[SSE] How to verify integrity of game cache

[Ilja]

Introduction

This is the process to ensure that your official gameplay files are up to date. Instructions point toward creating a clean check, with cleared appcache folder.

Process should be done, when you suspect that your game master files are damaged and not working correctly. Symptoms vary from missing data, messed up quests and crashing to desktop. Process is quite safe and should only takes few moments.

Step to remove your configuration files (Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini) is usually required only, if you are experiencing crashing, or if you have included tweaks that may have caused instability and/or other problems in your game. Process will create new fresh versions of these files.

Validating master files

1. Close Steam.
   
   
2. Go to Steam folder and either remove folder named appcache or clear it from all content. Steam will create a new folder later in either case.
   
   
3. Go to Documents > My Games > Skyrim Special Edition.
   
   
4. Remove files: Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini. See notes below about backing them up, before doing this.
   
   
5. Close your computer. Do not just restart it, but let it shut down.
   
   
6. Start your computer.
   
   
7. Start Steam. It will now create new appcache folder for you.
   
   
8. Steam client Library view > Right click the game you intend to validate.
   
   
9. Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Cache...
   
   
10. Run the default launcher once, so that game can configure properly. This will create new configuration files, if you had deleted them.

Letting your computer actually shut down will allow it to reset all hooks. This may not happen, if you are just restarting it, so let the computer shut down completely.

Why do we remove appcache?
Steam does not compare your game data directly against files in your hard drive. It uses download data from appcache for that purpose instead.

Your appcache may be out of date or corrupted and thus Steam may not detect problems in your files, when you are actually having them. Deleting appcache will force Steam to create a new one, by collecting fresh data for your new appcache folder. We will use this as our advantage, when validating files.

If you do not see file extensions:
Your Windows settings may have hidden your file extensions. Thus these files would only appear as text files, named as Skyrim and SkyrimPrefs.

Windows 10: File Explorer > View Tab. Check boxes for File Extensions and Hidden Files are at right in the view that opens on top.

Backup old configuration files, before deleting them
I recommend storing these files temporarily, until new one has been created. You can (and should) safely delete them, once you have confirmed new ones existing in your folders.

1 file fails to validate
1 file will always fail to validate. It is related to how Steam detects your graphic card configurations and does not have any negative effect to your game. Steam can't check your graphic card configurations, because they are in use. This is not a problem, because that file will be (sort of) validated during next time you run Skyrim.

Other notes
If you have previously cleaned your master files with TES5Edit, then you will have to repeat the process. Steam will detect them as changed files and parse them to match data in it's own servers.

Changes

• 17.01.2017
  - Fixed: Typos and inconsistencies.
  
• 13.12.2016
  - Added: Note about backing up files directly to the list.
  - Added: Bold note about backing up old configuration files
  - Reformatted Initial release in Skyrim Special Edition Steam Discussions forum, based on original post in Skyrim Steam Discussions forum.

[Avrie]

Looks good Ilja, a small thing ... might be better to recommend they copy the ini files to a temp folder in step 4 instead of "remove" (just so they can go back and compare changes, and copy over "good" tweaks after wards)

[Ilja]

The note to back up files was already there. I fixed a typo (that is apparently still in the old post...) and added bold topic to it.

Does it work now?

[Avrie]

Yes and no ... the info is perfect, but recommending that they backup the files should NOT come after they have already deleted them LOL

It's fine my friend, I would have just liked to see the backup message directly above the "Validating master files" heading not after all the instructions. (I guess I've stubbed my toes assembling things by instructions a few too many times.)

[Ilja]

You were quite correct and I added that note there. It is presented differently in original post, so I did not first figure out what you meant.

As you may recall, I have explanation directly after steps there. I decided to try different approach here, though I am unsure if that was a good idea.

[Avrie]

I like the format ... you should turn it into a simple guide so we can link to it easy.

[Ilja]

Easy?

I spent 15 minutes trying to link Clever Monkey's guide to Player spreadsheet. Steam was being funny and did not allow me to copy the damn link from Share or top. :p

[Avrie]

I know that feeling ... I tried to link to posts before and have gotten frustrated enough to just type in the name. It's steam, I've had to completely exit the forums, and steam, then load steam again and had no problems linking.

[rallicknom]

I recently validated my SSE game and was surprised when I did not get the "one file failed to validate" message. Is there an explanation for this or was this just a glitch solely on my computer?

[[D]Mit.]

Or you know you could simply name it ; how to verify any game's cache through Steam...

[Ilja]

Originally posted by rallicknom:

I recently validated my SSE game and was surprised when I did not get the "one file failed to validate" message. Is there an explanation for this or was this just a glitch solely on my computer?

That is a new one. I have never heard that process would not complain about that. If that continues, then I will have to see what is going on.

Originally posted by DMit.:

Or you know you could simply name it ; how to verify any game's cache through Steam...

Guides are more or less game specific. I can't see peoples searching these instructions from any other categories than for games they own, if they are not already aware of what they are looking for.

[Ilja]

• 17.01.2017
  - Fixed: Typos and inconsistencies.

I need to start making a new master list for SSE. I just went ahead and published a NEW version of this. Then I realized that I already had published this and added it to pinned topic.

Damn. Sometimes I am a complete scatterbrain. :p

I deleted the new post and did required fixes for this one.

[Kongol]

Yeah I tried this, and now it just loops the launcher, the launcher launches itself and the game won't start.

[Ilja]

Originally posted by Kongol:

Yeah I tried this, and now it just loops the launcher, the launcher launches itself and the game won't start.

Process just verifies that content in your hard drive matches with the content distributed from Steam server. It does not solve issues, if they are not coming from broken files.

Is it possible that your security settings are causing the problem?
- Right click the game executable and run it as Administrator.
- Make sure that Skyrim.exe is added as exception for your security software.

[Avrie]

There was also a bug in the Racemenu update, and we're waiting on another SKSE64 update that should resolve the issue later today. FYI... I'm looping though MO2 trying to load the game as well. BUT! if I launch through the normal steam launcher I get into the game no problem (with all the expected SKSE errors pop ups from mods)

Give that a shot and you will have verified the game is installed and working correctly, and there is still a problem with SKSE and/or the dependant mods.

In my case it proves the problem is isolated to SKSE/MCM mods because the game loads properly with my full mod list if I don't launch through SKSE

[Rather Be Fishin]

This is the only fix I’ve found for that whack audio bug that causes the crazy static and breaks npc audio. Thanks dawg.