Constant CTD and Infinite Loading Screens

[Drokmar68]

Hey all,
I'm hoping all the great knowledge out here can help me. I am having an issue with tons of CTDs and ILSs in my game.

So... mods... I don't have a lot per say, I have almost all of the SS mods, addons, and UI mods suggested and talked about here. This includes 3 settler mods, Better Settlers, Recruitable Settlers, and SS Mayors.
Next, I have CBBE, a couple of clothing mods, one clothing replacer, Azar Ponytail Hairs, Survival Options (since I'm playing survival), Healthy Grassland - Performance, Creative Clutter mod, and Do It Yourself. I have ZERO graphics mods, and nothing else that adds scripts to the game (other than SS stuff).

All of my mods are installed with Vortex and sorted with LOOT, so I'm hoping my order is correct by using those.

Now for the most part the CTDs and ILSs happen around settlements, so I had first tried tweaking the threads in SS, but it didn't seem to help at all, so I set it back to Auto. The worst place was Sanctuary, almost never could stay there or travel there, so I removed the default ROTC plan and I'm using one by VikingBaggins and that helped a lot there, but the issue continues.

I am really hoping to resolve this as I have close to 30 hours into this game play, and with the limited number of mods, I was hoping this play through when have been less "crashy". In the mean time, I'm going to try and remove the extra mods (Ponytail Hairs, Creative Clutter and Do It Yourshelf) to see if anything changes, but I have only used the two settlement mods in one settlement so far.

Thanks.

 

[RayBo]

I likely agree with you but vortex is highly dependent on rules, categories, and groups.

So, posting a load order could be good. Vortex does not have this feature but Loot still does :


Next - here:



This way you can post a text list:

Posting the screenshot of the Fallrim results may also be helpful:

This -

And

And if unattached instances show them. I don't but if you did it is under clean in the menu.
Ok- my example above is in a settlement after building "this is not what we want" Go to an interior cell, preferably on the other side of the map away from the glitched settlement and get the save example "wait a bit in that cell to get a good save". I normally see 3-5 active scripts this way. Sometimes it also helps reduce the unattached instances if we have to clean.

Next - have you done anything here?

https://www.simsettlements.com/site...ons-for-recovering-a-problem-settlement.7125/

Next: Being level 30, one thing that I have found in the early game it is easy to glitch NPC dialogue and quest NPC's. This will back things up / make the settlement inaccessible.

-- This is a big deal in what I have seen. It can even be a glitched trader, NPC, Quest giver or often someone like Preston, old momma or Sturges with the early settlement set-up quests.

- Here really the best thing is to roll back the save and un-glitch the dialogue.

Then, the load order drill of disabling mods and also rolling back if "save file corruption" is suspected.

Very Last there is one other possibility but......I am not going to be the one to suggest it over All of the above options.

Very - Very last how has your mod discipline been? A corrupt save because a mod was removed incorrectly after leaving the vault will make all the above pointless.

Sorry, No magic sauce here. Just the processes.

 

[Drokmar68]

Wow.. thanks for the reply.

So... I've been mod'ing since Skyrim had it's first few, so I've seen trouble before. Also, I normally run FO4 with over 200 mods, but I just wanted it to be simple this time and keep all the loading problems away by not using graphic mods.

I am pretty good with mods and removing/changing them, unless I have that brain lapse and remove a mod that needed to be uninstalled in game... but I know that save is junk and I use the previous one.

I would say all the settlement dialogs were done cleanly, as I got in the habit since using SS, to complete all settlement quests first, then put down the desk and so forth.

I've not tried the complete reset of a settlement, this issue didn't seem to be the right case for it. Most of the CTDs come from the settlements and it seems to be a loading thing as most of them are pretty big once that happens.
With that, my system is a Hex Core with 18gb RAM and a 970 GTX w/ 4gb of RAM. I didn't configure anything with that as I'm not using an ENB and figured I should be good.
However, I did notice something since my first post. I started watching the memory usage and found that when I am in or come close to a settlement the usage goes up to 10-12gb. Outside of a settlement, 4-6gb.
I tested this also by going to a settlement that had nothing done in it yet, and it seemed again to jump close to 10gb.

