Should you Clean Bethesda DLC and Mods? And How to do so

[@gamerpoets]

If you'd like to see my health journey check out my second channel www.youtube.com/@MichaelWontQuit . More xEdit, and other modding videos, on the way. I spend lots of time chatting with the creators and maintainers these apps/programs as well as digging through old conversations on Discords between Devs and others. Yes, this information is correct = ) See you soon. 💓 Patreon | Help Me Continue | bit.ly/HelpGamerPoets 💓 Ko-Fi | Patreon Alternative | ko-fi.com/gamerpoets 💓 PayPal | Tip Jar | goo.gl/oTXR6P

[@SKNTAi]

Hey i need help from refr file couldn't handle

[@SKNTAi]

please please

[@fixitman2174]

The need to clean is usually situational. Opinions usually aren't. That's why there's so much confusion. It's easier to look for opinions, than to actually dig in to the details. Thanks for providing the facts, instead of opinions.

[@gamerpoets]

Welcome = )

[@beowulfschmidt6031]

This exactly.

[@Night-Rider101]

The level of wholesomeness you represent is just unreal, everytime that I watch one of your videos is like entering a state of absolute bliss

[@gamerpoets]

Glad you are enjoying the videos = )

[@preapetis5909]

I already know how to do it but It's a pleasure to relearn it from the modding Gandalf.

[@gamerpoets]

🎩 🪄 😉

[@G4nda1f]

Michael, you and Gopher and Cal (Dirty Weasel), and others have been a long standing invaluable resource in the modding arena. Much appreciated.

[@Bac_Drowned]

I really enjoy your videos. Not only are they informative, but you also have such a kind, gentle, and soothing voice. This is such a wholesome channel

[@gamerpoets]

I'm glad you enjoy them :)

[@subpar2283]

I was just about to post something similar. :) I had to reinstall Skyrim yesterday and I had forgotten how to clean the .esp's. Thanks mr. Poet.

[@anihyrelles6870]

Leavin a comment for the algorithm since I just had to refer back to this lovely video again. Thanks again for all the work you do for the community, Michael

[@gracethompson2338]

Back in a new Skyrim phase (ALLLL these years later) and your videos are once again keeping my head above water with all my modding questions ❤❤❤ Sincerely hope you're doing well, Michael.

[@MaNu03847]

I just needed this video Michael. Thank you! Im so excited for the upcoming xEdit videos!

[@gamerpoets]

Glad you liked it = )

[@MorganRhysGibbons]

Hell YES Gamerpoets. You got me STARTED on Skyrim modding back in 2020, helped me through a rough time in quarantine.

[@gamerpoets]

I appreciate ya sticking around = )

[@edgarzavalaa]

I just started the Skyrim modding rabbit hole, hadn't touched the game since release, man... Nostalgia has been reignited and I'm enjoying the learning, remembering and discovery so much, I have been studying and modding more than I have played 😂, just finished curating a modlist and learned how to lod, compiled it and I think I'm ready to my adventure through Skyrim once again. Thank you!

[@carlosmaia7277]

Dude, you are a living legend. Love your videos, regards from Brazil.

[@selfaware7617]

New Vegas and F3 have a cleaned ESM mod. This is something that we didn't have at one point. I followed a couple of guides that I had done in the past, and they recommended these new mods to me. I love adding mods more than playing sometimes

[@gigachad1926]

For the past two years, I have been watching your KZbin channel, and honestly you are one of the most decent lovable guys ever! I want to thank you for your contribution to people new to modding and wish you success on your health journey!

[@r0N1n_SD]

You got this! Always a fan of that. For a 37 years old 1st time modder you have been a godsend. Would love to see a video on basic overhalls mods for starters say under 50. This is a suggestion from the experience I had as a noob starter.

[@gamma26]

I personally always clean mods that LOOT tells me to, just for the additional stability. It saves me that one off crash here or there from a deleted record as the vid mentions. Thanks for the vid and quick one stop reference I can send people, GamerPoets!

[@gamerpoets]

Appreciate ya = )

[@SubZero_DeZigns]

I Like that Staff you got back there. Nice!

