X3e - VST plugins missing Factory Preset settings
Nomad, sonitus, etc.

1. How to get the settings back?
2. What is the path for the factory settings?
   
3. How to save them all in one folder for backup and portability?

Any workflows for backing up presets appreciated. I've created a few custom settings and they also are not found in the VST plugin, drop-down menu.

Depends on the plug-in.
 
There is no one answer except reinstall should get the factory settings back. Some plug-ins make it difficult to step on factory presets, others provide no warning.
 
Different vendors store presets differently. For example, Nomad stores presets in "My Documents\Nomad Factory\Plug-in Settings" in plug-in specific folders; Sonitus stores presets in the registry.
 
The Cakewalk Plug-in manager provides a way manager presets stored in the registry. Generally user presets (fxp) and banks (fxb) may be stored anywhere.

Thanks scook, a search or "*.fxp" only showed results for a midi plugin i use named "Cthulhu" and zeta+2.
So i'm a bit alarmed as to what happened to all the fxp file presets, because I have no idea what caused them to disappear in the first place.
I'll try a few more searches, then a plugin re-install.
 
 

Some plug-ins have their own method of storing presets. Like I said it is vendor (and sometime plug-in) specific. Files with fxp and fxb extensions are just one way presets are stored.