Finally, after SIX MONTHS of not being able to play skyrim because of freezing around riften, it now works! I downloaded patch 1.6 and the nirnroot glow was gone and i can run around riften problem free. I am so happy i dont have to make another characater. I would say thanks to Bethesda but the problem took half a year to fix and shouldnt have even been there in the first place.

It fixed all of my "repeat" freezes, that is to say the ones that were system locks that always happened at (or near) the same locations.

Besides the outside of Riften, I could not visit many outdoor areas. Or I could, then start walking somewhat remotely near a far off VERY BRIGHT glow, then system lock.

I also could not enter my house in Markarth, any of the palaces, the darkbrotherhood sanctuary, virtually any "fort", a bunch of crypts (steadily increasing) nor could I "leave" the companions hall in whiterun.

All of that got fixed, with my savegame file size dropping from 20 meg (at 420 hours plus, level 72) to 17 meg.

I'm hoping over time it shrinks some more; Unless ninroot WAS the main thing causing the problems.

3 MB seems to be the magic shrinkage. I got the same amount on 2 different characters: from 17 to 14 on one, and from 14 to 11 on the other.