Running through the step by step video to modding Shenmue I & II and I've encountered a problem. Need help please!

[Riku Kurosaki]

I'm having a problem where after installing the HD environmental texture overhaul pack to Shenmue II when starting up a new game to check for black textures, the game freezes at the loading screen. I just got the game yesterday so I do not have a save file to check for them. I've tried over 10 times to start a new game and it's always freezing at the loading screen. I've tried resetting my laptop and updated it and after resetting it, I still run into the same issue...

 

[Riku Kurosaki]

UPDATE: So I seemed to have fixed what the issue was from reading some older posts on here and it turned out it was the SpecialK mod, so I uninstalled it from my sm2 folder and now the game loads just fine.

Is there anyway I can use mods on Shenmue II without using SpecialK?