Smosh]

The mods go directly into your Data folder. They should be in the form of an esp file. That is why they are not showing in FOMM. There should only be one esm file and that is the Fallout one.

[MalcomGTX]

Question #1

 

Do what the readme says. Any mod that has a "DATA" folder goes in the "Fallout 3" folder.

Anything else [Textures, Meshes, Sound] goes inside the "DATA" folder. Also ".esp" files go inside the "DATA" folder.

 

Question #2

 

FOMM should be inside the DATA folder. A mod will only show up if it includes a ".esp" file. Texture replacers, sound mods, UI mods, ect will not show up in FOMM.

 

Also, try using Archiveinvalidation Invalidator instead of an archiveinvalidation.txt file.

 

http://fallout3nexus.com/downloads/mirror.php?id=136876

[Uzibeatle]

It seems that when I updated the game to the latest version I lost the ability to load data files before launching fallout 3. There was an .exe file that allowed me to select which mods to use and it isn't available anymore.

 

Question #1: I've downloaded around 5 new mods to use this time around in the game but do I extract the folders to the data folder or do I extract the folder contents into the data folder? I'd like to keep the separate mods organized if I can without 90 separate files hoarding my data folder (in case I decide to get rid of a few).

 

Question #2: I've tried to use Fallout Mod Manage 0.8.4 but upon launching it only shows Fallout3.esm. Shouldn't there be other .esm's if I've extracted the mods to the data folder? (They are within a folder in the Data Folder).

 

 

Do what those guys said up above but I'd add this.

 

Always unzip or unarchive any mod to a temporary scratch directory. never assume the mod author is using the

same directory structure a prior mod author is using. That way, you can examine what there is before dumpign

lord knows what in your game directory. Your in control if you simply copy the DATA dir to the game main folder of

if needed one of the subfolders(directory) to the proper subfolder under the DATA dir.

Just like they said, read the readme.txt or whatever first and follow instructions and pay attention to directory paths.

You will learn.

Oh, ps all that above refers to texture installs not .esp and .esm modules..

 

and do, by all means use: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=944 and you'll no longer fuss with

archiveinvalidated.txt again.

 

2: yes, if you properly installed the esps and they are in the data dir, FOMM should find them.

FOMM.exe need not be in the game folder itself. On my system it is in its own folder under the Fallout main folder and I just

copied a shortcut to it to desktop. It will find the .esp files if you installed them correctly. Like I said, open the archives to a scratch dir then copy what needs to be copied to the game folder .