Thread: All Final Fantasy XI PC Updates & PS2 Disc Backups

In 2010, I decided to reinstall FFXI. I modded countless files over the years, some of which aren't detected by File Check, and decided I simply wanted to start over. While doing it, I created a backup of the majority of files downloaded, effectively archiving every patch released since 2003. There are only a couple of files missing, but they're so few and so small that it's a non-issue.

This contains several zipped archives and implementation instructions. Because it's complete patches, it does include some DLL files, if you're wondering. I'll also be seeding it 50% of the time with a 100-150Kbps upload.

For anyone who is considering or simply forced to reinstall FFXI in the near future, this should help you avoid exclusively updating it through PlayOnline.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These torrents are pre-Adoulin data only. They will eventually be replaced. To download the entirely new archives that include all of the Adoulin data, please look to the 4shared or FileFactory HTTP links in the next post.

FFXI NA PC Updates: http://kat.ph/ffxi-full-patch-2012-12-12-t6896256.html
FFXI NA PC Updates - Torrent File ONLY - Backup Link: http://www.filefactory.com/file/4f0a...-12-12.torrent

FFXI PlayStation 2 Installation Discs: http://www.kickasstorrents.com/final...-t5360135.html
FFXI PlayStation 2 Installation Discs Alternate Link: http://www.kat.ph/final-fantasy-xi-f...-t5360135.html

If anyone tries to download this now and runs into any issues, let me know. I regularly seed on various private and public trackers, and have created a lot of my own torrents in the past, so it should not malfunction. If anything goes wrong, tell me so it can be fixed.

As of 01/28/2013, these files are active, and the torrents carry all but the Adoulin patches. For those, please look below.

Enjoy.

Here's the NA PC update archives on 4shared and FileFactory.

The 4shared and FileFactory folders contain all patches, starting with 2003 data, and continuing all the way up to the update conducted in late March of 2013.

4shared Links

http://www.4shared.com/folder/CpStgu...FullPatch.html

FileFactory Links

http://www.filefactory.com/f/f6a853d1e7747a6d/

Since the TXT file isn't included with the HTTP files, here's its contents (which includes instructions and a picture for those who need them):

Spoiler: show

These zip archives contain, as of 03/31/2013, roughly 99% of the files needed to update a completely fresh NA PC installation of "Final Fantasy XI", covering every patch from late 2003 up until now. This DOES NOT include the game itself. It has been tested on two other fresh installations, and successfully updated both of them without a hitch. All of the files are in their pristine, freshly downloaded forms (still labeled as .tmp2 files), so PlayOnline will recognize them all and install them for you, letting you watch as it works.

Beyond letting PlayOnline do the actual installing, if you're wondering why these patch contents were left as .tmp2 files, it's for safety reasons, too; improper .tmp2 decompressions can be quickly reversed (while overwriting a bunch of simply-named DATs with completely incompatible yet like-named DATs cannot be). You'll only have to search the folders for misplaced .tmp2 files, delete them, and do it again. Ideally, though, you'll unzip this correctly the first time!

Instead of updating through PlayOnline, you can grab this torrent, and install everything yourself. Unless no one is seeding (and even then), it should be significantly faster. If you have the HDD space, you can also keep these archives handy in case you or a friend ever need to reinstall in the future. Continuing to seed them would be great, too.

If you're fairly experienced with modding FFXI, or are comfortable with decompressing files, you won't need detailed instructions; simply unzip this into the "\PlayOnline\SquareEnix" directory with folders intact, start PlayOnline, and let it do its thing. It will download a tiny handful of small files, then install absolutely everything, and you'll be ready to play.

Those of you who would like a little more help can follow this guide, which has additional steps to help ensure no terrible mistakes are made:

1. Using the decompression program of your choice (e.g., WinZip), open the first zip file (FFXIFullPatch-20130331.zip).
* Before you start, ensure that you have everything. You'll need the ZIP archive, and its parts: z01, z02, z03, z04, z05, and z06.

2. Click on the FINAL FANTASY XI folder to highlight it, then choose to extract the contents. Make sure your archiving program will keep the sub-directories/folders intact.

