looking for help setting up windows 10 VM for game modding
Ill start with im super new to this OS, and relatively new to linux as a whole (i have had ubuntu and pop-os for a while but never got into much as i struggle to install a simple program at times.
Now for the goal - i would like to set up a window 10 VM and have access to my steam library files so i can install modding software ( that only works on windows) and then add the mods i want to game files so i can run the game as normal through steam.
If anyone has experience with this same kinda thing or just enough knowledge to guide me through and teach me a bit of what im doing on the way i would greatly appreciate any help.
48 Replies
you dont usually need vm to run modding tools
99% of case you can either just put the file or run the tools inside the same proton prefix as the game
if you have specific games/mod in mind i can try to help
ok so say im trying to mod my baulders gate 3 with something i downloaded off nexus, can you explain further how i would go about that
are you using bg3 mod manager?
if yes you can just open protontricks > select bg3 > select default prefix > install windows dll/component > select dotnet 4.7.2, then protontricks > select bg3 > select default prefix > run arbitrary executable > select bg3 mod manager
if no can you provide the instruction for windwos?
from my understanding they need .NET Framework 4.7.2 and .NET 7.0.13 installed. to run how do i go about that?
sorry slow at responding i realized that if im useing this game as my example i should reinstall it real quick... sorry fresh install of os and everything
i said how in the first part
first thanks, i am install bg3 now and will use those steps when it finishes. can you elaborate on the steps
i dont know what i can do or how really im at the point of when i want to do something i google and hope someone else had the exact same issue
after you are done installing try opening protontricks, the step should be fairly intuitive
im stuck in a loop at the last step, when i select the mod manager it jsut goes back a step where i have to pick run arbitrary exe
you select the exe right?
yeah and it jsut goes back
oh right, but it should open the executable
didnt open anything as far as i can tell
hmm do you have any other exe you can test?
not really fresh install, any sugestions on something we could try real quick?
ok got it
still picking baulders gate?
yes
just making sure it does run when you select it
its running np
huh, where did you download the modmanager
admin
BG3 Mod Manager
BG3 Mod Manager - Download - BG3 Mod Manager
Welcome to the BG3 Mod Manager download page! The BG3 Mod Manager is a powerful and user-friendly tool designed to help you easily manage and organize your mods for Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether you’re a seasoned modder or just starting out, our mod manager simplifies the process of installing, updating, and customizing your game mods, ... Read more
this is what my machine is working with if it helps
omg nvm lol one sec
there ya go
so youll need to recreate your prefix using proton ge
it works ootb with ge
open protontricks and select bg3 > default then delete all data
ok deleted
open protonupqt > install for steam > add version > ge proton > install
go to steam > bg3 > properties > compatibility > force > pick the ge you installed
then run the bg3 mod manager exe again using protontricks, no need installing dotnet
ok now when i run protontricks i dont see bg3 anymore
oh youll need to run it once first
so it recreates the prefix
makes sense
so do you think that roughly the same process should work for mass effect?
well its kinda depend on how the mod are loaded
it has a mod manager also and all the mods on nexus say that using it is the only way to get them working
basic principle is this
steam workshop -> should work ootb
copying dll into game folder -> may require winedlloverrides but ootb otherwise
require mod manager -> what youve done
some have linux mod manager like r2modman
thanks again for going through this with me
sometimes the mod manager arent required, games like hzd or mhw use nexus but basically only require dropping dll into game folder
looks like mass effect will require mod manager
how did you know that we needed that specific proton for this? was it just a search or something that you noticed? i really do want to learn more and feel so dumb still
ge proton is actually well known, it basically include extra fixes and dependencies that normal proton doesnt include
for the reason why not just use ge because most of the time normal proton is enough and youll need to download newer ge version manually
hmm when i run the game it just black screens me after the logo... any thoughts?
bg3?
it used to run fine under pop os
yeah
nvm
it worked its self out
lol
btw you can find most workaround in protondb
How well does Baldur's Gate 3 work on Linux and the Steam Deck?
Game information for Proton, Linux, Steam Deck, and SteamOS
thank you thank you thank you!
also ignore most of the
gamemoderun command, ppl still like recommending it but its actually can be harmful in modern systemwhat even is that?
its a cpu scheduler thingy
it can boost performance on older hw or on specific cases
but most of the time its not required in modern hw
any tips that you think would help me going forward? this is most of what i intend to use my pc for gaming with light mods, mass effect, morrowind, and minecraft. most other games dotn really need mods or like you said just work with the steam workshop np.
idk if i got any specific tips, it basically comes down to how good you are with searching and how experienced you are
if you got stuck you can always ask around here 😂
oh for minecraft just use prism launcher from discover