Getting Started

Getting Started

GoodbyeWindows migrates your mod setup from Windows to Linux in three steps.

Requirements

• Windows PC: Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) installed with your mods
• Linux PC: Anvil Organizer or Amethyst Mod Manager installed
• Python 3.11+ and PySide6 on both systems

Step 1: Export on Windows

1. Run the GoodbyeWindows Exporter on your Windows PC
2. Select your source: MO2 (recommended) or Vortex (experimental)
3. The tool scans for installed instances automatically
4. Select which games to export
5. Choose your export mode:
   • Metadata only — Small .gbw file (~KB). Mods must be re-downloaded on Linux
   • Full export — Packs all mod files into a .gbw archive. Choose compression: None, Low, or Strong
   • Network transfer — Send directly over LAN
6. Select a target folder (USB drive, external HDD) and start the export

Step 2: Transfer

Move the exported data to your Linux PC:

• USB / External drive — Copy the .gbw file(s) and connect to your Linux PC
• Cloud / Email — For metadata-only exports (small files)
• Network — Direct LAN transfer with PIN authentication (no USB needed)

Step 3: Import on Linux

1. Run HelloLinux on your Linux PC
2. Select your source:
   • Migration file (.gbw) — Select a single .gbw file
   • Folder — Select a folder containing multiple .gbw files
   • NTFS partition — Scan mounted Windows partitions directly
   • Network — Connect to Windows PC running the Exporter
3. Review the detected games in the preview
4. Choose your target mod manager:
   • Anvil Organizer — Creates a full Anvil instance
   • Amethyst Mod Manager — Creates an Amethyst profile
5. Set game paths (optional, can be configured later in the mod manager)
6. Start the import

After Import

• Open your mod manager and verify the imported mods
• If you used metadata-only export, download the missing mods from Nexus (links are provided)
• Framework mods (SKSE, etc.) are detected and handled automatically by Anvil

Vortex Support

Vortex Mod Manager support is experimental and not fully tested. MO2 is the recommended source.