I've just recently installed the creation kit and was about to jump in and start to learn somee things, but was presented with this error upon trying to load Skyrim.esm:

MASTERFILE: TESFile Error inflating ZLib stream.

"Yes to all" will disable all Warnings for this context

Options presented as choices are (Yes, No, Yes to all) any choice made results in the freezing of the creation kit. I tried searching the forums for an answer, but didn't come up with much of anything. The web was even less helpful, so I figured signing up here and asking for help would be my best choice.

I used to use WorldEdit in Warcraft III for years, but was on hiatus from modding for awhile. The creation kit has sparked my creativity thought process again just like WorldEdit did. Thanks for any help.

There are a couple errors that pop up on every CK start-up...I don't know the exact errors but there is a page on the CK wiki talking about this so I'll try to find it for ya.

EDIT: and http://www.creationkit.com/Creation_Kit_Startup_Errorsit is. Why these have not been dealt with I don't know but anything after that first error can be ignored. If something other than that first error pops up though...it's something we did.
EDIT2: Also, Warcraft 3 modding? *High five That was my first foray into modding but I didn't do much with it.

MASTERFILE: TESFile Error inflating ZLib stream.

That one doesn't happen on my end, nor is it listed in the link Raylon has posted. Your Skyrim.ESM might be corrupted which could be fixed easily by deleting it, then letting steam replace it via an integrity check.

Strange mines not there, figures. And yeah Wacraft III was my first major dive into all editing. I goofed around with Starforge for SC aswell.


Corrupted huh? Weird, I don't see how. I don't use mods of any kind and the only recent change was the addition of Dawnguard. Deleting that file won't hurt my save files will it?

When it 'freezes', try waiting for a few minutes to see if it loads and resumes responsiveness. For many people it 'freezes' while it loads even though it's still chugging away.

My CK takes an age to load any files. It will often freeze at different stages of the load up though. I just wait till it's got over whatever was holding it up. I may take a few mins though. Having said that, my PC is steam powered...

It's possible your download of the file from steam isn't intact and it would have nothing to do with mods. Deleting Skyrim.ESM won't harm anything as, when checking integrity of local cache with steam, Skyrim.ESM will be downloaded/replaced if it's missing. It might not be your Skyrim.ESM, but it's worth a shot as I've never seen that particular error.

Also: Awesome avatar! Metroids are among my favorite games ever.

Well what do you know, the weirdest problems always seem to have the simplest solutions. It works now after I verified teh game data which it failed to validate exactly 1 file. Strange how the game was able to run despite having a major file like that not working correctly. I really appreciate the help and now I can get to some modding. Thank you!

I'm so eager to mod I'm drooling.

P.S. I love the Metroid series a lot too, but specifically the Metroid Prime series has a special place in my heart.

You could also try a clean CK. I've had issues with a bad DL of that in the past, and the bugs Bethesda seems to cycle every update don't help.