New Modder's Goodspring Crashing woes

[willsimplybe]

Hey there- I've modded games before, but only little things for some other games- never before have I used something like mod organizer to manage things. So i started off simple, following a guide by dirty weasel media that followed a STEP guide.

I'm going to just explain everything i've done in the past 24 hours in hopes of figuring this out.

I normally would have tried running the game after each installation, but the first several things i got, I didn't think were directly affecting the game. Maybe that was my mistake. I got the new vegas script extender first, and put all the .dlls in their place, the game seemed to run fine when launched through steam, or launched from mod organizer. Next is where it gets a little fuzzy about what went wrong.

I got the 4GB Patcher- I was told to get FNV 4G Updated, but that file told me to get the Patcher instead. The file, when ran, told me it was working. The guide told me to make a new executable through the organizer but as the file name and icon was different, (and it told me it was fine in the command window pop up) and the installation process on the patcher didn't mention that at all, i didn't bother trying to force this. I then got LOOT, FNVEdit, and Wrye Flash for the modding tools. This is where I feel like something might have gotten messed up- when making the executables for these in mod organizer.

I regret not trying to launch the game from the Mod Organizer after each file- but regardless- when I did, the game would either load to a black screen, or just crash entirely when trying to launch it straight from MO. That said, launching the Fallout New Vegas Launcher from MO worked, and launching from steam worked.

I made it as far as beating the powder gangers who attacked goodsprings to test and things seemed fine- but I heard that if I wasn't launching the Fallout New Vegas exe from MO directly, mods wouldn't activate- is that true?

Next, I made a backup in MO, and installed my first direct mod, the New Vegas Anti Crash. ironically enough, this is where even loading from steam started crashing. I tried un-clicking the box for NVAC and running it, but it still would get stuck on a black screen. I found out next that it was apparently a bad idea to try modding if files were stored in the x86 Program Files folder because windows doesn't like you messing around there.

I tried to move steam and all my games just out of the program files x86 folder, to a new folder i made just for it, following steam's own instructions to delete everything but steam.exe and my steamapps folder. After closing every process that had a conflict blocking the move, i found myself unable to move the steam folder, it just saying that a file or the folder was in use... no explanation of by what. I then try to move just the steamapps folder, and uninstall the rest of steam.

The steamapps folder tells me i don't have the permission to move it. (I'm the only user) freaking wonderful. I instead copy steamapps to the new location, and uninstall steam. I try to delete the original steamapps folder in x86, but part way through, i'm just again told i lack permissions. I moved on to reinstalling steam, and this is where I have my current problem. I load up steam just fine, even my loaded games appear to be recognized, wonderful.

I try to open new vegas and unfortunately it crashes when i try to load my file out in goodsprings. I figure maybe it had to do with the save coming from before the move or something. I start a brand new file, and it loads fine. I get through Doc Mitchell's character creation song and dance, and as soon as I try to leave his house and load into the outside world, Fallout New Vegas crashes. every time. I uninstalled the game and re-downloaded it and everything, no help.

I'm unsure of what to even do now, I just wanted some performance stability, bug fixes, and weather mods. I tried running another game to see if the move could have caused this, but Divinity Original Sin 2 loaded up my old files just fine.

Does anyone have a clue what I should do?

[Anro]

watch videos from Gopher on youtube only

[willsimplybe]

noted. I had him, and two other uploaders on my bar at the time- just decided to go the other way. Still learning.
Anyway, i am wondering what I should do now. Do I clean out the New Vegas folder entirely and just start fresh? I uninstalled and re-downloaded the game, but since i kept steamapps, i still had the mod tools and stuff in the folder.

I thought there was a way to fix an installation without having to delete everything, but i'm not sure.

[Anro]

Originally posted by willsimplybe:

noted. I had him, and two other uploaders on my bar at the time- just decided to go the other way. Still learning.
Anyway, i am wondering what I should do now. Do I clean out the New Vegas folder entirely and just start fresh? I uninstalled and re-downloaded the game, but since i kept steamapps, i still had the mod tools and stuff in the folder.

