I have just acquired a new, more powerful computer and am trying to set up Morrowind.

My older game was limited by a much older computer, so I am a little out of touch with the newer, more powerful tools and mods.

Right now, I am trying to install the tools I will need when I actually start loading the mods, but I am a little behind the curve here. I have the download files for the Code patch (2.1) and the most recent Mlox, but I am having trouble figuring out where to get the following:

The most recent stable version of standalone Wrye Mash. Does it contain the integration of Mlox or is that Yacoby's fork and is there a difference between these two? I can't find the latest install for either, just updates, and I am installing from bare bones vanilla Morrowind on this computer. Also, should I stay with the standalone separate version of Mlox that I have or would the integrated version be upgradable?

Which other tools would be adviseable to have loaded today? I am not a modder, just a user, so I don't get comfortable opening the CS to make fixes nor am I experienced with complicated game tools unless they have pretty basic instructions included with them. I do have a package for Enchanted Editor but it is several years old and I never installed it.

What is the most recent stable version of MGE XE and where can I find it? I used MGE (rvs 178) on my older computer so XE is a big jump for me. Instructions with it that I could print out and follow would be hugely helpful.

If you could give me any advice, I would be very grateful.

Thank you.

Also, my new computer uses Windows 8.1 OS and 64 bit, quad core - both firsts for me. Do I need the 64 bit patch?

http://download.fliggerty.com/download-58-141 and http://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/41102/?tab=2&navtag=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexusmods.com%2Fmorrowind%2Fajax%2Fmodfiles%2F%3Fid%3D41102&pUp=1

If you used any HUD mods with you MGE, make sure you get update for them for XE version from MGEXE download page.

For, Mlox integration to work with WMSA, I think you need to install Mlox, but not sure.

Thank you so much, hollaajith. Downloading both now.

I have a version of the latest Mlox that I used on my older computer, but it wasn't integratable. I can still install that.

Also, I didn't use any HUD mods before. Are they - or the font improver - necessary with XE?

All the basics are covered here, but also some info for Windows 7-8 users: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1305729-mod-recommendations-for-new-players/

Don't forget to make a Mashed Lists, and a Merged Objects esps

I use Yacoby's version of Wrye Mash. I downloaded from the link in Pluto's pinned thread mod recommendations for beginners. It integrates mlox and TES3cmd by giving you the option of running them directly from Wrye Mash but they are still separate programs and should be upgradable separately, just like the way Wrye Bash will launch TES4edit and BOSS from the tray if you have those programs properly installed.

TES3cmd is a command line program. You can download the latest version from the same place as mlox.

http://code.google.com/p/mlox/wiki/Tes3cmd

If you are not comfortable with command line programs or if you just want to make life easier, Spirithawke wrote a great bat file for cleaning mods with TES3cmd. I don't have a link but a google search should turn it up. If I recall correctly there is a thread discussing it on the Great House Fliggerty website. (EDIT: found the link. http://www.fliggerty.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5734).

Abot wrote a bat file to create a multi patch esp with TES3cmd in the thread I started about merging leveled lists. http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1478673-what-do-you-use-to-merge-leveled-lists/#entry23147860

And of course TES3tool for merging objects, but I would not use TES3tool for anything else.

Got TES3cmd. Thanks, Turija. Will add the bat file once the other tools are loaded and installed.

I haven't mashed lists or merged objects in previous incarnations. I'm guessing I can do the mashed lists, at least, in Wrye Mash? Not sure where I'd need merged objects, but I suspect that would require a different tool.

Looked at and read parts of the new install instructions. But, I didn't see anything about the 64 bit patch. Is that only necessary if you're having problems? What I've read about it only states that MCP needs to be installed first. I found nothing that explained where I'd use it or how.

Thanks for all the information so far. I'm starting to absorb it as I go so that I will understand better what it is I'm doing.

Just for info that might be helpful, my new computer is laptop with Intel i7 quad core, 16 GB RAM, nVidea GeForce 770 video card with 16 GB loaded and 1T HD. I'm assuming this will be powerful enough to overcome most problems with mods - or at least I'm hoping it will with tool help. (Don't think I need optimizer.)

I'm also expecting to share this computer and Morrowind installation with my housemate. In the old Wrye Mash, I could save a load order and then add another for a different player if need be. Is this still the case with the standalone version?

I personally use the http://www.tesvskyrim.com/screenshot-2359-1 hud mod for MGE XE. Is the only hud mod I run right now. Note: That is a me re-colored version...the version in the hud mod is goldish. See link in my sig for the batch files for Tes3cmd

EDIT:

There was one of those in my thread too.

You machine sounds plenty powerful enough. The limits you will encounter will be software issues stemming from playing an ancient game.

Merged objects is so that you can run multiple mods that alter the same object. Without a merged objects esp, the last loaded mod to alter an object will control. A merged objects esp merges the changes to objects from all your mods. It's like a mashed patch but for objects. If you insall TES3tool it is easy to create a merged objects esp. Just a one click operation. But don't use any of the other features of TES3tool they are outdated. Clean with TES3cmd instead.

The bat for the TES3cmd multi patch I listed does the same thing as a mashed patch in Wrye Bash but with a few extra bug fixes thrown in. Either one will work. People seem to prefer the one from TES3cmd. But they both do basically the same thing. Use one or the other but not both.

You asked about the 64 bit patch. I think you are referring to the 4GB patch otherwise known as LAA (large address aware). That may help if you are going to run memory intensive mods. It allows the game to access 4 GB of RAM instead of 2GB. Without it, your game will crash if it tries to store more than 2GB in RAM (its actually a little less than that). The 4GB patch raises this threshold. The link is in Pluto's thread.

I would recommend running the Exe.Opt after MCP and before applying the 4GB patch. There is a version available for Windows 7, and that's the version I used on my Windows 8.1 machine. It takes about an hour to run. Here is the link. http://timeslip.users.sourceforge.net/exeopt.html

I don't use FPS Optimizer but I do use gamebooster. It shuts down unneeded processes while you are running your game.

I have never used Mash's profiles feature but I would be interested in learning how well it works.

I use the ownership crosshair with the star crosshair and a compatible dds file I found somewhere.

Does the time display during gameplay or only when you go into the inventory/map screen.

It updates constantly. I have only ever seen one small glitch with it...from 0000 to 0059 it was displaying the time as 1200 to 1259 (it was either that or the reverse, I really did not let it bother me when I saw it) . I only noticed it one time (I can be less than observant). But figured it is something to be aware of.

EDIT: For me, http://download.fliggerty.com/download--876 by Hrnchamd is also a must have thing.

EDIT2:

Yacoby's https://github.com/Yacoby/Wrye-Mash/downloads is more recent, but I still use Melchor's when I want to edit mod header info without messing with the mod date, as Yacoby's seem to not want to do that. So basically I use both...depending on the task I wish to perform.