Does mod installation order matter?

[Brughl]

I've been trying to add many graphics mods for this game, but one thing I can't seem to find the answer to is the matter of installation order. I know that load order matters, and I haven't run into any problems with that.

 

My problem is that I'm installing the "static mesh improvement mod" and on the page it sometimes recommends to install it first or another mod first and then overwrite files as necessary. I don't understand why installation order matters if you are properly overwriting files.

 

For example, on the SMIM page it says that if you are going to use HD 2K textures it says to install SMIM first, then the HD 2K textures, and then let the HD 2K textures override the conflicting files from SMIM. I installed the HD 2K textures mod first and then i installed SMIM. While installing SMIM, I let the textures from HD 2K override the files from SMIM when the NMM said that certain files from HD 2K conflicted with SMIM. Does it matter that I installed HD 2K textures first, even when I told NMM to let HD 2K overwrite SMIM when prompted?

 

Edited post for clarity.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Brughl

[Lisnpuppy]

Yes absolutely it matters. There are some textures contained in SMIM that are the same as the 2K textures. SMIM has some textures of its own and if you want to use the 2K textures then you have to put them in last to overwrite the SMIM otherwise you will have mostly 2K textures and then a bunch of SMIM that overwrote it.

 

Simply install the 2K textures again and let it all overwrite and it should get you where you need to be.

[Brughl]

So even though I told SMIM not to overwrite hd 2k files when prompted, SMIM will still have files that will overwrite hd 2k files? That is really strange.

[fiewiel]

If you told NMM not to overwrite hd2k files with SMIM ones they wont be overwritten. A overwritten file will be replaced.

Your original post is confusing for me.

[Georgiegril]

Usually following the mod author's instructions is the best course. SMIM author says to install SMIM first. If you are having problems because you did the opposite of this, I would suggest removing both, verifying your game files on steam, then trying again, but this time follow the mod author's procedure.

[Brughl]

Usually following the mod author's instructions is the best course. SMIM author says to install SMIM first. If you are having problems because you did the opposite of this, I would suggest removing both, verifying your game files on steam, then trying again, but this time follow the mod author's procedure.

I know, but sometimes mods don't say how compatible they are with others and for especially graphics mods their effects can be subtle, so I want to know which mod is overwriting aspects of other mods. Also, any reason why you suggest to verify the game files on steam after removing the mod?

[ripple]

The Mod Organizer was specifically designed to handle issues like this. Since it doesn't install mod resources into the game data folder, there is no actual overwriting of files and after a mod has been installed, you can adjust mod 'installation order' in MO as easily as adjusting plugin load orders to decide which conflicting resource should 'override.' In fact, if resources are in loose file format, MO will actually display which files are conflicting and the mods they belong to.

[noobzor]

The Mod Organizer was specifically designed to handle issues like this.

 

I wholeheartedly second this. Since switching to Mod Organizer, I will never go back. Mod Organizer has made my world a better place to live. It is now the standard by which I will judge all other mod organization tools.