Deleted references found The following plugins need to be cleaned Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm

[Vonklinkenhoffn]

Hi
I've gotten the error message from DynDOLOD that deleted large references are found. I have looked this up in the DynDOLOD info page, and I quote:
"In case deleted large references are found and the log reports Deleted references: yes, there will be a message prompt and log message, which lists all plugins that need to be cleaned. For example:

Error: Deleted references found. The following plugins need to be cleaned: Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm."

Now, I just have to check in here to make myself absolutely sure that I'm about to do this correctly.
I've always read that no matter what, I should never clean these particular esms, so I'm very uncertain when I get this message. I of course always listen to the experts, so if you would tell me that it is okay to clean these, than I will go ahead and do it. Are you certain I can do this?
If so, I suppose I just clean it like any other esm/esp through qac in Loot?
 

Thank you!

[sheson]

https://dyndolod.info/Help/Large-Reference-Bugs-Workarounds
For the Large reference bugs workarounds check box and options to become visible and checked in the advanced mode window, the DynDOLOD DLL NG and Scripts must be installed and every plugin containing deleted references needs to be cleaned. Ignore misinformation that there are no vanilla deleted large references, cleaning any plugins is not needed, does not do anything or causes problems. While ITMs are irrelevant in this context, see There are no intentional ITMs. See the Prerequisites section of the Generation Instructions for more.

https://dyndolod.info/Generation-Instructions#Prerequisites
Clean and error check the load order with xEdit. Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ignore misinformation that cleaning any plugins is not needed, does not do anything or causes problems. Cleaning of plugins that contain deleted large references is mandatory for the DynDOLOD DLL NG that includes the large reference bugs workarounds. ITMs are irrelevant in this context, see There are no intentional ITMs. The Batch Plugin Cleaner for Mod Organizer or the xEdit Cleaning Extension for Vortex help to automate some of that.
[...]
All listed plugins need to be cleaned with xEdit.

I suggest to follow a proper modding guide how to properly setup the game, since then this step typically would already be done. And/or follow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpRinGULJGw, which is part of the playlist linked from xEdit.

You should ask questions about third party tools like xEdit in their relevant forum, discord etc.

[Vonklinkenhoffn]

Wow, this says so much for me, omg I've been living a modding-lie, kind of. In the beginning I used to be very thorough with my mod cleaning, but then I saw these mods and comments where people, and sometimes even the description pages for some mods said "do not clean this mod!" or stuff like that. I started fearing the cleaning. Now this however really puts things into perspective. I read the link for "There is no intentional ITMs", incredible. When you say "Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ignore misinformation that cleaning any plugins is not needed, does not do anything or causes problems." That gives me relief, now I know I can safely clean all my mods that LOOT tells me to again. It was VERY useful to read that I should clean one at a time though, I didn't know. I will go ahead and see the vid about cleaning DLC with xEdit now. I learned so much important stuff just from your one respond I feel, thank you!

[Braknar]

Dyndolod is telling me I have masters that need to be cleaned.  I've run dyndolod many times (unsuccessfully) and haven't had this issue.  Then I try to clean them but sseedit goes through the process and tells me it can't save the files.   Hopefully someone could please help me with the first problem.  Thank you!

 

[Window Title]
DynDOLOD

[Main Instruction]
Deleted references found.

[Content]
The following plugins need to be cleaned: 

Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm.

Click on this link for additional explanations and help for this message

For qualified help and advice or to report a problem make a post on the official DynDOLOD support forum.

[Exit DynDOLOD]

[Footer]
Online Help | Support Forum | Copy message to clipboard

[sheson]

6 hours ago, Braknar said:

Dyndolod is telling me I have masters that need to be cleaned.  I've run dyndolod many times (unsuccessfully) and haven't had this issue.  Then I try to clean them but sseedit goes through the process and tells me it can't save the files.   Hopefully someone could please help me with the first problem.  Thank you!

 

[Window Title]
DynDOLOD

[Main Instruction]
Deleted references found.

