FNIS error 5

[Maddienator]

Fnis wasn’t having any errors until I installed sexlabs, I’ve tried fixing it, but it won’t go away. Could anyone please help me fix it?

 

Edited May 14, 2025 by Maddienator
Image was broken

[Vyru]

If i remember correctly i've had that once when i used the shortcut FNIS generates on the desktop, running it from the Data/Tools folder fixed it for me... not sure that's the problem in your case but worth a try if you didn't already run it from there.

[Maddienator]

16 minutes ago, Vyru said:

If i remember correctly i've had that once when i used the shortcut FNIS generates on the desktop, running it from the Data/Tools folder fixed it for me... not sure that's the problem in your case but worth a try if you didn't already run it from there.

I tried that, but it seemed to add more issues? can't tell. but after running the version from my mod manager, it had gone back to the way it was in my original post.

Edited May 14, 2025 by Maddienator
new info?

[Vyru]

That sounds like the issue is your FNIS install / path not Sexlab... it's weird that you say it worked before tho. Have you tried to re-install FNIS? 

[AngelPhoenix69]

Try using the game launcher, not the script extender.

[Maddienator]

2 minutes ago, Vyru said:

That sounds like the issue is your FNIS install / path not Sexlab... it's weird that you say it worked before tho. Have you tried to re-install FNIS? 

i think i did trying to fix it, but i only did that with fnis and not the creature pack as well. plus it was a vortex download both times. so this time ill uninstall both, and reinstall them manually. i'll let you know it that fixes it 

 

[Maddienator]

Just now, AngelPhoenix69 said:

Try using the game launcher, not the script extender.

where do you mean? try running skyrim se? or is there a different game launcher in this context

[Vyru]

 

According to this there is no FNIS in the expected path... what's with the question marks on top? There should be your Skyrim version. Is your skyrim installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition ? 

 

 

That's what it looks like for me.

Edited May 14, 2025 by Vyru

[traison]

Move the game and everything related to it out of the Program Files folder, and your issue will most likely go away. You're not supposed to edit files in the Program Files folder. Any application installed there should keep its changing files somewhere else, such as the AppData folder in your profile. Skyrim is definitely not an application that follows this model when you start modding it.

[Vyru]

10 minutes ago, traison said:

Move the game and everything related to it out of the Program Files folder, and your issue will most likely go away. You're not supposed to edit files in the Program Files folder. Any application installed there should keep its changing files somewhere else, such as the AppData folder in your profile. Skyrim is definitely not an application that follows this model when you start modding it.

Interesting and good to know in case i ever run into any problems... i've had it in the default path C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common for years, on this and my old pc, never had any issues 🤔

[traison]

15 minutes ago, Vyru said:

i've had it in the default path C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common for years, on this and my old pc, never had any issues

 

There's ways around it, but it's not supposed to work, lets put it that way.

 

Look at the ACL of the Program Files folder. It has the Users group set to Read Only. You're not supposed to write to anything in that folder unless you're installing something with elevated privileges, or you're a member of the Administrators group. It's not a good idea to run as a user of the Administrators group, nor do you want to run a program elevated unless it absolutely needs it. Finally, editing the ACL of a system directory is not recommended as it may expose you to unexpected security vulnerabilities.

Edited May 14, 2025 by traison
Fixed weird spelling.

[Vyru]

18 minutes ago, traison said:

 

There's ways around it, but it's not supposed to work, lets put it that way.

 

Look at the ACL of the Program Files folder. It has the Users group set to Read Only. You're not supposed to write to anything in that folder unless you're installing something with elevated privileges, or you're a member of the Administrators group. It's not a good idea to run as a user of the Administrators group, nor do you want to run a program elevated unless it absolutely needs it. Finally, editing the ACL of a system directory is not recommended as it may expose you to unexpected security vulnerabilities.

[Maddienator]

On 5/14/2025 at 3:12 PM, traison said:

Move the game and everything related to it out of the Program Files folder, and your issue will most likely go away. You're not supposed to edit files in the Program Files folder. Any application installed there should keep its changing files somewhere else, such as the AppData folder in your profile. Skyrim is definitely not an application that follows this model when you start modding it.

hows this folder? i cant find an appdata folder

[Imperfection]

You can type the path in the top of file explorer and it will appear, the folder appdata is hidden, either that or turn off the option to not show hidden folders by clicking the 3 dots > Options > View Tab > click dot next to "Show hidden files, folders, drives" then hidden items will appear in file exlorer

 

 

As others have said you will save yourself a ton of issues if you move your steam install and all your games to a folder outside C:\Program Files\ or C:\Program File (x86) as these folders have extra secuirty on them from windows that alot of games will not like. Don't go changing the secuity of these folders unless you really understand the implications if done wrong.

 

Suggest C:\Games\Steam\

Edited May 19, 2025 by Imperfection

[Maddienator]

49 minutes ago, Imperfection said:

You can type the path in the top of file explorer and it will appear, the folder appdata is hidden, either that or turn off the option to not show hidden folders by clicking the 3 dots > Options > View Tab > click dot next to "Show hidden files, folders, drives" then hidden items will appear in file exlorer

 

 

As others have said you will save yourself a ton of issues if you move your steam install and all your games to a folder outside C:\Program Files\ or C:\Program File (x86) as these folders have extra secuirty on them from windows that alot of games will not like. Don't go changing the secuity of these folders unless you really understand the implications if done wrong.

