Alright wtf are my options here

[cdgreg]

In late November I had to get a new mobo. The hole in the wall shop I tried out stuck in a 64 bit mobo with an on-board Nvidia card and Win Vista x64. This replaced my 32 bit board, ATI video card, and Win Vista 32 bit that ran ffxi like a charm. When I got the PC back and shockingly noticed it was now 64 bit windows I said ah screw it, I might as well upgrade to Win7 x64 since many of the install files I had saved were 32bit only and I could do it for $40 with my old .edu email address.

Much to my surprise after installing all the standard software like firefox/plugins, eset nod, comodo firewall, and the newest version of windower Win7 compatible, I can't get ffxi to load up to save my life. I've tried literally everything under the sun and posted my issues in multiple places but no has been able to solve the issue:

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showt...t=85706&page=4
http://forums.windower.net/topic/169...s/page__st__60

I refuse to continue playing ffxi on a piece of shit Dell Inspiron model 6000 laptop that has graphics which rival a TI-83 calculator. So, what are my options here with my main PC? If I buy a copy of Win XP Pro x64 will I be able to find drivers for everything including my G11 keyboard? If I downgrade to Win Vista x64 should my windower issues disappear? Is there anyway to run a full blown 32 bit OS on my board? I'm not sure if it'd be wiser to try to sell my PC and start fresh, try a more dated OS, or what. I know going and bitching at the hole in the wall PC place will get me no where since it was my dumbass fault for upgrading to Win7. Here's some info on the hardware itself:

Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 6.1.7600 (64 bit)
CPU Type - DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2400 MHz (12 x 200) 4600+
Instruction Set - x86, x86-64, MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Memory - 4gb
Graphics Controller Type - nVIDIA nForce 6100-430
Motherboard Name - Foxconn M61PMV Series

[Isiolia]

I don't see why you shouldn't be able to just put a 32-bit version of an OS on. I mean, FFXI "can" work just fine on Win7 64-bit - that's what I'm running on my desktop and it works for me using the "run a widget" trick to get around the inability to initialize DirectX (maybe this is fixed, I dunno, I haven't upgraded it since I set it up initially). I've also run it without issue on Win7 32-bit on my laptop.

However, there's always the possibility of odd quirks...

So if you think going to 32-bit will fix ya, then why not? The motherboard isn't stopping you. It's not "64-bit" - you can download 32-bit XP, Vista, and Win7 drivers for it from Foxconn, and I'd assume from nVidia n' whatnot as well. The only time you usually get restricted is if the drivers are unavailable, as sometimes happened with XP drivers...but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I would recommend against WinXP x64. It's basically Server 2003, and is very strict with driver support as a result. If 32-bit Vista worked fine for you before, then there's really nothing stopping you from running it again barring activation of your Vista copy or something.
It "should" work as-is, but if you're done with messing with it, I'd just go back to what you were using.

[cdgreg]

I don't see why you shouldn't be able to just put a 32-bit version of an OS on. I mean, FFXI "can" work just fine on Win7 64-bit - that's what I'm running on my desktop and it works for me using the "run a widget" trick to get around the inability to initialize DirectX (maybe this is fixed, I dunno, I haven't upgraded it since I set it up initially). I've also run it without issue on Win7 32-bit on my laptop.

However, there's always the possibility of odd quirks...

So if you think going to 32-bit will fix ya, then why not? The motherboard isn't stopping you. It's not "64-bit" - you can download 32-bit XP, Vista, and Win7 drivers for it from Foxconn, and I'd assume from nVidia n' whatnot as well. The only time you usually get restricted is if the drivers are unavailable, as sometimes happened with XP drivers...but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I would recommend against WinXP x64. It's basically Server 2003, and is very strict with driver support as a result. If 32-bit Vista worked fine for you before, then there's really nothing stopping you from running it again barring activation of your Vista copy or something.
It "should" work as-is, but if you're done with messing with it, I'd just go back to what you were using.

