So, I've just installed Oblivion for the first time, and after about a week of research, I am using the following:

Windows Vista 32-bit
Oblivion installed to c:\games\ (as opposed to c:\program files\) to avoid UAC errors
Oblivion GOTY Edition with all plugins installed and activated
The following mod list (in load order):

Oblivion.esm
Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm
Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm
Mart's Monster Mod.esm
TamrielTravellers.esm
FCOM_Convergence.esm
Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch MOBS.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp
Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp
FCOM_Francescos.esp
FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp
Knights.esp.bak
Fran Armor Add-on.esp
Fran_Lv30Item_Maltz.esp
ExnemRuneskulls.esp
FCOM_ExnemRuneskulls.esp
Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp
FCOM_BobsArmory.esp
Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp
FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp
Oblivion WarCry EV.esp
FCOM_WarCry.esp
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp
FCOM_Convergence.esp
FCOM_SaferRoads.esp
FCOM_MoreWildernessLife.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Extra Wounding.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Foxes.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Less Bone Loot.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Zombies for Body Meshes.esp
TamrielTravellers4000.esp
FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp
Knights.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp
FCOM_Knights.esp
FCOM_UnofficialFranArmorAddon.esp
FCOM MWL-TheHeath patch.esp
FCOM MWL-RollingHills patch.esp
Bashed Patch, 0.esp


It's a pretty tame looking list, and it's running fairly well. However, I'm having a few problems, and I also have some questions. I'd love some feedback on the list.
My problems so far:
-When carrying a sword and a torch, I can't open chests. When I try to activate a chest, it flashes purple (I'm assuming a texture problem). I can put away the sword (leaving torch still out), and the chest will successfully open. The chest then reflects having been opened.
-When I exit Oblivion to my desktop, I get a blackscreen with a popup window saying "Oblivion is no longer working". Windows tries to search for the problem (duh! I closed it!), and I have to bring up the task manager to even get my cursor to register. Very annoying.

My questions: I would like to run several mods not on this list. Those include:
Midas Magic
a UI mod darN/dark/or whatever it's called
an environment mod (Natural Environment, etc.)
and Windspear Tower

How would I insert these in the above list?

Thanks for your time!

well for the chest thing its part of OOO, it makes that happen and to unlock them if they are locked you have to sneak.

I second what chris said about chests and OOO. About the other problem I'm afraid there aren't working solutions. As for Vagrant writings this is very probable, at least in Vista, since Oblivion doesn't have a good management of the Ram. Moreover Vista requires a lot of Ram to run.. So you have to learn to live with it!

As for the other mods I would put NE just after Fran_Lvl30 mod, Midas after FCOM_TamrielTravellers. The darkui mod comes without esps instead, unless you aren't using Book Jackets.

hmmm, about this of sneaking is something i will try. But you are sure right about being OOO thing, and is not a bug, it is intended indeed to be this way, as one can bash the chest if activate it bearing heavy weapons (this makes for strong and clumsy fighters a chance of opening then). And I think this option is configurable, as even the chance of lockpicking containers while in combat too.

Ah... I thought the purple I was seeing was a texture problem, but I guess it's just coincidence then. I guess I don't exactly know what the purple "no texture" looks like.

As for the Vista problem, I know it's mod related, as I initially ran Oblivion clean for about a week, before uninstalling and reinstalling it. I wonder which mod (or combo of mods) is causing it. Perhaps there's a way to close the mods before closing Oblivion? Are any other Vista users experiencing this?

Also, if I want to add the EyeCandy body mod, where should that go?

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Ok, a little further assistance, if you folks don't mind.
I'm now currently running the following list:

Oblivion.esm
Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm
Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm
Mart's Monster Mod.esm
TamrielTravellers.esm
FCOM_Convergence.esm
Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp
Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch MOBS.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp
Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp
Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp
FCOM_Francescos.esp
FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp
Knights.esp.bak
Fran Armor Add-on.esp
Fran_Lv30Item_Maltz.esp
Natural_Water_by_Max_Tael.esp
Natural_Weather_HDR_by_Max_Tael.esp
Natural_Habitat_by_Max_Tael.esp
Natural_Vegetation_by_Max_Tael.esp
ExnemRuneskulls.esp
FCOM_ExnemRuneskulls.esp
Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp
FCOM_BobsArmory.esp
Loth's Blunt Weapons for Npcs.esp
FCOM_LothsBluntWeapons.esp
Oblivion WarCry EV.esp
FCOM_WarCry.esp
Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp
FCOM_Convergence.esp
FCOM_SaferRoads.esp
FCOM_MoreWildernessLife.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Extra Wounding.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Foxes.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Gems & Gem Dust.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Less Bone Loot.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - Zombies for Body Meshes.esp
TamrielTravellers4000.esp
FCOM_TamrielTravelers.esp
MidasSpells.esp
Loth's Blunt Weapons.esp
Knights.esp
Mart's Monster Mod - City Defences.esp
FCOM_Knights.esp
FCOM_UnofficialFranArmorAddon.esp
FCOM MWL-TheHeath patch.esp
FCOM MWL-RollingHills patch.esp
Bashed Patch, 0.esp


I would like to add the following mods to the list:

Ancient Towers
Mountain Tower
Origin of the Mages Guild
Apothisis Silver Dragon Armory
EyeCandy Body Mod
Windspear Tower
Akatosh Mount
Dragon Invasion
KD Armor Circlets

Where do these need to go in the load order? If you don't mind explaining why you recommend the order you give, I would appreciate it, as I'm trying to learn how to do this more independently (don't want to bog the community down with tiny questions...)
Thanks a ton, folks! I really appreciate the help.

First, as all of these are large mods, don't add more than one at a time. Then, if you are using OBMM to set your load order, let it do the first placement. then if there is a problem try to identify which mod is conflicting and decide which mod you want to be the one that controls and place it after the other one. Most of the time OBMM gets it right. If you are playing a particular quest mod, you want it near the bottom of your load order. Then, after completing the quest allow it to be pushed up by newer mods as they come along.

If you really want to micromanage your load order, Wrye Bash is better. It has a feature called BALO that is supposed to make ordering more organized - I haven't tried it yet though. The conflict management is better also.

I am in much the same position - I recently started playing, then did a bit of research and found all these amazing mods. I also get an exit error message, although not as serious as yours (I have XP) and I believe it is caused by the unofficial oblivion patch. I have not tested fully yet.

It is interesting to see the mods you are running - I have selected an almost completely different set (not all of which are working properly) mostly based on recommendations made by Aelius28. His list is definitely worth a look.