OpenMW Settings Won't Stay

[Chaosolous]

In Game Settings for stuff like Water Reflections and how many light sources I want at once will not stay. I have to set this manually everytime I load the game.

I'm using OpenMW 0.49 for what it's worth.

Right now no mods. Just trying to get OpenMW to work properly.

I boot the game like this:

Open Mod Organizer 2
Use MO2 to open the OpenMW Launcher
Launch OpenMW via the Launcher

When I close the game, internal settings like Audio, Camera Speed (mouse movement), Water Reflections, Light Sources, ETC, all go back to a "default" value and do not stay at what I set them to.

Why?

[Nebgama]

remove MO2 for now there is no reason to have an arbitrary layer.

[Boshiken]

It sounds like you're encountering an issue where OpenMW
settings are not being saved properly
when you use Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) to launch the game.

This can happen for a few reasons, especially when using MO2,
which manages mod files and configurations separately.
Here are some troubleshooting steps to help resolve this issue:

1. Ensure Proper Write Access

Make sure that the OpenMW configuration files can be written to:

Navigate to the OpenMW configuration directory, typically located in Documents/My Games/OpenMW.
Right-click on the openmw.cfg file and select Properties.
Ensure that the Read-only attribute is unchecked. If it is checked, uncheck it and apply the changes.

2. Check MO2 Settings

MO2 can sometimes redirect configuration files to its own folders. Ensure that it is configured to allow OpenMW to save its settings:

Open Mod Organizer 2.
Go to Settings (the gear icon).
Under the General tab, check the Use per-profile settings option. This setting can sometimes affect how configurations are saved.
Make sure that the Game Settings option is correctly set to point to the right OpenMW configuration path.

3. Launch OpenMW Directly

To determine if MO2 is causing the issue, try launching OpenMW directly instead of through MO2:

Navigate to your OpenMW installation folder.
Run the openmw.exe file directly.
Change the in-game settings and then exit the game to see if they save correctly.

4. Check for Configuration File Conflicts

If you have any old or conflicting configuration files, they might be causing issues:

In the Documents/My Games/OpenMW folder, look for any other configuration files such as openmw.cfg.bak or similar. If you find any, consider backing them up and then deleting them to see if it resolves the issue.

5. Verify Installation

If the issue persists, there might be a problem with your OpenMW installation:

Ensure that you are using the latest version of OpenMW (0.49 is the latest as of your message).
If necessary, consider reinstalling OpenMW to ensure all files are intact.

6. Check for Antivirus/Firewall Interference

Sometimes antivirus or firewall settings can prevent applications from writing to files:

Ensure that your antivirus software is not blocking OpenMW or Mod Organizer 2.
You may need to add exceptions for both programs.

7. Review OpenMW Logs

OpenMW generates log files that can provide insight into what might be going wrong:

Check the log files located in Documents/My Games/OpenMW/logs.
Look for any errors or warnings related to configuration saving.

By ensuring that your configuration files are writable,
checking MO2 settings, and trying to launch OpenMW directly,
you should be able to identify the root cause of the issue.
If the problem persists, reviewing log files
and considering a reinstall may also help.

[Chaosolous]

Originally posted by Nebgama:

remove MO2 for now there is no reason to have an arbitrary layer.

Can't. I need it specifically for a mod I'm using/going to use. I've already tested it, so I know it'll work.

Right now my focus is getting OpenMW to properly work.

I want to know why it might not save settings in game.

Also, everytime I launch OpenMW (even without MO2), the little check mark boxes for the two files I need active for the mod to work are always unchecked. How do I save the settings on the launcher as well?

[Boshiken]

Getting OpenMW to save settings
and ensuring that your mod configurations remain active can be tricky,

but there are a few common reasons
and solutions you can try.

Reasons OpenMW Might Not Save Settings

Permissions Issues:

If OpenMW is installed in a directory that requires administrative permissions (like C:\Program Files), it may not have the necessary permissions to write to its configuration files. Try running OpenMW as an administrator or moving it to a different directory (like C:\Games\OpenMW).

Configuration File Location:

OpenMW uses a configuration file (usually openmw.cfg) to store settings. Ensure that this file is writable and located in the correct directory. The default is typically in your user profile directory under Documents/My Games/OpenMW/.

Corrupted Configuration Files:

Sometimes, the configuration files may become corrupted. You can try deleting or renaming the existing configuration files to let OpenMW create new ones upon launch.

Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) Issues:

If you're using MO2, it may be interfering with OpenMW's ability to save settings. Ensure that MO2 is properly configured to manage OpenMW and your mods.

Keeping Mod Checkboxes Active

MO2 Configuration:

When using Mod Organizer 2, make sure that your mod is properly activated in the MO2 interface. Select your profile in MO2 and ensure that the mods you need are checked.

Global Settings:

If you want to save the settings globally in OpenMW:

Launch OpenMW without MO2.
Check the boxes for the mods you want active.
Make sure to save any changes in the OpenMW launcher before exiting.

Profile Management in MO2:

If you are switching profiles in MO2, remember that each profile has its own set of active mods. Ensure you're on the correct profile and that the mods are checked for that profile.

User Data Directory:

Check the user data directory settings in MO2 to ensure that it's pointing to the correct location where OpenMW expects to find its configuration files.

