How do I install mods? Seriously, I am that clueless. I cannot figure out how to install any mods. I have a few I've downloaded that I want to try out, but I'm rather uneducated on the matter.

A little help, please?

Most mods you'll find are simple .esp files which can be copy 'n pasted/extracted directly into your Morrowind/Data Files folder.

Some mods contain extra graphics and audio files which need to be put into the correct Data Files subfolder in order to work. Usually these type of mods are zipped with all the files in the correct subfolders. Which means all you need to do is use your zip program to extract the files directly into the Data Files folder.

Take note, however, of the extraction path. Some mods are zipped with a C:\Morrowind\Data Files\xxxx path and others are simply Data Files\xxxx depending on the logic of whoever made the mod. Persevere (sp?) and it's not too hard to figure them all out.

In my experience, mods which are painfully hard to install, due to poor file organising, aren't worth playing.

(1) Extract the files in the "Data Files" folder as Sever has said.
- If the mod is a single .esp file (perhaps, plus some readme), then put the file to the folder. That's all.
- If the mod is more complicated, then it has an installer. Check where the intaller wants to install the mod, find the corresponding node in your folder structure, update the installation folder and run the installer.
- If the mod is more complicated and has no installer then you'd better put the mod in your trashcan.

(2) Run the game. In the opening menu select "Data Files". You get a table where you should see your mod. Double click the mod and you should see a checkmark at the mod. Click "OK".
Note: if you want to remove the mod then select "Data Files" again, double click again, and the checkmark should vanish. Now, the mod will not be loaded any more.

(3) Click "Play" in the opening menu [img]smile.gif[/img] The mod will be loaded during game start.

Generally most mods and plugins should have a nice little 'readme' file for installation directions within the zip. If they don't, then they ruddy well should. [img]smile.gif[/img] Sending an email back to the creator with any problems you encountered or even on the readme itself should solve most problems. Sev and Radek have covered everything else nicely. Good luck.

[ 02-09-2006, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: CerebroDragon ]

Argh.

Downloaded some mods, extracted the .esp to the Data Files folder, but when I open up Morrowind to click the little box to enable them, they don't show up. What's up there?

Okay. A quick trip over to the official forums turned up this. There're solutions here for a number of common file/mod/save problems encountered in Morrowind. I think i'll fix a few probs on my own setup...

okay.... unfortunately, the modding conventions are not hard and fast. while most modders design their mods so that you can extract directly into the Data Files, with additional files going into the proper folders, a lot of them actually don't and cause a bit of confusion. :(
..
go into your directory and explore it... if you used the default installation it will be:
C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\Data Files

now, explore thru the Data Files folder... sometimes a mod will install it's own "Data files" folder, in which case, you'll have to drag theirs and drop it onto your C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind folder so that their "Data Files" folder will integrate with the official one.

also check to see if the mod title shows up under the Data Files like these:

Better Bodies.esp
LeFemmArmor.esp
VibrantTrees2.0.esp

also check to make sure in the Data Files folder, there aren't doubles on any folders. you don't want 2 "textures" folder, for instance. if there are, drop one onto the Data Files folder to combine the two. check to see if that solved the problem.

one last thing, if you still have problems. read the readme. hopefully you started a new folder called "readme" with renamed readmes for each mod you install. you'll notice, nearly every mod developer names their readme, well, "readme.txt"... this means they all overwrite each other whenever you add a new one. :( i rename them appropriately . eg: betterbodies_readme.txt. that way i know what it is and can refer to it if something goes wrong.

another one last thing:
if you still have problems, optimize your mods thru the CS:
open it up
click the "open file" icon on the far upper left
put an "X" next to each ESM file (these are also referenced as "master files"). your ESM files are the master files for the game:
Morrowind.esm
Tribunal.esm
Bloodmoon.esm
(note that some mods use ESM, too. most notably, "Better Heads", so check any of those you find also.)
then find your first mod (they have ESP extensions)
put an X next to it
note: optimize only one ESP file at a time
press the "set as active file" button
press "OK"
now the CS will optimize it so that the file works with the parent files (MW, Trib and BM).
if you get any boxes that give you some kinda message about missing files or other "problems", just "accept" them. if it says it more than one time, hold down the "enter" button until it stops asking you if it's ok. [img]smile.gif[/img]
when that all finishes up, click the second icon in the upper left... it's the "Save" icon.
you have now optimized your first mod with Morrowind/Tribunal/Bloodmoon.

repeat the process if you have more than one mod, optimizing only one mod at a time.

it takes a little time, but it's always worked for me. [img]smile.gif[/img] good luck.

V***V