Installing Software

SKSE

Download Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) from http://skse.silverlock.org/. You want the current SE build for runtime 1.5.97.

Open the downloaded archive. Copied from the SKSE install instructions:

• Copy the .dll and .exe files in the SKSE archive 
  
  
  to your Skyrim SE directory. This is usually in your Program Files folder under Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\. If you see files named SkyrimSE and SkyrimSELauncher, this is the correct folder.
  
  
  Do not copy these files to the Data folder as with a normal mod. The "src" folder is only useful for programmers, most users can ignore it.
• Copy the .pex files in the Data\Scripts\ folder of the SKSE archive (ActiveMagicEffect.pex to WornObject.pex)
  
  
  into the Data\Scripts\ folder of your Skyrim installation. You may need to create the Scripts folder.
  
  
  

Basically, if this is a new, unplayed install, the Scripts folder doesn't exist, so just copy the whole Scripts folder from SKSE. You can delete the src folder after copying.

Create the folder "C:\Game Tools".

SSEEDIT

Download SSEEdit from https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164.

Create the folder "C:\Game Tools\SSEEdit".

Extract/Install SSEEdit to "C:\Game Tools\SSEEdit".

WRYE BASH

Download Wrye Bash Installer from https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6837.

Install Wrye Bash into your SSE install folder where SkyrimSE.exe is located. Deselect all other games in the installer. You do not need start menu shortcuts. You should now have a folder called "Mopy" in your Skyrim installation folder "SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition." 

BETHINI

Download BethINI Standalone from https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/4875.

Create the folder "C:\Game Tools\BethINI".

Extract the BethINI Standalone folder to "C:\Game Tools\".

Run BethINI. When running for the first time, Windows Defender might complain. Tell it to run anyway.

Make sure Vortex is not running before running BethINI.

In the Setup tab, make sure BethINI points to the correct game path and INI path. The correct game path is where SkyrimSE.exe is located. The correct INI path is C:\Users\(your username)\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition.

Do the following:
Basic tab:

• Select Ultra setting and check Recommended Tweaks

Gameplay tab:

• Set overencumbered reminder to 60

Interface tab:

•  Uncheck Bethesda Modding Platform

Detail tab:

•  Field of view: your choice

Back in the Basic tab, click Save and Exit.

Beware of maxing out the view distances. This could make your FPS take a huge hit and you could end up with a lot of stuttering.

VORTEX

Download and install Vortex from: https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/1.

• Install Vortex normally. Launch Vortex
• Click on "Select a game to manage"
• Scroll down and click on "Skyrim Special Edition"
• Click on DASHBOARD in the left side menu
• Click on the three dots on the SSEEdit button
• Select "Edit"
• Click on the folder icon in the "Target" text area
• Navigate to "C:\Game Tools\SSEEdit"
• Select SSEEdit.exe
• Click "Open"
• Next to "On Start", select "Hide Vortex, restore when closed"
• Click "Save"
• Click the "Add Tool" button
• Select "New"
• In the "Name" field, type "Quick Auto Clean"
• Click on the folder icon in the "Target" text area
• Navigate to the SSEEdit folder
• Click on SSEEditQuickAutoClean.exe
• Click "Open"
• Next to "On Start", select "Hide Vortex, restore when closed"
• Click Save
• Click on the three dots on the Wrye Bash button
• Select "Edit"
• Click on the folder icon in the "Target" text area
• Navigate to your Skyrim installation folder
• Go into the Mopy folder
• Click on Wrye Bash.exe
• Click "Open"
• Next to "On Start", select "Hide Vortex, restore when closed"
• Click "Save"
• Click on "Add Tool"
• Select "New"
• In the "Name" field, type "zEdit"
• In the "Target" field, click on the folder icon
• Navigate to "C:\Game Tools\zEdit:
• Click on zEdit.exe
• Click "Open"
• Next to "On Start", select "Hide Vortex, restore when closed"
• Click "Save:

If you installed Skyrim on a drive other than C:\:

• Click on the blue box labelled "Mods are staged on drive C:\"
• Click on the folder icon in the text field for "Mod Staging Folder"
• Navigate to that drive
• Create a folder called "Vortex Staging"
• Click Select Folder
• Next to the Mod Staging Folder field, click Apply

This is necessary if you have a small C drive for installing Windows stuff and a larger D drive for games.

Click on the blue box labelled "Downloads are on drive C:\" and make sure downloads go somewhere with plenty of space. Don't forget to click Apply.

Click on the blue "Profile Management" box so it says "yes."