Just been testing my new install of BOSS now I've got most of my mods reinstalled on MO. I knew there were going to be loads of alerts, 'cause I'm going to be reactivating some of my old plug-ins once I make a new save. First thing's first, I'm getting this unexpected alert.:

• hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp
  • Contains dirty edits: 7 ITM, 0 UDR records. Needs http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/25859 cleaning. A cleaning guide is available http://www.creationkit.com/TES5Edit_Cleaning_Guide_-_TES5Edit.
  • Error: SPIKE.esm is not present or is not active. Skyrim will CTD when loading if using this file without it.
  • Bash Tag suggestion(s): {{BASH: Delev, Relev}}

Nope, I've checked and there's no "SPIKE" mod on Nexus. Can anyone help here?

"SPIKE" is a shared master, as used by Immersive Armors (the actual name of the mod for the esp file "hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp".)

This file should be included in the download for the mod - and possibly additional mods, such as Guard Dialogue Overhaul. It's the same file, so it doesn't matter where you get it from.

The bash tag relates to using Wrye Bash which suggests the changes made by the mod need to be merged into your bashed patch - just checking you're using Wrye Bash?!

Nope, I was advised to use TESEdit instead.

Umm.,..they do different things, and it's good practice to use both.

The main feature of the current version of Wrye Bash is simply to merge leveled lists. Future versions are likely to have more merge functionality but merging the lists alone via bash is invaluable.

Leveled lists need to be merged otherwise you'll only see items appearing from whichever mod is later in your load order. The bashed patch is (almost) always last in your load order, and allows all items from all mods to appear.

Merging the lists via a patch is complely safe, and unlike TES5Edit merging via Bash preserves all formIDs - and it only takes a couple of seconds to rebuild a bashed patch. Merging lists needs to be done each time a mod is added or removed which edits those lists - and merging manually via TES5Edit every time is a lot more hassle and potentially more dangerous than using Wrye Bash.

I use TES5Edit for cleaning mods, and Wrye Bash for merging the leveled lists.