Rescuing a broken ESP?

[ivanov13]

I seem to have accidentally broken a WIP mod's ESP by adding it a null reference master, and now it doesn't load in either TesVedit or CK, meaning it always crashes while starting up the game and gives me no chance to fix it. Removing the null masters with Notepad++ didn't work either.

 

 The last backup is too old and some of the upgrades can't be replaced without doing them from scratch. Is there any programming wizardry that can save this little guy? :C

 

 

 I'd greatly appreciate any help, no matter how small

 

 

Notes: Attachment contains the esp in question. It's masters are DEDeepElfRace and SESnowElfRace by Hallgarth

 

Ayleid Race.esp

[Guest]

Take a small valid esp (or esm depending what type your master is), and just rename it to the missing master.

Then you can open your esp with TES5Edit and remove the master (cannot open it directly in CK using this approach.)

 

After this you should be able to open your esp in CK, you will get some errors, does not matter. Save it as is and re-open it in TES5Edit.

Check for error, do a clean up, save.

 

Now you can use the good part remaining in your esp.

Remember then to delete the false esp.

 

Hope this helps.

 

[ivanov13]

I couldn't rename anything to the missing masters because windows doesnt allow files with no name :/ I did try the opposite, opening the esp in notepad++ and naming the null masters "A.esm" and "B.esm". However, tesVedit simply read the ".esm" as part of the code and "A"/"B" as the names of the files.

 

 At this point, the only way i can think of to solve my problem is through some manner of hex editing: How did people make mods before CK and TesVedit came along?

[Guest]

So, you are saying that inside the mod there is a reference to a master that has, as part of the name, the full patch (C:\whatever\whatever\) ????

That is odd, probably the hex editor is your only option at this point. But DO NOT change the length of the file. Just place safe characters where you find the full path.

E.g. if you find something like:

 

12bebdsmae<c><br>dwq<zt>C:\Program Files\Wonderful\Directory\TheMasterMod.esp<re><nl>wdqxqwqdq1281792

 

Then change it to:

12bebdsmae<c><br>dwq<zt>aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaTheMasterMod.esp<re><nl>wdqxqwqdq1281792

 

 

[Guest]

The file you attached has a wrong format. It has the fields for masters with nulls inside.

Do you have a copy of this .esp without having the masters nullified?

 

[ivanov13]

I did, that file was the one i had after i deleted the null masters xD But it's alright, i managed to fix it with your earlier suggestion, swapping the "Data" with "DDDD" and the "Mast", with "MMMM". I got an error in TESVEdit but it opened and i was able to move everything into a fresh ESP.

 

 Thanks a lot ^^

[Guest]

You welcome ivanov.