Best way to back up Skyrim mods and Vortex data

[nexodexo]

I want to set up a routine backup for all my mods and and Vortex data not only for recovery, but in case I want to transfer everything seamlessly to a new system. I am using Windows 7 x64 (inb4 you need to upgrade bruh).

 

This is one folder I discovered:

 

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Vortex\skyrim\mods

 

Looks to be some sort of library from which mods are copied to Skyrim's data folder when enabled in Vortex. What becomes of the archive files that are added to Vortex prior to being enabled? Are they extracted here?

 

tl;dr: What files and folders do I need to back up to ensure a seamless transfer?

[rmm200]

Before you copy your game anywhere, go into Vortex and issue Purge. That removes all the hard links - which do not copy well.

Then check your Vortex settings for your staging directory. That is where all your unpacked mods live, and will need to be copied. It has to be on the same drive as your game.,

You will either need to reinstall all your mods, or copy Apdata/Roaming/Vortex. A lot of Vortex flags are kept there. But don't copy your mods again.

Downloads is where all downloaded archives go. You only need it for backup, and can go anywhere.

When you are all done, open Vortex, correct the Settings directories, and Deploy.

[nexodexo]

I didn't know the Downloads folder even existed. I assumed that, when you added an archive file to Vortex, it just unpacked it to the staging folder. I looked in a few of the staging folders and didn't see any metadata files, just the contents of the original archives. What is the point of keeping both the archives and unpacked files? Seems like it consumes unnecessary space. When deploying a mod, why not just unpack the archive directly into the game folder?

[Zanderat]

The reason would be that if you ever had uninstall a mod, if there is no copy in the downloads folder, you would need to re-download it again. It is for backup.

[nexodexo]

If you have to uninstall a mod, just delete the mod data from the game folder. When you want to reinstall it, just unpack the archive into the game folder again. Edit: What I'm saying is that it doesn't seem efficient to consume this much extra HD space. If it's for backup, it should be optional. Nothing is really lost having to redownload a mod again in the event that something causes the files to be deleted.

[AugustaCalidia]

If you have to uninstall a mod, just delete the mod data from the game folder. When you want to reinstall it, just unpack the archive into the game folder again. Edit: What I'm saying is that it doesn't seem efficient to consume this much extra HD space. If it's for backup, it should be optional. Nothing is really lost having to redownload a mod again in the event that something causes the files to be deleted.

 

Nothing is really lost except possibly a lot of time and effort, especially if you have a very slow internet service.

 

As for the Downloads folder being "optional," it already is. You have the option to delete it any time you want without affecting gameplay.

 

Finally, Vortex does not unpack archives into the game folder. It unpacks them into the Mod Staging Folder. What you see in the game data folder are hardlinks deployed from the Mod Staging Folder.

[rmm200]

Delete mods directly from the game folder - and you are in for a world of hurt.

Windows might make it look like your mods are taking disk space in your game directory - but they aren't.

Only a hard link pointer ties the staging mod directory to the game directory.

There is only ever one copy of the mod. Well, and an archive in the Downloads directory.

At the rate mod authors go missing - I would never delete my Downloads directory.