Can't start game with minimal content at STEP 2.D

[bagman]

I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but I need some input.

 

I've gone to step 2.D, but did not go beyond the Unofficial Legendary Edition Patch.  I figured I'd just make sure all the cleaning of the Dragonborn, Update, etc ESMs went over correctly.  Then I'd go in and attempt to do a New Game start - figured this is like the most minimal thing one could do.

 

Well, the game loads to menu, but upon clicking New (game) it shows the splash screen with a dragon, Level 1, etc, and then cuts to desktop.  Every time.  I have gone through the STEP process to this point twice, starting with clean install, and get the same result.  I have verified that the clean install loads the new game.  I am using SKSE to run the game, but using Skyrim instead gives the same result.

 

Note that when cleaning all the initial ESMs (Dawnguard, Dragonborn, Hearthfires, Update) it never put the ESMs back in the data folder, so I had to use the overwrite method to make a "cleaned" ESM.  For all four updates/DLCs. 

 

I've tried checking and unchecking the Cleaned ESMs in the left pane.  I've tried with and without the Legendary Patch.  I've tried checking and unchecking Papyrus and SKSE in the left pane.  All give the same cut to desktop. 

 

Please help.  Thanks.

[Nebulous112]

I'm not sure if this is the cause, but the STEP recommended .ini tweak for 7 types of grass assumes that Skyrim Flora Overhaul is installed, which you do not have installed yet. Try setting that back down to 3.

 

If that doesn't work, try validating your game cache via the Steam menu. Right click on Skyrim in the games list, go to properties, and that option will be somewhere in there. If you have the cleaned .esm's setup as their own mods in MO, it won't affect those. And because you are using MO, it won't touch the MO .ini files. So it should be perfectly safe for you to do without having to re-do any steps.

 

If that does not work, please post your skyrim.ini, skyrimprefs.ini, and enblocal.ini in spoiler tags.

 

 

[spoiler]text[/spoiler]

[TechAngel85]

Install DirectX9. I know that Steam "tries" to install it all, but from a clean install you'll still be missing some things that you need. I'm on my phone else I'd post a link for you.

 

Also, make sure everything is checked in the Archives tab.

[Greg]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

[bagman]

Ok - first, my apologies for the very long response time.  Life inserted itself and I had to shelve Skyrim for months.  Now going to attempt again.  I installed DirectX Runtime and 9.0c.  This did not work.  I also lowered the Flora to 3, this did not work. 

However, what I have found is that occasionally, maybe 1 attempt in 5, a new game will load.  Obviously this rate is not tenable.  However, if I go into Steam and launch the game from there, it also fails to run most of the time. 

 

I have also attempted to run the verify game cache thing.  Steam claims "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired."  Here's the big one - it doesn't acquire anything.  It just does nothing.  I can go and re-verify game cache, and it gives the same message, and acquires nothing. 

So what to do???  Here is my ini data:

 

===============

skyrim.ini

===============

[General]

sLanguage = ENGLISH

uExterior Cell Buffer = 36

sIntroSequence =

fFlickeringLightDistance = 8192

 

[Display]

fShadowLODMaxStartFade = 1000.0

fSpecularLODMaxStartFade = 2000.0

fLightLODMaxStartFade = 3500.0

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary = 2048

bAllowScreenshot = 0

fSunShadowUpdateTime = 0.25

fSunUpdateThreshold = 1.5

fShadowBiasScale = 0.6

iPresentInterval=1

 

[Audio]

fMusicDuckingSeconds = 6.0

fMusicUnDuckingSeconds = 8.0

fMenuModeFadeOutTime = 3.0

fMenuModeFadeInTime = 1.0

 

[Grass]

bAllowCreateGrass = 1

bAllowLoadGrass = 0

fGrassFadeRange=10000

iMaxGrassTypesPerTexure=3

iMinGrassSize=40

 

[GeneralWarnings]

SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning = One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

 

[Archive]

sResourceArchiveList = Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa

sResourceArchiveList2 = Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

bInvalidateOlderFiles=0

SInvalidationFile=ArchiveInvalidation.txt

 

[Combat]

fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult = 0.0

fMagnetismLookingMult = 0.0

f1PArrowTiltUpAngle = 0.7

f3PArrowTiltUpAngle = 0.7

f1PBoltTiltUpAngle = 0.7

f3PBoltTiltUpAngle = 0.7

 