[@Fairnil]

Hey! No idea if you'll see this but wanted to let you know that your videos are a huge help. I come here whenever I want a good non-judgmental guide and usually direct people here when I'm having a hard time explaining stuff myself!

[@gamerpoets]

Means alot :) thank you

[@nightlyknight7970]

Can't wait for as ssedit patch 2024 tutorial. Love your videos, well edited and informative.

[@cleminchains]

I love your tutorial videos. Makes me wanna install skyrim again. Cheers!

[@gamerpoets]

I appreciate ya = )

[@SnowWalker1]

Hi gamerpoets, hope everything is well with you and yours

[@MDFGamingVideo]

GREAT video M! I cleaned my DLC ESMs years ago. I have not had a crash or freeze since. I have around 200 mods in my load order and I can play for hours without issues. I do not use any total conversions or heavy mods that would cause me concern about cleaning.

[@cze7470]

Thank you Modding Jesus. I'll always clean them an put them in a Folder called "Cleaned DLCs", keeps my MO2 Mod List cleaner. Keep up the great Work!

[@gamerpoets]

😊 🙏

[@Webendowed]

Thanks for your videos. I've been watching from the beginning. I've been modding since playing it from about 4 months after initial release. That being said, I'm always learning something new. No one knows it all and that is why community input is so valuable to our beloved hobby of modding. Cheers and keep the knowledge coming.

[@gamerpoets]

😊 🙏

[@alonsocastrovive]

Thanks for posting! Been a fan for years.

[@gamerpoets]

Thank YOU :)

[@TtraxLord]

Gigachad GP helping the community as always!

[@gamerpoets]

Appreciate ya = )

[@jasongeyer4660]

Love your guides! May I request a guide on how to get grass lods for custom grass mods to work in Skyrim? Thank you for your work

[@shaunthom]

Another gem of a video. Great work.

[@gamerpoets]

Thank you 😊 🙏

[@Fuzzycuffsqt]

Thank you! This was very helpful

[@Tkohr78]

You have to clean the main files, one big big reason why, the new DynDoLOD NG, works only when main files are cleaned, and the result, absolutly no flickering LODs

[@cars4color]

info video as always Thanks Bud

[@gamerpoets]

😊 🙏

[@7gamesaday867]

Man this dude is good! Thanks

[@gamerpoets]

I appreciate ya = )

[@RaggedGamePlay]

Not only is it easy to follow but darn that voice is like listening to an ASMR. Makes me wanna sleep while listening to your voice XD

[@gamerpoets]

😉

[@MonolithTMA]

Those filthy, filthy mods. Great work!

[@gamerpoets]

lol ;)

[@beaky8138]

First, I love your content from top to bottom. You are positive, informed and welcoming in a way that is absolutely essential to the growth of a community. Second, this information on cleaning is all 100% accurate, without a shadow of a doubt. That said, I feel that proofs my be working in reverse order. As an experienced user and an intermediate developer within the Skyrim modding community, I could not name a benefit to cleaning official DLC. Are there any proven benefits to cleaning official DLC for Skyrim Special Edition?

[@gamerpoets]

Earlier version of Skyrim fixed something with Dawnguard and IIRC there was an unintional ITM in the update.esm? (something like that). Today? I don't really think it matters one way or the other at this point. All the issues that use to exist with cleaning them (doesn't mean more wont arise in future iterations of xEdit) have been fixed (all games... Skyrim, Fallout 4, FNV, Fo3, so forth). The biggest issues use to be that cleaning would mess up something majoy in the Nuka World DLC for Fallout 4... but no one ever reported it. Someone finally did, and the xEdit folks fixed it. Then the blanket statement of "don't clean" came from some big authors who were tired of mods messing up stuff once ported to console (and having to deal with questions) so it became easier to just tell people "dont do it". It's more important to clean mods at this point (unless of course the author says don't). The cleaning process is much "cleaner" lol than it was say, 5 years ago (and they still update things on a regular basis). Also, if you're experienced, I'd reccomend cleaning stuff just for the sake of being able to catch anything that could arise so the xEdit team has someone else able to report stuff to them.

