It seems like such a mammoth task to install game, patches and then all the mods I had working before...
Anyone know how to lessen the pain?

remove some of the many mods?

I had some problems with Oblivion some what recently made me have to go through clean installations a lot...I know guy, it svcks doesn't it? I had to do it...well I lost count but last number I remember was 6, so we can safely assume there had to be atleast 6 reinstalls.
that is:
Uninstall Oblivion, delete data folder, delete my games/Oblivion folder (while preserving my save files)
Re install Oblivion
Re install Shivering Isles
install patch
install mod utilities
install mods.

Becuase I ran this process so many times, I realize about 1/2 of the mods I used were pointless or stupid or just not worth taking up space or effort, so I removed them. So, really, consider going through the mod list and thinking carely if it is really worth the effort and another .esp moving you closer to the 255 limit. Right now I am a little above 100 mods each carefully thought out if they are neccessary or not. (plus they are all stable mods and have given me no problems, so this limits the frustrations that also comes with having a bunch of mods such as your case or just trying to disect which mod is the problem child)

No pain, no gain...
If you're lazy keep it simple.

What I do is make a list of mods so I don't have to search for hours to find the ones I want. It still takes some time to work it out, but that is what you have to give to be able to play THE GREATEST GAME EVER!!

Have you tried http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1092258-relz-wrye-bash-thread-no-42/, it should pretty much do away with Reinstalls, between that and BOSS, it's all automated... :icecream:

No way... You will finaly install all and something more. BOSS help lit however.

More BAIN, less pain.

In my experience, anyway. Good luck!

Agreed more http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1084204-bain-mod-installation-projects/ less pain.

In fact with BAIN I have mods ready to beinstalled for several variations of complete installs with very different overhauls, quests, all that. No need to uninstall a whole playthrough by hand anymore. All is automated.

The best tool for managing a mod archive/catalog and its install into the game itself.

beg the fcom team to make a 100% installer version of fcom

If you've been installing by Hand, it's pretty simple to repack your archives, but it is nice went there all setup... :angel:

Yes, because they love people begging for something they've been repeatedly told CAN'T BE DONE. And they love people who recommend to others to beg them for that same thing that CAN'T BE DONE.

Yeah that includes requests that can be done too.

+1 for BAIN = no pain, if you are re-installing best time to give it a go, really once you 'get it' you wont turn back

Well, here is what I did with Fallout 3 and am doing with Oblivion just in case. (I tried out WAY more mods for FO3 than I am with Oblivion.) After a clean install and patch, I add the utilities I want to use and a basic package of the "must have" mods that I use. Those mods will always be in my game no matter what. After I'm satisfied I have all of that running smoothly, I simply make a backup of my Data folder and store it on a removable drive. That way, if I try out s bunch of stuff over time that I later don't want, I can always just cleat out the Data folder and drop by backup in in just a few moments. It has always worked very well for me! :goodjob:

If that's a remark about a full FCOM installer version then I long for you to expand your knowledge with me.
Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting.
We've been down that road before, haven't we?

Forgive me my ignorance, but why not?

- technically it is possible, because an installer can be equipped with multiple options to ensure that the end-user ends up with a fully working install.
- getting a green light from the modders that created the overhauls, should not be a problem either?
- work involved is massive, but not impossible - especially with all the creative minds here.

Care to elaborate?

Huh?

I assumed the SamuelMule guy meant an exe. Yeah an exe isn't possible or desirable. In fact I've never seen anyone request exe installers of any mod really.

Is a complete exe possible? Well I suppose it could be possible if you didn't expect it to bash your patch. Or you could be like the folks at FWE for Fallout 3 and provide a pre-bashed patch and promote the idea that people should ignore the use of Wrye Bash. That would make things harder for the developers though as they would have to stay on top of making patches to distribute.

Other than that I guess I'm not getting why it is not possible or can't be done. Would take enormous amounts of work to get an exe installer to track all the options that were chosen and then put in the all the patches as needed. Heck it would even be a lot of work to create omod scripts to track all the patch and plugin use. Makes my head spin thinking about how to tackle that. Again that would be a lot of work for the developers too.

