Yes, I do this myself also. In the data\mopy folder you will need the bash.ini file. If you do not have it copy bash_default.ini which is in there and rename the copy to bash.ini.

The open bash.ini and change this line:

[General]
;--sOblivionMods is the Alternate root directory for installers, etc.

; It is strongly recommended that you do NOT put it anywhere under the
; Oblivion install directory itself, because Oblivion.exe will search through
; every directory under the install directory.
; This "directory thrashing" can then cause performance problems during gameplay.
; sOblivionMods is defined specifically to circumvent this bug by storing files elsewhere.
sOblivionMods=..\Oblivion Mods <--------Change this to :\ for example E:\BAIN -whatever directory you speciby it will create the "Oblivion Mods" directory in there, so in the eample you would get E:\BAIN\Oblivion Mods

So choose whatever root location works for you with whatever name you want to identify it with.

EDIT: I do not know about your install but I just checked bash_default.ini in notepad and found it one long runon sentance (yes, I have word wrap enabled). I have been using the bash.ini files from previous versions. This could be just me though so will ask in Wrye Bash thread about it. Just don't freak if you have the same issue. You could probably get around it by downloading an older wrye Bash (like 287) extracting to some temporary directory and geting the default_bash ini from there (hope no changes were made to it). I will post more if and when I get an answer in wrye bash thread.

Here is my thing:
When reading the FCOM Installation guide - one section states Cobl (optional) but doesn't state what set of files are needed if you do this.
Example - I have five 7z files; they are:
Cobl_172-21104
Cobl_Cosmetics_Res_01
Item Interchange_0_78_17557
Loot-Drop-Changes_Proposal
Salmo_test_fix

Now in one post it states that Item Interchange needed to be taken out and replaced with something else -
These are the things I'm trying to get straight in my mind -
Like a tech of my advanced years - one step at a time (lol)
It's not due to a lack of understanding in and of itself - but a confusion in the process

I do have a question about Wrye Bash
I have been looking for a website for any updated versions of Wrye Bash
I have Wrye Bash 290 -
I know Tesnexus has them - but are there other sites with a more recent version?

Well, Cobl isn't an FCOM mod so why would the instructions for it be in the FCOM thread? I'd check the Cobl thread/readme for that. Goes for other non-FCOM mods as well.

EDIT: I can see how the Recommended install order section of the opening post might confuse newcomers, as it seems to indicate that an FCOM install *should* have all those mods. But FCOM proper is really Fran's, WarCry, OOO, MMM - and perhaps Bob's Armory/Loth's - as well as FCOM in itself, of course. And not necessarily all those either, as FCOM is all about integration and being able to customize the game as much as possible. Only OOO is really required as you can use FCOM_OscurosOverhaul if you (for some odd) reason don't want to use MMM. The point is that you can mix and match the overhauls etc. much as you like. Anyway, the other mods that are in that section are there because install order is important - they aren't part of FCOM proper and not necessarily recommended for a "full" install or anything. That said, Cobl, Armamentarium etc. are excellent mods and work perfectly with FCOM. I'll point out this more clearly in the "introduction".

Here is my thing: My files are in sub-folders
Example: My external hard drive has a folder called Mods - and under that sub folders with names like Static repair or one for T.I.E or Tears of the fiend
I don't have all the compressed files in one massive folder
So in order for Bain install to work I will have to copy all the files for the FCOM install into one folder?

Yes. Note that some of them are not BAIN-firenldy, though. Fran's has an exe-installer, for example. But use BAIN as your main installer.

