I've been asked to write a quick guide about getting your mods to work in Windows Vista, so here you go.

First thing to remember about Vista, is this:



In other words, it wants permission/authorization for everything, which in itself is quite annoying.

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For awhile, I didn't even realize that other Vista users were having problems, but my good luck has to do with the way I install my software.

Apparently Vista will become uncooperative with mods if you let it install to the default path, which is usually something like "C: Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion."

Since Program Files is the DEFAULT folder for everything, the key is in creating a new folder that is NOT DEFAULT and installing Oblivion there. You could probably make a folder called "GAMES" or even a folder and call it "OBLIVION" on your C drive and have it work.

My own personal setup for all but utility software (utility as in PC maintenance, not modding utilities) is to install everything on my D drive, like this.



Of course what all this means to you, the Vista user, is that if you have installed to the default path by clicking "next, next, next" when you installed the game, you WILL need to uninstall Oblivion first, and then REINSTALL somewhere else when it gives you the opportunity to choose a directory.

I also recommend downloading and installing the latest version of Crap Cleaner and using it in between uninstalling and reinstalling.

To read this information coming from someone else or to get info about disabling Vista's UAC, see this article by BBen at Nexus.