[RESOLVED] LOOT Not recognizing Skyrim Special Edition [RESOLVED]

[Fropatro]

Hey all,

So I'm at a loss, but probably too ignant to find the solution. I have recently installed LOOT for use with MO2 and am having trouble getting it to recognize Skyrim SE.

The error I receive is below:
"Error: Game-specific settings could not be initialised. Cannot set the current game: the game with folder "Skyrim Special Edition" is not installed."

This occurs regardless if I have "Autodetect" or "TES V: Skryim Special Edition" selected as the Default Game.

I have tried the following to resolve on my own:

• Complete reinstall of LOOT (uninstall by running LOOT's own uninstaller.exe - if there are files that DON'T get removed by the uninstaller, then I definitely missed those)
  
• Added a new game entry, pointing the "Install Path" to "C:\Program files (86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\" and then to "C:\Program files (86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data"
  
• Updated the Install Path of the existing Skyrim SE entry in LOOT to point to C:\Program files (86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\ and then C:\Program files (86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data
  
• Went to the registry - the entry under HKLM\Software\Bethesda Softworks\Skyrim Special Edition\Installed Path does not exist (not sure if this is an issue - it's just that LOOT defaults to this reg setting)
  
• Tried updating the install path Reg key for both entries (the one I made and LOOT's) to SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Steam App 489830
  
• Launched LOOT inside of MO2 and outside - tried above steps in both cases - no change in behavior.

I'm running LOOT Version 0.14.4 (build ec99692e).

Not sure what I'm missing but LOOT is not recognizing the game. Any other troubleshooting tips would be very much appreciated. If I find the answer before anyone responds I'll be sure to leave a comment detailing how I fixed it.

Thanks in advance!







!!UPDATE!!

SOOOOOOOOOOO Ladies and gentlemen, I am certifiably an utter moron. I was in such a hurry to mod skyrim special edition that I never launched the f****ing game through steam. I found this suggestion by reading through the r/skyrimmods wiki. link here: https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/wiki/begin2#wiki_load_order

Thanks to the two of you who took the time to respond. Hopefully my suffering will not be in vain and some other poor sod like me will stumble on this post and find it useful. Cheers!

TL;DR:
IN ORDER FOR LOOT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR GAME YOU MUST RUN IT AT LEAST ONCE THROUGH STEAM! JUST OPEN IT THROUGH STEAM, LET THE SPLASH MENU LOAD, AND THEN EXIT.

[Stormsong]

Your problem might be stemming from the fact that you have Skyrim, steam altogether really, in Program Files (x86) that folder has native protections in place. I would try running MO2 and LOOT as admin, or move your steam folder outside of Program Files (x86)

[★Kelvy★]

Where is your LOOT, I place mine in a tools folder.
Then in MO2 I set binary path to Loot exe in that folder through MO2
Sample - my set up
Title - My Loot
Binary - E:\tools\loot\LOOT\LOOT.exe

[Fropatro]

Originally posted by Stormsong the Fallen:

Your problem might be stemming from the fact that you have Skyrim, steam altogether really, in Program Files (x86) that folder has native protections in place. I would try running MO2 and LOOT as admin, or move your steam folder outside of Program Files (x86)

Thank you for pointing that out. While I do have it inside Program Files (x86), I have UAC off. Even still, I'll try moving the games files to a new folder and give that a shot. I'll post the results.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!


[EDIT]
*sigh*... sooooooooooooooooo update: I have copied the "Skyrim Special Edition" folder to a new location under C:\Games with no change in behavior.

[Fropatro]

Originally posted by ★Kelvy★:

Where is your LOOT, I place mine in a tools folder.
Then in MO2 I set binary path to Loot exe in that folder through MO2
Sample - my set up
Title - My Loot
Binary - E:\tools\loot\LOOT\LOOT.exe

My loot is installed in the same root directory as MO2: C:\Modding Utils. Again apologies for the lack of details - I am launching LOOT through MO2 when I get this error. Just for kicks, I tried launching it outside of MO2 (right click | run as admin) but that didn't change anything either unfortunately.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

[★Kelvy★]

Actually it is better if you make a folder for steam/games outside of the Program files, still can be in C: drive.

[Kalivur]

Same situation rushing the modding stage here. Thanks alot :D

[Ludicade]

Hey thanks this just helped me. I just replaced my hard drive and wanted to mass redownload all my mods before even launching the game lol

[Jhamhb]

This happened to me on a previously install game. Been playing for months now, but because I validated integrity of game files and it turns out I was missing 5 files, I had to update it. After it updated the game files, running through steam worked. thanks! no more LOOT error message

[evilcaracol]

thanks for putting the solution!

[Dhanen]

Thanks so much! I was completely sure I had started it, maybe you have to start it at least once before LOOT has been installed. But, in summary, it worked. So, thanks again for posting the solution.

[Despair]

This thread is old and already solved but I wanted to share my fix.
My problem was that I originally had skyrim installed in "D:\Skyrim" and launched it from there so it was the main location in registry. But then I moved it to "D:\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim" but the registry wasn't updated.

Loot couldn't find skyrim cause it wasn't there anymore but registry was pointing it out to that location.

Used Skyrim registry utility to change the location to steam installation directory and fixed it.
Here's the tool:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/78442?tab=description

Hope this helps.

[Fropatro]

Originally posted by DENKyCaliber:

This thread is old and already solved but I wanted to share my fix.
My problem was that I originally had skyrim installed in "D:\Skyrim" and launched it from there so it was the main location in registry. But then I moved it to "D:\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim" but the registry wasn't updated.

Loot couldn't find skyrim cause it wasn't there anymore but registry was pointing it out to that location.

Used Skyrim registry utility to change the location to steam installation directory and fixed it.
Here's the tool:
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/78442?tab=description

Hope this helps.

Thanks for taking the time to post an additional solution mate! Warms my heart that others were able to find this useful and hopefully your comment will do the same! Cheers :D