I just ran BOSS and it didn't recognize 10 of my mods and it told me to organize them manually with a mod manager.

Which mod manager should I use?

I used to use Wyre Bash, but I just reinstalled it and the BOSS process normally found at the bottom of the program is no longer there.

The installer version of Wrye Bash isn't getting along well with BOSS. Download the new beta (or whatever they call it) version of Wrye Bash, and it should work with that.

I install all my mods through NMM, and just use Wrye Bash for Bashed Patch related features. I did the same thing with OBMM in Oblivion (which I thought was really convenient), and NMM is I think a better interface, especially since it has it's own direct links to and from the nexus sites.

What 10 mods were unrecognized, if I may be so bold? The BOSS list has been staying very up-to-date for me. Depending on where you're running it from you MAY want to try running it as an administrator (it had given some problems before, but now I set it to always run as admin).

Bash's BAIN feature is superior to NMM's, because it allows for active re-ordering of your mod installation order (which it adheres to at all times) and contains very easy to use conflict detection and resolution. It also notifies you of any inconsistencies in your install, such as files that no longer exist or have changed. NMM does not have that capability at all. It will not tell you any of that information, so you can never be sure if your mod installs are in conflict with one another, and it does not recognize any order for your mods to be installed (this is lessened somewhat now that BSA archives have become the norm for distributing resources, though). The advantage NMM has over BAIN is that it is hardwired to the Nexus and can automatically check for and download updates for you and that it is more user-friendly. But in so doing it omits some information that I would consider crucial to maintaining a proper mod install base.

That's my view on things. I use BAIN for my mod installation.

I use NMM, because it's easier to check for updates, but also because I very actively watch what I put in my LO, read every readme, and often-times if I suspect a conflict may happen, I'll check the mods out personally. I overwrite in specific orders with texture replacers, and I've created personal mergers in case of a conflict (actually, no mergers used right now, but I've created several variants that tack on mods into leveled lists, using a skyproc algorithm - and one to create enchanted versions of weapons, again, via skyproc).

So my bashed patch is very small, generally, with only a few actor lists being merged.

I'd recommend Bash for most people unless you are actively watching what you use and how it's used, and not using extensive amounts of mods (I use less than 30 plugins, quite a few of my own creation, 7-8 or so).

For those of you who want ease of use, use NMM - but don't pour mods into Skyrim with it and think about what you add.

Mod Organizer is an interesting alternative that I have yet to look into. Can't pass up a bashed patch, though, so there's no getting around that one. No matter what you use I recommend Bash just for that.

Wrye just got released as version 298 and the new version works just fine with BOSS

I am using Wrye Bash and NMM combo - NMM for auto-checking for updates and downloading them and Bash for actually installing, as I find the file tracking absolutely necessary (as I tend to test mods a lot).

I currently use BOSS and NMM. I tried using Wyre Bash before but it was utterly confusing and I had no idea what was going on. This is not to say that Wyre is a bad program or that it doesn't work, however. In my experience it was not user friendly (or noob friendly) in the slightest.

Stick with Wrye Bash and BAIN, You can place a link to the BOSS GUI in your taskbar, or even in Wrye Bash (Skyrim\Mopy\Apps folder).

I'm using both Wrye Bash and NMM..
NMM for downloading and updating my mods..
BAIN for installing and creating bashed patch..

I am also using Wrye Bash and NMM combo

Do you simply point nmm mod directory to the bash installers folder to do this?

You can use Wrye Bash to open mods on the Nexus - on the Installers tab right click on the mod and choose "Open at" then "Nexus". Although you still need NMM or MO to track / download unless do it manually (personally I use MO to track+download)

Yes, that's it. Of course, you then see downloads and cache folders in BAIN, but that is only an inconvenient, nothing huge. Otherwise it work superb.

Ah thanks, im deciding wether its worth it to reinstall everything again using bain.

Using NMM for downloads and update notification. BAIN to install complex texture mods (where you have the greatest chance of overwrites.) BOSS for load order.

Is there a good place to understand how to use BAIN/Bash? I've tried before and just couldn't get a hold of it.

This is how i learnt http://oblivion.nexusmods.com/mods/35230

If you're having trouble understanding the new docs, I'd appreciate some feedback on what the issues you're having are.

This is what I've done for a long time. I even set the download folder for NMM to be the Bash Installers folder so I don't even have to move them. If I ever learn Python, I'm going to try to figure out how to add the features of running wrye instead of nmm to download a mod, then showing the currently installed version and the current version on the site with a link to download it easily right on the wrye installers tab. Wouldn't that be nice?

I've been dealing with the release of SIS and this issue actually comes up because NMM doesn't check even to see if the mod is still installed before keeping it checked in the mods tab, so if you use ANY method other than NMM to manage your installation and remove a mod or anything, NMM won't recognize that fact. This is why I"ve never considered NMM a viable replacement for Wrye.

Sure!

I'll have to get back to you with details tonight after I get home. Also, it should be noted that I haven't tried Bash in a few months, so if there have been any changes since then, I'm not aware.

As I recall, I started reading a wiki about Bash but only managed to get through a few pages--it was a long document--before becoming frustrated. I was told to just try playing around with the program, but I wasn't able to pick anything up. I never was able to understand how the whole process worked.

Again, I'm not trying to bash (pun intended!) Bash. It seems like an excellent program. I'm sure if I just sat down and devoted a few hours I could pick it up. I guess I was just expecting the same sort of user friendliness that Boss and NMM have. In the latter two cases I was able to pick it up really quickly.

In that case, you won't have seen my new docs.

As for expecting the same sort of user friendliness as BOSS and NMM, they're both simpler and newer than Bash is, so have an edge in being made user friendly. It would be nice if Bash were more newbie-friendly though.

Wrye is now at version 298. The supporting documents have been re-written and it is much more user friendly than it was.

@Wrinkly, you and the others are doing a fantastic job.

Actually i think if you guys made a tutorial video for Wrye Bash it would be more widely accepted among the newer users. Once I dove in and REALLY paid attention to what the docs were telling me and I started to figure out what it meant, things became really easy. I now have all my texture mods properly overriding each other in the order that i want in the the Installers section. But the way i see it is that Wrye Bash is in itself a learning experience.... do you guys offer a degree for properly understanding the program?

What helped me learn bash was FCOM. That walkthrough by Dev_Akm was written in such a way as to get in and teach you how to bash a patch. I would never have installed it unless I needed a specific feature and had a map to get to that specific feature.

It was with that point of view that I wrote the http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1084204-bain-mod-installation-projects/ and attempted to write out how to just use the BAIN tab for installing mods. It is a bit outdated and I've received fair feedback that it is too wordy. Written for Oblivion but also can be used in consideration for Fallout games and Skyrim and morrrowind mash. Other guides exist (linked in first post).

Just play around is not such a great piece of advice unless you already know how to do a few things. So my advice is find out the one or two things you need from it and pursue just those things for now. I recommend the installer tab.

I really dont think its hard to learn how to use it. if people cant be bothered to read the user docs and guides then they dont deserve to use bash. I dont think the pictorial guide can get any more noob friendly, it shows you the basics to get going and then you can look at some more advanced ones when you have the basics sorted. I think arrogance stops a lot of people learning it and use the 'its to complicated' as an excuse. It only takes a few hours of your time to read.

You and the rest of the 'new bash team' have done a fantastic job so far and people need to learn its as much as possible to credit you guys imo.