So I've been downloading some mods recently, and noticed that most of the mods related to armory or weaponry don't work.
For example, I downloaded the most popular armor of tesnexus.com, the tyrael armor.
I installed it as adviced in the readme, copied all the files to the data folder and checked the tyrael armor.esp in the launcher's the data files
It was said in the readme that armor can be bought from a fighting chance of imperial city. So I went to buy it, and couldn't find the armor.
So I've been looking for the answer for quite a while now. I have vista, and I know it's tricky to install mods for vista. I also found some advice asking around internet.

I've tried a lot of things.
Installing oblivion to different place (C:\Games\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion, C:\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion...) running as administator, runninh using the xp sp2 compatability.. Nothing seems to work.

Anyone knows a solution? I'd like to hear it.

ArchiveInvalidation, perhaps?

Are you using a mod installer like OBMM or BAIN?

Maybe the inventory of the merchants are being messed with by another mod?

You will need to post how you installed and load order.

Tried it, worked once, ruined the ground (made it all purple), uninstalled, reinstalled, tried again, didn't work

My order:
1. install oblivion to C:\Games
2. install obmm
3. install tyrael armor (copy&paste files to data folder, as adviced in readme)
4. check datafiles
5. play.
6. if not working, archiveinvalidation but it doesn't help.

Anyone else using vista? If so, how do YOU deal with mods?

Uh, I just install to C:\Games\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Data using OBMM and make sure I have the right Archive Invalidation thingy bits checked per the instructions. I've never had a problem.

:unsure:

I'm a little confused by your description. You just use OBMM to Create Archive from the mod in your Downloads folder - you don't have to copy-paste any files to your Data folder, that's what OBMM is for! Then you just click on Activate. OBMM does the moving/copying and OBMM activates the file in your Data Files.

Did you follow the instructions that came with OBMM?

Ok here's what I do now:

1.Install oblivion
2.Install OBMM
3.Launch obmm, then "create"
4.Add file tyrael armor.esp
5."create omod"
6.Launch oblivion
(the mod doesn't work)

You need to do more than that.

Look in the OBMM documentation - that armor likely contains more than an ESP. It should also have Meshes and Textures, and for creating the omob, you'd need to use the Add Folder option.

Sooo...
Create -> Add folder -> tyraelarmor (folder) -> create omod -> activate?
Gosh I'm sooo new at this.

Well, it depends. Does the tyraelarmor folder contain a "Data" folder? If yes, then you select that Data folder. If it contains a "Meshes" and a "Textures" folder, then you select the tyraelarmor folder.

Doesn't contain data folder. So I just added the tyraelarmor, and guess what? Doesn't work.
Maybe I should just install xp7..

Not sure but you may not be missing something about obmm. The download has both texture and mesh files in it.

1. Start obmm
2. click create at bottom
3. in create box click "add archive" box
4. goto where the downloaded archive is and double click it
5. click create omod, wait while obmm does it stuff. should put the new omod on right side with a blue box in front
6. select new omod and then click "activate"

Sorry if this sounds condescending but is not intended. The downloaded file does contain texture and meshes so I think you are missing something.

You should certainly switch away from vista ^^

What you should do:

Open the archive you downloaded - download it again if ou don't have it.

Open the Oblivion Data Folder.

Select everything in the archive, and drag it into the oblivion Data folder. Overwrite Meshes and Textures when prompted.

Check the esp in the Data files section of the launcher, and if it doesn't work even then, then I don't know.

Ok did all you told me to, still doesn't work.

Are you looking at the right merchant? And are you using any other mods?

Yes, I am looking at the right merchant.
And yes, I'm using the main quest delayer.