Signed in solely to thank you for this.

While OK, I need no thanks, but if you do want to post please don't quote entire post
I've edited it, so now your quote is giving old info, while appearing newer.

I will repost it, with a link in old post to this post that can be copied instead (Uses the Share Link Post Number.
Anyone else can use the link below to refer to this new post in future

How To Use Creation Kit - GOG Forum Post by Uhuru NUru

Damn Decrepit Forum, butchering my Name, in links,
I'm not “Uhuru N’Uru”
I'm “Uhuru N’Uru”

DRM free CK removed from Nexus by Bethesda Softworks

Well Fuck Bethesda, this will be because it can be used without Steam (Cracked), and some dumb lawyer, doesn't realise the GOG release is "Cracked" by Bethesda Games Studios.

On linking, I see the "Fixes" have been updated, that doesn't change the CreationKit.exe though, so we are good to update, but the v3.3 is still available, because I've only tested it runs, not used it.

Current version (Easy Install)
Most of you should have this, but it's required, so added a link for it.
Requirement: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019

All users put these files in game folder.
The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim – Special Edition – Creation Kit – DRM Free v1.6.438.0 + Fixes v3.4 Game Folder Contents (GOG).7Z

The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim – Special Edition – Creation Kit – Scripts v1.6.659.0.8 MO Mod – Data Folder Contents.7Z
Scripts
NON MO users put the Scripts folder in the games Data folder as usual.
MO users, Data Folder Content = MO Mod (ALWAYS) Install with MO
Some Pics on Imgur: MO2 CK Data Folder Content Install Guide

Original DRM Free file (for the DIY purists, that prefer to get content from source files).
Original was downloaded as
SSE Creation Kit-71371-1-6-438-0-1658607602.exe
I've renamed that to CreationKit.exe (Required anyway), and put it in this archive, because false positives exist.
SSE Creation Kit-71371-1-6-438-0-1658607602.7Z

All Users
Got Flickering? Nvidia Driver Issue, update to latest Drivers to fix.

MO Users Only
You MUST run CK from within MO to see MO Mods, add as executable, should auto happen, but if not you can click the Gears Icon to set it manually.

Note: you may need to manually remove the SteamID, to stop Steam launching
Pretty sure MO, does that, being too "Helpful". We don't want Steam running though.

MO Users will still get told CreationKit.exe requires Steam to run.
IT DOES NOT (When DRM free)
Tell it to run CK without Steam, and to remove the nag screen, select Always Do this for CreationKit.exe from the ddropdown choices.

If any of that sounds to complicated, WTF do you want the CK for, download mods made for you instead.
MO isn't for you, it is an advanced mod manager.
That means you must be willing to RTFM (Read The Fucking Manual).
If you want "It Just Works", stick with Vanilla, Todd Howard wouldn't lie would he.

If the link gets taken down, PM me, share the files around, I'll "Find" a Magnet link soon.

Think that covers most of it.
Direct link to the Mega folder (easiest Download).
The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim - Special Edition - Creation Kit (GOG)

"Found" a Magnet Link and Torrent (Backup if BS nukes the direct files).
It's a new Upload, being seeded now, but may take a while to propagate, and go Public.
That's assuming it's been done right by the Noob uploader.

It's seeding Note: I turn my PC off every night, (for 4 to 8 hours per day) so be patient if it's not seeding when you check.
As with all Torrents, more seeds = Faster speeds, but it's not huge. only 80 MB for the entire folder.
Just 40 MB if you only take the ready for use full CK v3.4, and a mere 8 MB for just the DRM free EXE.

Also if "Install Instructions.txt" is empty, (My SNAFU), I forgot to save text file before adding to Torrent.
Not sure if it will accept the saved file my Torrent client still says it's 0 Bytes.
Doesn't really matter, It's just an edited cut & paste of the instructions in this post, and shown on the Torrent page

Even if you've used the direct download, which I'll keep up until this gets more seeds. Grabbing the Torrent, and keeping it alive helps everyone including you if you lose your Copy due to a SNAFU.

The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim - Special Edition - Creation Kit (GOG) Magnet Link

The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim - Special Edition - Creation Kit (GOG) Torrent Link (Anonymous)

Here's a Direct Link to the Site, feel free to add new trackers/upload to other sites.

