Help a n00b with TES5Edit

[p4ck3tl055]

I've been using STEP since almost the day I started playing Skyrim in 2012. One thing that has scared me to death is TES5Edit. I'm always afraid I'll royally screw things up with it.  So, I've avoided it - like the plaque.  Now, I'm sick of CTD.  I know there is no cure for them, but I would love to be able to minimize them.  So, with that in mind, I'm here asking for someone to help the n00b.

 

I've watched Gopher's video on TES5Edit - where he cleans the official master files (here).  I found STEP's TES5Edit guide (here). It all looks pretty simple.  Is this really all there is to it?  Run BOSS, identify the mods that need cleaned, run the cleaning as described above?

 

A question concerning the use of TES5Edit and ModOrganizer:  I use MO to run multiple playthroughs simultaneously.  (i.e. two or three characters)  I do have one profile that I call "testing" where I try new mods out before I apply them to the other profiles.  If I "clean" mods with the "testing" profile, should I then just need to activate them in the other profiles?

[CJ2311]

Yes to both questions. If you use the same mod in two profiles, any change you make to the mod itself will affect both profiles. Unless you have installed the mod twice of course.

[p4ck3tl055]

Awesome, I'll begin the cleaning process tonight.

[p4ck3tl055]

Last night I was able to clean every mod that BOSS said needed it.

 

I played (using a "clean save") for about 3.5 hours last night.  In that time, I had 2 CTD and 1 ILS.  This was the first ILS I've experienced since I re-installed Skyrim in December.  The "Clean Save" was created using the 31-day technique and not a new save.

 

My CTDs are completely random and seem to be based on time in game, occurring after 45-60 minutes of playtime.  I can tell that the CTD is close because the game starts to stutter - like it's saving or loading data for an extended period of time.

 

I'm not certain if 2 CTDs in 3 hours is a "normal" thing with a modded game, but it's enough to frustrate me.  I'd love to hear if there are other things that I can do to reduce these crashes.  I'm to the point where I think my save is toast and maybe the only recourse I have is to start over.  I'd obviously prefer not to do that if I can avoid it, but if that is what it's going to take, then I'll do that to get a stable/playable setup.

[Nearox]

Are you using the Memory Patch?

[p4ck3tl055]

Are you using the Memory Patch?

I'm using SKSE 1.7 Alpha, which I think has the memory patch built into it.  I'm also using ENB Boost (as part of RealVision).

[CJ2311]

I'm using SKSE 1.7 Alpha, which I think has the memory patch built into it.  I'm also using ENB Boost (as part of RealVision).

It's built in, but you still have to activate it with the SKSE.ini file (:

[p4ck3tl055]

It's built in, but you still have to activate it with the SKSE.ini file (:

Right, which I have.  Two blocks of memory, one twice the size of the other.  I think mine is set to 512MB and 256MB.  I'd need to be home to verify that though.

 

If memory serves there are three lines in my SKSE.ini file - two that define the block sizes and one that dumps references or something.  Again, I'll need to see the actual file to be sure.

[CJ2311]

If the first one is set to 512MB it means the game will behave like it does in vanilla though, you'll need to crank that up to 768MB.

[DanimalTwo]

Your SKSE.ini with SKSE 1.7 alpha should look like this:

 

[General]ClearInvalidRegistrations=1[Memory]DefaultHeapInitialAllocMB=768ScrapHeapSizeMB=256[Display]iTintTextureResolution=2048 

Edited March 7, 2014 by DanimalTwo

[p4ck3tl055]

Your SKSE.ini with SKSE 1.7 alpha should look like this:

[...]

[Display]

iTintTextureResolution=2048

What does this line do?  I know I have the other three lines, just not sure of the 512/768 setting.

[MonoAccipiter]

The last line allows for higher resolution face tint textures (e.g. warpaint). 

[p4ck3tl055]

Well, I discovered a couple of things about the SKSE.ini.  I had the file located in the "override/SKSE" folder of ModOrganizer.  Not sure if that would have been enough to make it work or not.  But I also didn't have the "ClearInvalidRegistrations" line under the heading of "[General]", instead I had it under the "[Memory]" heading, so I'm sure that wasn't working like it should.

 

I did have the memory blocks set at 768/256.

 

I have corrected both the placement of the file (I had to create the path) and the contents to match what DanimalTwo reported.  I ran the setup for a limited time last night (riding my horse from Whiterun to Merida's Statue and back.  No issues, but I'm not sure that simple trip would have caused a problem anyway.

 

This morning I took a stroll around Falkreath Hold both walking and riding.  I ran into a few random encounters - including two gargoyles (which I've never fought before) - and everything ran fine.  I played about 45 minutes.

 

I'm going to be using DDSopt today to optimize at least the Vanilla and HRDLC textures according the Neovalen's SR:LE guide in the hope of reducing the load on my video card and gaining a few FPS.  Once that's done, I'm going to be going into full game mode and see what happens.  Hopefully I'll be able to report smooth sailing later tonight or tomorrow.

 

Thanks again for all those who have chimed in!

Edited March 8, 2014 by p4ck3tl055

[p4ck3tl055]

OK, bad news.  43 minutes into game time and CTD.

 

I'm down to one last possibility before I give up on the playthrough and start over - the modlist and/or load order.  I have been using BOSS, but maybe my compilation of mods (over and above that of STEP) is what's causing the problem.

 

And while we're on the subject of mods, I notice that there is a "STEP Patch" mod listed at the top of 2.2.8.  I've updated my list of mods over the last week to match STEP core 2.2.8.  I didn't use every mod in the list, but I do use probably 90% of them (see the attached lists), should I still use the patches?

 

Here are my mod, plugin and loadorder lists from ModOrganizer.  Hopefully someone can see something and say "Hey dummy, don't do that.  Do this!"

 

modlist.txt plugins.txt loadorder.txt

 

If this isn't the problem, I'm going to give up and say I have a corrupt save and start over.

Edited March 8, 2014 by p4ck3tl055

[DanimalTwo]

At first glance it seems you load order is incorrect. For example, any SkyProc patches should be last and the Bashed Patch should be just in front of it. Your UFO patches are also out of order. Are you running BOSS from MO or outside of MO? You state that you run BOSS so I am not sure why you order seems incorrect. Some ESPs might not be in BOSS and you have to use BOSS Userlist Manager (BUM) to place them correctly. BUM should also by setup to run from MO.

[p4ck3tl055]

At first glance it seems you load order is incorrect. For example, any SkyProc patches should be last and the Bashed Patch should be just in front of it. Your UFO patches are also out of order. Are you running BOSS from MO or outside of MO? You state that you run BOSS so I am not sure why you order seems incorrect. Some ESPs might not be in BOSS and you have to use BOSS Userlist Manager (BUM) to place them correctly. BUM should also by setup to run from MO.

I do run BOSS from inside of MO.  In fact I ran BOSS, rebuilt the SkyProc patches and used used WryeBash to rebuild the bashedPatch just before I uploaded those files. All of the mods listed AFTER Non-Essential Children are my own choices. I've not had any guide to tell me how to order them, so I just guessed (the modlist/left-side  of MO).  I always run BOSS after I install any mods and never touch the right side (plugin/loadorder side) of MO assuming that BOSS is doing the proper thing.

 

I've not used BUM, but it looks like I need to start.  I'll go check out the guide for BUM and get started on that next.