 

Suggest C:\Games\Steam\

did i search the right thing? because nothings showing up

Edited May 19, 2025 by Maddienator

[Imperfection]

31 minutes ago, Maddienator said:

did i search the right thing? because nothings showing up

 

Yes that is the right option, after choosing that say ok all the way out of the options dialog box then look in file explorer. There is no way that folder does not exist it will be slightly lighter than a normal folder but still clearly visible, otherwise do like is said and type in the top of the adress bar in file explorer then hit enter, that works even if if the "don't show hidden..." option is selected.

[Maddienator]

21 minutes ago, Imperfection said:

 

Yes that is the right option, after choosing that say ok all the way out of the options dialog box then look in file explorer. There is no way that folder does not exist it will be slightly lighter than a normal folder but still clearly visible, otherwise do like is said and type in the top of the adress bar in file explorer then hit enter, that works even if if the "don't show hidden..." option is selected.

 

[Imperfection]

3 hours ago, Maddienator said:

 

 

Sorry not sure what you’re asking here, that path is one I suggested you reinstall your games into in order to avoid issues like fnis error 5 which is permissions error, specifically because you have it installed in C:\Program File (x86). You would have to create that base folder \Games in order to re-install steam and your games into it but that is basic computer fundamentals.

[traison]

1 hour ago, Imperfection said:

Sorry not sure what you’re asking here...

 

We need to assume this user has never worked with files/folders before.

 

1 hour ago, Imperfection said:

...that path is one I suggested you reinstall your games into...

 

Reinstalling is uneccesarily time consuming, when Steam has a tool built-in for moving the entire Steam library elsewhere. It even moves all mod files, which was a pleasant surprise.

 

Edit: The Steam library tool can be used to move a single game too. You don't have to move your entire library.

 

7 hours ago, Maddienator said:

hows this folder?

 

If you're considering your Documents folder for where to put your Steam library then technically yes it's fine, but personally I would never put anything there, especially in Windows 10 and later. People typically use C:\Games\Steam as was suggested earlier. If you have another drive specifically for data, then that would be even better - boosts your performance by a tiny bit (less of a factor these days with faster drives) when the game isn't sharing IO bandwidth with Windows.

 

5 hours ago, Maddienator said:

did i search the right thing? because nothings showing up

 

Don't go looking for the AppData folder. There's nothing in there that is of relevance right now.

 

5 hours ago, Maddienator said:

<error>

 

You can't access a folder that doesn't exist. You need to create C:\Games\Steam before you can use it.

Edited May 19, 2025 by traison

[Imperfection]

7 hours ago, traison said:

 

We need to assume this user has never worked with files/folders before.

 

 

Reinstalling is uneccesarily time consuming, when Steam has a tool built-in for moving the entire Steam library elsewhere. It even moves all mod files, which was a pleasant surprise.

 

Edit: The Steam library tool can be used to move a single game too. You don't have to move your entire library.

 

 

I figured that part out already, thats why I said "that is basic computer fundamentals." was trying to be nice about it. 

 

Was not going to go down the steam library move option if the user does not even know how to make a folder in the file system but here is the tech doc:

Steam Support :: Moving a Steam Installation and Games

 

Good luck!

[Maddienator]

8 hours ago, traison said:

 

We need to assume this user has never worked with files/folders before.

 

 

Reinstalling is uneccesarily time consuming, when Steam has a tool built-in for moving the entire Steam library elsewhere. It even moves all mod files, which was a pleasant surprise.

 

Edit: The Steam library tool can be used to move a single game too. You don't have to move your entire library.

 

 

If you're considering your Documents folder for where to put your Steam library then technically yes it's fine, but personally I would never put anything there, especially in Windows 10 and later. People typically use C:\Games\Steam as was suggested earlier. If you have another drive specifically for data, then that would be even better - boosts your performance by a tiny bit (less of a factor these days with faster drives) when the game isn't sharing IO bandwidth with Windows.

 

 

Don't go looking for the AppData folder. There's nothing in there that is of relevance right now.

 

 

You can't access a folder that doesn't exist. You need to create C:\Games\Steam before you can use it.

I see, the way they worded it, i was under the assumption that it was a folder that was already on my computer. So do i just make a normal folder named Games in Acer (C:) and then make a normal folder named Steam in the games one? I'm just trying to make sure there isnt a different type of folder im missing, or im thinking of the wrong place to put them.

[Maddienator]

24 minutes ago, Maddienator said:

I see, the way they worded it, i was under the assumption that it was a folder that was already on my computer. So do i just make a normal folder named Games in Acer (C:) and then make a normal folder named Steam in the games one? I'm just trying to make sure there isnt a different type of folder im missing, or im thinking of the wrong place to put them.

And after creating those normal folders, i turn the one named steam into an alternate installation path by following the steps in the link you sent?

Edited May 19, 2025 by Maddienator

[traison]

15 hours ago, Maddienator said:

And after creating those normal folders, i turn the one named steam into an alternate installation path...

 

I'm going to risk sounding like an ass**** again but you're going to be having one hell of an uphill battle trying to mod Skyrim. I hope you're embarking on this with the intention to learn, and not necessarily to succeed at everything. A performance worth admiration if you pull it off though, so all the luck to you. You'll be a better compuer user than 90% of this planet's population if you manage to keep it up for a year or so.

 

To answer your question: yes