I am curious why more mods do not install as easily as OOO? I always have a difficult time to install some mods and after a while I get afraid to even try because I always make mistakes and it ends up becoming one big headache.

So I was thinking maybe there is a way to group some mods together which are compatible and make one install for them like OOO. Anything to make it easier would be good for everyone I think?

Sorry to whine but sometimes when I try to figure out install instructions meaning it gets very frustrating.

Many mods, include all of mine are omod-ready with installation scripts (like OOO has) to ensure an easy and correct installation using OBMM.

Most mods get updated regularly, which makes mod compilations difficult to maintain. OOO contains old versions of several of its included mods, and there are some mods that are newer and arguably better than some of the mods included with OOO.

The last great thing I learnt before cleaning plugins, was the use of BAIN and how to BAINify packages. Installation and, the most important thing, UNinstallation is now much easier. I recommend you to learn how to use it as well.

I think this is a fair question, but maybe one that indicates a lack of understanding of the modding community - and their demanding users.

As The Nice One points out, many, many mods become easy to use once you understand tools like OMM and Bash. Granted, there's a bit more to than just clicking an .exe and sipping soda while the mod installs. But learning to use OMM and OMODs and Wrye Bash will definitely make mod install easier - and your game better. Yes, there's effort involved but everyone that's learned to install mods using these tools has had to put in that effort.

One challenge modders have are finicky users. Take MMM: a team makes their mod and releases it. Then users say, "Wait ... I don't want no beholdens in my mod!" So another .esp has to be made. And so on. The more choices a mod gives a user, the more "questions" a user will have to answer: whether by clicking on choices in an OMOD or by reading a ReadMe carefully to find out what parts of the mod they should install.

Some mods, like FCOM, combines several large mods, and that merging process makes the install complicated. To make the mod work, adjustments have to be made - particularly if parts of the mod are still being developed and updated.

The thing is this: it would be easier for mod makers to put together an .exe like OOO's, that you just click on and, presto, you get the entire mod whether you want it or not. But modders are actually doing us a favor - I know that sounds like an excuse, but it's not - by trying to understand and anticipate what we want and need, and giving us choices.

~ Dani ~

I wouldn't know how to create an .exe that automatically installs everything. For me that would be a whole lot of extra work, to create just a little less work for the mod user.

Exactly. Not that installing by using BAIN or OBMM is that complicated. A little bit more than exe installers, yes, but after spending hundreds of hours on a mod, then spending a lot of hours again just to get an exe installer running?

Uhm... no. If anyone else would do that for me, I'd be more than happy to accept the help. Until this day comes, I'll stick with BAIN ready packages.

Okay I have to admit something: I hate mods that come in .exe files. I want to be able to see the data I am about to extract to my oblivion folder beforehand and thats why I love OBMM and .omod ready archives. Never used BAIN till now but that might change.

I'm actually no fan of the .exe approach to mod installing. It removes flexibility as to install order (as opposed to ESP/ESM load-order) and conflict detection/resolution. My standard practice for EXE based mods - and yes, I have several - is to install them in false directories, then use the results to create either OMODs or preferably BAIN packages. The only setback I've encountered thus far is that doing it this way sometimes alters the game's default launch directory in Windows Registry so that it must be reset (via regedit) before the game will start. I'm sure there must be EXE mods that don't fully respond to this procedure, but if so I've not yet encountered them.

-Decrepit-

If you like seeing the Data... you'll LOVE Bain.

These. There's no reason why I should need an exe doing stuff I don't know about on my computer to install a mod. If a mod isn't available in anything but an exe, I too install it to a false directory, copy the files into a BAIN archive, and uninstall the mod installation done via exe. If you've got a really complex install, OBMM's scripting is plenty for your simplification needs, so just use an OMOD script. Though I prefer BAIN myself, simply because it's a better mod resource manager than OBMM, among other things.

By the way, with some .exe and .omod, you just can change the name of your main /Data folder to, for example, /Data_, then create an empty /Data folder and install the .exe or .omod. And once you have what you installed in the new folder, just compress it to an archive and there you are, BAIN ready.

After that, erase the newest /Data and rename the oldest /Data_.

'TheNiceOne'

Do you think this is a good time to try and install FCOM? What I mean is can you see the install become easier in the future and so maybe best to wait or should I try to install it again now?

I know lots of you are good at this stuff but for me it is tough - kind of self deprecating to say this but I wish there was an install instructions for dummies for those of us who are not as experienced.

thanks

I hate EXE's for mods. I already have my mods spread out between BAIN and OBMM, and that by itself is hard to keep track of. Having to go to the control panel and to uninstall a mod is annoying.