Here is a save file I had problems with and couldn't use. I was in Country Crossing and I am using one of the contest plans there. If you want I can upload that save.




The funny thing is it seems like I'm missing something simple.

I always use LOOT last if I change anything mod wise.
Load Order:
0 0 Fallout4.esm
1 1 DLCRobot.esm
2 2 DLCworkshop01.esm
3 3 DLCCoast.esm
4 4 DLCworkshop02.esm
5 5 DLCworkshop03.esm
6 6 DLCNukaWorld.esm
7 7 DLCUltraHighResolution.esm
254 FE 0 ccbgsfo4001-pipboy(black).esl
254 FE 1 ccbgsfo4002-pipboy(blue).esl
254 FE 2 ccbgsfo4004-pipboy(camo02).esl
254 FE 3 ccbgsfo4014-pipboy(white).esl
254 FE 4 ccbgsfo4005-bluecamo.esl
254 FE 5 ccbgsfo4016-prey.esl
254 FE 6 ccbgsfo4033-powerarmorskinwhite.esl
254 FE 7 ccfrsfo4001-handmadeshotgun.esl
254 FE 8 ccbgsfo4045-advarccab.esl
254 FE 9 ccfsvfo4003-slocum.esl
254 FE a ccgcafo4002-factionws02acat.esl
254 FE b ccgcafo4010-factionws10rr.esl
254 FE c ccgcafo4012-factionas01acat.esl
254 FE d ccgcafo4019-factionas08nuk.esl
254 FE e ccgcafo4020-factionas09rr.esl
254 FE f ccswkfo4002-pipnuka.esl
254 FE 10 ccswkfo4003-pipquan.esl
254 FE 11 ccbgsfo4053-dggoldr.esl
254 FE 12 ccbgsfo4021-powerarmorskinblue.esl
8 8 HUDFramework.esm
9 9 SimSettlements.esm
254 FE 13 RR.esl
254 FE 14 Sanctuary by VikingBaggins.esl
254 FE 15 SimSettlements_IDEKsLogisticsStation.esl
10 a WorkshopFramework.esm
11 b Grasslands - Healthy - Performance.esp
12 c Eli_Armour_Compendium.esp
13 d RecruitableSettlers.esp
14 e ClassicShacks.esp
15 f AnotherBrickInTheWall.esp
16 10 JibsResidentialAddOnPack.esp
17 11 VFXAddon.esp
18 12 B84sThemedResidentials.esp
19 13 SimSettlements_AddOnPack_AwsomeTown.esp
20 14 SimSettlements_AddOnPack_Defences_Brae.esp
21 15 SS_AddOn_CbC_AIO.esp
22 16 JunkTown.esp
23 17 ruined_simsettlement_addonpack.esp
24 18 UitFJ.esp
25 19 TrailerParkDreams.esp
26 1a ohSIM_Sim_Settlements_Scrappers_Addon.esp
27 1b SimHomestead.esp
28 1c home_improvement_all.esp
29 1d JT-Fences.esp
30 1e SimSettlements_MegaPack_YearOne.esp
31 1f WVSimSAddon.esp
32 20 MJC_Sim_Settlements_Addon.esp
33 21 Altairp's Animal Farm.esp
34 22 AzarPonytailHairstyles.esp
35 23 BetterSettlers.esp
36 24 BetterSettlersCleanFacePack.esp
37 25 BetterSettlersNoLollygagging.esp
38 26 BetterSettlersCCAPack2.0.esp
39 27 CBBE.esp
40 28 FP_SimSettlements-Leaderpack.esp
Grasslands - Healthy.esp
41 29 IndustrialCity_Sim_Settlements_Addon.esp
42 2a PCDugSIMAddon.esp
43 2b RecruitableSettlersLeaders.esp
44 2c RS_Sim_AddOn.esp
45 2d SettlementMenuManager.esp
46 2e Sim_Settlements_Mayors.esp
47 2f SimSettlements_Addon_VaultLand.esp
48 30 SimSettlements_AddOnPack_SimTowers_JtBryant.esp
49 31 SimSettlements_CityPlanPack_ContestEntries.esp
50 32 SimSettlementsAddOnPack - RaiderRefugees.esp
51 33 SS MegaPackOneYear-Previews.esp
52 34 ss_addon_pbpp.esp
53 35 SSAOP_SamutzVault88.esp
54 36 SurvivalOptions.esp
55 37 WorkshopPlus.esp
56 38 DelyteC&E.esp
57 39 Dickys Pinup Outfit.esp
58 3a dinoshelf.esp
59 3b dinoshelf_extra_ammo.esp
60 3c dinoshelf_retex.esp
61 3d K-Girl outfits.esp
62 3e Primez Military Fatigues.esp
63 3f zWGirlClothSimply.esp
64 40 2pacSkimpy.esp
65 41 Dance-Ola.esp
66 42 CREAtiveClutter.esp
67 43 Pastel Wigs.esp

