Quick reinstall question (shortcuts)

[noodles355]

Hey, just did a complete reformat of my computer. I'm sorry if there's a post on this already, I did do a search but "reinstall" brought up a LOT of topics to wade through.

Basically, befor reformatting I backed up my whole PlayOnline folder. if I just reinstall the game/expansions, can I just paste the old folder over the new one to skip all the FFXI updates?
Will it just work? Or will I have to do a file check? or will it not work at all?

Secondly. My CD drive is a bit sketchy and sometimes just says no. It had a problem with a file from Data11.cab from teh ToAU install. Anyway, I copied all the files from the CD and put them in a folder on my desktop and installed from there. I just wanted to check that will work?

Cheers. Sorry if it's a dumb question.

[virusiidx]

Yeah, I just did this the other day. Basically just install FFXI as you normally would with all the expansions. Once that's finished, copy over the FinalFantasyXI Folder over and let it overwrite everything. When you start up FFXI and starts the file-check it should recognize all the updated files and then launch into the game. If there's any missing, corrupt or outdated files, it'll just download and install those like normal.

For the 2nd question, yes you can just copy over the files and install from there by going into each INST1, INST2, etc.. folder and running the setup file.

[Kryssan]

Hell, half the time I do reinstalls I don't even install the expansions. Just toss on the PoL, and base FFXI game, and then do a copy/paste to a store of the FFXI folder I keep updated so that when I have to reinstall it I can skip through everything except the file check. Haven't had any issues with it yet.

[noodles355]

I really wouldn't have to install any of the expansions? I figured they may write something into the registry or something...

Thanks for the confirmation. Done POL, gonna do FFXI update in the morning when my housemate turns off his mad torrents.

[Kryssan]

Not to my knowledge. The registry only contains keys for PoL, Tetra, and FFXI. These have additional subkeys on mine for graphics and controller settings, but that is all. There is no mention of the expansions. Since the game-registry data is stored serverside by PoL, really isn't any need for the registry to contain anything else.


Like I said, I only use my disc to install PoL, then the original FFXI install. Then copy and paste over the folder. Load PoL, do PoL update if you need to (file check at least will be req'd), reboot PoL, then load FFXI, it'll file check, fix anything that's broken (never had anything fall into that category), and load the game. Done this about a dozen times without issue.

[Avanarius]

You can do this without needing to reinstall pol or original FF at all if you just export the registry entries, and create a batch file to register the .dlls. I know it sounds complicated but really you're just making 2 files and once I learned how to do it, I've been hanging on to these 2 files without needing to reinstall for 3 years now.

I believe there was a guide posted on the windower forum somewhere.

My FFXI installs are an all of 10 minutes tops; will never do it the olde way again.