So I just had to reinstall skyrim, spent about 3 hours installing everything again. Then I go to install my mods like I did before in NMM and then launch LOOT only for none of the mods activated in NMM to be in Skyrim, and then when I relaunch NMM all my plugins are orange and selecting them doesn't do anything. So.... what's up with that?

So I figured out the issue.... kinda. When I reinstalled NMM was trying to edit the old place where Skyrim was, in the program files x 86 steam folder. Problem is, that location doesn't exist and it doesn't seem to want to verify where Skyrim is ACTUALLY located. I may have to reinstall NMM.

You should be able to change where NMM looks for Skyrims location in the preferences section (picture of two gears)

But I would recommend that you consider switching to Mod Organizer as its an amazing mod manager.

Okay, so now I'm finished downloaded NMM again. But I'm kinda confused and I'm at this final part. This is where I need help. I can probably figure the rest of this out with enough time and patience. Here is where Skyrim is downloaded:

C: Steam Games/Steam/Steam apps/Common/Skyrim

Right? Now, THAT being the case, when you install NMM and you get to the last part, you know where it says 3 things:

Choose the directory where you would like to store your Skryim Mods:

Choose the directory where you would like to store your Skyrim install info:

Select the folder where NMM will place extraced and installed mods:

What should I put these destinations as if I have Steam/Skyrim downloaded where I specified earlier?

I might do that in the near future, but for RIGHT now, if you or anyone else could answer this last question of mine (posted above) I will love you forever as I can probably figure out the rest of the BS on my own but in order for everything else to be lined up to work I need the pathways to be CORRECT this time

Those prompts are basically asking you where you want your mods saved. It is up to you but personally I would make a folder in steamapps\common called Skyrim Mods and put those folders in there.

Everything in one place then.

Yeah, I got it figured out now. Blah. I had to reinstall Skyrim after messing it up, then I downloaded all these mods and NMM was saved to where Skyrim was before so I had to download THAT again. And now, even though I have all the mods I want already downloaded, I either have to redownload them AGAIN or I have to manually extract them or open them with NMM now that they work. It's just a giant effin hassle. Blargh. Once I get my setup where I want it to be I swear I'm never going to install another mod again I'm just going to play the game. Thank you for your help.

It is a lot to take in when you first start using mods but you will get used to it. But yeah if your not careful you can spend more time modding than you do playing the game! Your welcome.

You don't need to have the C:\Steam Games\Steam\Steam apps\Common\ path, instead use C:\Steam\Steam apps\Common\ path and I use such a path myself and it's working.

Also, the backslash is this " \ " and not this " / ", which are important for a path of a filename.