Advice on safeguarding from updates

[Jotasran]

I saw on Nexus that the replacement for DAR, OAR's author is predicting another episode of Todd "loving" the modding community... no doubt without lube.   Steam is uncooperative with this because it sometimes switches the options not to update back on when Steam itself does an update. 

 

So, in order to prevent/undo the update I have:

 

Turned off updates in Steam

Backup Skyrim.exe.  When/if the update happens, my intention is to copy/replace if Steam decides to fuck me.

 

Are there any other steps I should be taking?  I'm curious if updates change the esm's or just the exe.  Should I be copying all the original esms and dlcs as well to replace them if needed?

 

 

[Gh0sTG0]

Basically, standard version is:

1) set steam settings for skyrim se to "update on loading", that will prevent steam from background updates for skyrim se;

2) load you skyrim with skse;

 

2.5) Yep, I see your corrects. Go to advanced and do full backup (who knows, WHAT they will change on next update. Basically, it should be only your skyrim se.exe, but... who knows, who knows...), it will cost you only 14GB.

 

Plus as an advanced version do Basic plus:

3) Use MO2 so that 99% of your mod files will be out of your steam skyrim se folder;

4) Backup your full skyrim se folder (with mods in MO2 it should cost you only ~14GB - mods are not in your data folder, they are in your MO2 mods folder).

But with 4 you will need to launch everything (like bodyslide, fnis, skse, etc) through MO2.

 

You can read more about it here:

 

Edited June 2, 2023 by Gh0sTG0

[Jotasran]

Thanks.  I use Vortex.  I've though about going to MO2 but some time ago I tried the switch and I think Windows 11 FUBARed my MO2.  I started modding with Vortex and so am most comfortable with that.  If I go to MO2, I need to make sure windows 11 isn't going to bork my game like last time. 

[pinky6225]

1 hour ago, Jotasran said:

I saw on Nexus that the replacement for DAR, OAR's author is predicting another episode of Todd "loving" the modding community... no doubt without lube.   Steam is uncooperative with this because it sometimes switches the options not to update back on when Steam itself does an update. 

 

So, in order to prevent/undo the update I have:

 

Turned off updates in Steam

Backup Skyrim.exe.  When/if the update happens, my intention is to copy/replace if Steam decides to fuck me.

 

Are there any other steps I should be taking?  I'm curious if updates change the esm's or just the exe.  Should I be copying all the original esms and dlcs as well to replace them if needed?

 

 

 

To avoid updating what you can do is go \Steam\steamapps and amend the app manifest for skyrim (believe its 489830, least it is for me) to something else (mine is appmanifest_489830READMEONLY.acf)

 

Then steam doesn't see the game as installed so doesn't do any updating

[traison]

pinky6225's solution is... interesting. Back in the day it used to be enough to set acf files to readonly, but that no longer works. So I resorted to writing a program that changes permissions on key files and directories. As long as steam keeps their current architecture this method will work. I wouldn't however be surprised if they one day dropped some stealth update switching to a database or something along these lines.

 

My point is, regardless of what you end up doing, it's never going to be 100% because it is essentially a cat and mouse game of you trying to protect your property* and Steam trying to destroy it.

 

* Yes I know anything bought on Steam is not your property, it's a leasing agreement with an undefined end date. Call me old fashioned, but when I buy something, I own it.

[Jotasran]

Very cool..  Thanks for that, Pinky6225.

[Jotasran]

1 minute ago, traison said:

My point is, regardless of what you end up doing, it's never going to be 100% because it is essentially a cat and mouse game of you trying to protect your property* and Steam trying to destroy it.

Maybe GOG version is the way to go.  I just don't want to give Bethesda any more money.... ever.

[traison]

I would switch versions if it wasn't for the unfortunate fact that many dll based mods use hardcoded offsets or pattern matching. The same patterns may not exist in the GOG variant, and the hardcoded offsets certainly will not line up. CBPC is one that becomes inaccessible if the executable changes. CBPC is one that MAY become inaccessible if the executable changes. I have not checked for GOG version compatibility on this. I have only tested compatibility on 2 variants of the 1.5.97 SkyrimSE.exe and CBPC did not like one of them.

Edited June 2, 2023 by traison

[pinky6225]

50 minutes ago, traison said:

pinky6225's solution is... interesting. Back in the day it used to be enough to set acf files to readonly, but that no longer works. So I resorted to writing a program that changes permissions on key files and directories. As long as steam keeps their current architecture this method will work. I wouldn't however be surprised if they one day dropped some stealth update switching to a database or something along these lines.

 

My point is, regardless of what you end up doing, it's never going to be 100% because it is essentially a cat and mouse game of you trying to protect your property* and Steam trying to destroy it.

 

* Yes I know anything bought on Steam is not your property, it's a leasing agreement with an undefined end date. Call me old fashioned, but when I buy something, I own it.

 

Can't really take credit for it as i saw it from another when the whole AE thing was pending, the one oddity i have noticed is that after using skyrim via SKSE with steam in offline it goes white again (like its installed) but then after closing steam and going online its back to the grey of uninstalled

 

 

So maybe immediately after playing it might consider it to be installed but on re-launch of steam it doesn't seem to so sticking to off line mode to actually play skyrim is probably for the best

[Jotasran]

Just verifying that it is indeed 489830.  The App ID is listed in Steam under the updates section.

[traison]

If you're tyring to preserve 1.5.97, then appid is 489830 with the following depots:

https://steamdb.info/depot/489831/manifests/

https://steamdb.info/depot/489832/manifests/

https://steamdb.info/depot/489833/manifests/

 

Manifests (same order):

3660787314279169352

2756691988703496654

5291801952219815735

 

If yours was once upgraded to AE (as in, not a true SE) then these will vary. Steamdb has it all, just need to search.

 

Edit: Current appid, depots and manifests can be found in the associated acf file:

<steamapps repository>\appmanifest_<appid>.acf

The InstalledDepots -key has the rest.

 

So if you're unsure of which it is, you can also go through all your acf files and look at the name -key for one that matches.

Edited June 3, 2023 by traison