No-one *starts out* experienced, Destiny. Nature of the term, no?

Find some plain-speak, easy to follow guides (perhaps at http://tesivpositive.animolious.com/; perhaps elsewhere) and follow them step by step. See how you go. In particular, if you have a go at a (maybe mostly) BAIN install, the effort you put in will be rewarded that much more.

Also, people are generally quite willing to help, for example if you are just getting started with BAIN. There's a thread for each mod, or mod tool - you can always use those if you still have legitimate questions after trying and remaining perplexed.

Otherwise, OBMM is actually easier, up front, but far less rewarding, if you really want to see what's going on with mod installation and uninstallation, and have far more control over the whole process.

Because you don't need a .exe installer to handle something that only has a few files?

First thing I do if I'm stuck with a .exe installer is run it to a temp location just so I can BAINify it. Hate .exe installers, extra work for me

@ OP: If you have a lot of patience, there are more then enough start up guides (see Tomlong's signature for her excellent guides), you could probably start off with an FCOM install, good practice I suppose. It might be a better idea to just get comfortable with the main programs first though (mainly Wrye Bash/BAIN).

I don't think it will be significantly easier. The easiest way is to use the OBMM installers found in my signature for MMM and FCOM, as well as the omod version of OOO. With those, it is mostly a question of following instructions and answering a number of questions during the install.

It looks daunting, but if you're good at following instructions, it isn't that hard.

I just wish that everyone starts using 7zip instead of other zips and rars.

Why?

Some mods put .esp, meshes, textures, etc directly into archive. That's simplest and easiest, simply select them, click extract, choose Oblivion\Data and Yes to all. That's it.

Some put all files (.esp, meshes, textures, etc) into a folder and then they put that folder in the archive. Now that's pain in the ass unless you use 7zip. If you use 7zip, you simply open it double click folder in the archive and repeat first procedure.
But if it's WinRar or Zip or something if you do that, you'll get that folder in data, then you have to copy it... Annoying.

Thankfully 7zip can open everything. (but I've learned that only recently)

I used to like self-installer. and all ready things.

Now I know better: I unpack in workshop folder, PYFFI meshes, read readme, put it on the shelf, create BAIN package and then install. and then clean.
Then I play and with Streamline limited FPS to 1-30, on average I get 22-25 - towns or wilderness, no difference.

What? Click "Extract" and choose the folder? I haven't used 7zip in ages, but using WinRAR I just open the archive, find what I want in it and drag it into whatever folder I need it in. You really shouldn't need to click so many buttons.

Anyway, I do agree about exe files. They make installing mods frustrating. The truth about Oblivion mods is they can be a bit complex. Some of them don't work properly if done in the wrong order and some of them don't work without a bashed patch. On top of that, many of them need compatibility patches depending on what other mods are installed. A million exe installers would be a mess and if they were added to the control panel it would contribute to making a mess of the registry (this does slow your computer down).

Yes, learning all these tools can be a royal pain in the [censored], but you get several things from doing it. One is a game that has a rich variety of mods few games can boast. Another is a very fine control over the setup and even testing and feedback of these mods. One of the best is just the process of learning it. At the very least you learn to follow instructions very, very accurately. Perhaps on top of that you learn how the different sorts of mods and tools fit together. Elements of that apply to other games (especially other Bethesda games) and they help you become better at working with computers in general.

It was initially intimidating for me too, and I work as a computer programmer! The reason for the complexity is better control and flexibility. It's worth it.

I hate when people pack their archives like that, some do it on purpose so users see the directory stucture, but most the time the creator was just in a rush and packed the folder, instead of going inside the the folder select all and compressing. Its just a lack of understanding the tool their using.

I prefer winRAR still over 7zip it always felt clunky to me and still does.

I dunno...the 7Zip format may be the most effective when it comes to compressing, but RAR and ZIP is much quicker. With a RAR or ZIP you can open a ReadME file instantly, but if it's a 7ZIP it can take several minutes if it's a large archive.
With 7ZIP you can't add files to an archive either, like you can with WinRAR and/or WinZIP.

I agree on the readme issue, but you can easily add files to an archive with 7-Zip - just drag and drop. One annoying thing with WinRAR IMO is that you can't see where you are in an archive if you're inside a folder inside a folder etc. The address field in 7-Zip is a plus.

Doesn't work for me. Doing it from the same window is not possible and doing it from another window just puts the file loose in the same folder as the 7-Zip you dragged the file onto.
The Add To Archive function doesn't work either. Maybe it only works on a commercial version?

Hm, I can drag and drop, create a new folder via right-clicking etc. Using 7-Zip 4.32. Weird.