[@beaky8138]

@@gamerpoets Thank you for this thoughtful reply. I'm a bit scarred on it since the issues with Dragonborn DLC way back when, but I see its value as a low effort troubleshooting mechanic. All of this besides its use for cleaning ITMs out of release builds of my own mods, of course. All mod authors should use it for this purpose if they ever touch the Creation Kit and, frankly, even if they don't. The Creation Kit duplicates very nearly every record you touch and if you don't want ITMs erased from your mods as a developer there are easy solutions.

[@leamissyoy]

I see a lot of guide install game+modpack without telling to clean. I see all the time stream with huge pack of +1500 mods ctd finally on stream. The first thing I do when I install Skyrim since 2012, i launch loot to see which bethesda need to be cleaned, I do that before to install the first mod.

[@thomaswhydoihavetotypemyna7503]

Thanks for the video! Do you think it would be possible to create a (updated) video on how to install and use Wrye Batch? Your last one is from 4 years ago it seems, and I often see people talk about how modders should use it to merge patches and so on. I barely know what it is and how it works, but lots of people seem to use it. I'm fairly new to modding though, but learned a lot with your videos!

[@SaintSantiXIV]

Know that you have helped me. Thank you.

[@gamerpoets]

Welcome:)

[@igavinwood]

I just love how you make modding feel less stressful. Thank you. I also have a quick question. Should we upgrade to the latest version of the game? For Sjyrim that is v1.6.1170 (on Steam). I ask as LOOT requires the latest version of SKSE, and SKSE ONLY supports the latest version of the game. So it kind of feels like we are pressured into it. I'd like to hear your thoughts on that and what the options are.

[@gamerpoets]

That's all preference. If you upgrade there are certain mods you may not be able to use. If you don't upgrade there may be some mods you can't use. It all depends on what you want to install. I always keep my game fully updates due to making videos but ( at least for a while) i miss out on some mods because of it.

[@igavinwood]

@@gamerpoets Thank you for the quick response and sharing your set up. I did not expect that. There are a few mods I have noticed that say to use BEES, only I have always had a CTD with that. It's a risk that mods require mods to be able to run, but I'm starting to feel like I have to upgrade. Seems like there are more mod authors that will update an old mod, than write for an older game version. I suppose I can always console myself with the additional mod file space in the new game version, if I ever download that many :)

[@gamerpoets]

​@igavinwood yeah, it can get pretty crazy with how many mods these games have. When you get into adding multiple mods, that require multiple mods, that's when issues generally start to pop up. It's really all about small Victories. Get what you have working ....then add more later. I just have fun seeing what authors come up with.

[@phlogistanjones2722]

Thank you Michael.

[@gamerpoets]

Welcome:)

[@nerdgamerdave9790]

Modding Jesus, we appreciate you! Always

[@jyesd752]

Ty for years of guides! Goddamn is there any way to streamline the process of testing mods? I feel like a caveman installing mods, doing everything I can to make sure it all SHOULD work, and then rolling the dice on a playthrough with a new load order. It sucks to get 8 hours into a playthrough, all going smoothly, and THEN discovering a problem that requires changing the mod list and borking the save... and having to start over... with no guarantee it won't happen 9 hours in this time. I'm guessing this is just the 'learning that shit happens' stage of modder's grief?

[@sejiren4036]

It was a while ago when I started finding conflicting opinions on reddit about cleaning DLC. Some say that at best, cleaning doesn't break anything, but it also doesn't really help. I'm currently preparing my next playthrough, moving over to MO2, which I find to be drastically better suited to work out conflicts than Vortex (separators are awesome), so it will soon be time to check out your DynDOLOD video again. I'll probably not clean the DLC this time. If vanilla references are deleted, mods should't call them in the first place (that's just my logic), and ITMs shouldn't matter because all the official files are at the very top of the load order, anyway. I'll just see what happens, with > 1k mods and without having done a full playthorugh to test everything properly, I'm bound to find some issues, so maybe a situation will pop up where I should have cleaned my files. Thanks for making these videos!

[@gamerpoets]

You'll likely be fine. If you pause the part of the video at the end where I put my chat up on screen and read through it, it may help give more context.