I thought there was a way to fix an installation without having to delete everything, but i'm not sure.

for beginning
watch gophers video he tell you the basic for installing and give good guides

second dont use Mod Organizer or Nexus Mod Manager. Use Only FOMM Fork

stabilitys mods is highly recommend to use

dont install every mod with manager. not evey can install properly over mod manager

read on the mod description for reuqiemmends mods and install steps

maybe learn how work on geck not every mod work properly so maybe need to make a self made patch

[talgaby]

Mods added in MO will only show up if you launch through MO, yes. MO uses a virtual file structure and actually injects the mods in the game. This is why it is safer than any other manager.
That said, using MO requires you to know how mod files and the directory structure of this game work, since you manually have to set up file overwrite priorities. This is the part where I do not agree with STEP, since it is not exactly newcomer-friendly, just as long as you install exactly the mods it shows as an example.

You need to apply NVSE, NVAC, and the 4GB patcher outside MO. I know STEP states otherwise, but anything that directly modifies the EXE is bad to run through a virtual system. You create an injection of an injection, and nobody knows how that will ever end up.

The Goodsprings crash after the Doc's house indicates you have loose files left. Virtual file system or no, MO can create a situation where the game actually thinks the virtual files are there even when MO is not running. It is because of the method it has to use on New Vegas and earlier games (no such issues in Skyrim/FO4). So, do not just uninstall, remove that entire MO profile and also manually delete the game's install folder before reinstalling.

[willsimplybe]

Originally posted by talgaby:

Mods added in MO will only show up if you launch through MO, yes. MO uses a virtual file structure and actually injects the mods in the game. This is why it is safer than any other manager.
That said, using MO requires you to know how mod files and the directory structure of this game work, since you manually have to set up file overwrite priorities. This is the part where I do not agree with STEP, since it is not exactly newcomer-friendly, just as long as you install exactly the mods it shows as an example.

You need to apply NVSE, NVAC, and the 4GB patcher outside MO. I know STEP states otherwise, but anything that directly modifies the EXE is bad to run through a virtual system. You create an injection of an injection, and nobody knows how that will ever end up.

The Goodsprings crash after the Doc's house indicates you have loose files left. Virtual file system or no, MO can create a situation where the game actually thinks the virtual files are there even when MO is not running. It is because of the method it has to use on New Vegas and earlier games (no such issues in Skyrim/FO4). So, do not just uninstall, remove that entire MO profile and also manually delete the game's install folder before reinstalling.

Thanks, I actually did that, manually went into the folder deleted all of my new vegas things in it, uninstalled and cleared recycle bin too. Started a fresh installation and my original file out in goodsprings loaded now.

No idea what happened with my x86 programs folder, but just this week it decided i couldn't move, copy, modify, or delete files within it- seemingly at random after an entire year- but at least i've gotten everything i could out of there now.

As for the modding issues, now that you mention it- i think it probably had to be the anti-crash, or.... wrye (even while installing wrye i was really unsure what i actually needed it for) or something, since the other ones I actually did just drop the .dll files straight into the steam new vegas folder. It's confusing, so many guides telling me to do different things. I started thinking nexus mod manager would be the simplest way to go for modding, but everyone told me Mod Organizer was the better tool- now i'm being told to use Fallout Mod Manager instead?

Really, I just wanted to run stability and bug fix mods, and a mod to get perks to work with the DLC weapons they should as well. Now that i've gotten back to a base line, i guess i'll spend a few hours going through gopher's videos...

[CrackeR]

First of all you need to ALWAYS launch the game with the NVSE exe
Shouldve watched Gopher's youtube vids instead to that STEP mess also!
NMM is a better installing / organizing engine than MO also in my opinion!

[willsimplybe]

Originally posted by CrackeR:

First of all you need to ALWAYS launch the game with the NVSE exe
Shouldve watched Gopher's youtube vids instead to that STEP mess also!
NMM is a better installing / organizing engine than MO also in my opinion!

lol, everyone tells me a different thing! NMM, MO, FOMM- i'll never figure out which one i should use. So you're saying I should LAUNCH the game from NVSE.exe?

i might go back to using NMM, but i was kinda confused for mods that didn't let me download via NMM.

