Error when exiting FFXI

[Sechs]

I hope this is not the wrong section of forum to look for help on this issue.


Problem
When I exit FFXI the screen returns to windows normally, I see for a short moment the POL box, then I get a windows error.
This error has this format (will update with correct numbers later)

"Application failure pol.exe version 1.1.8.7.0 in UNKNOWN at offset xxxx"



Questions & Answers

Q: When did this problem appear for the first time?
A: Been there for around one year. Last time I did a massformat on my PC, 'round one year ago or more, I reinstalled windows and FFXI. I didn't want to bother as to which was the exact macro folder for my character, so I copied and overwrited the whole User directory inside FFXI folder, and the USR one inside POL folder. Since then the problem appeared

Q: Was that mass copy the source of the problem?
A: I have no clue, that's what I think, that I copied/overwrited too many things but the cause could be something else, like some windows patch/hotfix, or a driver, or who knows what else.

Q: What happened now?
A: For other reasons, I did another format (new HW components and stuff), and reinstalled FFXI. I didn't want to repeat the previous experience (as much as I'm not sure that was the real cause). Tried loading FFXI and then exiting once (only once) and got no error. Then I used the FFXI Restore function (ctrl+alt+shift+R) to restore the macros I had backed up before formatting. While doing this I completely forgot that this function restores NOT ONLY macros, but also config files. So if and I repeat IF the cause of that error was in some overwritten config file, that config file has been restored with the Restore function. Indeed, since then the same old error restarted once again. Tried to re-delete POL "USR" folder and FFXI User folder, but the error persists (this has led me to think that MAYBE it has nothing to do with config files)

Q: Why do you want to get rid of this problem?
A: Appearently it's nothing big, it's not jus thte "error window" that bothers me, I could just disable that window. It's just that I don't like my Windows Event Error Log to get full of this error multiple times a day, plus, a friend made me a bit paranoid about it. He recently got hacked and said that around 1 month before that happened, he started having similar issues when exiting FF (as much as I don't know how REALLY similar his error was).



System Information
Processor: Opteron 170 (dual-core)
RAM: 2x 1GB PC3200 DDR400
OS: Windows XP Professional SP3
VC: Radeon HD 4850 (was Geforce 6800 Ultra before)

If you need any further information I'll be glad to add it, thanks for your time.

[Shuemue]

It's windower.

[Sechs]

It's windower.

I think I tried it without windower too (long time ago, before format) but I don't think I tried it since when I formatted on monday. Good call, let me try now and see what happens

[Cephius]

Yeah, I had this problem over a year ago when I still played. It's just how FFXI exits since clearly it wasn't designed to be used with a 3rd party windower. It's normal behavior though, it won't damage your system or anything, so there's really no need to worry about it.

[Shuemue]

For example, if I right click FFXI on my taskbar and select 'Close' it will do an illegal op, and until Aikar added a vague fix, it would sometimes do it on /shutdown and by hitting 'X'

[Sechs]

It happens even if I run normal FFXI without windower, so it's unlikely it's something that happens due to windower, unless... unless it's something that affects FFXI after the FIRST time you use windower, and after that it affects even un-windower FFXI but it sounds strange to me to be that way honestly. Let me report the full error message since I'm in front of my PC now.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/793...rroruv5.th.jpg

Ok, you won't be able to understand the language since it's italian, but you get an idea of the kind of error window it is. Looking in the Windows Event Viewer, "Applications" sub-menu, I noticed the offset area appearently is always 0x6d33d5f3
The full error message I can see is:

"Application failure pol.exe version 1.1.8.7.0 in UNKNOWN 0.0.0.0 at offset 0x6d33d5f3"

Since it's a huge hassle to reinstall FFXI again (1 disc POL, 3 discs FFXI, 1 disc RotZ, 2 disc CoP, 1 disc ToAU, 1 disc WotG, plus endless hours for 12.000 files which have to be downloaded...) I'm tryin' to download the 2008 version of FFXI, found a torrent, I hope it's the EU version... when I finished downloading it if I find out it's not the EU version I guess I'll just buy a copy -.- and try reinstalling it again.

I wish I did more tests before using the "Restore Macro & Config" function, that way I would be BLOODY SURE if it's a matter of a config file, or just something else. (although what?)