Skyrim Special Edition: The Ultimate Downgrade Guide (1.5.97.0) for Dummies

This will be pretty easy if you’re a semi-experienced modder. This will be slightly more complicated if this is the first step in your modding journey (welcome to hell)

Notes:

• I highly recommend using a fresh install of the game but to each their own
• Make sure you have opened the game at least ONCE and let it download all the CC content.
• You will be installing 4 external files to get this to work assuming you already have SKSE
• If you are a beginner modder always check which version of skyrim a mod is compatible for as the end goal is 1.5.97.0 make sure you are downloading mods compatible with that version of the game

1. Open steam console using Win+R and then entering steam://open/console in the text box.
Select OK

2. Copy and Paste the following lines ONE AT A TIME into the console. Let one download and move to the next.

Sometimes they can take some time please be patient.

3. Once they are all downloaded navigate to your steam program files. For most it will be:
Program Files/Steam/Steamapps/Content/App_489830
Don’t ask me where your steam files are if they are not located here, idk it’s your computer.

4. Move the contents of these files over into your Skyrim file in order. Allow it to overwrite any files it requests.

Do NOT move over the entire file (ex. depot_489831, depot_489832, etc) MOVE OVER THE CONTENTS (Data, installscript.vdf, etc).

NEXUS DOWNLOAD HERE [www.nexusmods.com]

1. Navigate to the “BestOfBoth_1.6.1130.0-1.5.97.0.exe” and download MANUALLY
MUST use this version it will not work otherwise

2. Run the executable (.exe) file and allow it to patch your files

I don’t use vortex, etc. if you’re looking for a tut on that I can’t help you.

1. Download Mod Organizer on Nexus.
There are a plethora of videos on how to get it set up but here is the one I used
DOWNLOAD MO2 HERE[www.nexusmods.com]

2. Download the Backported Extender ESL Support (BEES) Mod
DOWNLOAD BEES[www.nexusmods.com]

3. BEES will prompt you to download Address Library for SKSE Plugin – Download that as well

You need the BEES mod to allow your game to work. IF YOU ARE OPENING YOUR GAME AND IT IS CRASHING AFTER THE LOGO POPS UP THIS IS WHY !!!

To check your game version at any point during this process navigate to your Skyrim game files and located the SkyrimSE.exe file.
Right click > Properties > Details Tab > Product Version

Another way you can check you have done this correctly is opening MO2 and locating the plugin called “ccbgssse001-fish” if you cannot find this file you have done something wrong.
Only run this check at the end as there will be a point in the above process where the file is unable to be located.

You can check a “Vanilla” version of your game by loading up a new save with only what we’ve installed so far, once you can enter the main menu (pretty shortly after Ralof starts talking to you), navigate to System tab > Help > Locate fishing. Congrats the ESM File is officially loaded!

That’s it.
Idk maybe you figured this out on your own or maybe you spent 3 days trying to figure out why fishing was missing. Either way hopefully this allows you to successfully downgrade while keeping the CCC for whatever mod you are trying to use it for.

Bye!