What is up MGE XE's rear?!

[Elthrael]

I just want to preface this by saying I have the game up and running by copying over the install folder from my old PC, so this isn't really a "I desperately want to play the game, help" thread, but I'm still a bit miffed.

I've been trying to get the latest version of MGE XE to run on my new Windows 11 install (previous install was on Windows 10) for the better part of an afternoon and I just can't get it to open, let alone anything else.

What I've done so far:
*I installed Morrowind. I verified the cache, I removed my save files and deleted any settings files and generated new ones. So basically a "fresh" install. Disabled Steam cloud.
*I've installed DirectX 9, twice, once locally and once using Microsoft's web installer.
*I've installed and reinstalled .NET framework.
*I've installed MWSE.
*I've installed MGE XE to the root Morrowind folder, NOT the Data Files folder (that's how you're supposed to do it, right?)
*I've tried running MGEXEGui.exe as administrator
*I've tried running MGEXEGui.exe in Windows XP SP2 and SP3 compatibility modes
*I've tried running it in 640x480 mode
*I've tried deleting the .ini files and regenerating them.

It just won't run. I get the blue spinny circle thing so I gues something happens, but it disappears before I can see it in Task Manager and it doesn't generate any error logs (the way it's supposed to according to Nexus Mods). I don't want to mod further because without MGE XE it doesn't make sense. I don't use any huge overhaul mods anyway (Solstheim Rumour Fix, Delayed DB attack, a few font/UI scaling mods, a mod to remove the sheen off enchanted items, that's about it).

Like I said, I can play the game just fine with my ancient MGE XE version and ancient mods, but I was hoping to remod this install from scratch with the latest versions of mods and it's been nothing but trouble.

Any tips much appreciated.

[Ghost]

Sounds like it's in the right place. Possible that the MGE XE download was interrupted or corrupted? Assume it's not being blocked by your anti-virus or something.

Aside from re-downloading it, only thing I can think of at the moment would be running Morrowind itself to the menu and installing and running the Morrowind Code Patch before trying to run MGE XE.

[Elthrael]

Originally posted by Ghost:

Sounds like it's in the right place. Possible that the MGE XE download was interrupted or corrupted? Assume it's not being blocked by your anti-virus or something.

Aside from re-downloading it, only thing I can think of at the moment would be running Morrowind itself to the menu and installing and running the Morrowind Code Patch before trying to run MGE XE.

Hm. I did that (install MCP) on every install. I added the Patch for Purists too, maybe that messed it up?

[Ghost]

Originally posted by Elthrael:

Hm. I did that (install MCP) on every install. I added the Patch for Purists too, maybe that messed it up?

It shouldn't, they do different things and work fine together.
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Also, missed it earlier and probably not relevant, but WindowsXP isn't supported so any compatibility thing should be Vista SP2 or later.
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If re-downloading and installing MCP and MGE XE doesn't work, then you might be stuck with using the older version if it still does, or switching to OpenMW.

[Elthrael]

Yeah, that old install is indestructible, that's why I reverted to it after trying this. I can't switch to OpenMW because all my save files are from original MW and AFAIK you can't use OG saves with OpenMW - unless that's changed?

[Ghost]

Originally posted by Elthrael:

Yeah, that old install is indestructible, that's why I reverted to it after trying this. I can't switch to OpenMW because all my save files are from original MW and AFAIK you can't use OG saves with OpenMW - unless that's changed?

Yes and no. From memory there was a way to convert vanilla saves to OpenMW some years ago, but it was a hassle and the result was something of a buggy mess. Not sure what the current situation with that is, but probably not a good idea.

[Elmanuk]

Try
1. Extract and install directx_Jun2010_redist to any folder you like
2. In the folder where you extracted directx_Jun2010_redist open Jun2010_d3dx9_43_x86 cabinet file
3. Copy d3dx9_43.dll to Morrowind root folder

[Elthrael]

Originally posted by Elmanuk:

Try
1. Extract and install directx_Jun2010_redist to any folder you like
2. In the folder where you extracted directx_Jun2010_redist open Jun2010_d3dx9_43_x86 cabinet file
3. Copy d3dx9_43.dll to Morrowind root folder

Didn't work.

But, I now at least get an error message when I run the game.

MGE Error

2
Could not open the mge settings file.
The system cannot find the file specified
Try running MGEgui.exe to recreate save files.

I tried googling this but I found no results.

I ensured I ran the game at least once, ran MCP, ran the game again, installed MWSE, ran the game again, then installed MGE XE. Still no dice.

[EgoMaster]

That error message is normal, since you never managed to run MGE XE on this system. Is there a MGEXE.log file in Morrowind directory? Does it say anything?

[Elthrael]

Turns out I got the links messed up. I was using the installer from a Nexus page called "Morrowind Graphics Extender", that I didn't realize until just now that is from 2009 😂

I went to the new "MGE XE" page on Nexus and it installed just fine, works perfectly too.

Now to get my other mods up and running x)

[Ghost]

Originally posted by Elthrael:

Turns out I got the links messed up. I was using the installer from a Nexus page called "Morrowind Graphics Extender", that I didn't realize until just now that is from 2009 😂

I went to the new "MGE XE" page on Nexus and it installed just fine, works perfectly too.

Now to get my other mods up and running x)

Welp. At least it's sorted now.