Here is where I get lost because of the number of files I have and not knowing which one's to install
For the updates - I have to install the SI patch and Oblivion patch
Let me list what I have and if you could tell me to keep or discard
Now I have done the DLC installs - but not the updates (yet)

The DLC I have should be listed on the previous page

Mobsified_DLCs-19203.rar
Unofficial_Oblivion_Patch.7z (I unzipped and it's dated 2001)
Unofficial_Official_mods_Patch_v15_omod_version 9969.omod
Unofficial Patch Supplementals-27710.7z
Unofficial Oblivion Patch v.2.0 Installer.exe
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch v140Installer.exe
UOP_Supplemental_27710.7z

OK, lets keep it simple:

?Unofficial Oblivion Patch <--- 3.2.0 Unofficial_Oblivion_Patch.7z (I unzipped and it's dated 2001)

?Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch <---- Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch v140Installer.exe

?DLC's, Unofficial Official Mods Patch <--- Unofficial_Official_mods_Patch_v15_omod_version 9969.omod

Unofficial Patch Supplementals-27710.7z
UOP_Supplemental_27710.7z <--- don't know what this is

Now, here is where you need to make things simpler and tidy. I recommend you install all the above as omods (get the omod versions) or BAINS (get the archive version or create archive yourself). Don't mix with installers. I recommend omods for these as they will detect what you need and install it. I am confused byt your folders question so figure not to try and give you wrong advice. It is perfectly fine to use OBMM and BAIN together prodiced you understand how installation order of mods works (NOT talking about load order of active esp files when starting the game). Installation order matters because some mods overwrite files from other mods and the last one you install will be what is used.

DLCs should be the first things you install to Vanilla Oblivion in my opinion THEN the unofficial patches. After that FCOM. This is MY advice for a newbie. As you learn more later you can change things around.

For FCOM I agree the optional tag is a killer for some people. Arkngt is correct about the base mods and you should just install those to start with - Frans, OOO, Warcry, MMM and FCOM (including uFcom update). Forget archery right now, just get the basics working.

I will down load those tonight

You have DLC crossed out - so I shouldn't use that?

The good thing about BAIN is that you can BAIN as you go. The more you use it the more you are able to see what is installed and how and with what files any package conflcits with another package.

My first Oblivion install I BAINed a few mods per day till I had it all done - after each package is created either unistall the OMOD or anneal the package in and out then back in again if manual install.

You will see if you watch the sub-tabs on the installer tab that nothing is more informative than BAIN.



Arkngt-

One answer to cleaning up the install order section is to color code.

Describe what is a basic FCOM color code that then other colors for the optionals (arma, etc).

But as you know I advocate more comprehensive revisions than that.

Here is the one thing that confuses me:
If I do just the FCOM installs without the optional files
Won't that throw off things if these are suppose to be installed in a particular order?

I crossed them out in that step, assuming they are installed before applying any patches. My base install has all the DLCs I will use in the game PRIOR to installing the Unofficial Patches as they do not have any loose files I believe (other than the ones from SI and Knights which are installed in the beginning if you have GOTY version.

This is where the difference is between knowing what you are doing and not (being new or having done it alot). The install order tries to fit as many scenarios as possible so it is suggested to load as such. But remember the difference between INSTALL order and MOD order when starting the game (what mods should load first, as you see in the MODS tab). INSTALL order is important when files overwrite other files as last one written is used in game. Other than OOO, the other BASE FCOM files (Frans, Warcry, FCOM, MMM) are in BSA format so get accessed as needed. So in reality, they can be installed in any order and then sorted by BOSS in the mods list to LOAD during the game in a specific order.

The trick comes in with updates that have loose files than need to overwrite older files (and I do not rememebr right now if uFCOM has these or not).

But back to my point. Get the base FCOM install working. You can add the other mods later, and with BAIN the files will overwrite correctly by where you place it in the installatio order in the Installers tab (BAIN).

Being new, go with base FCOM and then you can add the other components later after your game is tested and stable (well, as stable as any game can be )

Agree on that. I remember when I started, I felt I needed the optional files to get the FCOM experience, but that is not true. Having just a base install instruction would be helpful. Either way, things work, and people learn through repetition anyway

I am doing just the base install right now
But here is one that is confusing me right off the bate:

First ---- Francesco's Creatures-Items 4.5 [optional] [Follow install guide below. Note optimized bsa below.]
So go there and the page states:

Download and install Fran's 4.5b Add-On Package and select the following:
New Items Add-On
BSA File Registration or

Now the question here is: What ???? ---- look below as I have a list of all the Fran files I currently have downloaded:

Download the Optimized Version and rename the bsa to FCOM_Convergence_FraNewItems.bsa

The link for Download the Optimized Version takes a person to Tesnexus and these two files:
Optimized Creature Pack and Optimized Items Pack

So which optimized version does a person get?