 

[RayBo]

3 unattached instances is nothing. To me everything looks fine.

In fact, I can't see anything that jumps out. Your load order looks really good.

Now all the easy stuff is out of the way and given you know what you are doing.

I will be watching to see what folks suggest. At this point, if it was my game I'd be disabling mods and play-testing, manually installing some of the bigger mods and rolling back saves looking for save file corruption. Then there is wiping a few settlements.

Hopefully, someone else will have a better idea than the normal troubleshooting grind.

Really sorry I don't have a better suggestion.


hahahaha, "I do want to try out that "65 41 Dance-Ola.esp" mod, I also like the author!

 

[Drokmar68]

No worries, it's always good to see any info when you feel a little lost.

But, I was setting up Spectacle island and found that I would crash every time I tried to build the plot ILS, the one that does caravans for you. This was I believe my 20th settlement, so I jumped to another settlement and looked at the options for that plot via the terminal. I guess I didn't realize that it too had a threads setting and it was set to 15. I could guarantee a crash if I set SS to 15, so I lowered it to 10. So far my crashing and loading screen issue has been greatly reduced!! But still more than I would just blame Bethesda for.

But hey... positive progress, and I can play for more than 10 minutes at a time now!

 

[RayBo]

These threads are always helpful as we share our problems and solutions with each other.

As they compound "some solved and some not" - we all learn more and become better troubleshooters.

Given all the mods, all the settings, configurations, and all the vanilla glitches there is a "second-game" I think outside of all the vanilla in-game factions and it is a faction we all have in common. This faction is always "player vs the technical, The "Modded Game Engine" (MGE).

This opposing faction isn't unique to each player but its manifestations in each unique game can be. As a player, if you choose to mod your game "hahaha" it becomes who you need to beat.

It is a more challenging experience than the vanilla game itself.

As one makes their game more unique so the challenge increases.

Threads like yours make us all better-modded game players.

The educational-vault and all its great information is built upon the player experience of that other (MGE) game.

Keep us posted. Talking about changing the Threads is something few others have really posted about so far in these forums. Still, KG would not have put that in the mod engine if it didn't have its uses. Thank you Drokmar68

 

[Drokmar68]

Say BTW, are there any other SS mod addons that have settings like that? Maybe I'm missing something else.

Also, I had to blow up Taffington Boathouse. It's making me wonder about the original ROTC plans. I can't use Sanctuary's or the Boathhouse one without CTDs and missing objects. The boathouse had a bunch of missing structures and had floating items, which I'm sure caused the issue.
I'm rebuilding that one manually to see if it will be more stable and I'm going to try and run up the amount of plots, settlers, and clutter to see if I can recreate the CTDs... or not.

Also, does anyone know if some of those original plans went way over the Bethesda budget? I know Sanctuary was a very dense plan.

 

[Drokmar68]

Hey by any chance could the Bethesda High Res Texture Pack by causing my crashing? I remember reading way back to not use that, but I figured since I wasn't using any graphic mods it would be Ok to use.

