what to do with .dds files?

[newrentor]

I just dled the Silverlight darker texture mod, http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/15329/?. In the data folder, it has the texture folder, but it also has seven loose .dds files... do I just put those into Skyrim/Data as is, do they go somewhere else, or are they just for editting purposes? The Nexus page didn't give a clue; in fact (lol), under "Installation" it pretty much said "you all know the drill...". (I'm quoting directly.) I've used 100s of mod, but I guess I'm still a noob as to how exactly they work. Any help?

[Ilja]

I do not recommend installing mods manually. If you would use mod manager like Nexus Mod Manager (NMM) or Mod Organizer (MO), then those files would go instantly in correct locations and would get removed from there during file installation, without potentially permanently overwriting any files.

What comes to your question, each file in mod pack is basically meant to go where the path in the pack file positions them. In this case these .dds files belong to Data > textures > armor > Silverlight.

[Yutanesca]

The .dds files are the textures themselves, so you should move them as is.

[newrentor]

...so move them to Data folder, even tho they are outside of the Textures folder?

[shoopy]

Originally posted by newrentor:

...so move them to Data folder, even tho they are outside of the Textures folder?

Everything was in the correct place when I looked at the mod. Did you accidentally move them?

[Ilja]

Originally posted by newrentor:

...so move them to Data folder, even tho they are outside of the Textures folder?

They are not outside of texture folder, but in a subfolder.

The path for these DDS-files should be: ...SteamApps/common/Skyrim/Data/textures/armor/Silverlight

Edit:

Originally posted by ardiel:

Everything was in the correct place when I looked at the mod. Did you accidentally move them?

Good question.

[newrentor]

In other words, when I opened the mod, there was a Data folder; inside was a Texture folder AND seven loose .dds files... that's whats confusing me. They weren't in the Texture file, they were loose.

[newrentor]

Let me try re-dling the zip file, see if its the same.

[Ilja]

Originally posted by newrentor:

In other words, when I opened the mod, there was a Data folder; inside was a Texture folder AND seven loose .dds files... that's whats confusing me. They weren't in the Texture file, they were loose.

I downloaded the pack and they were in a subfolder of texture folder.

I still strongly recommend moving to a mod manager. Sometimes these loose files share the same place and name, but not same content. Physically overwriting files during manual installation will actually replace them, while removing file with manager would add the previous content back.

But that is of course your own call. :)

Edit: Oh, you have over 500 hours from the game. I guess you already knew this and made your call.

[newrentor]

okay...they must be duplicates for editting purposes, because there are a duplicate set in Skyrim/Data/textures/armor/Silverlight. Sorry for the confusion; just wanted to make sure I wasn't adding excess baggage to Data, or NOT gettting files where they belonged. Thanks for all responses, very helpful. Small wonder I love the Steam community.