After encountering a number of bugs, both in the vanilla game and in mods, I've come to suspect my save games may be corrupted. Somebody has advised me to try Wrye Mash as a means of cleaning my games.
Well, as per the instructions, I first downloaded and installed Python 2.5, I then grabbed the most recent version of Wrye Mash...
Lo and behold, when I click on the shortcut, Wrye Mash refuses to start. Apparently this is not uncommon, and the site states:
Quote:
Starting Wrye Mash
• Double click the "Wrye Mash for Python 2.4 (2.5)" shortcut in the Mopy directory.
• If this doesn't work, see Non-Standard Morrowind/Python Directories or If Mash Won't Start.
Non-Standard Morrowind/Python Directories
• Do this if either Morrowind or Python is in a non-standard directory.
• Wrye Mash is not a regular program, but rather a script file. To run Mash, the Wrye Mash shortcut needs to tell Windows to: 1) find the Python script file interpreter (pythonw.exe), and 2) use it to run the bash.py script file that is located in the 3) Morrowind\Mopy directory.
• Ordinarily the Wrye Mash shortcut does this pretty easily, but if either Python or Morrowind is in a non-standard directory, then you need to alter it to point to the new directories. The rest of this section shows you how to do that.
• Copy the "Wrye Mash for Python 2.x" shortcut and give the copy a new name (e.g., "My Mash 2.x") – this protects your changes from being overwritten by future Mash releases.
• Right click on the new shortcut, select Properties. This will open the Properties window for the shortcut.
• Go to the Shortcut tab in the Properties window.
• If Morrowind is in a non-standard directory, then edit the Start In field to be
[Morrowind Directory Path]\Mopy (e.g. H:\Games\Morrowind\Mopy )
• If Python is in a non-standard place. then edit the Target field to be:
"[PythonPath]" bash.py (e.g. "C:\Python24\pythonw.exe" bash.py )
~~~~~~~~
If Mash Won't Start
• If Bash refuses to start, or quits after quickly flashing up a window...
• Check your Mash Shortcut
• Most users who have problems with Mash simply need to tweak the Start In and/or Target fields of the shortcut. (See Non-Standard Morrowind/Python Directories for more info.)
• If that's fine, then there may be a bug with Mash, or a problem with your setup. You can usually figure out the problem by creating a bug dump and reviewing it. And if you can't puzzle it out, someone on the Elder Scrolls forums may be able to help.
• Getting the Bugdump
• Open a command shell (Start: Programs: Accessories: Command Prompt).
• chdir to the Mopy directory. "chdir" means "change directory". E.g.: chdir C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\Mopy
• Type: c:\python24\python.exe mash.py 0
• If you have a different version/location of python, adapt the first argument accordingly.
• That's the number zero at the end, not the letter 'o'.
• Doing this will cause any error messages that Mash generates on start to spew to the command shell. This is the bugdump.
• Dealing with the Bugdump
• First, look at it! – especially the last several lines – this will often give you a good clue as to what the problem is, and you may be able to resolve it on your own.
• Common Problems
• Can't find bash.py: Make sure that you chdir to the Mopy directory first.
• If that doesn't help, then go to the forums and post the whole bugdump. Preferably, you should post the dump in the Relz/Help topic (see Discussion link at top of page) or you can start a new topic. Be sure to mention "Wrye Mash" in the text of the post.
• Hint: Control-C does not work in the command line window, but you can still copy text from it by selecting the text, and then hitting the Enter key.
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Ehhh.... Okay....
I did get part of the way through all of that, and I was able to copy the shortcut and find my way into the "Shortcut tab in the Properties window"... but after that I am lost... *sigh*.
The thing is.. I have the programme in my main MW directory, so it looks to me as though my start path is actually correct, it reads as:
"%PROGRAMFILES%\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\Mopy"
And my Target reads:
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Python25\pythonw.exe mash.py
So... maybe, as is explained in the second part of that quote.. I have a bug. Yes, I could go to the Elderscrolls forum as is suggested, and I likely will, but the thing is that if I follow the steps outlined, I suspect I won't have a clue as to how I can interpret the results.
Before I do that, I am really hoping that somebody here has a clear understanding of Wrye Mash and might be able to provide me with a "How to for Dummies Guide."
I can tinker a little bit with the console, and I am able to mess about with fairly basic computer stuff, but I find this sort of thing really daunting.
If anyone can help, I'd be very grateful, and I'd even bake you a large batch of cookies.
btw,
here is the link to Wrye Mash.