[@sejiren4036]

@@gamerpoets Thanks for reiterating on that, the DLC1/DLC2 example from those comments made things clearer. I see how mod authors would want to test their mods against unclean files, so I'm adding a custom mod into MO2 with clean DLC. Then I can switch it on and off as needed.

[@a1racer441]

I don't think most mod authors clean the dlc when making mods so their stuff shouldn't really have issues against an uncleaned dlc. but I have never had issue when cleaning them, and like Skyrim a couple dlc make changes to zones it doesn't need to because it got left in by mistake.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

One of the funniest things to me in the last few years of Bethesda modding news is the "actually almost everything should be an esm" thing where both load order headaches and mod errors resulted from quirks of the esp format that people didn't know about because there was no manual. This is important because a lot of mod authors intentionally include "dirty" edits to make sure records in the parent file, which other mods are likely to edit incidentally, are what they need to be for the mod to function, and a lot of that could be solved with a simple load order switcheroo if all esps were not forced to load after all esms (or if everything that should have been an esm historically had been).

[@stm7810]

the problem though, is esms don't merge nicely, a huge problem for new vegas with the 120 plugin limit.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

@@stm7810 There is a mod to quadruple the file handle limit, effectively increasing the plugin limit from _about_ 120-140 to 255 like the rest of Bethesda's Gamebryo (sorry, "Creation Engine") catalog.

[@stm7810]

@@vitriolicAmaranth whilst FNV mod limit fix improves performance, if you have large mods the original limit still matters.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

@@stm7810 Only if you're using a bunch of mods that have like 20 bsas. Most mods with a lot of actual plugins have plugins that are automatically merged by wrye bash, which are, to my knowledge, the kind of mods that should actually be esps in the first place (the kind that are now esls in modern Betheada games), so it's not relevant to the "almost everything should be an esm" point, but also those are still each individual plugins; 120 mods and 120 plugins are different concepts, as some mods have no plugin and others can have 20. If you're actually talking about performance issues, eg memory limits and single-thread processing, that has nothing to do with esm vs esp or whether you can merge plugins. The sub-255 "limit" is because three times your total number of plugins _and_ bsas must be under 512 without the mod (meaning if, hypothetically, all assets are loose files, the real limit is around 170); with the mod, that number is increased to 2048, meaning the plugin limit is 255 as long as you have 2 and 2/3 or fewer bsas per plugin on average (which is still quite a lot of bsas).

[@stm7810]

@@vitriolicAmaranth I know mods and plugins are different, there are espless script runner mods like B42 Interact or Just endless intense training, mods like Robco certified that have esms and esps, and there's merging, the thing I'm doing to get over 1k mods to fit in 1 game. thanks for explaining the BSA limits.

[@SaintSantiXIV]

If anyone's having problems with getting autoclean to get past the "Background finished" line, open the readme text file in the downloads for whichever game version of xEdit you got, then you have to rename both the exe's to what it says in the readme. For example, for skyrim special edition, you HAVE to rename the exe's as "SSEEDIT" and "SSEEDITQuickAutoClean" respectively. Make sure you reselect them in MO2 if you had already added them. I could also just be an idiot who renamed my original exe names then got stuck wondering why stuff wasn't working, but for idiots like me, there's the fix.

[@jamesb8729]

Have you ever done a video on Bodyslide / Outfit Studio for Fallout 4?

[@BruvRamm]

Thank you for this video. I have seen some much information about cleaning files, but your insight has answered a lot of the questions I had. I am for cleaning, as I don't see it doing any harm. I had a question about cleaning the Skyrim Dawnguard DLC, after running QAC, LOOT reports the DLC is clean, but If I open the Dawnguard in xEdit normally and check the previously reported dirty edit for the Riften Ratway is still there. Do you know if I still need to manually remove that record now or is it okay to just leave it. I remember in past xEdit videos you mention to clean that record. Thank you for any information you may have.

[@gamerpoets]

It's not going to hurt either way. It's just not technically "cleaning" (I think I say that in the other video.... it's more of a "cleaning up of things that don't need to be there" ) and since the video is for all games I didn't want to add the extra section just for skyrim.

[@BruvRamm]

@@gamerpoets Thanks for the reply and for clarifying.