Thanks for the info. Ya, I know it *should* work lol, and that's the most frustrating part. Is the widget trick similar to the gadget trick where you start the calendar desktop gadget and then windower should work? If not please let me know what the widget trick is I'll be glad to try it. The odd quirk a couple people are experiencing is Windower appears to load ffxi, but before it actually shows up on the screen something kills it. Here's what I've tried so far, but the odd quirk is screwing me and only 2 other people on the windower forums:

What I've tried:
1.) I've installed the newest version of Windower into the native path of /Program Files (x86)/ and I've verified the hook.dll is version 3.4.2.5.

2.) I have verified that both the Windower folder and Playonline folder have full Allow permissions through Properties>Security for user as well as administrator.

3.) When I "Run As Administrator" Launcher.exe and watch task manager I see this for about 3 seconds and then it disappears:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5043/tmanager.jpg

4.) If I use launcher_gui and check x64/launch I see the same thing in Task Manager but Windower 3 GUI Launcher hangs/Not Responds, then disappears.

5.) I have tried installing the drivers that others said worked from here 195.62: http://www.nvidia.co...95.62_whql.html

6.) I have tried opening up IE 64bit and then running Windower with no luck

7.) I have tried sticking launcher.exe in my startup and ONCE it loaded Playonline - Windower Enabled which then crashed as soon as I clicked on the POL ID I wanted to log in with. Every reboot after it I have not been able to replicate this, I can not get it to load before whatever is killing it.

8.) I have tried setting launcher.exe, launcher_gui, and polboot.exe to Compatibility mode: Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) and Run this program as an administrator but have not seen any change.

9.) I logged into safe mode with networking and attempted to load up Windower. In safe mode IT DID NOT CRASH, I could watch it use more CPU/Memory in Task Manager but I was unable to actually view the game although it was pinned to my start menu.

10.) I can load the game up through standard POL/FFXI in both full screen and Windowed Mode and have tried running Windower with the Windowed Mode checked in ffxi config with no luck.

11.) Windower V4 loads up fine, and I have tried to open up a 3.42 while V4 was open but the same problem occurs, nothing happens visually except seeing it in Task Manager for a few seconds.

12.) I have tried unloading my firewall and antivirus as well as removing them from startup and still I can not get windower to load.

13.) Tried the desktop calendar gadget trick, no luck

Also I didn't realize the mobo supported both, I'm admittedly stupid when it comes to stuff like hardware and compatibility. All I really know is what I learn from reading searched threads and googled topics. I will just back my crap up on an external and try to get my hands on a 32bit copy of vista or win7. Thanks again for the info.

[toonces]

Try this, it actually worked for me.

Is older directX updates, win7 will never update this auto for you.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[njitjk68]

You did download and install win7 compatible POL from POL website correct?

[Isiolia]

Is the widget trick similar to the gadget trick where you start the calendar desktop gadget and then windower should work?

Aye, that's what I'm referring to.

[cdgreg]

You did download and install win7 compatible POL from POL website correct?

Yup, the game itself runs fine if I load it up through standard polboot, but once I try to use windower the shit hits the fan. Call me spoiled but I can't play on standard windowed, or even worse full screen, Ffxi, I need my extended macros, distance plugin, and g15binder!

I'll try the directx thing tonight thanks.

edit: installed the directx link, still no change

[Olo401]

Did you have to reinstall POL & FFXI, and if so did you use the special Vista/Win7 installer from the POL website?

[fishstix]

You can try opening up Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application
and see if there's anything there related to the crash, might give some insight. idk if it's exactly needed for windower, but can try installing the different .Net framework versions. Also in the list of things you tried, you listed using IE 64bit, did you try the regular 32bit one too? Also try not loading any of the plugins, just incase...

Have you tried loading the game in different resolutions/fullscreen in windower?

[cdgreg]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help. I tried literally everything I could think of, everything that was recommended and finally said screw it. Luckily when the PC shop returned my tower they left the vista disc in it, so of course before I returned the disc I copied it . I re-installed Vista 64 bit "tried" using my old 32 bit vista key which was in use but got a new one easily enough for free through MS. I then installed all my protection goodies, crossed my fingers and tried ffxi/windower...success! So, Win7 won the battle, but I won the war!