[Content]
The following plugins need to be cleaned: 

Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm.

Click on this link for additional explanations and help for this message

For qualified help and advice or to report a problem make a post on the official DynDOLOD support forum.

[Exit DynDOLOD]

[Footer]
Online Help | Support Forum | Copy message to clipboard

The first problem is that the mentioned plugins contain deleted references that need to be cleaned as explained by the message.

https://dyndolod.info/Downloads#Additional-Requirements
DynDOLOD DLL NG
Every plugin containing deleted references needs to be cleaned.
See the Prerequisites section of the Generation Instructions for more.

https://dyndolod.info/Generation-Instructions#Prerequisites
Clean and error check the load order with xEdit. Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ignore misinformation that cleaning any plugins is not needed, does not do anything or causes problems. Cleaning of plugins that contain deleted large references is mandatory for the DynDOLOD DLL NG that includes the large reference bugs workarounds.

https://dyndolod.info/Help/Large-Reference-Bugs-Workarounds
For the Large reference bugs workarounds check box and options to become visible and checked in the advanced mode window, the DynDOLOD DLL NG and Scripts must be installed and every plugin containing deleted references needs to be cleaned.

It seems that the actual problem is with using xEdit or it with MO2. Carefully check the log messages of xEdit when it tries to save plugins. It might save plugins with a different filename, so they can be renamed manually afterwards.
Ask questions about third party tools like xEdit or MO2 in their relevant forum, discord etc.
I suggest to follow a modding guide to learn how to use MO2 and xEdit how to setup a proper game.

[imnotfamous]

I think ITM warnings shouldn't be treated as fatal errors, especially from official DLC plugins. This is not good to edit those files, that will be overwrited by any updates anyway, and it can be unsafe too. ITM are records that are duplicated without changing anything. In case of DLC this can be some safety duplicated records from Skyrim.esm itself, so they need original records that will be not changed by others plugins. If I clean those DLC, the risk is there could be changed record instead of originals records, like for example, a vampire armor on Miraak. Dawnguard got 842 ITM, Heartfire got 221 ITM and Update got 386 ITM. Now I'm blocked, I refuse to touch the DLC and I need lods for my mods collection.

Edited August 25 by imnotfamous

[sheson]

6 hours ago, imnotfamous said:

I think ITM warnings shouldn't be treated as fatal errors, especially from official DLC plugins. This is not good to edit those files, that will be overwrited by any updates anyway, and it can be unsafe too. ITM are records that are duplicated without changing anything. In case of DLC this can be some safety duplicated records from Skyrim.esm itself, so they need original records that will be not changed by others plugins. If I clean those DLC, the risk is there could be changed record instead of originals records, like for example, a vampire armor on Miraak. Dawnguard got 842 ITM, Heartfire got 221 ITM and Update got 386 ITM. Now I'm blocked, I refuse to touch the DLC and I need lods for my mods collection.

There are no fatal ITM warnings in DynDOLOD whatsoever. DynDOLOD does not check or cares for ITMs in 3rd party plugins.

https://dyndolod.info/Generation-Instructions#Prerequisites
Clean and error check the load order with xEdit. Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ignore misinformation that cleaning any plugins is not needed, does not do anything or causes problems. Cleaning of plugins that contain deleted large references is mandatory for the DynDOLOD DLL NG that includes the large reference bugs workarounds. ITMs are irrelevant in this context, see There are no intentional ITMs.

Cleaning dirty plugins is a rudimentary modding step to build a properly working load order since decades. Cleaning dirty plugins is a requirement of DynDOLOD since a decade. The large reference bugs workarounds now really require deleted large references to be undeleted. LOD patch generation is not possible otherwise, the process will eventually stop with an error message.

Cleaning ITMs from vanilla DLC while undeleting deleted references is not going to affect the game. If you believe there is a problem with removing ITMs from the vanilla DLC or the cleaning process, then you should report to and discuss that with the xEdit devs.