[@matteobonelli8442]

Thank you for another awesome video, GamerPoets! So, it should be safe to clean the Creation Club mods added by the Skyrim Anniversary Edition, right?

[@gamerpoets]

Should be. Make your backups just in case. If you do get an issue ever, let the xEdit folks know. Just try have as much info as you can if you do.

[@matteobonelli8442]

@@gamerpoets will do, thank you once again!

[@atticusgalt10]

I dunno if I've been brainwashed, but to my old modder's ears, *this* is what an instruction video is supposed to sound like.

[@gamerpoets]

😉

[@koboldqueen3055]

god that voice this gal could listen to you say anything and get excited.

[@gamerpoets]

;)

[@koboldqueen3055]

@@gamerpoets 😳

[@George_5050]

Awesome, cheers.

[@gamerpoets]

😊 🙏

[@luthienmpl]

MO2 user question: xEdit dropped a Backups folder and a Cache folder into my overwrite. I understand what the cache folder is for and how to handle it, what does the backups folder do and what do I do with that? Does it need to be enabled once I've dragged it out of overwrite?

[@thepaladinpup2272]

Imagine enjoying super high quality content from a channel you know by name and have for years...before realizing you aren't subscribed. I'm embarrassed.

[@gamerpoets]

Welcome, officially :)

[@philn2830]

Would it be possible to do a video on Deleted Navemesh's and what to do with them? The guide on Nexus doesn't work with SSEEdit v4.1.5f. Thank you!

[@郭淑华-l4z]

Always back up, I clean everything in FO4 dlcs, I end up with square on texts

[@andrejara4054]

Well, shit, I`ve always been skeptical about cleaning mods. Maybe I`ll keep my eyes peeled just in case I get some weird crashes.

[@unholyscribe6650]

You are the best.

[@gamerpoets]

You are appreciated = )

[@chainz983]

kinda surprised u havnt done a video for morrowind

[@FairDrogon]

It's annoying to clean the masters every time the game updates. D: Thanks for the guide.

[@gamerpoets]

It can be = ) Thanks for watching it

[@Deletusyouryeetus]

One small issue: I'm using vortex, not MO2 , how do I clean the mods on vortex?

[@NightSilent935]

stormcloaks use iron shields. and i do not know how to remove them?.

[@Altair4611]

Sounds like cache coherence and seg faults

[@PerfectedVenus_Monsoon]

Does the LOOT in Vortex work the same as it does shown in the video, or should I download LOOT separately? I notice that LOOT automatically sorts mods to make the games as stable as possible, but it doesn't tell me what mods should be cleaned, if needed. Is it the flags tab in the plugins section, as in it has a icon stating that "this mod needs to be cleaned"?

[@anihyrelles6870]

late response but the LOOT built into vortex has limited functionality, for the full use of LOOT like MIchael was showing in the video, you're gonna wanna download and use the full program. Luckily, our lovely GamerPoet has a LOOT tutorial video too :) I have a modding tools file where I put things like that (loot, xedit, bethini, etc) to find them easily.

[@demandred1957]

Yo! In quick with the first view.

[@gamerpoets]

Hey buddy ;)

[@alphaa7682]

well may have messed up and didnt backup vanilla files before adding mods loot says to clean are mostly dlc so can i use steam verify bsck up the copy and then clean if needed? never had any luck on youtube comments getting answers usually end up going to reddit but people there are rude but also for skyrim or i guess any game do i need to add cc content as well

[@gamerpoets]

Verify integrity will replace them with the originals. Yes. I've never cleaned the cc files personally. Could be worth a try.... Just make sure to backup :)

[@alphaa7682]

@@gamerpoets Thank you but I'm still having issues with xedit detecting my ini file not sure what I did wrong I may need to reinstall, Maybe where i installed xedit is not a appropriate location have been ignoring it for now until I find a solution however it would be nice to edit my body slots I believe most of the mods that loot says for me to clean are just dirty as default from the author. I am on vortex if you have a solution for me this is what was in xedit. Using Skyrim Data Path: Using Scripts Path: D:\vortexmods\skyrimse\xEdit\Edit Scripts\ Using Cache Path: Using ini: Fatal: Could not find ini

[@ZephrusPrime]

I cleaned all my DLC's and my Skyrim runs perfect. Would clean again -4 stars.

