So yeah, I'm installing better cities and having a problem unzipping the resource packs. I unzip them once using WinZip and get two BSA files, only one of whom 7Zip will unpackage. The other one, for some strange reason won't unpack. I associated it's filetype, which is oddly .002, with 7Zip and now it won't unzip. My assumption is, somehow, because I associated it with 7Zip it's lost it's ability to unarchive for some really bloody strange reason.

Which brings me to my second question, what's the point of an archive inside of an archive inside of an archive, it just seems tedious and wasteful.

You don't unpack the bsa files. Just put them in your data folder.

The read-me included in Better Cities says to unpack the BSA files, if I hadn't already tried just putting them in the Data files several times before I wouldn't be coming here and asking for help.

If ever you want to find the BC topic, search "Bananasplit". The resources are split into two files now. If this is two difficult for you, download the full resource file from one of the mirrors.

I know they're split into two files, I have them both downloaded.

I tried installing them simply with OBMM like I always do and got a bunch of missing meshes, then I tried unarchiving them and placing the two BSAs in the data files to no avail. The read-me says there should be four BSA files and one ESP which activates those four files and I'm only getting the two aforementioned BSAs.

Installed != unpack. Ur doin' it wrong!

Do yourself a favor, install OBMM and use that to install BC for the easiest method, or utilize BAIN if you prefer (I know I do now...and I scripted almost all of my "complex" level OMODs back in the day).

EDIT: Response to your above: http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16513 and make sure you download both resource packages.

Did you follow the directions on the description page to the point of extracting the .001 file? Seriously though, if this is too complicated for you, download the resources file from the Mirror. Then you can pack it up like normal. You should really stick to installing this mod through OBMM.

BC Mirror - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NIY8DRAO

I have them both and exclusively use OBMM :sadvaultboy:

They wouldn't install properly with OBMM and the archives don't contain the BSAs the read-me says they contain so I'm at a loss here.

EDIT: I'm giving OBMM one more chance to install the BSAs properly, otherwise I'll default to the mirrored resource packet.

What do the archives contain?

Did you follow the instructions to the letter though? I am trying to figure out where your actions deviated... What is the last step you took you think was on track?

Well, first I downloaded the three files, the base OMOD file for Better Cities and the two resource packages. I installed the OMOD first then installed the resource packs. After that I booted up the game and found a bunch of glowing Missing Mesh icons blaring in my face. My first reaction was the resource packs not installing properly so I figured I'd unpack them and install the resulting files manually, but the unzipping resulted in two BSA which I then tried to unpack with 7zip to no avail. Now I'm here.

You should not be trying to unpack the BSAs. You should have downloaded the first and second part to the same folder, right-clicked on the .001 files and chosen 7-zip "extract here" function. That should have given you another .7z archive. That is the archive you need to add to an OMOD with OBMM.

What do I do with the .002 file then?

KK, redownloaded the BC resource packs to make sure that we're on the same page. Follow the following steps exactly:

1.) Extract Better Cities Resources 4-5-2 Part 1-16513.zip to a temporary folder.
2.) Extract Better Cities Resources 4-5-2 Part 2-16513.zip to that same temporary folder.
3.) Check that you now have "Better Cities Resources BSA 4.5.7z.001" and "Better Cities Resources BSA 4.5.7z.002" in said folder. .001 and .002 are used to denote that the archives have been split, and will be re-merged upon extraction. This is done to avoid the file size limitations @ Nexus I believe.

4.) Select *both* the .001 and .002 file, "right-click", and from the 7-zip option, choose "Extract Here" (technically, you only need to do it from the .001, 7-zip does the rest in finding the other parts, but I like to be paranoid )
5.) Confirm that Better Cities Resources BSA 4.5.2.7z is the resultant file.
6.) Open OBMM and create the OMOD from step 5's file, utilizing the normal methods, importing the OMOD conversion data when prompted.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: TL;DR: read Tomlong's above post

Nothing. The "extract here" function takes care of recreating the full .7z file. Please, just follow the instructions on the description page. Well, I guess you only need to do what I mentioned above now...

That's where I got confused because the .002 file wasn't doing anything at all and it was worrying me. The instructions in the read-me didn't detail that as well as you guys have, I appreciate the help. I'll report back if there are any further issues.

TESNexus has a file size limit of 300mb, and our resources for BC are now at 320mb. This forced us to split the resource archive into two just to upload it. Unfortunately the readme had already been packaged and uploaded in the main archive before we discovered the file-size limit, and thus hasn't been updated. Please follow the installation instructions found on the mod's description page on Nexus, which has been updated to carefully explain every step of the extended process. There is also a picture-guide provided too.