Files needed

[varkonasnorse]

I know this is gonna be old hat to you guys, but I'm just starting SSE after playing LE for the last 4 years. So I downloaded SSE from Steam and Steam put it in the following folder:

 

c:\Program Files\steam\Steamapps\Skyrim Special Edition\

First of all, I recall seeing somewhere that this is not the place I would want this game to be. Preferably I want it away from Program Files, is that correct? Next, I need to know if I need any other files installed (patches, etc) before I light it off for the first time.

 

Any help is appreciated.

[IsharaMeradin]

You can use Steam to move the library to another location on another drive. If you do not have another hard drive, you are stuck with the program files location on your main drive.

 

For the first time, you do not want any mod installed. You need to start the game up completely stock / vanilla in order to create the necessary INI files. Once that is done, you can mod to your hearts content.

[varkonasnorse]

  On 3/19/2021 at 10:50 PM, IsharaMeradin said:

You can use Steam to move the library to another location on another drive. If you do not have another hard drive, you are stuck with the program files location on your main drive.

 

For the first time, you do not want any mod installed. You need to start the game up completely stock / vanilla in order to create the necessary INI files. Once that is done, you can mod to your hearts content.

Ok, thank you for the info. I only have the one SSD. I just know I saw that somewhere, and it stuck in my head for some reason. Maybe somebody's rant. :cool:

[IsharaMeradin]

You can install Steam outside of program files. Which might be fine if you only have a couple of games. But if you have a lot, it isn't really worth the hassle. The reasoning behind not having the files inside program files stems from the beginnings of UAC in Windows. UAC protected the program files folder which made it difficult to mod some games. Some people are able to mod games just fine while installed in the program files folder, so UAC may have gotten better over time. Your mileage may vary.

[anjenthedog]

My account on my Windows 10 machine is an administrative account (tbh, I don't run any other way with any OS, although I have created restricted accounts on occasion in the past for "visitors" like GFs and others to prevent them from screwing up my systems).

 

I installed Skyrim SE to my primary drive, a 500G SSD. I didn't do anything special to make the game work. I just purchased it, downloaded the fundamental necessaries, and installed using the installation defaults.

 

So far, in over 600 mod installations (using Vortex as my mod manager) I haven't suffered from any untoward problems whatsoever. Currently running with about 320 mods active in ultra mode. (the others were removed for a variety of reasons...not what I expected, eventually disappointing, completed custom quests, bugs/flaws, incompatible SKSE version, or Body model version, or other mod conflicts, etc)

 

hardware, in case it matters: 9700K 3.6G, 500G SSD primary, 64G primary memory, 6G 1060sc video. 3Tb and 5TB standard drives for archiving.

[varkonasnorse]

Well, I don't plan on doing any modding myself although I will be using mods. If I have half the success you guys do I'll be very happy indeed. I started the game today and it ran smooth as a baby's butt, something I have never experienced with the LE version. Not crashing is the WOW factor for me! :laugh:

[anjenthedog]

Don't worry friend, you'll get over that lil honeymoon period of no crashes as soon as you start installing new mods heavily :wink:

 

Word of warning. Install SLOWLY. One at a time (ish). Then check the game in between for game stability/instability. From reading many posts here, 9as well as my own early experience), it seems that bulk installations of mods always seem to end with people flailing when their game won't load or exhibits unfathomable artifacts (after blindly installing 20-30 or more mods back to back)

[varkonasnorse]

  On 3/21/2021 at 3:21 PM, anjenthedog said:

Don't worry friend, you'll get over that lil honeymoon period of no crashes as soon as you start installing new mods heavily :wink:

 

Word of warning. Install SLOWLY. One at a time (ish). Then check the game in between for game stability/instability. From reading many posts here, 9as well as my own early experience), it seems that bulk installations of mods always seem to end with people flailing when their game won't load or exhibits unfathomable artifacts (after blindly installing 20-30 or more mods back to back)

Nah, I never do that. One or two at a time, maybe as much as three in a week's time. I install all mods through Vortex now anyways. Of the last six mods I've installed, I have uninstalled three of them because Vortex warned me they would definately crash the game if I used them. I think the modding community uses the phrase 'ported over' a little too loosely anyhow. I beleive 'ported' doesn't necessarily mean the mod will actually work with SE; something being overlooked on a regular basis. I was delighted when I found a favorite follower had been 'ported' to SE just to discover that my game wouldn't even launch with the mod installed. I checked Vortex and sure enough the icon had turned orange and the message said that this mod caused my game to crash. I removed it and its archive and the game launched and ran normally. Ya, one mod at a time. Learned that lesson a long time ago. :confused:

Edited March 22, 2021 by varkonasnorse

[varkonasnorse]

So, hey boyz and girlz, getting back to my original inquiry; Are here any essential files I need for SE besides SKSE64, such as USSEP, etc? Do I need an ENB? Ya know, that kind of stuff. I swear I will try not to be a pest. :huh:

 

I just realized I screwed up on my original message. The folder is c:\Program Files (X86)\ Does that matter? Sorry about that! :sick:

Edited March 22, 2021 by varkonasnorse

[nt5raham]

Adding to what @IsharaMeradin and @anjenthedog said, the issue with install location for Steam is generally going to be a "rights and permissions" issue with Windows. Vortex is fine to install in the default location (Program Files blah blah) because the developers created it specifically to play nice with this issue, but apparently Steam did not do as thorough of a job. Many thousands of people run Steam with their Skyrim SE installation in the default location and never have a problem. Then a few of those same people will start having problems, and they are kicking themselves for not changing the install path for Steam to C:\Games\Steam or whatever to begin with. There is no down side to installing Steam to another folder, other than it takes a few extra keystrokes during the install process. It is easier to do it "just in case" before it is a problem than to wait until there is a problem, then try to figure out what is causing it, then have to uproot your entire game and start over. Look at it like a spare tire: You carry it in the back of your vehicle, but hopefully you'll never need it. Better safe than sorry.

 

Here are some "essentials" IMO, starting with the two you mentioned:

• SKSE64
• USSEP
• Address Library for SKSE64 (Required for Engine Fixes, FPS Stabilizer, and Face Discoloration Fix below)
• SSE Engine Fixes (Cleans up some of what Bethesda messed up)
• FPS Stabilizer (A helping hand for your new i5 laptop :smile: )
• Face Discoloration Fix (Easy fix for a very common problem)
• More Informative Console (Tremendous help when trying to troubleshoot problems or you just want to know more about what's happening in game)

 

There are lots and lots of "nice to haves" but I know you are trying to keep it light. Other than USSEP, none of these have a traditional plugin, they are just helping out with the base game. Some of them can be manually configured, but unless you have a specific reason to change something I would suggest that you "install and forget." They are already optimized for most situations.

 

BTW, I responded to your other post from this morning about your laptop.