[Papyrus]

fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS = 500.0

bEnableLogging = 0

bEnableTrace = 0

bLoadDebugInformation = 0

 

[Water]

bReflectLODObjects = 1

bReflectLODLand = 1

bReflectSky = 1

bReflectLODTrees = 1

 

[Actor]

fVisibleNavmeshMoveDist = 12288.0000

 

[Camera]

fMouseWheelZoomSpeed = 10.0

 

[interface]

bShowTutorials=0

 

[MapMenu]

fMapWorldYawRange=400

fMapWorldMinPitch=0

fMapWorldMaxPitch=90

 

==================

skyrimprefs.ini

==================

[General]

fBrightLightColorB = 1.0000

fBrightLightColorG = 1.0000

fBrightLightColorR = 1.0000

iStoryManagerLoggingEvent =-1

bEnableStoryManagerLogging =0

 

[imagespace]

bDoDepthOfField =1

iRadialBlurLevel = 2

 

[Display]

iBlurDeferredShadowMask =3

fInteriorShadowDistance =3000.0000

fShadowDistance =4000.0000

iShadowMapResolutionSecondary = 1024

iShadowMapResolutionPrimary = 2048

iShadowSplitCount = 2

iMaxAnisotropy =0

fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd =4600.0000

fLeafAnimDampenDistStart =3600.0000

fTreesMidLODSwitchDist =8192.0000

fGamma =1.0000

fDecalLOD2 =1500.0000

fDecalLOD1 =1000.0000

fSpecularLODStartFade =2000.0000

fShadowLODStartFade =200.0000

fLightLODStartFade =3500.0000

iTexMipMapMinimum =0

iTexMipMapSkip =0

iWaterMultiSamples =0

iMultiSample =4

iShadowMode =3

bTreesReceiveShadows =1

bDrawLandShadows =1

bFull Screen =1

iSize H =1050

iSize W =1680

fMeshLODFadePercentDefault =1.2000

fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault =256.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance =4096.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance =6144.0000

fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist =10000000.0000

fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist =10000000.0000

iScreenShotIndex =2

bShadowMaskZPrepass =0

bMainZPrepass =0

iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame =100

iMaxDecalsPerFrame =250

bFloatPointRenderTarget =0

sD3DDevice = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti "

bFXAAEnabled =0

iShadowMapResolution =4096

fShadowBiasScale =0.2500

iShadowMaskQuarter =4

iAdapter = 0

iPresentInterval = 1

bDeferredShadows=1

bShadowsOnGrass=1

iShadowFilter=3

bTransparencyMultisampling=0

bDrawShadows=1

 

[Grass]

b30GrassVS =0

fGrassStartFadeDistance =7000.0000

fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance =7000.0000

fGrassMinStartFadeDistance =0.0000

 

[MAIN]

bGamepadEnable =1

bCrosshairEnabled =1

fHUDOpacity =1.0000

bSaveOnPause =1

bSaveOnTravel =1

bSaveOnWait =1

bSaveOnRest =1

fSkyCellRefFadeDistance=150000.0000

 

[GamePlay]

bShowFloatingQuestMarkers =1

bShowQuestMarkers =1

iDifficulty =2

 

[interface]

bDialogueSubtitles =0

bGeneralSubtitles =0

fMouseCursorSpeed=1.0000

bShowCompass=1

 

[Controls]

fGamepadHeadingSensitivity =1.0000

fMouseHeadingSensitivity =0.0125

bAlwaysRunByDefault =1

bInvertYValues =0

bGamePadRumble =1

bMouseAcceleration = 0

bUseKinect=0

 

[Particles]

iMaxDesired =750

 

[saveGame]

fAutosaveEveryXMins =15.0000

 

[AudioMenu]

fAudioMasterVolume =1.0000

fVal7 =1.0000

uID7 =0

fVal6 =1.0000

uID6 =0

fVal5 =1.0000

uID5 =0

fVal4 =1.0000

uID4 =0

fVal3 =1.0000

uID3 =94881

fVal2 =0.4000

uID2 =466532

fVal1 =1.0000

uID1 =554685

fVal0 =0.8000

uID0 =1007612

 

