Overwriting files

[SpookaXX]

I've recently been downloading graphics mods to enhance the visual appeal of Skyrim and it often asks me to overwright files from graphics mods I have just downloaded. I always select 'yes to all' but am I supposed to? It kind of seems like doing that would wreck the effects of the other mods. I have basically downloaded and installed from this list and in the order it's listed: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/30129.

 

Hopefully someone can help.

[SpookaXX]

That has no relation to my post.

[Jeir]

I always install manually, so any advice I can give is from how I do it. It may be the same for NMM/other installers.

 

The best thing you can do is install a large 'everything in one' mod first, followed by smaller mods that only retexture/remesh certain things.

 

For instance, I have Skyrim 2K installed, which retextures a huge number of different things. (Buildings, cave, landscape, plants, clutter, clothes, water, sky, etc.)

But, I preferred the look of certain other mods. So, I installed Skyrim Flora, WATER, Improved NPC Clothing, and HAR on top. Each of these covers different things (plants, water, clothes and armour, respectively) and thus have overwritten the files in Skyrim 2k, but wont overwrite each other. I also have many much smaller mods that maybe retexture/remesh one or two things.

[LargeStyle]

Generally speaking jeir is correct, but to elaborate on the NMM options:

 

I always select 'yes to all' but am I supposed to? It kind of seems like doing that would wreck the effects of the other mods.

 

You are correct in stating that selecting "Yes to all" will overwrite any files that have been installed by previous mods. However you can be more selective about matters here. For example, here's what I do:

 

1) Download all the mods you're interested in.

2) Install one mod at a time, see what changes that mod makes.

3) Remove each mod after you've evaluated it.

4) Once you've decided which features from which mods you'll want you'll effectively have made a "priority" list (in your head)!

5) As jeir stated, install the biggest mod first (i.e. again Skyrim 2k textures)

6) Install say Skyrim Flora Overhaul and when NMM prompts you select "yes to all"

7) Install say Skyrim Trees Variation and select "yes to all"

 

The important factor here is that if one mod overides files from 2 or more mods, I would not select "yes to all" as you may want to chose which mod remains and which can be overwritten. In this case when NMM states that a file or group of files already exists because of a mod, chose either "yes to mod" or "no to mod" - this can then leave chosen mods intact and untouched if desired. This approach is handy when mods conflict with each other and NMM can help you either overwrite or combine mods together as you wish.

 

This approach is the best automated way of combining and making compatible certain mods, but it still isn't the best or more specifically more accurate. Working with loose files within Windows itself is normally the most accurate approach to customisation. For another example, you install Skyrim Flora Overhaul and you like the flowers but not the trees - so you can download the mod manually (without NMM) or just go to your assigned NMM download folder, find the mod you wish to customise and extract the .rar / .zip / .7z file to say your desktop. You can then look at the exact contents of the mod and delete and files / folders that you don't want - in this example you'd navigate to the tree texture and / or mesh folder and delete it. Once you've made your adjustments you can either put these files manually into your Skyrim data folder, or better yet remake the .rar / .zip / .7z and replace it back into NMMs assigned mod folder, launch NMM and enable / disable your customised mod at your hearts content. Bear in mind though that once you adjust the file / mod then NMM won't always sync itself to the original mod on Nexus as you've changed it.

 

Lastly, the best approach I now use is to do all that I've suggested in the previous paragraph but instead of just removing aspects of each mod, I would create a complete overhaul mod. I have recently made a complete people overhaul file which I made by combining certain files from several mods, locating all the combined files and placing them into one mod file and place that within NMM. For me now when I reinstall Skyrim (all too often an occurance) I simply place my complete people overhaul mod file into NMMs mod folder and once actived it automatically loads the best parts of about 6 separate mods in one quick go.

 

In fact, you could even go one step further by making a Skyrim archive based mod by taking the loose files and using Skyrims "Archive" application to convert all your loose files into a .BSA archive (which needs a matching .ESP file of the same name). If you do it this way then you won't have loose files installed into your Skyrim directory (which is arguebly a cleaner approach than using just loose files) and more importantly if you wish to try another mod out that say adjusts people / whatever in another way you can download it and activate it and proving the mod is either in loose file format or a .BSA and .ESP combination where the new mods .ESP file is loaded after the customsied file then the new mod will take priority over your mod but without "destroying" your mod. Don't like the new mod then just remove it and all of your customised mod will be restored back to normal.

 

I know this all sounds way too much, and it does depend on how specific and particular you want to be with how you mod Skyrim, but all of the above can guide you from either a basic approach to the most accurate approach. If you do chose to get really picky with mod files, once you've done the "complicated" way a few times you'll realise that it's not actually complicated at all, it's just different and the extra few minutes you'll spend into origanising your mods will result in hours of enjoyment within Skyrim!

 

Le Fin.

[SpookaXX]

Thanks for the clarification Jeir and LargeStyle, so I did partially understand it!!!. I might try making my own mod the way you have LargeStyle as it seems like the best way to get it how I like it despite the extra work. Thanks heaps for the explanation and hopefully you cleared this up for some other people too. ;)

[MagicalHob0]

I always install manually, so any advice I can give is from how I do it. It may be the same for NMM/other installers.

 

The best thing you can do is install a large 'everything in one' mod first, followed by smaller mods that only retexture/remesh certain things.

 

For instance, I have Skyrim 2K installed, which retextures a huge number of different things. (Buildings, cave, landscape, plants, clutter, clothes, water, sky, etc.)

But, I preferred the look of certain other mods. So, I installed Skyrim Flora, WATER, Improved NPC Clothing, and HAR on top. Each of these covers different things (plants, water, clothes and armour, respectively) and thus have overwritten the files in Skyrim 2k, but wont overwrite each other. I also have many much smaller mods that maybe retexture/remesh one or two things.

What is HAR?

[zmaher82]

I know this is a old thread (but it seems related to my issue) but is there a way to change our selection later? For instance; I originally decided to not overwrite some files but now I wish too. I can't seem to get NMM to let me now select the "yes" option as it doesn't give me any option when I uninstall, delete, re-download and install the same mod.