Nobody forces you to use DynDOLOD. However, do not blame anything/anybody else for the consequences of your choices.

[z929669]

There is SOOOO much misinformation about not cleaning vanilla masters (and any plugin for that matter) of UDRs and ITMs.

Just clean them and trust that the xEdit developers know what they're talking about.

We haven't had any issues with cleaning plugins of UDRs and ITMs for 12+ years.

Let Elminster's quote resound:

Quote

If your mod contains intentional ITMs, then there is something wrong with it.

 

[IshikuDeska]

Kid you not. I have tried to run DyDOLOD three times

I've already made:

TexGen/LODgen with no problems

except DynDOLO spits out that I need to clean "Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, and Hearthfire.esm."

Any idea how to fix this?

seems to be a bug

[z929669]

1 hour ago, IshikuDeska said:

Kid you not. I have tried to run DyDOLOD three times

I've already made:

TexGen/LODgen with no problems

except DynDOLO spits out that I need to clean "Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, and Hearthfire.esm."

Any idea how to fix this?

seems to be a bug

You probably switched from using  DynDOLOD DLL to DynDOLOD DLL NG.

Clean all plugins identified by LOOT as being dirty. This is necessary for DynDOLOD DLL NG to work properly. Disregard incorrect advice about not cleaning vanilla (or any other) plugins. Here's some general instructions.

[sheson]

1 hour ago, IshikuDeska said:

Kid you not. I have tried to run DyDOLOD three times

I've already made:

TexGen/LODgen with no problems

except DynDOLO spits out that I need to clean "Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, and Hearthfire.esm."

Any idea how to fix this?

seems to be a bug

Moved to the post to the appropriate thread. See https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Use-Search
See answers above.

Read the message as explained in https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Read-Log-and-Error-Messages
If there is an error prompt, read the entire message carefully. Many of them describe the problem in detail and offer hints for for a solution.
The fix that is part of the message you posted. The mentioned plugins need to be cleaned.

Click the Click on this link for additional explanations and help for this message as explained in https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Read-Log-and-Error-Messages to open further help.
Every plugin containing deleted references needs to be cleaned.
See the Prerequisites section of the Generation Instructions for more.

https://dyndolod.info/Generation-Instructions#Prerequisites
Clean and error check the load order with xEdit. Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ... Cleaning of plugins that contain deleted large references is mandatory for the DynDOLOD DLL NG that includes the large reference bugs workarounds.

See https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/7-mod-cleaning-and-error-checking.html

[WillowArcane]

Okay, thank you for that.  Now dyndolod is saying hearthfire, dawnguard and update need to be cleaned, but I just did that with xedit.

[sheson]

1 hour ago, WillowArcane said:

Okay, thank you for that.  Now dyndolod is saying hearthfire, dawnguard and update need to be cleaned, but I just did that with xedit.

Moved to the appropriate thread for the message. See https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Use-Search

Messages state facts. The mentioned plugins need to be cleaned because they contain deleted references.
Make sure the cleaned plugins are installed, active, deployed and overwriting the vanilla plugins with their same name filenames.

Read https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Post-Logs which DynDOLOD log and debug log to upload when mkaing posts.

Read the message as explained in https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Read-Log-and-Error-Messages
If there is an error prompt, read the entire message carefully. Many of them describe the problem in detail and offer hints for for a solution.
Click the Click on this link for additional explanations and help for this message as explained in https://dyndolod.info/Official-DynDOLOD-Support-Forum#Read-Log-and-Error-Messages to open further help:
Every plugin containing deleted references needs to be cleaned.
See the Prerequisites section of the Generation Instructions for more.

https://dyndolod.info/Generation-Instructions#Prerequisites
Clean and error check the load order with xEdit. Clean every plugin that LOOT suggests to clean - ... Cleaning of plugins that contain deleted large references is mandatory for the DynDOLOD DLL NG that includes the large reference bugs workarounds.

See https://tes5edit.github.io/docs/7-mod-cleaning-and-error-checking.html