since the last steam update which apperently changed my ini files, I've been having issues trying to play the game. Namely CTD after sleeping/waiting anywhere in Skyrim. Some questions:

1. Is the Skyrim.ini supposed to be located only in the My Documents\My Games\Skyrim folder? The SteamApps\common\skyrim folder? or both?

2. Are there supposed to be TWO SkyrimPref.ini files? Since the update, I noticed I now have these (and they are NOT identical with the content in them:

One is in the My Documents\My Games\Skyrim folder (where saves, SKSE and Logs folders are kept)

One is in the SteamApps\common\skyrim folder (the one containing the Data folder where you store the mod esp/bsa etc)

It's almost as though the update splinched the ini files!

3. Which of the ini files is the [Papyrus] header supposed to be in? Is this in the Skyrim.ini file? I've also noticed that the Papyrus.0,log and other numbered logs (have 1.log, 2.log and 3.log) are no longer tracking mod progression in the game. So they remain at 0 kb after a gaming session.

4. What folder is the Skyrim plugin.txt located?

I have the latest versions of the Unofficial patches, and mod updates for 1.9.

My Documents, the ones in the game directory are defaults and shouldn't be touched.

http://www.creationkit.com/INI_Settings_(Papyrus)

thanks for that link and your help. But do you know anything about the .txt file?

-------------------- 1

One skyrim.ini is located at [C:\Users\[Your name]\Documents\My Games\Skyrim]

and one skyrim_default.ini at [C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim]

The only different between those is that the skyrim.ini have those lines in it....

[Water]
bReflectLODObjects=1
bReflectLODLand=1
bReflectSky=1
bReflectLODTrees=1

-------------------- 2

There is nothing wrong with your update....There are indeed two SkyrimPrefs.ini(s).

One is located at [C:\Users\[Your name]\Documents\My Games\Skyrim]

the other at: [C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim\Skyrim]

-------------------- 3

The papyrus log debugger is located on skyrim.ini [C:\Users\Your name\Documents\My Games\Skyrim]

[Papyrus]
fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0
bEnableLogging=1
bEnableTrace=1
bLoadDebugInformation=1

Changing bEnableLogging from 0 to 1, the Papyrus log file will monitor your game progress.

Afterward, in that same folder you will see a new folder called Logs. Inside that: Script. Inside Script you will (eventually) find 4 logs.

Double click and they should open with notepad or any text editor. Papyrus.0.log is the most recent. At the end of it you will see the last process to happen before the crash.

-------------------- 4

Skyrim plugin.txt is located at [C:\Users\[Your name]\AppData\Local\Skyrim]

Not true. The ones in the game directory are used as templates. You shouldn't touch them.

Thanks to both of you for clearing that up!

Fortunately I had a backup copy of my entire Steam|Data and Steam game folders in Program Files. The post steam updated skyrim.ini and other ini files were missing significant chunks of data. Entire blocks like Papyrus and General had been completely deleted??

Since replacing the Steam\Data game folder using my original settings, the game has significantly stabilized. However, now it seems the latest version of Frostfall (the Nexus on at v2.5) is creating a new migraine.

Steam and/or the game really appear to hate it when a mod author removes their Steam mods. Especially if you replace that Steam mod with an updated version from Nexus

Ah well. Looks like I may have to complete reinstall of Steam client. Just to insure no files were corrupted or missing in the process.

Wonder if I did an integrity check of the game cache in Steam?Theoretically, if something were wrong/inconsistent with the game DLC wise, then this should redownload any missing content.

But in doing so, would this also delete or affect my non vanilla game mods in the Data folder? Or any of the game .dll in the higher directory Steam folder?

Verifying the files only checks the files of the base game to ensure that they match the same files of a pristine and unaltered game. It won't touch anything else.