Can someone point me the right way?

[mrfish]

Many of my NPCs will look fine one minute, thn suddenly their hairstyle switches, or they get a kind of headband thing across their forehead. Sometimes they are like that from the minute I download a mod. It's just a band of discoloration and sometimes some vertical scoring above that. Like a weird headband. I'm guessing it's related to Apachii hair, and many mods I have use that. If it's been discussed somewhere could you give me a google term or link or something? It's getting frustrating- thanks.

[shedidwhat]

I have not seen or heard of anything like that before with Apachii hair

 

so a few questions to help us point you in the right direction

 

Is Apachii Hair the only hair mod your using ?

What are you using to install your mods ?

Are you using BOSS to control the mod load order ?

Do you have a AMD video card AND have the Anti-Aliasing Mode on something other than Multi-Sample AA ?

Is this a version of Skyrim from Steam or a HDD copy of Skyrim from some other place ? (it does make a difference)

[Ark of Truth]

Read this, do what it says and then come back.

http://www.loverslab.com/showthread.php?tid=10682

[mrfish]

Ok, thanks for the repsonse. Doesn't sound like a typical problem, and I was kind of hoping it was. I'll gather the info and get back when I have it.

 

I install manually using 7-zip extractor, in that I mean if the file is "Data" I drop it into the Skyrim Directory but don't go into the individual files beyond that. I have a geforce 9800gtx+ with newest drivers. I have the one hair mod only. No idea what BOSS is, but need to follow up on that. I believe I have the Steam version, I installed it from the box and it required Steam to get it going, though I start it from SKSE 1_05_10.7. FNIS is version 3.0 I think, dated 7/11. Run the file that comes with it after every install of a new mod whether it needs it or not. Not sure what HDD means or anti-aliasing.

 

I'll see if I can give you a clearer description, thanks for your help.

[visby]

"Is this a version of Skyrim from Steam or a HDD copy of Skyrim from some other place ? (it does make a difference)"

 

HDD means Hard disk drive and what he's politely asking is if you have a legal (steam) or cracked (HDD) copy of the game. Since all that came with the boxed version of Skyrim was the installer for steam. Opps I mean in USA that's all that came with it, it may be that in other countries you can have a legal HDD version. Anti-aliasing is a process that smooths out jagged lines in the graphics.

 

Since your card is a 9800gtx I take it you only have 512k video memory depending on what mods your running that could be an issue I hope you didn't download the high rez patch.

 

BOSS is the standard program for reordering your mods because load order matters. If you run BOSS be sure to check the unrecognized mod page because BOSS will place all unrecognized mods at the bottom of the load order.

 

Also I'll throw in the standard when was the last time you defraged your hdd?

[shedidwhat]

Also some type of mod manager is recommended.

 

Wrye Bash

Nexus Mod Manager

Mod Organizer

 

Then

BOSS as Visby talked about and linked above

 

if you have low Video memory a texture Optimizer would be a good Ideal

Optimizer Textures

 

And yes I was asking if you had a legal copy of skyrim

 

 

Try Boss first it may just be your load order is messed up.

 

If that does not help then backup Skyrim through Steams backup and restore option

then uninstall Skyrim (it sucks I know but if its messed up already then it needs it)

 

then go to where Skyrim used to be (something like..Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim)

and delete anything thats still in the Skyrim folder.

 

then Reinstall Skyrim with the Steam Backup and restore option.

Get one of the Mod managers from above

(that way you wont have to uninstall Skyrim again if something gets messed up again)

 

then run BOSS

then Optimizer textures (if you have low to medium video memory)

[mrfish]

Thanks again for your help, I have new "stuff" to mess with now to try to fix the prob. I am getting a new video card anyway, it's about time. Any recommendations btw? Price isn't really a problem, I've just been lazy about it.

 

I will do that and work on the load order thing. I've had success in the past changing load orders, but it was trial and error and I don't understand fully the priciple behind it. I installed loads of mods in Morrowind and even made a few of my own that I never published. It seemed easy for the novice. They had a great mod called Asgard in Balmora(not mine, it was a house mod) and I remember adding on to it extensively with no problems. I did nothing with Oblivion and am really out of my league now with Skyrim. Technology in general really, unfortunately...

 

I do have an unhacked version btw to answer the question, I'll work on it and see if I can update myself a little and let you know how it went. There's such great work out now in the mod community, thankls for your help.