The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim - Special Edition - Creation Kit (GOG) - Demonoid

Finally, don't talk about this on Bethesda Forums, the DRM free version went under their Radar, until GOG release.
I suspect some "Helpful" User mentioned it on their forums.

Attention of BS laywers is NOT wanted.
That's the one, and only reason why I'm not making a new thread, let's keep this as "Need To Know"

Hi!

I have some issues with downloading the torrent you uploaded. I understand it might possibly be due to timezone and there being only 2 seeders.

Thank you for your hard work. I would like to see it hosted elsewhere if possible.

Your hard work is much appreciated!

im going to need a step by step hand held guide that an actual 2yo could understand because i barley know how to work mo2 and ive got no knowledge on CK ive only ever opened form 43 esps to convert them to form 44 but i dont even know how that works either.

same, I recently moved to MO2 and some mods are form 43 and i simply need to convert them. Instructions are vague.

converting them is easy but getting the CK to run on gog version is proving to be an insurmountable task for my monke brain

I' failed to read what Uhuru N'Uru posted regarding flying low to the ground. Removed info.

Sorry, accidental post! i created an account and dont know how to delete. will delete asap!
Hey there; Just wanted to thank you on your work for making this possible. I have run into issues while installing, and here are my steps :

1) downloaded The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim – Special Edition – Creation Kit – DRM Free v1.6.438.0 + Fixes v3.4 Game Folder Contents (GOG).7Z

2) downloaded The Elder Scrolls V – Skyrim – Special Edition – Creation Kit – Scripts v1.6.659.0.8 MO Mod – Data Folder Contents.7Z

3) extracted the files from step 1 into the folder where skse/skyrim/data/meshes/etc is.

4) used MO2 to install the files from step(1) (I just clicked the install from archive, and selected the .zip)

5) I tried running creation kit, but it doesn't open, and acts like nothing happened.

I dont have any errors in my log, and I don't know how to proceed. Can you verify that the steps i took are correct, and that I am not missing any?

Note : am complete noob when it comes to modding, but i need ck to patch 2 mods so that they work together. sorry if this seems noobish!

Sorry for late respionse GOG Forums erratic with notification, only got notified of 2 new posts today.
I will ALWAYS respond, but don't visit GOG Forums unless I have reason, so it may be late.
Added some pics to guide, and here
Some Pics on Imgur: MO2 CK Data Folder Content Install Guide

One general point:
Skyrim, Skyrim NEVER changes.

Modding Skyrim does, and though I'm not "Outdated" yet, I have never modded SSE, and not modded any BGS (Bethesda Games Studios) games since 2017, when the Cash Shop (Creation Club) was added to games I bought years earlier, without such crap.

I have a No Micro{Trash}actions stance, and adding a cash shop long after release, killed my inner BGS Fangirl love.
That desire to mod BGS games hasn't come back YET, it may never come back, I mod every game less now, but mod every game I own 600+, so I know a hell of a lot, but switch games far more often.
I will not buy Starfield, at least until TES6 comes out, and I can be sure no cash Shop will be added AGAIN.

I have to fact check current state, to provide help, even though my knowledge is extensive.
I recommend GamerPoets for Guides to all your BGS modding needs, it's one of my goto sources for fact checking.

GamerPoets - Videos Tab - YouTube

So I assume you figured out 3 was your SNAFU, for everyone Game Folder Content, means what it said
<Your Game Folder> content
CreationKit.exe
SkyrimSE.exe
SkyrimSELauncher.exe

On the note: Well for that job I recommend zMerge (Part of zEdiit)
How To Use zEdit - GamerPoets - 3 Vid Playlist (Vid 2 replaced by Vid 1, zMerge is vid 3)

Last point CK is NOT needed unless you are actually making new Plugin based mods.
I have always had it, but never needed it, xEdit, and zEdit are what I used.

There is overlap between getting mods working together, and creating mods, and these tools fit that overlap much better than CK.

My policy is best tool for the job, and CK has never been the best tool for the mod user, even merging mods.
I select the best mamager for each game, the trend to Manage them all, is a trend to download to folder.

