Installing Software

Installing Skyrim

Skyrim should be installed outside of Program Files. This means you need a Steam installation outside of Program Files. If you have not done this already, it is worth the hassle to set up Steam this way. Putting the Steam installation directly in the C: drive is fine, with Skyrim being in C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition.  

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SKSE

Download Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) from http://skse.silverlock.org/. You want the current Anniversary Edition build.

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

  • Copy the .dll and .exe files in the SKSE archive 

    to your Skyrim Special Edition directory. If you see files named SkyrimSE and SkyrimSELauncher, this is the correct folder.

    Do not copy these files to the Data folder.
  • Copy the Data folder in the SKSE archive to the same location.

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Mod Organizer 2

  1. Download MO2 here and install it. If you have a relatively small SSD or NVME C: drive (where your game is and should be installed) and a larger internal/external HDD, install MO2 to your D: drive. You can create a folder for portable MO2 instances. For example: D:\MO2 Portables.
  2. During install, leave the default options alone. 
  3. After installing MO2, run MO2.
  4. Follow the wizard for setting up a new instance for Fallout 4.
  5. You want a portable instance, so click on that.   
  6. After you click on “Create a portable instance”, if Skyrim Special Edition doesn’t appear in the list, close MO2, run the Skyrim launcher, launch Skyrim, but then exit to desktop without starting a game. Run the MO2 instance wizard. You should see Skyrim this time. 
  7. Click on Skyrim and give the instance a custom name if you wish. 
  8. Check profile-specific INI files, profile-specific save games and automatic archive invalidation.
  9. Link to your Nexus account and launch the new instance.
  10. If you are new to MO2, the tutorial it offers you is highly recommended.
  11. If asked if you want to associate MO2 with nxm links, say yes.  
  12. MO2, as part of its tutorial, will want you to download and install something. For that, use the Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (USSEP). All you need to do is go to that page and use the Mod Manager Download button. MO2 will congratulate you on installing your first mod, but you need to switch over to the Downloads tab in MO2, in the right pane, right-click on the patch and select Install. Now check the box next to the mod in the left pane and continue with the MO2 tutorial. 
  13. Change the visual theme if white backgrounds are too much for you. Click the screwdriver-and-wrench icon and switch to the Theme tab.  

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SSEEDIT

  1. Create the folder "C:\Modding".
  2. Download SSEEdit from https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/164.
  3. Create the folder "C:\Modding\SSEEdit".
  4. Extract/Install SSEEdit to "C:\Modding\SSEEdit".
  5. Add SSEEdit to MO2 as an executable:
    1. In the MO2 executable drop-down, select <Edit...>.
    2. Click on the Plus symbol and select "Add from file...".
    3. Go to C:\Modding\SSEEdit and select SSEEdit.exe.
    4. Do the same for SSEEditQuickAutoClean.exe. 

From now on you will run SSEEdit from the MO2 executable drop-down list. 

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BethINI

  1. Download BethINI Standalone from https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/4875.
  2. Extract the BethINI Standalone folder to "C:\Modding\". 
  3. Add BethINI to MO2 as described above in the section for SSEEdit.
  4. Run BethINI. When running for the first time, Windows Defender might complain. Tell it to run anyway. 
  5. In Edit -> Setup, 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 should look something like D:\MO2 Portables\Skyrim\profiles\Default.

Do the following:

Basic tab:

  • Select Ultra setting and check Recommended Tweaks.
  • Set your FOV preferences.
  • Set the resolution to your monitor's resolution.
  • Set display mode to borderless windowed. 
  • Set antialiasing to TAA.
  • Disable Freebies Seen.

General tab:

  •  Disable:
    • Intro logos
    • Intro music 
    • Autosaves
    • Save on pause
    • Save on travel
    • Save on wait
    • Save on rest
  • Set your screenshots directory if you want PrtScr to save anywhere other than the game folder. 

Gameplay tab:

  • Set your preferred difficulty level.
  • Disable tutorials. If you need these - STOP. You're not ready for this guide. 

Interface tab:

  •  Set subtitles if needed.
  • Disable Mod Manager Menu. 

File -> Save. Exit BethINI.

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Creation Kit

You will occasionally need the Creation Kit to re-save plugins. For example, if Form 43 or lower is detected by MO2, re-saving the plugin in the CK will make the plugin compatible with the current game version. To re-save a plugin, when the CK is done loading, select File -> Data and search for the plugin. Double-click on the plugin and select "Set as active file." Wait for the CK to finish loading it, then File -> Save. Exit the CK. It's that simple.

Simply install the Creation Kit for Skyrim Special Edition from Steam. It should show up in MO2 after restarting MO2. If not, add it as an executable. 

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