Additional Steps

Check for Updates:

Make sure both OpenMW and MO2 are updated to their latest versions, as bugs and issues are often fixed in newer releases.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issues related to saving settings and keeping your mod configurations active in OpenMW.

[Nebgama]

You don't need MO2 for any mods.

[Nebgama]

Infact i wouldn't bother with MO2 and OpenMW togeather, there is like one feature in M02 that is good for OpenMW but its not critical or needed.

MO2 is for Vanilla Morrowind as it does not have a great way to Instate mods natively
so something like MO2 picks up the slack.

Just like Boshkien relayed in his chat gpt prompt it will be a write perm issue.

I would just avoid it all together and mod OpenMW properly. OpenMW is a VFS so it has built in methods to load mods natively. Infact OpenMW's VFS is basically MO2 built in but done with different semantics.

https://openmw.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/modding/mod-install.html

[Nebgama]

You going to have like a gazillion questions dude, all this stuff you can find online. Morrowind is not easy to mod especially if you new to a method of modding but its a popular AF game, which means anything you would ever want to know is going to be answered by someone or documented already.

[Chaosolous]

Originally posted by Nebgama:

You going to have like a gazillion questions dude, all this stuff you can find online. Morrowind is not easy to mod especially if you knew but its a popular AF game, which means anything you would ever want to know is going to be answered by someone or documented already.

Yeah, I know, that's what the forum is for. You don't have to answer.

I've been looking for answers and it's all very esoteric to the situation or specific to whatever that modder is doing so maybe my unique circumstance has been found before, maybe not. That's why I post here asking.

I blocked the GPT clown though, so in the future if anyone would like to help, please don't waste my time with GPT copy paste crap.

This is 2024, I have access to AI, if I wanted to know what it was gonna hallucinate I'd of already asked it. I need humans who have a strong familiarity with the process and patience for people who don't.

Anyway, I'm going to bed, this whole this has annoyed me. I should of just stuck with Vanilla.

[Nebgama]

Originally posted by Chaosolous:

I've been looking for answers and it's all very esoteric to the situation or specific to whatever that modder is doing so maybe my unique circumstance has been found before, maybe not. That's why I post here asking.

The game is the most involved there is when it comes to modding so yes it will be a lot to take in. On top of that there is like 20 different ways to skin a cat in just about everything you do.

There is two major modding paths

-MGEXE
-OPENMW

Most of the time if anything is explicitly for OpenMW it won't work on MGEXE where vice versa most things for MGEXE work on OpenMW except for MWSE dependency.

On top of that there is cross pollination so many things that are designed for one method of modding can work on other methods of modding. This being a perfect example with MO2 where you are using something intended for a more stock/traditional modding setup and using that on OpenMW which does not need MO2 because it has its own version of M02 built in.

Like i mentioned in that rough guide i linked in the other thread if you are having issues then step back for a while.

Trust that once you learn some core fundamentals of how to MOD the chosen style of modding you are going to go with then it will click. There is a lot to take in so you won't know it righy away.

When we say this game is one of the most involved to mod that is because it is. There is not many games around that are as verbose when it comes to modding infrastructure. and you should see what its like to actually make mods its even worse, very complicated system compered to modding games today.

[Nebgama]

https://openmw.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/modding/mod-install.html
for openmw this modding 101 make sure you understand it.

if this goes over your head then you will have trouble with other things in the modding pipeline.

[Chaosolous]

I've seen a bunch of videos of people saying that by using 0.49 and the fact that it has something something lua extender something (maybe IDK what they said exactly), but 0.49 lets a lot of mods that use MGSE work with OpenMW, that's what A LOT of what I saw on Youtube for modding OpenMW said.

There were a bunch of videos were people were like "Use 0.49 and MO2 and you can use pretty much any mod"

Then they showed their game and how they booted it. I emulated that, but without mods. I tested the AI voice one just to see.

All I want right now though, without mods, is to figure out why the settings won't stay. Like, that's my #1 figure out right now. I don't care about anything but that. I will not add one single mod to this game until I can get those settings to stay. There must be a way, other people have done it.

I just need to figure out how. Anyway, I'm irritable because I'm sleepy and I failed earlier so I'ma go before I make an ass. I'll post again later with more specific questions when I inevitably get confused on my next attempt.

[Nebgama]

ok goal number 1 this will help you, Remove Mo2 for now just trust

learn how to mod a texture pack in like
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/47469

by using this
https://openmw.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/modding/mod-install.html

once you learn that you have effectively hand down solved 90% of your issue. But you also just gained immense knowledge and you need to make sure you understand it.

don't get caught up in semantics yet all that other ♥♥♥♥ you can worry about later on once you actually understand the basic fundamentals of modding openmw.
The very building blocks of how to mod openmw are in this one post, if this is a struggle for you then i have to say its will be a long road.

I think also it feels like you maybe frustrated because you are expecting results by now and think you should be playing the game. Just subjectively look at why you are going wrong. That is because you are trying to over steep the basics and skip ahead.

Once you know how to load a mod normally then you can look at things like M02. To my knowledge unless something changed just recently with OpwnMW then MO2 is not needed for any mods and the person saying that is probably uneducated.

[Nebgama]

Also good to know that MWSE support is coming in OpenMW i knew this would always happen because all they need to do is and api support system. I have not been following that closely OpenMW for a while.

Someone tried telling me years back its not possible to do something like that, well it is.