New to using mods, please help

[sambucus]

I`m sure this must have been answered somewhere but I can`t find a guide to loading mods. I`m trying to run Fall from Heaven 2 015. I`ve extracted it into the mods folder and it`s present in the "advanced/load a mod" menu. I click on the button and it says Civ 4 will have to reload. Click ok and that`s when the probs start. At first I thought it might reload automatically but it doesn`t. Ive tried waiting but nothing happened for 30 minutes. If I reload the game manually it just goes back to it`s original state with "none" ticked in the load a mod menu.
I`m sure this is a basic problem but I sure would appreciaye any advice. I`ve seen this fantastic mod running and I would really like to play it.
TIA

 

[crunch]

FfH 2 is a great mod indeed. It seems that you have done everything correctly. Let's see.
1. First of all, installation. Have you installed the big ~200 MB file (followed by the patch): http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=171398? Sometimes people just install the patch, which obviously cannot work.
2. Have you tried running some other civ mods, e.g., those shipped with the game? Have you succeeded?
3. Have you applied the latest civ4 patch (1.61): http://civfanatics.com/civ4/patch/
4. Civ4 can push a computer to its limits. FfH 2 is a huge mod. If your computer barely manages civ, it'll have even more problems with FfH2.
5. Loading mods can be (very) slow. This is what happens to me sometimes. When I select to load a mod, the game shuts downs and (it seems) nothing happens for 2 or so minutes. But if I open Task Manager (via Ctrl+Alt+Delete), I can see a Civ4 process active. After the 2+ minutes, the mod actually starts to load.
6. You can tell civ to start with a mod loaded in several ways. You can e.g. modify the ini file to do this. An easier way would be to create a copy of your civ4 shortcut on your desktop. Right-click it, select Properties, go to Shortcut tab, and ADD the mod directory to the Target, like this:

"C:\Program Files\Civ4\Civilization4.exe" mod="The Ancient Mediterranean"

Modify the name as necessary (mod folder name).
7. Complain to mod authors in the thread referred to in point #1.

 

[sambucus]

Thanks for the speedy and comprehensive reply. Still no luck, tho.

1 Yep, got the right file and the patch
2 The other mods all work
3 Got that
4 The other comp I saw running the mod was about the same spec as mine. Unfortunately I cant contact the guy any more. Civ 4 runs fine.
5 There is a civ 4 process active in task manager for about 2 mins (c 22,000k mem usage) when it reloads, then it ends. And nothing.
6 I tried the target shortcut thing but it comes up as "invalid directory, ignoring" My target now reads
"G:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Civilization4.exe" mod="Fall from Heaven 2 ". I`ve tried various combinations of name, ie Fall of Heaven 2 015 etc but no luck.

Thanks again and any other ideas would be appreciated.