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Repair MO2 and native plugin failures

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Bobby Comet edited this page Sep 14, 2026 · 1 revision

Some official Mod Organizer 2 plugins are native Windows DLLs. Under Proton/Wine they are significantly less stable than pure Python plugins. The most common offenders are:

Internal file Display name (when it loads) Purpose
installer_omod.dll OMOD Installer Installs old .omod archives
installer_bain.dll Bain Wizard Installer Installs and reads Wrye Bash archives

When these or similar plugins fail to load you may see:

  • A popup or log line: Failed to load the plugin 'installer_omod.dll'
  • The plugin does not appear in Settings → Plugins
  • Occasional freezes or hangs when installing mods or during startup
  • NXM downloads or certain installers stop working correctly

This is one of the main reasons Kalium includes the staged Repair MO2 feature.

NOTE: When you run Repair MO2, these fragile plugins are reinstalled as part of the clean MO2 application files. If a plugin is known to cause problems on your system, you should delete it, disable it, or rename it to .bak after the repair. This step is intentionally manual for safety. Kalium already makes significant changes to the MO2 environment, so it does not automatically disable plugins that may be required by the user.

Why Repair MO2 Exists

Kalium's Repair MO2 is not a full reinstall of your mods.

It only replaces the application files such as binaries, plugins, and USVFS while leaving your instance data untouched.

A repair restores a clean copy of:

  • installer_omod.dll and other native plugins
  • USVFS 0.5.7.2
  • Core MO2 binaries
  • MO2 application plugins and supporting files

Your modding data is not part of the repair.

This includes:

  • mods/
  • profiles/
  • downloads/
  • overwrite/
  • ModOrganizer.ini

NOTE: After running Repair MO2, you will need to reinstall LOOT through Kalium. This does not mess up your load orders. You should also reset or verify your VFS memory setting in Kalium for safety. When you log back into MO2, you will need to import your Nexus categories again through General Settings if required. Disable or remove the problematic native plugin after the repair if it continues causing problems.

After a successful repair, the original problem is usually gone. However, the same problem can sometimes return because of the way Proton/Wine handles native Windows components.

The staged workflow allows you to repair, test, and then restore instance data only when needed.

What to Do When the Plugin Fails

Option A. You Do Not Need OMOD or Another Failing Plugin

Recommended for most Skyrim SE/AE users who do not use .omod files.

Most modern Skyrim SE/AE and Fallout 4 modlists do not use .omod archives.

In that case, the simplest permanent fix is to remove or disable the fragile plugin.

  1. Fully exit MO2 and Steam.
  2. Rename or delete the plugin folder.

For example:

mv /mnt/sda1/MO2/plugins/installer_omod \
   /mnt/sda1/MO2/plugins/installer_omod.bak
  1. Restart MO2.

The plugin will no longer attempt to load.

You can do the same for another native plugin that repeatedly fails and is not required by your modlist.

Option B. You Do Need the Plugin or Want a Clean Install

  1. Fully exit Steam and MO2.

  2. Open Kalium.

  3. Select your managed instance.

  4. Select Repair MO2.

  5. Follow the staged workflow:

    • Backup instance data if desired
    • Confirm the backup
    • Repair application files
    • Launch MO2 from Steam
    • Verify that the original problem is gone
    • Restore instance data only after testing if needed

  6. After the repair, reinstall LOOT if you use it:

    • Kalium Settings → Install LOOT
    • Or:
    kalium install-loot -p /mnt/sda1/MO2

  7. If the native plugin still causes problems, disable, remove, or rename the plugin after the repair.

Quick Checklist After a Hang or Failed Plugin Load

Step Action
1 Fully exit Steam and MO2
2 Run Repair MO2 from Kalium
3 Launch MO2 once through Steam
4 Confirm that MO2 starts cleanly
5 Reinstall LOOT if needed
6 Check VFS memory settings
7 Disable or remove the failing native plugin if necessary

Prevention Tips for CLI Users

  • Prefer a locked Proton version, such as GE-Proton10-25, for the MO2 shortcut.
  • Keep USVFS at 0.5.7.2: 
    kalium install-usvfs -p <mo2 path>
  • Run kalium fix-paths -p <mo2 path> if custom executables start misbehaving.
  • Fully exit Steam before any repair or shortcut work.

NOTE: Following the correct CLI structure with the AppImage is important. Read the CLI documentation before using CLI commands. Running Repair MO2 from the GUI is generally the better option, but the CLI is available for users who prefer command-line workflows.

Summary

The OMOD Installer (installer_omod) and some other native MO2 plugins can be fragile under Proton/Wine.

When they fail, they can cause:

  • Plugin load failures
  • Hangs
  • Startup problems
  • Mod installation problems
  • NXM or installer issues

Kalium's Repair MO2 exists to restore a clean set of MO2 application files without destroying your mod list or instance data.

If you never use the failing plugin, simply disable, remove, or rename it.

If you need the plugin or want to restore a clean MO2 application installation, run Repair MO2, test the repaired environment, and disable the problematic plugin afterward if necessary.

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