Fran Files I Have already downloaded:

Enhanced_Economy_5_0_2-25078.rar
FranArmorAddOnV2-11483.rar
Francesco's Optional leveled Quests-SI only.esp
Francescos_leveled_creatures_items_mod_4.5b-2518.exe
FranDarkSecuerWeaponsPatch.rar
FraNewItems.7z
Optimized_Create_Pack-34830.7z
Optimized_Items_Pack-349830.7z

Which one's do I keep/delete

Yeah, don't delete any, you may want to use them sometime in the future.
To install Frans you run the Frans leveled creatures and items mod.exe and only choose the options shown in the guide. Here is where some work up front will make it easier in the future:

When you run the installer, choose another path to install to (not the default but choose something like c:\frans). This way you can get the files to package into a separate archive for easy re-installation.

When done you should only have the files shown in the guide (I think 5 or 6 of them).

next, extract the Optimized items pack. This will give you the FraNewItems.bsa which you should rename FCOM_Convergence_FraNewItems.bsa (check the name in the guide, I may be off by a character or two). Put this BSA with the files you installed with the installer, hopefully in a separate directory and create an archive (Call it Frans FCOM install or something like that). Once done you now have a Frans installation archive!

You can then add/remove programs and uninstal frans, then delete the directory.
Don't bother with the Frans addons right now, you are not level 30

You do not need to run the Fran new items addon.exe as you already have the optimized bsa file it would install, and the bsa registration you do not need as renaming the bsa file to start with FCOM_Convergence will load it every time you load FCOM.

Makes sense?

I apologize if the file names are not exact, I am going from memory (so double check everything).

Oh, and Enhanced economy keep, it is very good.

Okay doing that now -
And thank you - this is very informative

Here is what I have written down for the walk through if I have to do this again:

INSTALL OBLIVION

PATCH IN THIS ORDER:

UNOFFICIAL OBLIVION PATCH
UNOFFICIAL SHIVERING ISLE PATCH
DLCS
UNOFFICIAL OFFICIAL MODS PATCH

REMOVE
UOP VAMPIRE AGING & FACE FIX.ESP [VERSION 1.0.0] AND OBLIVION CITADEL DOOR FIX.ESP

1) INSTALL FRANCESCO_LEVELED_CREATURES_ITEMS_MOD_4.5

A. RUN INSTALLER AND MAKE THE FOLLOWING SELECTIONS

B. YES, INSTALL THE SI VERSION OF THIS MOD (YOU HAVE SHIVERING ISLES IF YOU HAVE THE GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION, IT CAME WITH SHIVERING ISLES, AND YOU CAN SELECT THIS)

NEXT

C. INSTALLING LYRONDOR COMBAT TWEAKS IS UP TO YOU (YES OR NO)

NEXT

D. SELECT YES TO INSTALLING MOBS

NEXT

E. hardcoe LOOT

NEXT

F. NO, INSTALL WITH LIVING ECONOMY MOD TWEAKS USE ENHANCED ECONOMY INSTEAD (REQUIRES OBSE)

NEXT

G. OPTIONAL FILES GROUP CHECK LIST:

GROUP 1 - UNCHECK "OPTIONAL LEVELED QUESTS", "OPTIONAL LEVELED ARENA"
IF YOU HAVE SHIVERING ISLES INSTALLED, LEAVE "OPTIONAL LEVELED GUARDS" SELECTED OTHERWISE, UNCHECK IT.

GROUP 2 - UNCHECK ALL

GROUP 3 - "FRANCESCO'S OPTIONAL CHANCE OF STRONGER ENEMIES" AND "FRANCESCO'S OPTIONAL CHANCE OF STRONGER BOSSES" MUST BE SELECTED! IF YOU HAVE SHIVERING ISLES, LEAVE "FRANCESCO'S OPTIONAL CHANCE OF MORE ENEMIES" SELECTED, WITH THE SUB-OPTION "NORMAL" ACTIVATED. OTHERWISE, UNCHECK THIS OPTION.

