Transferring saves from modded to unmodded skyrim

[obiwan005]

I messed up while modding and completely broke my game. It crashes as soon as i move in the world. LOOT didn't help much, and i don't know how to use xEdit.
What I am thinking of doing is to save my save files, install a fresh unmodded skyrim, and load these saves in it so I don't lose any progress (which I have made a lot to lose). Then i slowly mod this fresh installation to see what works and what not.
Will this work?

[Lady Aeleanor]

No. The saves contain data from the mods and it's embedded in your save games. Sorry to say, the only way to proceed after removing mods, especially script-based mods, is to do a complete uninstall (means uninstalling the game through Steam, and then deleting the game folder and any other folders that have Skyrim SE in the title). Then reinstall the game. Wish I could tell you otherwise, but I had to learn that the hard way years ago when I tried to do the same thing.

[Vlad 254]

Although what Lady says is true you don't seem to own the Special Edition version. Maybe you own the Oldrim version and if that's the case you should be on the regular Skyrim forums for future reference (and posts).

[Lady Aeleanor]

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

Although what Lady says is true you don't seem to own the Special Edition version. Maybe you own the Oldrim version and if that's the case you should be on the regular Skyrim forums for future reference (and posts).

Ah....I never even noticed. Good eye. :)

[obiwan005]

Originally posted by Lady Aeleanor:

No. The saves contain data from the mods and it's embedded in your save games. Sorry to say, the only way to proceed after removing mods, especially script-based mods, is to do a complete uninstall (means uninstalling the game through Steam, and then deleting the game folder and any other folders that have Skyrim SE in the title). Then reinstall the game. Wish I could tell you otherwise, but I had to learn that the hard way years ago when I tried to do the same thing.

Some online guides mentioned "cleaning" the save of mods via some programs, is that something doable? But thank you, will upload my load order and ask for help on reddit.

[smr1957]

Originally posted by obiwan005:

Originally posted by Lady Aeleanor:

No. The saves contain data from the mods and it's embedded in your save games. Sorry to say, the only way to proceed after removing mods, especially script-based mods, is to do a complete uninstall (means uninstalling the game through Steam, and then deleting the game folder and any other folders that have Skyrim SE in the title). Then reinstall the game. Wish I could tell you otherwise, but I had to learn that the hard way years ago when I tried to do the same thing.

Some online guides mentioned "cleaning" the save of mods via some programs, is that something doable? But thank you, will upload my load order and ask for help on reddit.

You CANNOT clean saves - regardless of what anyone else may say. For complete and full information regarding this, see:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/489830/discussions/0/1520386297681801135/

[Jonny Sparta]

Unfortunately many mods will bake their data into the save file. There are a few mods you might get away with this with, but 99% of the time uninstalling mods breaks a save file.

And the cleaning programs don't work. You can console yourself some money or weapons in the early game to help you get back to where you were, thats generally the only way of recovering from lost progress that I've ever used.

[Vlad 254]

Originally posted by Lady Aeleanor:

Originally posted by Vlad 254:

Although what Lady says is true you don't seem to own the Special Edition version. Maybe you own the Oldrim version and if that's the case you should be on the regular Skyrim forums for future reference (and posts).

Ah....I never even noticed. Good eye. :)

Usually yes but not always I suppose. Not after my last suggestion for you anyway. smh, I always refer to the UESP Wiki yet I didn't notice I was on the fandom Wiki when I gave you that info. Now you see why I always recommend the UESP. Wiki is Wiki in one sense however, I mean although that's my go to for all things TES, Wiki remains a place where just about anyone can post. But we can usually catch the um misinformation.

Only reason I gave a console command in the first place is that it was you and I know from your posts over the last several years that you are careful.

[ShelLuser]

Vortex, which is a very good mod manager, allows you to set something like that up quite easily.

[obiwan005]

Ok just in case someone reads this thread later, i did actually manage to transfer the mods, and it was quite easy.
Copy the saves folder in Documents\My games\Skyrim to somewhere safe.
Uninstall both Mod Organizer and Skyrim. Install skyrim, then MO.
Through MO, install all the mods you were previously using. Avoid any extra or unnecessary mods. Do this as soon as you install skyrim.
Replace the newly created Saves folder with the old one. Worked for me without any issues.