No Manger has ever done well, outside of the engine it's made for, even MO2 now does "Basic Games", and it's same old mediorcre crap, but Virtual content is better than SymLink/HardLink, better than nothing but in every case without exception, the best is made for the engine the game uses.

These are my choices, and 90% of my games I manually Mod, I've only just started looking at MO2 Plugin system.
Not had reason to look at MO2 until now, MO is still better for 32-bit BGS, always will be, due to what was dropped.
Treat BSA Archives as loose files for conflict resolution, after the virtualization, the best part of MO.

Borderlands – Series – Managers – BLCMM – Borderlands Launcher Community Mod Manager (Required)
D&D – Forgotten Realms – Series – Game 12 – [1494 DR] Baldur's Gate III – Manager – BG3 Mod Manager (Best)
Dragon Age – Series – Game 1 – Dragon Age – Ultimate Edition – Managers – DAOMM – Dragon Age – Origins – Mod Manager (Best)
Dragon Age – Series – Game 2 – Dragon Age II – Managers – DA2MM – Dragon Age 2 – Mod Manager (Best: ManuallyTweaked DAOMM)
Dungeon Siege – Series – Game 2 – Dungeon Siege II – Utilities – Elys DS2 Succubus Manager (Required)
FM5000 – Fluffy Manager 5000 (Required for RE Engine - Best for ALL CapCom Games)
Final Fantasy – Series – Game 13 – Fabula Nova Crystallis – Manager – Nova Chrysalia Mod Manager (Required)
Flagrum (Required for Luminous Engine - FFXV + Forspoken)
Freelancer – Series – Utilities – Freelancer Mod Manager (Required)
Frosty Mod Manager (Required For ALL FrostBite Engine Games DAInquisition Mass Effect Andromeda Mirror's Edge: Catalyst)
Mod Organizer (Best For ALL 32-bit BGS Games)
MO2 – Mod Organizer 2 (Best For ALL 64-bit BGS Games + General Basic Manager Due To Virtualization)
Pathfinder – Wrath Of The Righteous – Mod Finder (Best)
Sacred 2 - Mod Manager (Required)
Star Wars – KOTOR – Series – Utilities – KMM – KOTOR Mod Manager (Best)
The Witcher 3 – Mod Manager (Best)
XCOM – LWMM – Long War Mod Manager (Best)

Modular Mod Systems (MO2 or Manual)
Many games with a mere handful of mods available (Manual)

AS you can see I'm no fan of Jack Of All Games, Master Of None Vortex, and don't get me started on the abomination that is Steam Workshop, That ONLY downloads a sad fraction of mods to a Steam Folder.
it cant even install the mod afterwards, it's not even a Basic manager, and you must own the Steam game to even download a mod, yet you get idiots that have no idea how things work, demanding GOG copy it.

GOG does modding right, bare minimum to get game running, and then it's ours to mod the best base game.
DRM free, no forced updates, offline installers.

Hello Uhuru N’Uru. Id like to thank you again for helping me get this to work. I removed alll my mods to try and get this to work.This might just be me, but here is what I have in mo2 : https://imgur.com/a/ZL4Y0dI

I had installed it as you said in your imgur post, and enabled it.

i might have misworded my previous post, also. here is what i meant when i said that I 'pasted it into skse/data/meshes/etc'. :https://imgur.com/a/uC8hSnS is where it is pasted.

Here is a verification of what my exe settings should be in mo2:
https://imgur.com/a/WZpvpNr

Yet upon running creation kit, the message that normally comes up about unlock appears for half a second, then immediately closes out.

Im out of ideas tbh, except for one; should my steam-id in mo2settings->workarounds->steam app ID be empty? Somethings currently in there, so this might be an issue.

Your setup is correct, that MO flashes the warning shows that, and I checked your pics, nothing wrong, assuming path shown to CreationKit.exe is correct. It looks fine, but your Game Folder content pic doesn't show the path to confirm it.
Don't expect it to be wrong, just the only thing I can't confirm from looking at pics.

Onto issues, OUTSIDE MO, which is looking like your issue, is outside of MO, and much harder to find a cause.