GROUP 4 - UNCHECK ALL

NEW THIRD PARTY ITEMS/CREATURES - "FRANCESCO'S NEW ITEMS ADD-ON" IS THE ONLY OPTION YOU WILL CHECK HERE. UNCHECK "FRANCESCO'S NEW CREATURES ADD-ON" AND THE SUB OPTIONS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE CREATURES ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN MMM.

DONE WITH THIS PAGE.

NEXT

H. DO NOT MERGE FILES! CRITICAL STEP! CHOOSE NO - KEEP THE FILES SEPARATED.

NEXT

I. SELECT 10 GAME DAYS. (DEFAULT)

NEXT

J. SELECT 1.2 (PERSONAL TASTE, CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THROUGH CONSOLE LATER)

NEXT

K. NO SKILL SLOWING (ALREADY INCLUDED IN OOO)

NEXT

L. HIT NEXT ON EVERY SCREEN, INSTALL, THEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THIS PIECE.

2) USE OBMM AND CREATE THE ENCHANCED ECOMONY

3) INSTALL OPTIMIZED VERSION OF FRANCESCO? 4.5B AND RENAME FCOM_CONVERGENCE_FRANEWITEMS.BSA

4) USING OBMM CREATE OMOD FOR 000 133 AND THEN UPDATE (UNZIP) OOO 134 BETA 5

Looking good. Enhance ecomomu you can install any time, it is not part of the FCOM install just and alternative if wanting an economic mod.

While much of the info http://devnull.sweetdanger.net/fcominstall.html is outdated (due to more current versions found in the threads here) the section on Frans is still very spot on and helpful for running through the installer.

Just choose a temporary folder to install too so that you can then manually sort the plugins and folders and use the updated optimized BSA.

I made a recommendation for a complete BAIN package for Frans in it last thread. Would not take much imagination to cull that down to just an FCOM variation. http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/921906-francescos-leveled-creature-item-mod/page__view__findpost__p__16064533.

[edit] and I would stick to installing Enhanced Economy with an OMOD as that way you can use the slick options menus for setting the ini. It conflicts with pretty much nothing else so OMOD is ideal with the auto ini adjustments it offers.

[edit 2 added first link referenced]

Good point. Arthmoor already posted the optimized bsa files. Now all we would need is for someone to post the esm and esp files for the FCOM install. Good idea. Why has no one done this already? Didn't Francesco give permission?

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/921906-francescos-leveled-creature-item-mod/page__view__findpost__p__16063564.

I thought about doing it but I just don't have it in me to then field the multitude of questions that would be directed toward me by down loaders - Frans being a mod that I've not helped create, edit, or anything other than just package.

If it does get repackaged you can clean the esm with tes4edit too. There is only like 4 entries though.

But I take a stand not to help the FCOM team with repackaging - they need to help themselves in this department. I've met with little but resistance from them over simple suggestions like releasing things like Frans as BAIN friendly.

I've done the FCOM install
The only installs I have are OOO - Fran - Fcom - MMMM
I did not do Warcry -

But here is the install notes I made:

9) INSTALL MART? MONSTER MOD (SEE INSTALL OF OMOBS)
(NOTE: DETAILED MMM OMOD INSTALLATION (NOTE THAT MARTSMONSTERMOD355RELEASEFULL.7Z. IS NOT NEEDED)
(THE FOLLOWING FILES ARE NEEDED FOR MART'S MONSTER MOD)

MMM 37B3 PUBLIC RELEASE 3 (THE MAIN MMM PLUGIN ARHCIVE) FROM TESNEXUS OR PES
MMM373BSA.7Z (THE ARCHIVE CONTAINING THE 3.7B3 MMM.BSA ARCHIVE)
MMM DIVESE WATERLIFE UPDATE
MMM_OMOD_INSTALLER_1_6_1.RAR