[Clouds]

fCloudLevel2Distance =262144.0000

fCloudLevel1Distance =32768.0000

fCloudLevel0Distance =16384.0000

fCloudNearFadeDistance =9000.0000

 

[TerrainManager]

fTreeLoadDistance =75000.0000

fBlockMaximumDistance =250000.0000

fBlockLevel1Distance =70000.0000

fBlockLevel0Distance =35000.0000

fSplitDistanceMult =1.5000

bShowLODInEditor =0

 

[NavMesh]

fObstacleAlpha = 0.5000

fCoverSideHighAlpha = 0.8000

fCoverSideLowAlpha = 0.6500

fEdgeFullAlpha = 1.0000

fEdgeHighAlpha = 0.7500

fEdgeLowAlpha = 0.5000

fTriangleFullAlpha = 0.7000

fTriangleHighAlpha = 0.3500

fTriangleLowAlpha = 0.2000

fLedgeBoxHalfHeight = 25.0000

fEdgeDistFromVert = 10.0000

fEdgeThickness = 10.0000

fPointSize = 2.5000

 

[Trees]

bRenderSkinnedTrees =1

uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender =200

 

[Decals]

uMaxDecals =1000

bDecals = 1

bSkinnedDecals = 1

uMaxSkinDecals = 100

uMaxSkinDecalsPerActor = 60

bDecalsOnSkinnedGeometry = 1

 

[LOD]

fLODFadeOutMultObjects =15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultItems =15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultActors =15.0000

fLODFadeOutMultSkyCell=1.0000

 

[Launcher]

bEnableFileSelection = 1

bShowAllResolutions = 1

uLastAspectRatio = 4

 

[blurShaderHDR]

bDoHighDynamicRange = 1

 

[blurShader]

bUseBlurShader = 0

 

[Water]

iWaterReflectHeight=1024

iWaterReflectWidth=1024

bUseWaterDisplacements=1

bUseWaterRefractions=1

bUseWaterReflections=1

bUseWaterDepth=1

 

===============

enblocal.ini

===============

[PROXY]
EnableProxyLibrary=false
InitProxyFunctions=true
ProxyLibrary=other_d3d9.dll

[GLOBAL]
UsePatchSpeedhackWithoutGraphics=true
UseDefferedRendering=false
IgnoreCreationKit=true

[PERFORMANCE]
SpeedHack=true
EnableOcclusionCulling=true

[MEMORY]
ExpandSystemMemoryX64=false
ReduceSystemMemoryUsage=true
DisableDriverMemoryManager=false
DisablePreloadToVRAM=false
EnableUnsafeMemoryHacks=false
ReservedMemorySizeMb=128
VideoMemorySizeMb=3446
EnableCompression=false
AutodetectVideoMemorySize=false

[THREADS]
DataSyncMode=0
PriorityMode=0
EnableUnsafeFixes=false

[MULTIHEAD]
ForceVideoAdapterIndex=false
VideoAdapterIndex=0

[WINDOW]
ForceBorderless=false
ForceBorderlessFullscreen=false

[ENGINE]
ForceAnisotropicFiltering=true
MaxAnisotropy=16
ForceLodBias=false
LodBias=0.0
AddDisplaySuperSamplingResolutions=false
EnableVSync=true
VSyncSkipNumFrames=0

[LIMITER]
WaitBusyRenderer=false
EnableFPSLimit=false
FPSLimit=10.0

[iNPUT]
//shift
KeyCombination=16
//f12
KeyUseEffect=123
//home
KeyFPSLimit=36
//num /       106
KeyShowFPS=106
//print screen
KeyScreenshot=44
//enter
KeyEditor=13
//f4
KeyFreeVRAM=115
//B
KeyBruteForce=66
KeyDepthOfField=118

[ADAPTIVEQUALITY]
Enable=false
Quality=1
DesiredFPS=20.0

[ANTIALIASING]
EnableEdgeAA=false
EnableTemporalAA=false
EnableSubPixelAA=false

[FIX]
FixGameBugs=true
FixParallaxBugs=true
FixParallaxTerrain=false
FixAliasedTextures=true
IgnoreInventory=true
FixTintGamma=true
RemoveBlur=false
FixSubSurfaceScattering=true
FixSkyReflection=true
FixCursorVisibility=true
FixLag=false

[LONGEXPOSURE]
EnableLongExposureMode=false
Time=1.0
BlendMax=0.0
 

 

[bagman]

Found this:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/864951657981699577/

 

Doesn't really help.  I tried turning off and reloading Steam and it loaded a New Game on the first try, but then attempted again and it failed.  The verify game cache still claims there is 1 corrupt file.  It doesn't tell you which file, or how big the file is, unlike the thread above.

