Check Files and Expansions

[Thranduil]

Since check files can download corrupt files, etc, shouldn't there be a way to fake out POL to think you have the expansion installed with all the files corrupt and just have POL re-download all the files?

Just thinking with the delay in PC release, options for buying PS2/360 version if theres not a bittorrent-able version around.

[Khamsin]

You probably would have needed to install and register it with a key before it realized it was supposed to check those files. But you can't even get a key without box, so you won't be saving any time.

[Naramaska]

You probably would have needed to install and register it with a key before it realized it was supposed to check those files. But you can't even get a key without box, so you won't be saving any time.

You can use a PS2/360 registration key for your "PC" based account.

If you could do this, it shouldn't be too hard to fake an install...ideas anyone ?

[Nightsx]

I've never heard of this happening, but it'd be damn awesome if you could. I'd just pick up the 360 version of the game tomorrow and use that trick, assuming it works, to install it on my PC.

Someone pleeease test this :D

[Solarus]

Might have something...

Copied the 0 folder from ROM4 into a ROM5 folder. Ran Check Files through POL. It came up saying there are 292 files "corrupt" I do have Brandson's UI/maps installed, but I don't think that accounts for 292 files.

Now it's running through the whole update process again, so I'll let you know what I get in a min. In hindsight I'll probably need to copy across more files than that for it to work, but I'll see.

Still, little consolation for me either way, since I already have 2 US PC versions ordered and wouldn't be able to get a US 360/PS2 version to England tomorrow anyway ._.

Edit: Appears to be working - Through check #2 and now downloading 1091 files.

Edit2: Maybe not. It's now downloading all the files from the last update again by the looks of it, putting the 189-197 folders in the base FFXI folder.

[Nightsx]

Thanks for looking into it Solarus. We PC users appreciate you

[Thranduil]

It looks like it will only update the files if they already exist.

Also, as far as I can tell the music is only included on the CD/DVD and never updated even if it gets corrupted.

Anyone know what happens if zone music is missing? Does it just not play it?

[Solarus]

Yeah, update finished and no dice =/ Had to go through it twice too because I disconnected.

All it did was download the files from the last update again. Didn't change any of the dummy files I had in ROM5.

Perhaps it might work if you had the expansion activated, but unfortunately that's not something I can get my hands on.

[Otaku]

Hi hi!

I'm a long time BG reader but I've never actually posted here before. I saw this thread and I was like "OHHH, I GOTTA POST HERE!"

After having spent a lot of time studying the installation process and the registry entries created by FFXI for the purpose of migrating an installation from one HD to another, I've learned the following:

FFXI performs a registry check first when performing an update. It looks for the version of the software installed. Then, it checks the registry to make sure all the files are being pointed to correctly. Only after it has finished scanning the registry does it then perform a file check.

Now, in order to even get to this phase, you WILL NEED a WoTG key!!

(I'm assuming I'm writing this for fellow PC users who got jipped out of their Thanksgiving plans to eat a damn fast dinner with the family, shoo them out hurriedly and then fire up WoTG for some <insert new job of choice here> leveling)

So, you run (literally, not drive or walk or take a bus) to your nearest Video Game / Electronics / Software / Etc store and buy a copy of the 360 version!!!!!!!!!!!

Next, you hitch hike home (you are too tired and distressed at this point to worry about kidnappings and the general unpleasantness associated). Assuming you make it there, you dash upstairs/downstairs to your gaming hole.

Now comes the FUN part!

You need to create an registry entry for Wings of the Goddess. This is the first step.

Since I don't have the software installed, I don't know EXACTLY what it will look like your registry. However, I imagine it will look pretty much like so:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\InstallShield_{A606C6FF-12E7-40BE-B777-D8F360FF00CD}]
"Comments"=""
"Contact"=""
"DisplayIcon"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Installer\\{A606C6 FF-12E7-40BE-B777-D8F360FF00CD}\\ARPPRODUCTICON.exe"
"DisplayName"="FINAL FANTASY XI: Wings of the Goddess"
"DisplayVersion"="1.30.1" (change this to "1.0", this WILL matter and you may have to experiment with incrementing the version number until it reaches a value FFXI accepts)
"EstimatedSize"=dword:001F9228 (I have no idea what this value should be, it may or may not matter, the file check may or may not correct this)
"HelpLink"=hex(02):00,00
"HelpTelephone"=""
"InstallDate"="20070424" (Change this to today's date, though it probably doesn't matter)
"InstallLocation"="C:\\Program Files\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\FINAL FANTASY XI\\"
"InstallSource"="E:\\" (Change this to your DVD drive letter, not like it matters)
"Language"=dword:00000409
"LogFile"="C:\\Program Files\\InstallShield Installation Information\\{A606C6FF-12E7-40BE-B777-D8F360FF00CD}\\Setup.ilg"
"ProductID"=""
"Publisher"="SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD."
"Readme"=""
"RegCompany"=""
"RegOwner"=""
"UninstallString"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\COMMON~1\\INSTAL~ 1\\Driver\\7\\INTEL3~1\\IDriver.exe /M{A606C6FF-12E7-40BE-B777-D8F360FF00CD} "
"URLInfoAbout"=""
"URLUpdateInfo"=""
"Version"=dword:011E0001
"VersionMajor"=dword:00000001
"VersionMinor"=dword:0000001E

Once you have that, you SHOULD be able to log in and enter the reg code for WoTG.

After that, attempt to run the game. You SHOULD get a message that you need to update. Allow it to attempt to update (it's not going to work). You will PROBABLY get a message that you need to reinstall.

Now go and run the file check.

This isn't enough to make this actually WORK by the way, this is just the opening legwork I suspect you'd need to do before actually attempting this.

*edit*
Forgot the last bit of info for this guide.

Assuming all of the above somehow WORKED, you pee yourself noisily. After you towel off, you go get a damn refund from wherever you pre-ordered and were assured that you would have the expansion on the originally scheduled ship date.

[Vygun]

Anyone know what happens if zone music is missing? Does it just not play it?

I just installed ffxi onto my ps3 ater my ps2 broke down and I was having some weird problems after the first initial download. The game ran fine, but the only problem was in the music. Some zones would be dead silent music wise and others would skip in and out. So I am guessing if the music is missing it just wouldn't play, or in my case where only some of the music files were installed properly it would cause tracks to skip. Not that this applies to what your talking about, but simple file repair fixed the issue. Willing to bet game is completely playable without music files.