3. Extract everything to an empty folder on your HDD (e.g., C:\Temp). The folder itself doesn't matter, and you can create one if necessary, but to avoid confusion, you want one that's completely empty. Afterward, close the zip file.
3a. Now, repeat steps 1-3 for the subsequent archives (if any are present), following chronological order. If they ask you to overwrite any files while you're doing this, say "Yes"/"OK".

4. Open two Windows Explorer (File Manager) windows. On the first one (which we'll call the "Patch Window"), navigate to the folder you just unzipped the archive's contents to (e.g., C:\Temp).

5. You should see a folder titled "FINAL FANTASY XI". Open it to make sure all of the sub-directories (ROM, ROM2, ROM3, etc.) unzipped properly.
5a. If there are no sub-directories, and all you see is a bunch of .tmp2 files sitting together, you did not decompress the archive with folders intact, and may want to read your archiving program's Help File (or Google about it) to figure out how. Once you know, delete the loose contents in the folder (to make it empty again), then start over from step 1.
5b. If all the sub-directories are there, you've unzipped it correctly, and can proceed to the next step.

6. Minimize the Patch Window, and open the second, formerly unused Explorer window (which we'll call the "FFXI Window"). Now, navigate to your PlayOnline\SquareEnix directory. By default, it's located at: "C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix".
6a. If it's not there, your Windows installation may be on a different drive (e.g., D:\), or you may have picked a different directory while installing the program. Alternatively, you may be on a 64-bit OS, and in that case, it will be in "\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix".

7. Now, arrange both the Patch Window and the FFXI Windows so they're side-by-side. You've reached the moment of truth: drag and drop the Patch Window's unzipped "FINAL FANTASY XI" folder to the open \SquareEnix\ directory in the FFXI Window. You should be prompted about merging folders and files, and you want to say "Yes"/"OK". (There's a picture below which visually illustrates this, too.)

8. The two FINAL FANTASY XI folders should become one. At this point, you can start PlayOnline and sign in normally. A file check will run, a couple of small files will download, and everything will install. If done correctly, it will take a matter of minutes rather than hours and hours of downloading.

EU/JP NOTE: According to a BlueGartr poster's account, if you try to use this archive to update a EU/JP installation, around 1,200 files will be considered corrupt during a File Check, and will have to be re-downloaded and replaced. Therefore, for EU/JP users, this may still save you some time, or it could cause an even bigger headache. Whether to use it or not regardless is up to you.

That about does it. Since we've reached the end, here's a smarmy disclaimer: whatever you do to your installation of FINAL FANTASY XI (or your computer, for that matter) is your responsibility. If this somehow hoses your FFXI installation (which should not be possible, per the note at the top covering why .tmp2 files were used), reinstall and start over. If you figure out a way to destroy your entire computer with this archive, that would not only be impressive, but would also be your fault and your responsibility to fix.

I genuinely hope this helps people avoid downloading everything from the PlayOnline servers whenever they've completed a fresh installation. Enjoy.

For PlayStation 2 users, here are the FileFactory archives for the installation discs:

Spoiler: show

http://www.filefactory.com/f/4bf7a1a96530aec3/

2013-04-05 NOTE: The 4shared and FileFactory directories now contain everything up to and including the Day 1 Adoulin patch. It was created by using a fresh installation of FFXI and all of the expansions, and on an account with all of them registered. Once the archive was created, it was then tested on another fresh copy of FFXI to ensure that every file would be recognized and installed correctly.

Thanks for the upload man. I had issues unzipping with the default windows/7-zip; Winrar works fine however. Very much appreciated

Thank you for posting this man, this has just saved my ass after a catastrophic hard drive crash.

Is there a decent torrent available that can be trusted for FFXI itself? Ideally one of the ultimate collections.

I want to do the same thing so I can remove some dat mods and music edits I never kept the originals for. Mainly I had replaced a bunch of the music with the Star Onions versions and I'm a bit sick of them.

I have, it sadly skips over a bunch. My music is left alone, as well as a few dat mods like my chocobo and some summons.

EDIT: I ended up using a friends Steam to install then just copied over the files I needed and reset the registry values that steam changed to point back to my original folder. Worked beautifully.

cool

Ohhh thank you much. I'm going to be reinstalling tomorrow, and just ran saw this. :D I'll let you know how it goes!

Strange request, but is it possible to add a direct link to the torrent to the OP? My box is X-less, and I'd like to help out and seed this.

EDIT: nevermind, I got it.