Best of Both Worlds Downgrade Guide (1.5.97.0) For Dummies

Created 1/22/2024
This is kinda a rip from Nord's 1.6.640 -> 1.5.97.0 guide but with an attempt to keep CC items
(hey man you said to find another guide and I couldn't so I made one)

Before We Start

This will be pretty easy if you're a semi-experienced modder. This will be slightly more complicated if this is the first step in your modding journey (welcome to hell)

Notes:

• I highly recommend using a fresh install of the game but to each their own
  
• Make sure you have opened the game at least ONCE and let it download all the CC content.
  
• You will be installing 4 external files to get this to work assuming you already have SKSE
  
• If you are a beginner modder always check which version of skyrim a mod is compatible for us the end goal is 1.5.97.0 make sure you are downloading mods compatible with that version of the game

Downgrading to V. 1.6.1330

1. Open steam console using Win+R and then entering steam://open/console in the text box.
Select OK

2. Copy and Paste the following lines ONE AT A TIME into the console. Let one download and move to the next.

• download_depot 489830 489831 3737743381894105176
  
• download_depot 489830 489832 4341968404481569190
  
• download_depot 489830 489833 2442187225363891157

Sometimes they can take some time please be patient.

3. Once they are all downloaded navigate to your steam program files. For most it will be:
Program Files/Steam/Steamapps/Content/App_489830
Don't ask me where your steam files are if they are not located here, idk it's your computer.

4. Move the contents of these files over into your Skyrim file in order. Allow it to overwrite any files it requests.

Do NOT move over the entire file (ex. depot_489831, depot_489832, etc) MOVE OVER THE CONTENTS (Data, installscript.vdf, etc).

Downloading the Downgrade Patcher

NEXUS DOWNLOAD HERE [www.nexusmods.com]

1. Navigate to the "BestOfBoth_1.6.1130.0-1.5.97.0.exe" and download MANUALLY
MUST use this version it will not work otherwise

2. Run the executable (.exe) file and allow it to patch your files

Downloading Mod Organizer & Patch Mods

I don't use vortex, etc. if you're looking for a tut on that I can't help you.

1. Download Mod Organizer on Nexus.
There are a plethora of videos on how to get it set up but here is the one I used
DOWNLOAD MO2 HERE[www.nexusmods.com]

2. Download the Backported Extender ESL Support (BEES) Mod
DOWNLOAD BEES[www.nexusmods.com]


3. BEES will prompt you to download Address Library for SKSE Plugin - Download that as well

You need the BEES mod to allow your game to work. IF YOU ARE OPENING YOUR GAME AND IT IS CRASHING AFTER THE LOGO POPS UP THIS IS WHY !!!

Conclusion & Checks

To check your game version at any point during this process navigate to your Skyrim game files and locate the SkyrimSE.exe file.
Right click > Properties > Details Tab > Product Version



Another way you can check you have done this correctly is opening MO2 and locating the plugin called "ccbgssse001-fish" if you cannot find this file you have done something wrong.
Only run this check at the end as there will be a point in the above process where the file is unable to be located.

You can check a "Vanilla" version of your game by loading up a new save with only what we've installed so far, once you can enter the main menu (pretty shortly after Ralof starts talking to you), navigate to System tab > Help > Locate fishing. Congrats the ESM File is officially loaded!

That's it.
Idk maybe you figured this out on your own or maybe you spent 3 days trying to figure out why fishing was missing. Either way hopefully this allows you to successfully downgrade while keeping the CCC for whatever mod you are trying to use it for.

Bye!

[theDragon]

I followed your instructions precisely and everything worked perfectly. Thanks! I'd tried various other methods and guides and not one got me from 1.6.1170 to 1.5.97 with all my cc content without issue.

[insectgarbage]

@AKT256 I'm going to be honest with you I can find no information on this depot error (for any depot download, not just skyrim). Especially interesting because the first depot is just textures and meshes.

Here are some of my troubleshooting ideas based on different steam errors regarding the depot, please let me know if any work:
-Space. I'm sure you've taken this into account but the depots are in addition to skyrim's files until you get to the overwrite portion, make sure you have enough space
-Make sure your steam client is up to date
-Uninstall and reinstall Skyrim, possibly your original appmanifest is corrupted in some way

FINALLY
There is a program called depotdownloader you can get that apparently helps with all of the issues that the console has. I have never used it so I can't vouch personally but I do keep seeing the name come up.

[ALT256]

The depo downloads seem to be broken for me, I instantly get the following every time:
Depot download failed : error starting download for depot manifest 3737743381894105176

Do you have any idea what's going on? I've done a reboot of my computer and even temporarily disabled the firewall just in case it was on my end.