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Preparation

Enabling File Extensions

Before we start, it is important to enable file extensions in Windows.

By default, File Explorer will not show file extensions (such as .exe, .dll, or .esp). These extensions are very important when going through the guide, so it is highly recommended to enable visible file extensions:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Select the View tab at the top.
  3. Enable File name extensions in the Show section.
    4. Show file extensions

Disabling Base Address Randomization

Base Address Randomization is a security feature in Windows that allows program's starting address to be randomized, which is not the expected behavior in 32-bit programs like Fallout: New Vegas. This leads to crashes in a modded game.

While the feature should be disabled by default, it is still recommended to sanity check if it is disabled:
  1. Open Windows Security from your Start Menu.
  2. Click on App & browser control in the left sidebar.
  3. Click on Exploit protection settings under Exploit protection.
  4. Ensure Force randomization for images (Mandatory ASLR) is set to Use default (Off).

    5. If you don't want to change the global setting, you can add an exception just for the game:

    1. Click on Program settings.
    2. Click on Add program to customize.
    3. Select Add program by name.
    4. Enter FalloutNV.exe in the box and save.
    5. Find the newly created entry on the list and click Edit.
    6. Find Force randomization for images (Mandatory ASLR).
    7. Check Override system settings, and set the toggle to Off.

Installation

Choosing a Location

A clean installation is not only required to get rid of any potential leftover mod files, but also to make sure the game is installed in a safe location. Here is what you need to know when choosing where to install your game:
  • Avoid any default Windows folders: This includes but is not limited to C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files x86, your Desktop and your Documents folders.
    This is because users lack write access to Program Files, while Desktop and Documents are often managed by OneDrive. This can cause many issues with the game and any modding tools.

    An example of a safe location is C:\Games
  • Install on an SSD if possible: Having the game on an SSD will drastically improve loading times and decrease stuttering.
  • Fallout 3 Installation: Fallout 3 only needs to be installed for running the TTW installer, and can be uninstalled after the installer completes. It still needs to be installed outside of any default Windows folder as outlined above.

Uninstalling the Games

If you never installed the games before, go directly to the next section.

As the games are available on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games, there are separate instructions for each version. You obviously only need to follow the directions for the versions you have.

Steam

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If you already uninstalled the games, make sure to follow step 4 and 5 to ensure there are no leftovers.

Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list.
  3. Right-click on it and select Manage -> Uninstall.
  4. Navigate to Steam\steamapps\common and, if present, delete the Fallout New Vegas folder.
  5. Navigate to Documents\My Games\FalloutNV and delete all INI files inside it.

Fallout 3

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list.
  3. Right-click on it and select Manage -> Uninstall.
  4. Navigate to Steam\steamapps\common and, if present, delete the Fallout 3 folder.

GOG

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Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open GOG and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list.
  3. Right-click on it and select Manage Installation -> Uninstall.
    • If you used an offline installer then run the unins000.exe file in the game's Root folder.
  4. Navigate to Documents\My Games\FalloutNV and delete all INI files inside it.

Fallout 3

  1. Open GOG and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list.
  3. Right-click on it and select Manage Installation -> Uninstall.
    • If you used an offline installer then run the unins000.exe file in the game's Root folder.

Epic Games

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If you already uninstalled the games, make sure to follow step 4 to ensure there are no leftovers.

Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list.
  3. Click on 3 dots and select uninstall from the menu.
  4. Navigate to Documents\My Games\FalloutNV_Epic and delete all INI files inside it.

Fallout 3

  1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list.
  3. Click on 3 dots and select uninstall from the menu.
  4. Navigate to Documents\My Games and delete the Fallout3 folder.

Installing the Games

As the games are available on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games, there are separate instructions for each version. You obviously only need to follow the directions for the versions you have.

Steam

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Creating a new Steam library

It is strongly recommended to install the games outside of any default Windows folders (such as Program Files (x86)), as the the strict Windows file protections of these folders can break certain mods/tools. Instead, we will use a tool called Steam Library Setup Tool to create a new Steam library folder outside of any default Windows folders.

If you already have Steam installed outside of any default windows folders then go directly to step 1 of the next section and install the games to your custom Steam library.

  1. Completely exit out of Steam using Task Manager or System Tray.
  2. Download the steam_library_setup_tool-3.2.exe file from here.
  3. Once downloaded, run the file and add a new entry by clicking Add Row.
  4. Type the chosen path under Path, e.g. C:\Games\Steam
  5. Click Accept then Yes if prompted to create a new folder.
  6. The tool will ask to exit, select OK.
    7. Steam library setup tool

Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list and select Install.
  3. Under Install to:, select the library folder created with the tool, which is the second C:\ entry if you are installing on the main drive.
    4. Example Steam install locations
  4. Select Next then wait for the install to finish.

If you still do not see your new library, restart your PC.

Fallout 3

  1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list and select Install.
  3. Under Install to:, select the library folder created with the tool, which is the second C:\ entry if you are installing on the main drive.
    4. Example Steam install locations
  4. Select Next then wait for the install to finish.

GOG

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Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open GOG and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list and select Install.
  3. Set the Install to location to a location of your choice.
    • It is required to install the game outside of any default Windows folders (e.g., Program Files x86).

Fallout 3

  1. Open GOG and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list and select Install.
  3. Set the Install to location to a location of your choice.
    • It is required to install the game outside of any default Windows folders (e.g., Program Files x86).

Epic Games

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Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout: New Vegas in the list.
  3. Click on the game to install it.
    • It is required to install the game outside of any default Windows folders (e.g., Program Files x86).

Fallout 3

  1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library.
  2. Find Fallout 3 in the list.
  3. Click on the game to install it.
    • It is required to install the game outside of any default Windows folders (e.g., Program Files x86).

Post-Installation

Key Terminology

Now that the game is installed, there are two folders from it that will be referred to in the guide often:
  • Root folder: Where the game is installed.
    • For Steam:

      Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout New Vegas

    • For GOG:

      GOG Galaxy\Games\Fallout New Vegas

      (unless you manually changed the installation path).
    • For Epic Games:

      Epic Games\FalloutNewVegas\Fallout New Vegas English

      (unless you manually changed the installation path).
  • Data folder: Where all of the game's assets are located.
    • For Steam:

      Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout New Vegas\Data

    • For GOG:

      GOG Galaxy\Games\Fallout New Vegas\Data

    • For Epic Games:

      Epic Games\FalloutNewVegas\Fallout New Vegas English\Data

Generating Fresh INI Files

Fallout: New Vegas

  1. Run the game from Steam/GOG Galaxy, or through FalloutNVLauncher.exe in the game files if you are using an offline copy.
  2. Click OK to both pop-ups that say Detecting Video Hardware.
    • If there aren't any pop-ups, navigate to Documents\My Games\FalloutNV and delete all INI files, then retry.
  3. Click OK then Exit.

Fallout 3

  1. Run the game from Steam/GOG Galaxy, or through FalloutLauncher.exe in the game files if you are using an offline copy.
  2. Click OK to both pop-ups that say Detecting Video Hardware.
    • If there aren't any pop-ups, navigate to Documents\My Games\Fallout3 and delete all INI files, then retry.
  3. Exit the launcher.