Help me understand the random crash to desktop : IV

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:07 pm

Every once in a while my modded Oblivion will rudely dump me back to desktop. These usually happen when I am just running around and I can't reproduce them after loading a previous save and returning to the site of crashing.

To start, I have Windows XP 64 bit with 4GB ram. Oblivion is in a custom directory c:\Playthings\Oblivion. I have AVAST! and strangely Python 2.5 and 2.6. Major mods include OOO 1.33, Race Balancing Project, LAME, and Integration. I have also PyFFI'd and repacked the entire Oblivion - Meshes.bsa with PyFFI 2.1.6. Without any understanding of meshes and loading I ( wrongly ) suspect that a mesh is loading that crashes Oblivion.

Here is my complete load order from Wryebash:

Spoiler

? 00 Oblivion.esm
? 01 All Natural Base.esm [Version 1.0]
? 02 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.33]
? 03 Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.2.0]
? 04 DLCShiveringIsles.esp
? 05 All Natural.esp [Version 1.1]
? 06 All Natural - SI.esp [Version 1.0]
? 07 All Natural - Real Lights.esp [Version 1.1]
? 08 Living Economy.esp
? 09 Living Economy - Items.esp
? 0A Cutthroat Merchants.esp
? 0B skycaptains NPCFF.esp
? 0C DLCHorseArmor.esp
? 0D DLCOrrery.esp
? 0E DLCVileLair.esp
? 0F DLCMehrunesRazor.esp
? 10 DLCSpellTomes.esp
? 11 DLCThievesDen.esp
? 12 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.33]
? 13 OOO-Water_Weeds.esp [Version 1.33]
? 14 OOO-Map_Markers_Stock.esp [Version 1.33]
? 15 OOO-No_Guild_Ownership.esp [Version 1.33]
? 16 Bandit Hideouts.esp
? 17 Fort Falkenshire.esp
? 18 Fort Krakatus.esp
? 19 Fort_FerrionV11.esp
? 1A FortDragonShirev1.esp
? 1B Torynwyll.esp
? 1C Vassoul11.esp
? 1D DLCFrostcrag.esp
? 1E Knights.esp
? 1F Harvest [Flora].esp [Version 3.0.0]
? 20 Harvest [Flora] - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.0.0]
? 21 Harvest [Flora] - DLCVileLair.esp [Version 3.0.0]
? 22 Harvest [Flora] - DLCFrostcrag.esp [Version 3.0.0]
? 23 Respawning Varla & Welkynd Stones.esp
? 24 Toggleable Quantity Prompt.esp [Version 3.2.0]
? 25 kuerteeAttributeAndSkillBasedDamageModifiers.esp
? 26 Level_Rates_Modified_x2.esp
? 27 RealisticLeveling.esp
? ++ bgBalancingEVOptionalSeamReducerHighElfFix.esp [Version 10.0EV-D]
? ++ bgBalancingEVOptionalFangs.esp [Version 10.0EV-D]
? 28 bgBalancingEVCore.esp [Version 10.52EV-D]
? 29 bgMagicEV.esp [Version 1.7EV]
? 2A bgMagicEVPaperChase.esp [Version 1.68EV]
? 2B bgBalancingEVLAMEAddition.esp [Version 10.51EV-D]
? 2C bgIntegrationEV.esp [Version 0.993]
? 2D bgMagicLightningbolt.esp
? 2E OOO-Magic_Script_Effect_Fix.esp [Version 1.33]
? 2F Mouth of the Serpent.esp
? 30 Bashed Patch, 0.esp
? ++ Cute Orc Head Replacer 1.1 for OOO 1.33.esp

What initial steps would you take if you were in my position? Perhaps I won't have to go through each and every mod. Oh, I have not cleaned any of these mods with TES4 Edit.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:36 am

" I have also PyFFI'd and repacked the entire Oblivion - Meshes.bsa with PyFFI "

Id bet money this could be related.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:54 am

" I have also PyFFI'd and repacked the entire Oblivion - Meshes.bsa with PyFFI "

Id bet money this could be related.

I have done that too, and I have fewer crashes than before so it's probably not related.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:00 am

I have a backup of Oblivion - Meshes.bsa and will play with that for a few hours.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:51 pm

Given that he more or less tampered with every single model file in the base game, and his wondering around causes the game to load and unload many of those files, also factoring in system differences, it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:08 am

One thing I noticed right off the bat...

Your are still using the original 3.2.0 version of the Unofficial Oblivion Patch. You should augment that with Arthmoor's http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=27710, which also includes updates to various other unofficial patches. And speaking of other patches, I see you lack those for Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and the various DLC. You'll want those too.

The Supplementals are, btw, an addition to the original Unofficial patches, which need to remain in your load order. (Their ESPs get overwritten, but many other resources are still needed.) Arthmoor has a thread here devoted to the unofficial patches and supplementals. Reading that should give you an idea of what's needed.

Getting up to date with unofficial patches may or may not help resolve your crashes, but it's a start.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:08 pm

I have been playing for two hours with Arthmoor's Supplementals and upgraded OOO 1.33 to OOO 1.34b5 with not a single crash. This may have been a lucky run, but if it continues then I will save that download page to my Oblivion Mods Folder 2011.

About the PyFFI'ing of Oblivion - Meshes.bsa, I stayed away from the tree folder and lod folder.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:30 am

" I have also PyFFI'd and repacked the entire Oblivion - Meshes.bsa with PyFFI "

Id bet money this could be related.

I'd bet money it isn't

Though I would suggest starting over with the vanilla meshes using PyFFI 2.1.8 instead.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:34 am

PyFFI 2.1.8? It seems not long ago at all that I used the latest version which was 2.1.6. Okay then, it will take all night.

I've had one other instance of crashes. When fighting liches in Lipsand Tarn it crashed exactly when their lightning bolt struck me. Other than that the game seems more stable when walking / running around the world and in dungeons.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:17 am

2.1.8 just came out, as in sometime in the last day or two. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you're wanting to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the game.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:20 am

2.1.9 beta is also available. :shrug: