How to safely test Skyrim mods without damaging your current setup.

[PsyferNexus]

How to safely test Skyrim mods without damaging your current setup.

 

This is a tutorial on running Skyrim mods safely without permanently changing a single file on your current setup.

This should work on any setup with Nexus Mod Manager installed.

This is a great way to test, with or without, mods installed to save your current or new setup.

This will keep you saves isolated from changes as well.

 

First, I will not be held responsible for any damages, file lost, etc… of any kind if things go bad. They shouldn’t, but sometime they do.

 

 

Things you will need:

 

Sandboxie – The most important program (http://www.sandboxie.com/)

Steam – Up to date

Skyrim – Versions can vary, WILL NEED TO RUN ONCE AFTER NEW INSTALL FOR FIRST TIME SETUP

Nexus Mod Manager – Yes, you will need to use it so get it if you don’t have it

Mods – The ones you want to test

 

 

Now download and install Sandboxie. Sandboxie is a great program to have. It will let you run just about anything in an isolated sandbox keeping any file changes made from being permanent. This means you can run an install program from within the sandbox, run the app it installed and after you’re done with it, just close it out and delete the contents of the sandbox. The program will be gone without the need of doing an uninstall or changing back any setting to your machine. You can read more on Sandboxie’s website (http://www.sandboxie.com/).

 

After you have Sandboxie installed, run Steam normally so it will update if needed. It would also give you a chance to finish or stop any downloads running thou it wouldn’t matter if they are running in the sandbox. It’s just good practice to finish or stop any unneeded file changes before you continue.

 

Run Skyrim now if this is a new install. You must do so for it to install its dependencies (DirectX, etc…) and to make the “SkyrimPrefs.ini” file for Nexus Mod Manager.

 

Next, install Nexus Mod Manager. You will need this for this tutorial to work. Please refer to http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/modmanager/ to download NMM. Setup is pretty easy but if you need help, there are plenty of helpful users on the forums. The reason for NMM (Nexus Mod Manager) is simple. NMM (Nexus Mod Manager) simplifies installing mods. Since NMM is doing the mod install, Sandboxie can keep the files and the NMM mod databases separate. Yes databases, as in two. You have the real database and the one in the sandbox which will be deleted leaving the real database untouched when done testing. Launch NMM normally and update it if it asks you. You may get the update dialog box sent to the background. If you do, just hit alt+tab until you see it. You will know if it is in the background cause the “Progress” dialog box’s progression bar will look like it’s stuck.

 

With NMM still running, time to get some mods. Go to http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/ for all your mod needs. You can use any mod that uses NMM to download and install.

 

For this to work properly, the mods will need to be installed by NMM. Alright, now with Sandboxie installed, Steam updated, Nexus Mod Manager installed and some mods downloaded via NMM, you’re ready to test.

 

Close Skyrim, NMM, and Steam. Make sure they closed. Now start Sandboxie. Since you installed Sandboxie, you should have a new shell menu option called “Run Sandboxed” when you right click on a shortcut or file. If not, skip to the end of this tutorial on how to start apps from the “Sandboxie Control” main window and come back here. Find your Steam shortcut and right click on it. Select “Run Sandboxed”, on the “Run Sandboxed” window, select “Default Box” and click “Ok”. Steam should start but it will have a yellow border when you click or hover at the top of the window. This means it’s in the sandbox. Do the same to Nexus Mod Manager making sure its yellow bordered too. If they are both yellow bordered, you’re set.

 

Install any mod you have downloaded via Nexus Mod Manager and start the game using the mod manager. Be sure you started Skyrim from the mod manager so that it will be in the same sandbox. When you’re done, close Skyrim, NMM, Steam and delete the sandbox content. To delete the sandbox content, you have two ways of doing so. You can do so from the system try icon or by the main window. On the system tray, right click Sandboxie’e tray icon, select the sandboxes name (e.g. DefaultBox), and select "Delete Contents". On the bottom of the window click “Delete Contents”. The other way is from the “Sandboxie Control” window. Launch "Sandboxie Control" from the desktop or from the start menu. On the main window, right click on the sandboxes name (e.g. DefaultBox) and select "Delete Content". On the bottom of the window click “Delete Contents”.

 

And there you go, back to the way it was before. This method should work for any game that uses the Nexus Mod Manager. In fact, you can use this for just about anything if you know how to use it.

 

 

“Sandboxie Control” main window. If for some reason you didn’t get the shell menu option, here’s how to run a program in a sandbox. Launch “Sandboxie Control” from the desktop shortcut or from the start menu. Right click on a sandbox name (e.g. “Sandbox DefaultBox”), select “Run Sandboxed”, then “Run From Start Menu”, and navigate to the program of your choice then select it by clicking on it.

[PsyferNexus]

Whoops, wrong place to post. To may open tabs. LOL

 

Moderator, please move to the appropriate place.

Edited April 26, 2013 by PsyferNexus

[Nearox]

Use Mod Organizer. Does the same, is simpler and then some more...

[Werne]

I either use symbolic links or folder binding for testing new mods, works like a charm.

[JimboUK]

Back up your saves and data folder, job done.

[Lord Garon]

I either use symbolic links or folder binding for testing new mods, works like a charm.

 

^^this. No need for even MORE crap on my machine. Plus a couple bat files and I can switch back and forth in seconds. Most importantly, I know WHAT and HOW they affect my system. I'm tired of "side effects".