has your operating system changed?

say from a 32 bit to a 64 bit, that could do it.

I had not thought of that. Let me check.

Both are 64-bit.

I tried adding files to MO, but it says they don't install completely.

Ok.

so you cut and pasted the installation to an external drive.....

when you first started MO did it ask for the location of the game ?

It did, but the path turned up nothing but empty folders, no .exe applications.

alright.

I had a look at the two jpeg's you posted in the MO support thread, I am wondering why the pictures show two different paths ?

one for "c:\games\the elder scrolls V skyrim"

and one for a steam version of the game "steam>steam apps>common>skyrim".

on the MO description page on the nexus, there is reference to MO having some issues with steam on some setups.

also with a cut and paste install, the locations of the game and mods might still be configured to the old system causing MO to not be able to find them.

suggest a new install of the latest version of MO on the new system.

sorry I cant be of more help but I don't even use MO so I don't really know too much about it's quirks.

So, I would have to copy and paste the whole Program Files (x86) path? Well, hell...

let me know how that goes.. 

No. Not doing it.

Well, the kid that sold the computer to me said he'll erase another hard drive and give it to me, but I should make sure I get one with an operating system since the one I have that does have doesn't have enough capacity at all.

Idea: how hard would it be to copy my current OS + everything on it to my external hard drive?

hang on, copy and paste again, program still looking for old location.

just for shits and giggles, try putting the game in the identical location as the old system and see if it works.

maybe can start fault finding that way..

sorry, was a few posts behind conversation.

Not a problem. I hate when I post something without reading thoroughly, and I do that, so I understand. No apologies needed.

copying entire OS and everything to external drive can be done but wont work. is called ghosting the drive and is used to make multiple copies of current setup. you have to put everything back in the original location for anything to work.

network admin's use this technique  to roll out new programs to all their work stations.

in order for everything to work for you on your external drive, it must be installed there in the first place, that's why I suggested a new install of MO.

New install yielded the same results. Maybe I should have included that a few posts back. DOH!

yup.

that's need to know info.

running out of ideas so going to try it myself.

downloading MO

Ouch. The last resort is to put my current hard drive in the other computer. The ultimate "fuck it" solution.

Okay.....

I downloaded MO v1_3_11-1334-1-3-11 manual install version

extracted it to a thumb drive and activated it from there.

it asked me which game I wanted it to manage ( only have skyrim installed at the moment) and then proceeded to work perfectly.

it recognized  and listed all mods I have installed in the data folder.

too easy, now the question is " what did you do differently "

Installer version? I'll try manual.

OK. It's asking me for a file path that does exist on both computers. I will try the other computer now.

I just deleted MO off the thumb drive and extracted it again ( to same thumb drive) so I can start again.

this time I pointed it to a backup of skyrim on a different drive, it did what you were seeing, folders but no .exe.

I selected the game folder and clicked ok. hey presto it worked that way too.

also noted that I can't find where MO stores the game path info in MO settings.

that's why I had to delete it to start again.

seems you only get that one chance to specify where the game is.

OK. I have a fresh MO installation on my external hard drive. No mods were included after installation, but it is installing mods where it was not with other installations (copy and paste, installer version). The next step is to figure out how to get that many mods into MO with the least amount of effort. I have so many mods... I think I should cull the herd while I'm at it.

Thanks a ton. Not many people offer viable solutions.