Installing Oblivion mods with MO-- archive invalidation greyed out, workarounds?

[Luinithil]

I'll be detailing my experiences with using MO to install Oblivion in a bit, but currently I have a bit of a problem, which ties in with a thread I made earlier.

 

Running MO from a new pristine install, no saves at all or anything except the usual Oblivion.ini and other INIs in C:\...\My Games\Oblivion, I created a new MO profile for my character. When I attempt to set up local savegames and automatic archive invalidation, I find that the option for archive invalidation is greyed out, see the attached pics. Since documentation for using MO with Oblivion is sadly lacking, I'd like to ask if back-dating the BSAs AND selecting the option to force hide plugins is needed? Or is the greyed out option for archive invalidation a sign that I've done something wrong with MO installation in this case?

 

Thanks!

 

ETA: Yes, I forgot back there that backdating BSAs is only a valid alternative to archive invalidation for Skyrim. Still can't get AI in Oblivion MO however.

[Uhuru]

Right I've Just figured this out you have a missing Ini Setting. My Oblivion Archive Invalidation was greyed out. You need to check both the Default Location.

In

C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\My Games\Oblivion\Oblivion.Ini

 

And for every profile which is accessed most easily in Mod Organizer using Jigsaw Icon (Red Piece over four grey with down arrow next to Settings Icon) select Ini Editor and add coloured line to [Archive] section which is near bottom of Ini text.

 

Even if it's in default it wont change existing profiles but will change new ones.

Choose either ticked or unticked option and you will then be able to change on profile settings

The principle is same for all supported games but obviously BSA names are not.

 

Greyed Out Oblivion.Ini

 

[Archive]

SMasterMiscArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Misc.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName2=Oblivion - Voices2.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Voices1.bsa

SMasterSoundsArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Sounds.bsa

SMasterTexturesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa

SMasterMeshesArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa

SInvalidationFile=

iRetainFilenameOffsetTable=1

iRetainFilenameStringTable=1

iRetainDirectoryStringTable=1

bCheckRuntimeCollisions=0

bInvalidateOlderFiles=1

bUseArchives=1

 

Unticked Oblivion.Ini

 

[Archive]

SMasterMiscArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Misc.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName2=Oblivion - Voices2.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Voices1.bsa

SMasterSoundsArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Sounds.bsa

SMasterTexturesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa

SMasterMeshesArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa

SInvalidationFile=

iRetainFilenameOffsetTable=1

iRetainFilenameStringTable=1

iRetainDirectoryStringTable=1

bCheckRuntimeCollisions=0

bInvalidateOlderFiles=1

bUseArchives=1

SArchiveList=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa, Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa, Oblivion - Sounds.bsa, Oblivion - Voices1.bsa, Oblivion - Voices2.bsa, Oblivion - Misc.bsa

 

Ticked Oblivion.Ini

 

[Archive]

SMasterMiscArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Misc.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName2=Oblivion - Voices2.bsa

SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Voices1.bsa

SMasterSoundsArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Sounds.bsa

SMasterTexturesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa

SMasterMeshesArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa

SInvalidationFile=

iRetainFilenameOffsetTable=1

iRetainFilenameStringTable=1

iRetainDirectoryStringTable=1

bCheckRuntimeCollisions=0

bInvalidateOlderFiles=1

bUseArchives=1

SArchiveList=Oblivion - Invalidation.bsa, Oblivion - Meshes.bsa, Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa, Oblivion - Sounds.bsa, Oblivion - Voices1.bsa, Oblivion - Voices2.bsa, Oblivion - Misc.bsa

[Luinithil]

Sorry for the delay: I've just had the time and surety to revert my installation to vanilla tonight after ironing out the last kinks in my Wrye Bash backup install. I'm now looking at a brand new, fresh Oblivion.ini and a Data folder that has nothing more in it except OBSE plugins; looking at your coloured text above, I see the difference is in Oblivion-Invalidation.bsa. Where would I get such a file? As you can see below, my new INI file hasn't got any such file listed, it's got ArchiveInvalidation.txt instead. How do I create one?

 

Edit to ask: If I copy over ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa from my previous Wrye Bash managed install, and edit my INI files to use that, will it work the same?

 

[Archive]
SMasterMiscArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Misc.bsa
SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName2=Oblivion - Voices2.bsa
SMasterVoicesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Voices1.bsa
SMasterSoundsArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Sounds.bsa
SMasterTexturesArchiveFileName1=Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa
SMasterMeshesArchiveFileName=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa
SInvalidationFile=ArchiveInvalidation.txt
iRetainFilenameOffsetTable=1
iRetainFilenameStringTable=1
iRetainDirectoryStringTable=1
bCheckRuntimeCollisions=0
bInvalidateOlderFiles=1
bUseArchives=1
SArchiveList=Oblivion - Meshes.bsa, Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa, Oblivion - Sounds.bsa, Oblivion - Voices1.bsa, Oblivion - Voices2.bsa, Oblivion - Misc.bsa

[Luinithil]

Copied ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa over into the Data folder and registered it manually in the INI, so Automatic Archive Invalidation appears to be working now. I think.

[DoubleYou]

Why does my SArchiveList keep turning into this?

 

SArchiveList=aaa,aab,aac,aad,aae,aaf,aag,aah,aai,aaj,aak,aal,aam,aan,aao,aap,aaq,aar

[Soire]

Okay, this is an old topic but I thought to add a very simple way for Mo first setup regarding this problem for everyone tripping over this topic.
 
Mo v1.2.9 (and probably above)
 
Some Infos first: when Mo gets the first time started after installation, the only profile available at this time is 'Default' and we use this one to correct the greyed out Archive Invalidation tickbox. Further, Mo creates a .bsa called ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa - if you browse to the [Archive] tab you'll see it under 'Data'.
 
However, Mo misses to add the line to the Oblivion.ini which we have to do manually. Open the INI Editor and browse to [Archive]. Copy-paste following line to the bottom:
 
SArchiveList=ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa, Oblivion - Meshes.bsa, Oblivion - Textures - Compressed.bsa, Oblivion - Sounds.bsa, Oblivion - Voices1.bsa, Oblivion - Voices2.bsa, Oblivion – Misc.bsa
 
Further change this entry:
 
SInvalidationFile=
;yes, here should be nothing!
 
[save] and exit. Now you can setup your profiles and Archive Invalidation should be available and working.
 
As for Mo changing in any other Profile other than Default the SArchiveList to something binary-letter-format-whateva... if you did setup your Default profile correctly before creating any other profiles, you do not have to worry about this. Though, if you do use the correct entry for Archive Invalidation in the Oblivion.ini (namely ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa) this problem should not occurr!
 
- Edit: forget that very last phrase, Mo does it anyway. Should Archive Invalidation for some obsucre reason after installing a new mod not work, try this:

• In Mo, disable all .bsa & Mo Management in the Archive Tab. Close Mo and start Oblivion, wait til it crashes. Press (CTRL+ALT+Delete) and open the task manager, end the Oblivion.exe
•  
• Reopen Mo, enable all .bsa again and Mo Management and restart the game. Now the textures should be fine.
•  

Cheers.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Aiyen

[hishutup]

When I was trying out Mod organizers Archive Invalidation... I didn't work 100%

The game wouldn't even start after cleaning a particular DLC... I recommend sticking with OBMM's version.... I haven't had a problem with it.