Luckily I don't have to worry about finding the easiest method for installing as I already know and use it. In fact I've learned that FCOM can be used with this method and that it is not in the realm of can't at all.

What is in the realm of can't anyway?

Have you checked the last time Newcomer24 or Sotobrastos were active?
BAIN installation is something that's been looked at for future versions, but not while the mod is under constant revision.

With all due respect Shikishima (and I do mean that).

FCOM has been under constant development from day one. Day one until now.

Now as for constant revisions - it is not like this is a weekly thing - maybe on some private forum where you all share revisions it is, but most of us can expect an addition about once a month and mostly in the MMM/UFCOM area. I know new versions are planned and are forthcoming, but that has been the case for quite a while.

That said there are plenty of mods that are under constant revision and are BAIN ready and have been BAIN ready since BAIN was adapted by those modders. A new revision at most may mean a new sub-package here or there and a small revision to a readme.

I've heard also many times that the readme may get an update too. Actually I saw Oscuro on these boards - what half a year ago - doesn't he have a website too? ... http://www.oscurogamedesign.com/ ... ohh and look there is a http://www.oscurogamedesign.com/about-oscuro-contact-high.html too. Besides I thought it was Dev_Akm that was in charge of OOO? and since you are in constant contact with him that would be easy: a can do kind of thing.

Not sure where the can't is in the equation really - it can be done because I and even those on the FCOM team (yourself included) have done it. Which is strange because then if anyone gives advice on repackaging or discusses releasing pre-packaged then you are out to make sure that gets hushed or something - I'm not sure what.

Installshield supports many functions, which are easily scripted. Maybe I am biased because I work daily with it, but still. Technical part should be covered.



I do not think it would be any different than the current way of dealing with OMOD. The installer, which includes base FCOM (no optional plug-ins) would be installed, with a separate compatibility installer for everything else. Let it detect what is already installed, and act upon. Such things are all doable. OMOD would still work just as how they did with a manual install, because the situation has not changed.

@Shikishima - unless those people are dead, then finding ways to communicate should not be that hard.

1. Make sure your chair you use at your pc is nice and comfortable.
2. Get all the mods and instructions for their installation ready. RTFM's!!!! (It really helps)
3. Get a good book and start installing the mods.
4. Read awhile, mark place in book, start install of next big mod, pick up book and read some more.
5. Be patient and continue with steps 3 and 4.
6. Finish installation and play game. Enjoy. (My last re-install of game took about a total of 7 or 8 hours over two days, full FCOM, etc. Is VERY stable with great FPS. Just get something to keep your attention while installing because it's gonna take time)

Please, Psymon, give this a break. What makes you think that raising this "issue" over and over again will result in another answer than previously? it's just tiresome IMO. Also, we're not in constant contact with dev_akm. If we were, we probably could update the FCOM Homepage for one thing.

Okay...I don't mean to come in here with something that is probably really stupid...but here it is anyway.

Whenever I go to the Installers tab in Wrye Bash it takes like 10+ minutes for it to (load things?). I used the BAIN once to install All Natural, and if I ever install the Illuminated Window Lighting System again I'll probably have to use it (I don't remember if it's BAIN or an OMOD), but I'm not sure if there is any advantage to it beyond that? When most mods are a matter of dragging and dropping the Data folder in the archive to the Oblivion folder...or worst case scenario using OBMM to install an OMOD if there is no manual download?

Do the people who use BAIN have fast computers or is there a way to turn off the loading things thing...

Hey, I never thought of that. Maybe Oscuro will put Fallout: Las Vegas on hold while he discusses Oblivion modding with us.

Well BAIN automates manual installing - no scripts or anything needed. It is the most viable of the installer options actually.

Beepco - after the installers tab is open try skipping crc check (I think it is called). I guess my computer if fast the tab opens at about 1.5 minutes while the bashed patch takes around 8-10 minutes.

Arkngt-

I don't think I brought it up this time - read above. In fact at most I, like a few others, are scratching our head at the comment of 'can't be done.'