[CrackeR]

Yes definately launch through the script extender !
I just prefer NMM because i use it for 12 games and have never had one single issue with it.
There is an option in NMM that lets you install a mod from a file for those that you may get somewhere else. The button just above the Activate Icon i believe, so you click that and then "browse" to the file or zip.

[willsimplybe]

Originally posted by CrackeR:

Yes definately launch through the script extender !
I just prefer NMM because i use it for 12 games and have never had one single issue with it.
There is an option in NMM that lets you install a mod from a file for those that you may get somewhere else. The button just above the Activate Icon i believe, so you click that and then "browse" to the file or zip.

Ah, ok. Yeah, i'm really just trying to get some QoL improvements, maybe some radio stations, nothing major, i'll just go with the NMM.

So my next question, because i see there may some conflicts upcoming, is about FNV4GB. Is it as mandatory to get this mod as it was the NVSE?

I hear they don't play nice together? I went to the NVSE page and followed a link to the 4GB mod it wanted me to use called 4GB New Vegas... But then there's another one called 4GB New Vegas Updated... BUT when i get to the nexus page for that, it says "this mod is now deprecated", and to follow a different link, leading to FNV 4GB Patcher.

The latter two seem to be much more recently updated- but i'm totally unsure which I should be using, and if in the years since all of these files were initially made, they became more compatable.

I'd be very thankful to anyone who could tell me what the deal is.

[CrackeR]

Just use the "patch" mod of it soo all you do is unzip the mod and extract the patch.exe into the FNV main folder. If you extract the littl folder out of the zip into the FNV directory just make sure to open it and actually put the patch.exe in the Game Directory. Wont work if you leave it in its little folder.
https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/62552/?
This works fine for me while using the NVSE exe to run the game

[willsimplybe]

Originally posted by CrackeR:

Just use the "patch" mod of it soo all you do is unzip the mod and extract the patch.exe into the FNV main folder. If you extract the littl folder out of the zip into the FNV directory just make sure to open it and actually put the patch.exe in the Game Directory. Wont work if you leave it in its little folder.

Ah, ok.... so NVSE and 4GB Patcher *DO* work together now? Lot of outdated information to sift through out there.

[CrackeR]

Just remember to actually double click the 4gb exe once its in the game directory . The command window will verify its done then press enter and all done.
The author created this "patch" version to play well. Link to it above^

[willsimplybe]

Originally posted by CrackeR:

Just remember to actually double click the 4gb exe once its in the game directory . The command window will verify its done then press enter and all done.
The author created this "patch" version to play well. Link to it above^

Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to help me. I have always loved this game, and I just want to have the best possible experience going through it again.

[CrackeR]

Its always been a crash fest game for reasons many say caused by memory leaks, but who really knows lol The game is just fun to play.

[willsimplybe]

So I have one more question- everything seemed right as rain, and i had a few mods installed. New Vegas Anti-Crash, The Wasteland Flora overhaul and Wave radio. They all worked fine, but then i installed Yukichigai's bug fix and used the LOOT (Load Order Optimization Tool, first time running it) to put it at the top, underneath the NV master files. At this point, when i tried to start up NV again, i was told that I might be missing some content the save relied on, and asked me if I wanted to load it anyway.

I said yes, wondering if my abusing of the "Skilled" trait bug early on would cause an issue with the mod. Unfortunately the game never loaded in- just sat in the loading screen for a good long while till i ended the program. Thinking this might have been the same problem as the last time, i made a new file, scared to see if it would crash every time i left doc mitchell's house.

But it didn't. I loaded just fine outside so far so good... but... i went to my radio tab and noticed that Wave Radio was gone, and the plant life *seemed* to just be back to the basics. I have no idea if the NVAC is still running, but everything is still listed as installed in the NMM.

I'm not sure what went wrong...