... Getting someplace, apparently the 1 file reacquire thing is a bug and doesn't affect game-play.  Except that my game crashes on loading new games.

Here:  https://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/846955554659267741/

 

So what about completely reinstalling the game, but changing nothing in MO?  Can it be completely reinstalled without having to redo everything to 2D?

Edited November 3, 2016 by bagman

[bagman]

Realistically, maybe I should just do a complete reinstall of everything, and slowly add each and every thing in one by one, and test after every single thing.  I suspect it is the cleaning process, but could be wrong.

[Greg]

Steam always reacquires one file when you validate game cache, although I don't remember which file it always detects as changed or why. The big question is whether you can run vanilla Skyrim within the Skyrim launcher without running through Mod Organizer. Make sure this works reliably before moving on to getting Mod Organizer working.

 

When you set up Mod Organizer, the Default profile as a pure vanilla profile and create a new profile for STEP. This way you can switch between the vanilla profile and the STEP profile easily when troubleshooting issues. Also make sure you test the game thoroughly after installing each section before moving on to the next section. This way if you run into any issues, you know it has to be limited to something in this one section.

[bagman]

Ok, thank you for the tips!  I'll post back if I can nail it down...

 

Note that what I meant by "loading it through Steam" is loading it from the default launcher outside MO.  And it still doesn't work.  It does work until I start cleaning the files, I suspect it has something to do with it not putting the ESMs back correctly into the data directory.

Edited November 6, 2016 by bagman

[bagman]

Also - assuming I can eventually figure this out - my plan is to do STEP, then add Perkus Maximus, That's Racist, and some patrol mod, probably Immersive Patrols since STEP already uses Immersive Citizens.  I believe Perkus Maximus should be placed over everything last.  My question is, where should I insert Immersive Patrols and That's Racist?

 

Thanks!

Edited November 6, 2016 by bagman

[bagman]

Log of re-installation:
========================

• Reinstall Vanilla Skyrim using STEP “How do I restore vanilla Skyrim?†guide... SUCCESS! Loaded 3/3 New Games from Vanilla Game Launcher.

 

• Reinstalled all base moding tools to STEP 1.C, run Skyrim.exe from MO using Vanilla profile... SUCCESS! Loaded 3/3 New Games from MO.

 

• Used prior STEP Extended Profile, checked all .ini settings, went through to STEP 1.F, run Skyrim.exe from MO... SUCCESS! Loaded 3/3 New Games from MO.

 

• Will use STEP Extended Profile from here on. Went through STEP 2.B, but used old Cleaned Update ESM; did NOT re-clean the Update ESM. Run Skyrim.exe from MO... SUCCESS! Loaded 3/3 New Games.

 

• STEP 2.C, installed DirectX 9 Runtimes, only installed ENBoost Wrapper Version, run Skyrim.exe from MO... FAIL! FAIL! FAIL! Cut to desktop every time on New Game initiation (immediately after load screen with dragon).

 

• STEP 2.C, uninstall ENBoost Wrapper Version, install ENBoost Injector Version, run Skyrim.exe from MO... SUCCESS! Loaded 3/3 New Games.

===========================

 

So clearly it is the Wrapper Version that does not function.  I suggest you guys insert a Benchmark step between ENBoost installation and continuing the rest of STEP 2.C.  If ENBoost can cause constant cuts to desktop, it should really have this warning, in red, in the ENBoost Detailed Instructions page. 

You currently have simply "If the "WrapperVersion" does not function as advertised..." (how does one know how it is supposed to function?), which does not adequately warn of the serious problem this can cause.  Since the next Benchmark is not until the end of 2.D, one can waste a lot of time figuring this out. 

 

Thank you again for the suggestions and the help.

Edited November 6, 2016 by bagman

[bagman]

Note that I benchmarked to the end of STEP 2.D, and it still loads fine.

[TechAngel85]

What enblocal.ini settings were you using? Also, you may have to add "enbhost.exe" and "d3d9.dll" to your antivirus exception list.