Reusing large .bsa/ .esp files instead of re-downloading from STEAM

[thecrippler2005]

Okay, first of all: I'm a newbie and I'm sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place. I have a fair amount of experience installing mods on Skyrim (I've used Nexus Mod Manager in the past, but this is not a utility recommended by S.T.E.P.). I'm trying to install S.T.E.P. 2.2.8 and I'm wondering whether I should do a fresh (clean) install by first uninstalling the whole game and starting from scratch. I'd hate to have to do this since downloading Skyrim + Dawnguard + Dragonborn + HearthFires + Hi-res DLC will take forever on my relatively slower internet connection.So to begin with, my question is: can I simply keep the Dawnguard.esm, Dawnguard.bsa, Dragonborn.bsa, Dragonborn.esm, HighResTexturePack01.bsa/.esp, HearthFires.bsa/.esm etc. (see attached screenshot image) that are found in the Skyrim/ Data folder? Meaning: can't I just copy and paste these files into a safe folder, then uninstall and delete the rest of Skyrim, then reinstall Skyrim and just copy back the previously removed files into the Skyrim/ Data folder? Will that work or must I once again download all these updates and expansion packs from STEAM?I assume I'll have further queries once I start trying to get the S.T.E.P. installation done on my computer so I'd like to continue posting further queries under this topic if that's fine.

Edited March 14, 2014 by thecrippler2005

[Kelmych]

Yes, if you put some original files into Skyrim, including those you mention, and use Steam to refresh your local copy it will see the original files you have and won't download these again.

[thecrippler2005]

Thanks Kelmych. Now do you suppose any of the previous mods I installed (like Skyrim HD and SMIM for instance) could've messed up the existing .bsa/ .esp/ .esm files in my Skyrim/ Data folder?Would it make sense for me to delete everything and download a completely fresh installation of Skyrim? I don't really want to but I'm willing to consider it if that's what it'll take to get S.T.E.P. running perfectly. I hope you can enlighten me because I don't really know too much about Skyrim modding.

[macabre]

Hey Crippler,

 

I was in the same boat as you maybe a week and a half ago. I had a modest modded Skyrim install with 68 mods using NMM and wanted to install STEP. I ended up finding this guide on the STEP wiki: https://wiki.step-project.com/Guide:Make_Skyrim_Vanilla_Again

 

Just follow the steps, should take no more than 5-10 minutes, and you have a clean Skyrim install again. Then you can proceed with installing STEP. I did this and installed STEP and I have only had one CTD so far in about ~20 hours of playing on my STEP Core install + other mods. It works.

[thecrippler2005]

Thanks for that Citizen. I followed the instructions to a T (well mostly, one of the folders that was supposed to be retained as mentioned in the guide is simply not present in my Skyrim folder. The folder in question is called "Reslists") and am even able to launch the game. There's one hitch though: when I try the "Verify Integrity of Game Cache" step by right clicking on Skyrim in Steam and clicking on properties followed by the local files tab, I get a message that says: "1 file not located. Skyrim will load this file the next time you launch the game (not the exact same words but something to that effect)".Will this make any difference?