Backing up Skyrim.

[VillianaLess]

Okay, so I'm going to cut this really short, because it's... Currently 3:33 am, and I've been trying to play about with the weird world of Skyrim modding since around 6 pm. I've messed up quite a few times already, and, rather than reinstalling the entire game (My internet is as slow as a snail riding a turtle), I've got a clear, fresh Data folder saved as a backup. However, I'm not entirely sure if deleting my data folder and copying in the clean one is actually making things worse, as the first time I did so, and loaded LOOT afterwards, I was hit with so many errors it made my head spin.

 

I'm... Not the best at modding, I won't deny that, I was just wondering if that's actually an okay thing to be doing, or whether I should just uninstall and get a properly, 100% fresh Skyrim? (And bare the 2 days that'll take me to reinstall.)

 

Also, ModOrganizer. That thing's crazy. Apparently it's doing something really weird, because for some reason LOOT can't pick up the mods I've been installing and such with MO.

 

I am not clever at Skyrim, apparently.

[Anatriax]

I'd check out my guide if I were you.

As far as reinstalling, I suffer from poor internet, as well. It took me 3 days to download Skyrim 2k HD. 

1) Delete your data folder, copy your new one back in.
2) Totally delete the root folder of Skyrim, EXCLUDING ALL INTERNAL FOLDERS (Data, ect). To clarify. Delete the .exe files, the .dll files, and the .txt files. 
3) open Steam, highlight Skyrim in your library, right click, open properties, and verify local data/integrity. 
(This step will reaquire the deleted .exe/.dll/.txt/.ini files, as well as any corrupt files in the data folder)

This may, or may not save you some time, depending on how clean your backed up data folder is. 

After that is done, visit my guide and follow the first 2 phases, then you can continue on to your other guide.

[VillianaLess]

I'll give that a try! Hopefully it works, thanks!

 

EDIT: It looks clean enough, I think the only issues I'll have left will actually be with ModOrganizer's weird placements.

 

Thanks!

[Quikieee]

if you use mod organizer properly, it SHOULD (as far as I am aware of) not change your data folder at all, making it much safer than steam workshop/manual installs/NMM...

as far as i understand it, MO creates a "virtual" data folder for each of it's profiles, grabbing the data from your skyrim-install, and from the mods you installed through MO, every time you start skyrim through MO.

 

this means in return, that your skyrim/data folder is empty ('cept the official files) and loot won't find any mods to sort if you execute the standalone.

you need to start loot (and other tools, like FNIS, bodyslide, tes5edit etc) through MO aswell. There is a "add executable" button at the top, but i suggest looking at MO's documentation wiki (button on the top right in MO) for details on most common tools.

 

i hope this is what you meant with "MO's weird placements".

 

if not, ask more specific questions and i'll happy to try to help out.

[Anatriax]

if you use mod organizer properly, it SHOULD (as far as I am aware of) not change your data folder at all, making it much safer than steam workshop/manual installs/NMM...

as far as i understand it, MO creates a "virtual" data folder for each of it's profiles, grabbing the data from your skyrim-install, and from the mods you installed through MO, every time you start skyrim through MO.

 

this means in return, that your skyrim/data folder is empty ('cept the official files) and loot won't find any mods to sort if you execute the standalone.

you need to start loot (and other tools, like FNIS, bodyslide, tes5edit etc) through MO aswell. There is a "add executable" button at the top, but i suggest looking at MO's documentation wiki (button on the top right in MO) for details on most common tools.

 

i hope this is what you meant with "MO's weird placements".

 

if not, ask more specific questions and i'll happy to try to help out.

That's all explained in detail in my guide, as well as how to add and run each of the applications that I have you install