Long load & save times because of huge save files

[vebni284]

The Skyrim character (level 30) I use for playing with Loverlab mods (Sexlab, Defeat, Sanguine, Prison) is suffering from ever increasing load and save times. The problem is that save files are huge; currently 54,252 KB. I have run the clean functions, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

My main character's (100+ level) save files, which doesn't use the Loverlab options, is c. 11,000 KB.

 

I was toying with giving "Skryim Save Cleaner" over at Nexus a try.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you.

[myuhinny]

Having huge save files could be caused by a mod that you have installed that is bloating them and the longer said mod stays active the huger they are going to get till your saves finally take a shit. I know for oblivion you shouldn't use the quick save option as it can eventually screw your saves up if it is a steam version not sure if it's the same with skyrim or not.  

[judge0]

Do you have the entry "ClearInvalidRegistrations=1" in SKSE.ini [General] section?

 

When the saves start to approach 8 MB, I look at the papyrus logs for a mod which is spamming the logs.

 

Other than that, I haven't found a way to safely salvage the saves, just how to avoid the bloat.

Running with Mod Organizer, right-clicking the save file will tell you which mods are required for the save, sometimes it will list the missing mods as well.

 

Unlike Oblivion, Fallout 3 and New Vegas, there is no such animal as "clean save".

[vebni284]

Do you have the entry "ClearInvalidRegistrations=1" in SKSE.ini [General] section?

 

judge0, thank you for the reply.

 

No, I didn't know about "ClearInvalidRegistrations=1". I did some research and I have to create an .ini file in steamapps/common/skyrim/data/skse myself, right?

 

I created the skse.ini with that script, but it didn't change the size of a new save game file.

 

[vebni284]

 I know for oblivion you shouldn't use the quick save option as it can eventually screw your saves up if it is a steam version not sure if it's the same with skyrim or not.  

 

myuhinny, thanks for the reply.

 

I do use the quick save function all the time. This doesn't seem to be a problem with my other characters, however, just the one I am using for loverlab mods.

 

[Guest Ragna_Rok]

level 242 now, about 26 mb... dont use the "prid" command on console, it bloats up too.

 

another thing i once noticed was corpses that remained even after respawn should have occured. unofficial patches fix some of those, but not those that are caused by mods. for example the "summon dragon priest" ... the fucking ashes dont disappear.

[judge0]

 

Do you have the entry "ClearInvalidRegistrations=1" in SKSE.ini [General] section?

 

judge0, thank you for the reply.

 

No, I didn't know about "ClearInvalidRegistrations=1". I did some research and I have to create an .ini file in steamapps/common/skyrim/data/skse myself, right?

 

I created the skse.ini with that script, but it didn't change the size of a new save game file.

 

 

Exactly right. Only thing is it should be in there all the time, so it may not work for you this time.

It slowly works as your game progresses, not an instant fix.

 

It does help a lot.

 

Edit:  I forgot to mention, the mod "Possessive Corpses" http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/4528/?

can help reduce bloat as well.

[vebni284]

 

Edit:  I forgot to mention, the mod "Possessive Corpses" http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/4528/?

can help reduce bloat as well.

 

 

Thanks again for the help,

 

I have done the following things . . .

 

1) Used any clean up mod functions in MCM.

2) Created a skse.ini file with ClearInvalidRegistrations=1.

3) Downloaded "Possessive Corpses" & "Sleep Wait Menu" from Nexus.

4) Used the pcb counsel command (with tfc).

5) Waited 31+ days.

 

It has stopped the bleeding, but barely. My last two save files have shrunk from 57,429 to 57,227 kb.

 

I am hoping it will continue to shrink over time, though I was expecting a much great decrease in file size.

 

I haven't tried "Save Cleaner" yet.    http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/31724/?

[judge0]

Good to hear.

 

There a couple of things you can do to alleviate bloat.

One is to make sure you install the Unofficial Patches (Skyrim, Hearthfires, Dawnguard, Dradgonborn and Hires textures DLC).

Vanilla skyrim, when you kill and enemy and you see a sword on the ground that you leave there, That items location gets saved in your save file (builds up fairly quickly). The Unofficial Patches, ensure those items stay in that NPCs inventory so it gets cleaned up when you change cells. Also cleans up ash piles, glows from nirnroot etc (they all get saved in your save as well)

 

SkyTweak on the Nexus has settings to limit Arrows, potions, lockpicks etc. http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/33395/?

It has settings to limit arrows that stick in you etc.

 

Stop dropping things you don't want anymore (again loose items get stored in your saves). Instead console "player.removeitem ID #", where ID is the code of the item and # is the number of them you want to get rid of.

 

There all sorts of mods out there to prevent this sort of bloat, I'm just sharing what little I know.

[vebni284]

 

. . . SkyTweak . . .

 

A quick update; The bloat continues to grow.

 

I tried "Skyrim Save Cleaner" with high hopes, but it didn't do anything.

 

I will give SkyTweak a try, but I doubt it will do much. The main problem is clearly all the scripting from the Loverlab mods I am trying.

 

I wonder if the new skse.ini file will prevent bloating if I restart.

 

Again, thanks for all the help.

 

[judge0]

Now a quick check to see if it's bloating because of the condition of the save file or your configuration:

 

Make a new game and see if that grows/bloats. If yes, you will have to see what mod or mods is causing it.

 

 

[Guest]

There is two methods I can think of in your case:

1. Some users on Nexus site say that if you have

[General]
ClearInvalidRegistrations=1

in your skse.ini, and leave your character in an interior cell for a few hours can shrink your file (I didn't try this yet, so proceed with caution)

2. Try this guide

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/31675/?

I can confirm that your save will work with this method, but you will face problems such as NPC got reset and stuck in their scenes, or some buffs are missing (such as Rested, Well Rested).

P/s: Please, next time don't try sex mods with a save that you plan on playing for a long time.

[Vuulgar]

The Skyrim character (level 30) I use for playing with Loverlab mods (Sexlab, Defeat, Sanguine, Prison) is suffering from ever increasing load and save times. The problem is that save files are huge; currently 54,252 KB. I have run the clean functions, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

My main character's (100+ level) save files, which doesn't use the Loverlab options, is c. 11,000 KB.

 

I was toying with giving "Skryim Save Cleaner" over at Nexus a try.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you.

 

I had a character suddenly bloat on saves, I never figured out why either, just had to go back in time to before it happened, I am still playing that character and it hasnt happened since. I could look at my save files and I had 2 that were 5 minutes apart, one was 6.93 mb and the next was 77.4mb. I tried anything I could to fix it as it was several saves back (my current save was 161mb and no npc would talk to me) The clearinvalidregistrations came back 0. I removed nothing and have played past the point I was at with no reoccurence of the bloat on that or any other save. Just adding my story if any of the info might help, good luck. If you find a fix please post as I watch my saves constantly now, just in case.