Other unlikely suspect worth mentioning, before that.
The CK can open behind other windows, but you should see a Taskbar Icon, if that's the case.
Another rare event that needs to be eliminated, is a still running in background CreatinKit.exe, no window, or taskbar Icon shows, but go in Task Manager, and the exe still running, this can stop retries from ever starting, unlikely, but one to look for.

When MO isn't the issue, it's Requirements, or Windows itself, I thought everybody playing games would have this, but just in case, I will add it to main post as well.

Requirement: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 (x64 version)

First option link named X64, unless on XP, see the notes for that antique.
Even if you have it, reinstall to be sure as MS just keeps updating this, yours may be older than is required.

Then we go to Security issues, you shouldn't have UAC issues with your setup, but it can be turned off (To test).
Same with Security, whether 3rd Party, or Defender, turn off completely to test, (remember to turn these "Tests" on again, if not the cause.)

Overly aggressive security is the bane of modders, and as we are using a modified exe, false flagging is a real possibility.
Beyond that you can check Event Viewer for any events connected to CK, but it's not that easy to intepret this Dev focussed tool.

Twice in last decade I have had Games fail to run on my setup at release, even after trying all the possible fixes others got it working with.
In both cases, a fresh install of Windows fixed it,
Dragon Age: Inquisition [Dec 2014], W7 Ultimate > W7 Ultimate
God Of War [Jan 2022], W10 Pro > W11 Pro (OS change coincidental)

Fresh Install of Windows, both games then ran, without issue, and those were existing installs, no game files were changed.
The easiest way for the non power user is the Upgrade but keep User Data option, but even their I recommend, Dual Booting, a backup.
That way you still have your "Working", OS while you get the new one tamed.

Ultimately mistakes will ALWAYS build up over time, and that's why "Reinstall Game" is a step in the normal troubleshooting process.
I've had issues "Upgrading Windows", but my setup is not standard, so not a typical use case.

It sucks, when it comes time to fix Windows that way, but with my highly modified setup, I tend to fresh install the Major OS updates.
MS has stopped with the 6 monthly ones now, going back to the Service Pack type System it seems, not been another Major Update for either W10, or W11 since that change was announced when W11 launched, instead of expected announced W10 Upgrade.

so I think I've followed this right.

* I have MS Visual C++ 2015-2022 redistributable (for x64, my actual processor, but also apparently for x86 -- who knew?)
* I downloaded the 7z files from the google drive link
* I extracted the files in game folder contents to my actual game installation location.
* I installed the data folder contents 7z using MO
* I activated the installed mod
* I set up the executable using the MO configuration window, placing ticks in the "Force load libraries" and "use application's icon..." boxes. I also, in addition to the binary path, provided data for "Start in" (same path, leaving off file name).
* I extracted the CreationKit.exe from the SSE Creation Kit 7z file, and placed it in the same folder as I put the game folder content (where SkyrimSE.exe and SkyrimSELauncher.exe are located)
* I am launching CK from within MO

I still get a flash of the CK window starting and then nada. I do not get the warning about requiring Steam.

One thing you mention is to manually remove the SteamID, but I'm not sure how to do that? It's not like Steam wants to let me know.

I do have thoughts of eventually creating a mod, but my immediate goal is to just repackage a couple of downloaded mods to be SSE. Is that doable in zEdit? Because I'd be satisfied with that for now.

Who couldn't start CK - install from steam free app SteamVR Performance Test and grab from this app - steam_api64.dll and copy to you Skyrim gog folder, all will be work fine.
Next fix for loadorder in CK if you use MO2 - download Link Shell Extension from schinagl priv at and install, next create Symbolic Link from you mo2 profile folder loadorder.txt to c:\Users\<YouUsername>\AppData\Local\Skyrim Special Edition\loadorder.txt.
How create Symbolic Link - right click to loadorder.txt file in mo2 profile folder and chose - store link source(something like this) and in c:\Users\<YouUsername>\AppData\Local\Skyrim Special Edition\ right click and place here symbolic link.

Does "fix for loadorder" do a better job of making it work?
And does the dll apply to non VR versions of Skyrim?
Realized you might not notice my post:( https://www.gog.com/forum/elder_scrolls_series/skyrim_creation_kit/post43 ) if I didn't reply to you to get your attention.