[@gamerpoets]

;)

[@Zyute.]

So from my understanding then For fallout 3 its ok to clean the main dlc's such as Broken Steel ect?

[@gamerpoets]

If you are playing fallout 3 (not tale of two wastelands), yes. Should be fine.

[@Zyute.]

@@gamerpoets Thanks as I didn't want to nuke my game. Your videos on modding have made me confident in trying them out for my favorite games. From what to do and what to use they have been invaluable so I appreciate it!

[@Its_Palomino]

Your voice is suited for American truck commercials or I should say, “have you tried American truck commercial voice over work? It might suit you”

[@gamerpoets]

😉

[@icedardee5338]

Why doesn’t this guy have a podcast?

[@gamerpoets]

I do have this, though youtube.com/@michaelwontquit

[@Ricardo_Rick]

I'm just starting to Play Fallout London and i'm glad i didn't clean any DLC, the game already have its bugs, i dodn't need to add even more of them XD

[@gamerpoets]

😉

[@thomasmilligan9674]

What's the difference between xEdit and zEdit?

[@gamerpoets]

zEdit was created by Mator (not part of the xEdit team) to further develop xEdit after El Minster (the creator of xEdit) left the community for a while. El Minster returned. Mator stopped (as far as I know) developing xEdit as El started updating and working on xEdit Full time. zEdit is mainly used now (for those who still do it) for its zMerge feature (merging plugins together when you run out of plugin space).

[@thomasmilligan9674]

@@gamerpoets My friend, thank you! I genuinely tried googling this and couldn't find a clear answer. Much appreciated!

[@mavoron]

choose any color but red for the thumbnail

[@gamerpoets]

No lol

[@Poldovico]

@@gamerpoets could you be persuaded to avoid black symbols in a white circle?

[@frogman72davitto94]

Should I clean Update esm though?

[@MichaelWontQuit]

Yes! lol = ) .... and if you don't want to... that's ok too.

[@frogman72davitto94]

@@MichaelWontQuit Hehe thanks! I'm cleaning it though

[@gamerpoets]

@@frogman72davitto94 Like I say at the end of the video, too. If you feel it screwed anything up (shouldn't, I clean everything) you have your backups. Just replace it for piece of mind.

[@nblankensh]

Good points. Also, All Hail The Sacred Algorithm!

[@gamerpoets]

Lol 😉

[@hunterofdeath5155]

I always clean my mods, I had some another people tell me why you clean your mod because some old fat guy told you too, I said "Yes" and he isn't old to me. I'm older then him and I learn a lot from him and other modders like Cal and Gopher... Side note: Cal is an old fart like me LOL.... Later Michael, I only call you other name on Twitch 😁Have a Great day from this Other Michael 😎

[@gamerpoets]

lol ;)

[@ericktamez5968]

Me encantas

[@gamerpoets]

😊 🙏

[@worlds3061]

Gave me a mini heart attack with the colouring there.

[@gamerpoets]

"Clear!"

[@kahrnivor]

Yes. There is no reaon for ITMs. Fix your load order.

[@gamerpoets]

;)

[@a1racer441]

I have 2 opinions on this 1. I clean them because it removes unneeded stuff and can fix some stuff so that's why I do it, unless an author says not to. 2. most people making mods don't clean the dlc or base files so they are building against an uncleaned file so would cleaning it change anything they are doing in their mod? I tend to clean all mods unless it noted not to because it helps stabilize the game. modding is not a point and click thing there a lot to think about and more to do when you really get bigger lists going.

[@gamerpoets]

If a mod somehow touches official Deleted References or ITMs (other than mods than mean to fix them) I don't know that I would want that mod in my load order. I think they would have to go out of their way to mess with those records. The vast majority of mods would never even accidently touch them. Years ago (last time I really paid attention to cleaning, until now) I would not clean every mod, but with all of the work put into auto clean in recent years, and the conversations I"ve had with the people maintaining xEdit, I'm with you on cleaning the mods unless stated otherwise.

[@a1racer441]

@@gamerpoets yeah I generally clean them just because I think it helps stabilize the game.