Basically I'm asking if that statement is true, about folks saying it can cause crashing.

 

[RayBo]

Ok, here it is. Whisper made a "how too procedure."

This I consider "The Last Resort" If nothing else works... hahahaha, and there is nothing left to lose.

https://simsettlements.com/site/ind...-a-problem-settlement-part-2.8304/#post-60281

 

[Drokmar68]

So, for folks following this thread. It looks like its Vortex and their stupid virtual folders and installs. I uninstalled all the mods from Vortex and then went back and manually installed all the mods and so far crashing would be normal for a Bethesda game... so far.

My guess is that when the game tried to grab something it needed and then got redirected to the virtual install, it didn't return fast enough (even though I have a 6gb/s SSD) and crashed.
All the crashes I had were as if something was missing. For example, you will get CTDs after you install a texture pack, or clothing mod, or something like that and either the mesh or texture is missing and the game chokes instead of showing that purple filler.

I saw that several of the SS mod addons had a meshes folder... so my theory is the game finds the .ESP and .BA2 files in IT'S OWN data directory, but it also needs a mesh from the folder and it's not there, it gets redirected to this virtual folder which is outside the game directory and chokes and dies. I had this same issue with Mod Organizer and missing textures.

Why, oh why do they have to modify the mod by creating this directories OUTSIDE of the game! Plus Vortex goes one step further and creates it's own SAVE folder for you, so it's not standard either.

UGH!! lol

 

[Drokmar68]

So in the end of all my testing, I have FO4 running solid again (well as best as a Bethesda game can). It turned out to be Vortex, but not the virtual directories. When you install it and use it for a game, it writes a ton of crap to your INI files. Once I "reset" my INI files by deleting them and adding back the settings for mods myself, AND making them read only, it solved my issue.

And for anyone new, here are the settings to put in your INI files... and for me, nothing else other than the stuff Bethesda puts in there. BTW, the iTexMipMapSkip has resolved an issue I've had since starting to play FO4, where the detail of graphics don't load and you get this blurry garbage. And yes that is a negative one.

Fallout4.ini
[Archive]
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
sResourceDataDirsFinal=

Fallout4Prefs.ini
[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1
[Display]
iTexMipMapSkip=-1

 

[GA_Darkerside]

Thank you for the information, I hope you don't mind, but as I am writing a guide to running a clean game I can use some of this information. I wont archive this post and would ask for it to be left here, till I am done

 

[Drokmar68]

Please do. I know one of the biggest issues I have had over the years are those dam INI files. So many "things" like to put something in them, and while they have good intentions, it normally messes up your game.

Thanks for doing guides like this, I know they can help greatly, even for folks that have mod'ed for a while.

 

[GA_Darkerside]

I hope to start working on the install part of the guide, so it will mainly focus on this issue, but i will heavily point towards manual install.

Although Vortex seems to have issues, for different reasons NMM has too. Its not hard to uninstall a manual mod, maybe a bit time consuming and insome cases as you have shown above, a delete and fresh install of the Fallout ini's, but updating a manual installed mod is very easy.

In the guide I have worked with others to show how a carefully installed game and maintenance can help Fallout to run smoothly.

Two of us are currently running 130 and over 400 mods, clean saves and stable game and we use the methods listed in the guide.

My game does CTD, mainly from exiting an interior cell to exterior, but this is very random and rare, hense is annoys me more as I often forget to save, but lets just say, I have test run a door in the Concord Museum which caused a CTD and no matter how I try, to recreated it, it wont, then I forget, go exploring, a number of doors later and CTD.

I had issues previously, many playthroughs ago and I run a Samsung 970 EVO, M.2 (2280) PCIe 3.0 (x4) NVMe SSD, so speed I never think is the issue, well unless you take into account my older PC lol

 

[Drokmar68]

Only caution are mods that have a ton of options to them. Trying to manually follow the FOMOD information is hard to do. Otherwise, I agree, manual installs are the best way to go.

 

[GA_Darkerside]

I agree, but thats for another guide lol