hi

I'm trying to save my mod, but I set it to be called the exact thing as another mod (im trying to update it) and now it says "cmMontaron is a master file or is in use. please select another file to save to" and now I can't select a different name to save it. what do i do

You copy the mod ESP file and give it a new name. You then mod that copy.

what? i can't open up the saves to copy anything.

SO you are making a mod called cmMontaron and when you open the CS are clicking the oblivion.esm and cmMontaron.esp and opening ? -- IF this is the case you need to select cmMontaron.esp as the active file before opening so that when you save the changes will be saved to your cmMontaron.esp name.

If you do not select it as the active file it will ask for a name to save it as and you will have the problem you now have --- and No one .esp can not normally use parts of another .esp file because if the wrong one loaded first it would make the game crash since the items it was looking for from the other .esp would not yet exist since that .esp has not been loaded. (It can be done but requires some extra steps in order for the game to allow it and then you must be careful to ensure the second mod loads after the first at all times. -- Look up Mod De-isolation for ore details on the process.)