Installation

These steps will take you over how to do a fresh installation of Fallout New Vegas, which is required for this guide

Installation Parameters:

- Fallout New Vegas and all modding tools must be installed outside all default Windows folders (Program Files, Program Files (x86), Desktop, and Documents for example)

This is to avoid issues with Windows UAC (User Account Control) from blocking certain aspects of different tools

- Fallout New Vegas and Mod Organizer 2 must be installed on the same drive, preferably on an SSD for shorter loading times and less stutter while loading assets
- You will need at least 15 gigabytes of free drive space for just the Core module (including the game and the tools), and the total size of the entire guide is 25 gigabytes

Core Module - 15 gigabytes (including the game and the tools)
Graphics Module:

Low - 1 gigabyte
Medium - 4.5 gigabytes
High - 8.5 gigabytes

Gameplay Module - 0.8 gigabytes
Content Module - 2 gigabytes

Common Terminology:

Root folder: Where Fallout New Vegas is installed

For Steam it is Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout New Vegas
For GOG it is GOG Galaxy/Games/Fallout New Vegas (unless you manually changed the installation path)

Data folder: The Data folder that's located in your Root folder

For Steam it is Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout New Vegas/Data
For GOG it is GOG Galaxy/Games/Fallout New Vegas/Data

MO2: Mod Organizer 2 (will be installed shortly)

Installing Prerequisites:

Microsoft VC++ 2013

Installation Instructions:

Run the installer and follow the given instructions

If you get a message that the program is already installed, just exit out of the installer

- Required libraries for FNV and the 4GB Patcher

Microsoft VC++ 2015, 2017, 2019

Installation Instructions:

Click the x86: vc_redist.x86.exe and x64: vc_redist.x64.exe links under the Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019 header
Run both of the .exe files and follow the given instructions

If you get a message that the program is already installed, just exit out of the installer

- Required libraries for Mod Organizer 2

Updating Audio Drivers

Windows search for Device Manager
In the device manager, expand the Audio inputs and outputs section, right-click on your primary audio device, and select Update driver

From the pop-up, select Search automatically for updated driver software

Select 'Search automatically for updated driver software'

If the search reports that you already have the latest drivers, you can exit the window
If it says your drivers are outdated, let it update your drivers to the latest version

Installing Fallout New Vegas:

For Steam:

NOTE: If you already have a Steam library folder set up outside of the default Windows folders, you can simply install FNV to that library folder

Launch Steam and select Steam -> Settings
Go to the Downloads tab and select Steam Library Folders
From the pop-up, select Add Library Folder
Add a folder on a different drive in a location of your choice outside of the default Windows folders (preferably on an SSD)

If you do not have another drive to create a folder on, follow these instructions to create a new library in a safe location on the same drive

Exit out of the menu and go to Library
Select Fallout New Vegas and click Install
From the pop-up, select Choose location for install:
Select the folder you just created outside of the default Windows folders and install it

For GOG:

Launch GOG and select Library
Select Fallout New Vegas and click Install
Set the Install to to a location of your choice outside of the default Windows folders (preferably on an SSD) and install

For Both Steam and GOG:

Navigate to Documents/My Games/FalloutNV and delete everything (you can keep the saves folder if you want, but old saves will not be compatible with this guide)
Navigate to the where you have Fallout New Vegas installed, and completely delete the entire game folder

For Steam:

NOTE: If you already have a Steam library folder set up outside of the default Windows folders, you can simply install FNV to that library folder

Launch Steam and select Steam -> Settings
Go to the Downloads tab and select Steam Library Folders
From the pop-up, select Add Library Folder
Add a folder on a different drive in a location of your choice outside of the default Windows folders (preferably on an SSD)

If you do not have another drive to create a folder on, follow these instructions to create a new library in a safe location on the same drive

Exit out of the menu and go to Library
Select Fallout New Vegas and click Install
From the pop-up, select Choose location for install:
Select the folder you just created outside of the default Windows folders and install it

For GOG:

Launch GOG and select Library
Select Fallout New Vegas and click Install
Set the Install to to a location of your choice outside of the default Windows folders (preferably on an SSD) and install

Your modding folder will act as the main directory for all the tools you install, as well as any backups/screenshots/etc. you may want to keep. This folder will be referred to as the Modding folder from now on

Any anti-virus you have, including Windows Defender, needs to have file exceptions made for your Root folder and Modding folder. If Windows will not let you add an exclusion via the UI per those instructions, you can use this method of using Windows Powershell instead. If you don't do this, critical files from mods or tools can be deleted by your anti-virus. It is also recommended (but not required) to completely disable your anti-virus for the duration of the guide to avoid downloaded files being flagged as dangerous.

Right-click on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel
In the left pane, select Manage 3D Settings
In the right pane, select the Program Settings tab and select Fallout - New Vegas from the drop down

If you do not see an option for Fallout New Vegas, select Add and then select Fallout NV (NOT Fallout New Vegas Launcher) from the pop-up

If Fallout NV still doesn't show up, select Browse..., navigate to where you have FNV installed, and select FalloutNV.exe

Scroll down in the settings box and click on Max Frame Rate

If you do not see the Max Frame Rate option, you need to update your GPU drivers

In the pop-up menu, select the circle next to On, and set the limiter to 2 less than your monitor's refresh rate

If you do not know your monitor's refresh rate, do the following:

Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings
Scroll to the bottom of the window and select Advanced display settings
Make sure the monitor you play on is selected from the drop-down menu at the top of the window, and your refresh rate will be shown below Display information

Click the Apply changes button in the top right then exit

Viva New Vegas

A Comprehensive 2020 Fallout New Vegas Modding Guide

Installation

Installation Parameters:

Common Terminology:

Installing Prerequisites:

Microsoft VC++ 2013

Microsoft VC++ 2015, 2017, 2019

Updating Audio Drivers

Installing Fallout New Vegas:

Setting up your Modding Folder:

Disabling Anti-Virus:

Generating Fresh .INI Files:

Capping FPS