CTD when leaving Redwater den

[mcbarker69]

I've explored and cleared out the entire den, When I try to leave, I get a CTD. This is 100% repeatable... I'm stuck there.

Tried console TCL command, but that only allows me to travel within the den.
Tried COC RIVERWOOD... CTD

The game is normally very stable (no CTD) until now. Any suggestions?

[lizrdfishr]

Can you load a save from before you entered Redwater den or do those crash too?

Did you alter the game (remove any mods) while you were in Redwater den?

[mcbarker69]

I didn't make any changes to the game while in Redwater den, After trying a few things, I found an autosave (somewhere in wilds of Skyrim) immediately prior to reaching Readwater den which CTD if I try to load it. All saves after that (inside the den) can still be loaded.

[lizrdfishr]

It sounds to me like something has corrupted your game.

I'm not a heavy on this forum. It seems that the game was working before you entered the cell and no longer works outside it. I have not experienced this so I don't know the resolution.

I would probably start by verifying the game files but again if your old saves won't load, the issue is beyond my meager abilities.

Gonna ask for a heavy.

[Ozymandias]

It's not recommended to use autosaves nor quicksaves. They're not reliable. Although there's a setting in (I think) Engine Fixes to make them proper saves.

I use the mod Skyrim SafeSave System Overhaul (https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/19399), which lets you bind a key to save (so it can replace quicksaves) and also set automatic saves (out of combat and other situations where it's a bad idea to save). Both automatic and manual saves can be rotating, so you don't end up with hundreds of useless saves (and you can chose how many).

All that being said, maybe your issue is different, but it's still better not to use vanilla quicksaves/autosaves.

[Chef]

As a thought for testing this a little more, do you have a full save from sometime before Redwater? I'm wondering if you loaded that save, then went straight to Redwater. Then enter, and just try to leave immediatly if I would still crash. May help us narrow down the problem.

Also, can you post your full load order from LOOT?

[smr1957]

Please post your LOOT sorted load order. To post, click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of the LOOT screen, select copy to clipboard from the drop down menu, and paste in the reply box here.

You say you didn't make any changes while in Redwater Den, did you ever make any changes at any time? Did you ever remove any mods? If so, your game is probably shot unless you have a save you can roll back to made prior to the removed mod having been installed. Any use of the console? As to saves, forget about auto or quick saves - people should not be using them - do you have any manual saves you can roll back to?

Also, regardless of anything else, you will have to roll back to a save made prior to using any commands made in an attempt to fix this. Any attempt should be made using the base save, and if unsuccessful, return to that same save.

I have subscribed, so will see if anything is posted, even though I am not able to be online - or at least, not much; but I would like to at least see you get this issue resolved.

[Falro the Great]

Echoing SMR's questions and advice, and I am keeping an eye on here as well. You're in good hands, mcbarker69!

[smr1957]

While trying to determine what the actual cause of the CTD is, there is one thing you can try. Wait inside Redwater Den for 30 in-game days, thus giving the entire game world a chance to reset. Once you have done this, then try and exit. While this will not determine what the exact problem is, it will temporarily allow you to proceed (though, unless we can determine the root cause of your issue, it is still possible that it - a CTD - can reoccur).

[smr1957]

By the way, when I referred to removing mods, I also mean did you even ever temporarily disable and then re-enable anything.

[mcbarker69]

Originally posted by Chef:

As a thought for testing this a little more, do you have a full save from sometime before Redwater? I'm wondering if you loaded that save, then went straight to Redwater. Then enter, and just try to leave immediatly if I would still crash. May help us narrow down the problem.

Also, can you post your full load order from LOOT?

I made a hard save which loads fine (before the autosave which won't load}. All saves after the autosave were made within Redwater den, and all of them load fine.

After trying a few more things, I noticed that fast travel has started causing CTD. Loot hasn't worked for me for almost a year now. Either Vortex is doing a good job of sorting the mod order, or Loot is toast. There are no errors showing in Vortex. Loot shows the following error:

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

Never had that error before. Loot is configured correctly, but no longer shows any mods.

The only mods I've disabled then re-enabled are Pflusher's 2020 series Skyrim texture mods, but not after I entered Redwater.

[lizrdfishr]

Vortex integrated L00T.

When Vortex "deploys" it is sorting using L00T. There is no need to run L00T if you run Vortex.

I am unclear about where you are. You made a hard save prior to Redwater. That save loads fine but now Fast Travel CTDs?

IMO clean install and try again but maybe a heavy has a better idea.

[Chef]

Maybe try updating LOOT? I know it has had a couple updates in that time.

And while you don't need to run LOOT if your using Vortex, it does make reading a plugin list a lot easier.

[smr1957]

Fast travel can often be the cause of CTDs, most usually in modded games - especially more heavily modded ones - as the game is trying to load too much at once. Hence, it is important to know your load order. As to Vortex and LOOT, Vortex actually has LOOT installed in it - if the standalone version of LOOT is not working, than something is wrong with the way it is set up. However, Vortex's inherent LOOT program should sort things exactly as LOOT standalone would. In Vortex, there should be an option to copy out your load order.

Another thing, that goes along with CTDs caused when fast traveling, is your PC specs. If you are running intensive mods and the specs are not high enough, this can cause issues.

Finally, uninstalling and reinstalling mods should not be done midplaythrough, but mods which are purely graphics (meshes/textures) or which purely concern vanilla assets or spawns are usually safe. For full info on disabling/uninstalling mods and the consequences, see:
You CANNOT Remove Mods Mid-Playthrough -
http://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/1520386297681801135/

We do need to see your sorted load order and also PC specs, though.

And one thing more - have you changed your uGridsToLoad settings from the default of 5? (If you don't know what that is, then you probably did not, as it takes physically changing info in the .ini files.)

[lizrdfishr]

Originally posted by smr1957:

And one thing more - have you changed your uGridsToLoad settings from the default of 5? (If you don't know what that is, then you probably did not, as it takes physically changing info in the .ini files.)

Sorry smr, you don't get away after dropping this on us quite that easily. ;)

I could search for that file on the internet and read up on how it worked 8 years ago and why I should just use the console to fix it (because there is a crap-ton of bad info out there), or I could just ask you.

What does that file/setting do and when/how do you use it?

[smr1957]

Setting uGrid values higher than 5 will more than likely break your game (5 is the default setting).

"When you raise your uGrids above 5 you aren't just making your game render things further out, you are making your game process EVERYTHING further out, including scripts and quests. This has a huge impact on your engines stability, and it breaks certain quests which aren't meant to activate that soon and end up bugging out.

Please do NOT recommend people up their uGrids, it is not safe." - from post #9 by Nazenn:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/385429125015580932/#c385429125016910473

also:

"One thing more, if you have changed your Ugrids you cant change it back to 5. You are stuck whit it where you have set it.
Unless you start one new game." - from post #23 by Uncle64[Swe]:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/385429125015580932/?ctp=2#c385429125017736718

READ THE WHOLE THREAD FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION!:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/385429125015580932/

Examples of problems:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/133258593405367732/?
http://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/133259227514381006/?