10) INSTALL MMM USING OBLIVION MOD MANAGER (OBMM)
A. START OBMM, AND CLICK "CREATE"

B. IN THE "OMOD CREATOR" WINDOW, CLICK "ADD ARCHIVE" AND SELECT "MMM_37B3_PUBLIC_RELEASE- 17784.7Z"
C. DO THE SAME FOR THE OTHER DOWNLOADED ARCHIVES, ANSWERING YES TO ANY QUESTION.
(NOTE THAT OBMM WILL BE UNRESPONSIVE FOR A LONG TIME WHEN ADDING "MMM373BSA.7Z".)
D. CLICK "CREATE OMOD" AND LET OBMM TAKE ITS TIME COMPRESSING THE OMOD.
ANSWER YES TO ANY QUESTION ABOUT OVERWRITING DUPLICATE FILES.
E. INSTALL THE MMM OMOD BY DOUBLE-CLICKING IT.
F. ANSWER THE POP-UPS.
G. INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE!

(NOTE: REMEMBER TO USE BOSS TO SET YOUR LOAD ORDER BEFORE PLAY.)

2) fCOM (SEE BELOW)

A. THIS IS AN OMOD INSTALLATION SCRIPT FOR FCOM. THE SCRIPT AUTOMATICALLY INSTALLS THE CORRECT FCOM FILES DEPENDING ON THE MODS YOU HAVE INSTALLED. WHERE THERE ARE OPTIONS, THE SCRIPT WILL LET YOU CHOOSE, BUT IT WILL ONLY GIVE YOU OPTIONS THAT ARE VALID WITH YOUR CURRENT INSTALL.

(note: FIRST, BEFORE YOU START ON THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION OF THE FCOM OMOD (STEP i BELOW), IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY INSTALLED ALL OTHER MODS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY FCOM. IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSTALL FRANS, MMM, WARCRY AND OOO AFTER THIS INSTALLATION, BUT INSTALLING FRANS AND OOO BEFORE MMM, AND ALL FOUR BEFORE FCOM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.)

FCOM OMOD INSTALLATION require the following mods:

FCOM 0.9.9
UNOFFICIAL FCOM UPDATE
FCOM_ENTROPICORDERREBALANCE (OPTIONAL, BUT RECOMMENDED)
FCOM OMOD INSTALLER

(DON'T UNPACK ANY OF THE ARCHIVES)

a) START OBMM, AND CLICK "CREATE"

B) IN THE "OMOD CREATOR" WINDOW, CLICK "ADD ARCHIVE"

c) CHOOSE YOUR DOWNLOADED FCOM 0.9.9 ARCHIVE AND CLICK "OPEN"

d) OBMM WILL NOW WORK FOR A TIME, AND THEN GIVE YOU A WARNING ABOUT ESP IN SUB-DIRECTORIES. ANSWER "YES".

e) CLICK "ADD ARCHIVE" AGAIN, AND SELECT UNOFFICIAL FCOM UPDATE.

f) CLICK "ADD ARCHIVE" AGAIN, AND SELECT FCOM_ENTROPICORDERREBALANCE.7Z

g) CLICK "ADD ARCHIVE" AGAIN, AND SELECT FCOM_OMOD_INSTALLER.RAR, AND ANSWER "YES" TO IMPORT OMOD CONVERSION DATA

H) AFTER HAVING ADDED ALL FOUR ARCHIVES TO THE SAME OMOD, CLICK "CREATE OMOD" AND LET OBMM TAKE ITS TIME COMPRESSING THE OMOD. ANSWER YES TO ANY QUESTION ABOUT OVERWRITING DUPLICATE FILES.

i) INSTALL THE UFCOM OMOD BY DOUBLE-CLICKING IT.

j) ANSWER THE POP-UPS.

k) INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE!

l) UNZIP FCOM_WARCRY.7Z COPY TO OBLIVION DATA FOLDER

Now run boss

As you point out Warcry is easy, just an unzip. However, this method does not allow for unistallation of the esp and bsa. So creating an omod just to do this is worthy if not using BAIN to install.