Skyrim, with NO MODS, just downgraded from 1.6.1130.0 to 1.5.97.0. stuck on an infinite main screen

[Nocilol]

After the very funny update that the comics at bethesda dropped last week, i have been unable to play the game. After struggling with ctd on startup, i decided to simply wipe the game and reinstall it clean. I then downloaded the 1.6.1130.0 depos, and used the downgrade patcher to go from 1.6.1130.0 to 1.5.97.0.
The game now, be it launched from mo2, steam or the .exe itself, is stuck on an infinite loop before the main menu, just after the bethesda logo, but before the options show up.
Also, when i inevitably close the game, a skyrim process stays open in the background, eating up 20% of my cpu. i can't find any solutions online.
thanks in advance

[traison]

Assuming the game is 100% unmodded that leaves 2 options as I see it:

1. It's not 100% unmodded.
2. A debugger.

[jfraser]

why are you using MO2 if you have no mods? Also, why all the way down to 1.5.97.0? 

 

i'm guessing you have system fix things installed and you mean you don't have any game-changing "mods," so likely one or more of the system fix mods is the wrong version. 

 

i also assume you're using https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/57618?tab=files, so make sure you have the right one.

Edited January 23, 2024 by jfraser

[Nocilol]

4 hours ago, jfraser said:

why are you using MO2 if you have no mods? Also, why all the way down to 1.5.97.0?

-I used to run mods that only ran on 1.5 and i am not looking to download more mods. I tried to run it trough mo2 to see if that was the issue.

7 hours ago, traison said:

It's not 100% unmodded.

i have WIPED the game and reinstalled it. i needed to see if it started because of this. in order:
-Fresh steam install works launched from: steam, mo2, and .exe

-I download the depos for 1.6.640.:

Spoiler

download_depot 489830 489831 3660787314279169352
download_depot 489830 489832 2756691988703496654
download_depot 489830 489833 5291801952219815735

-I overrote the files in \steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition
-I run the BestOfBoth 1.6.640.0-1.5.97.0. Downgrade Patcher
-Game is stuck forever on the main menu when launched from: steam, mo2, and .exe
-Game also stays open as a process in the task manager AFTER being closed.

[traison]

What about the ini files? Time to nuke'em too?

 

Otherwise, download 1.5.97 directly:

1. Copy DLC/CC content out of your current install.
2. Download 1.5.97 using the depots below.
3. Test the game.
4. If it works, copy DLC/CC content back, test again.

download_depot 48930 489833 2289561010626853674
download_depot 48930 489832 8702665189575304780
download_depot 48930 489831 7848722008564294070

 

Edit: Forgot DLC was part of SE.

Edited January 23, 2024 by traison

[belegost]

Make sure to run the game once after installation but before patching it down. It needs to create config files on an unmodified version. By run I mean the actual Steam version and not through mod manager.

 

And when "purging" also remove stuff from both AppData and My Documents folders because those often linger.

Edited January 23, 2024 by belegost

[belegost]

9 hours ago, jfraser said:

why all the way down to 1.5.97.0? 

The question should be "why not?" If downgrading, might as well go for the best.

[jfraser]

1 hour ago, belegost said:

The question should be "why not?" If downgrading, might as well go for the best.

Fair point. Especially if you are going mod-free

[traison]

10 minutes ago, jfraser said:

Fair point. Especially if you are going mod-free

 

The OP used to have a fully modded setup, so in this case they're not going mod-free but rather trying to avoid having to redo everything. Like me for instance, no point switching game versions just because someone else considers another version superior. I'd be trading 10 years of work for a fancy new sword animation that only works on 1.6.1170 (overexaggerated example).

[Just Don't]

You need this. Even without mods some of the newer CC files use the new header version and your 1.5 exe isn't able to load it.

[TheTexican]

These need to be deleted also

Data/MarketplaceTextures.bsa
Data/_ResourcePack.bsa 
Data/_ResourcePack.esl