FFXI Vista Installation Problems

[Soprano]

Below is my post on windower forum, I am hoping someone had similar problem and/or know the solution to this. I used the /search function here and did not find anyone with similar problems.

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Let me start off by saying that I have read all the stickies, all the trouble shoots and followed all the guides on the installation of FFXI onto Vista. I also have to caution that I am pretty noob when it comes to computer stuff. Anyway, I recently purchased a new desktop with the following specs:

Acer Aspire AM5100-U5301A
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+
• 500GB hard drive
• 3GB of DDR2 memory
• Memory card reader
• Burns DVDs and CDs
• Windows Vista Home Premium

I DL'd the vista playonline viewer from playonline.com, installed it, ran it as administrator etc. I then proceeded to put my 4 discs set for ROTZ, then 2 discs set COP, then TOAU, then WoG into my DVD drive and followed the directions when prompted. I then DL'd windower and also ran that as administrator. Did all the updates and everything is groovy. I was able to log on, no crashes, no nothing. I let it run overnight just with my toon sorta idle. I then restarted my PC the following day. I log on, I was able to do what I usually do. However, one thing irked me, the notice of my expansion was not installed. I also own a laptop which runs on Vista and that comes up as well but I am able to do whatever I need to do.

So last evening, on my desktop, I tried to enter Dynamis-Xarcabard. The trail marking would not accept my trade. I tried zoning and rebooting pc and pol. So I logged onto my toon via my laptop and I was able to trade it. Unsatisfied at this point, after I entered Dynamis-Xarcabard on my laptop, logged off and logged onto my toon via my desktop. It gave me the message that I do not have the expansion installed and unable to enter the area. Now, IIRC, Dynamis was part of ROTZ, so what I concluded was that, despite me installing all 4 discs of ROTZ, that the system is not recognizing some of it? I also verified that if I wanted to uninstall, I clearly saw ROTZ, COP, WoG, and TOAU to be uninstall.

I am unsure what I did wrong with Vista installation. I followed the guides just like I did with my laptop. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[SephYuyX]

Have you tried making sure the expansions are registered in POL?

[Rags]

Have you tried making sure the expansions are registered in POL?

That might be the case since I did that lol, It could be that some of the files just didn't download/upload or were messed up. Try and do a check file in POL. Yes I know its painful but it might help out. If all else fails I might suggest a reinsall of ROTZ or contact Support and ask them.

[Soprano]

As mentioned, I am very very noob with these things, how do you force file check? Other than WoTG, I didn't have to register any of my expansions for my laptop, where would I go to attempt that? Thanks so much for all the help thus far.

[Rags]

Well first make sure your expansions are registered. If they are then start up POL and on the left side is a list of things you can select. Go down to check files and it will check your FFXI files. Since sometimes on an install either files will be corrupted or missing. If you still are having problems you might want to just reinstall ROTZ or call support before they close for the weekend.

[Ryany]

It gave me the same BS when I followed directions exactly as directed from square. It gave me the same "expansion not installed" crap when I would log in. It would say I'm already registered when I went to re-register the keys. I also installed through the collection DVDs, so I know the expansions were installed.

My solution ended up just copying my entire ffxi install from my xp partition and swapping folder names so that my xp install of ffxi was the path of my vista install. I had to go through the long "checking files process, but I'm now able to run the game fine with vista.

[Soprano]

Well I tried everything and it didn't work, so I reinstalled for the 4th time and guess 4th time is a charm, so far, everything has worked. Don't ask me why though, I did the same exact thing as I did with the previous 3 installs. God I hate Vista.

[alexwalters]

Hi, i recently bought the ffxi collection online, i installed the vista POL and everything but i cant seem for the life of me to install the game... i have the dvd rom version so there is only one disk and when i put that disk in it only gives me the option to install POL and tetra whatever.... im thoroughly confused and quite frustrated, please help

[Cephius]

Hi, i recently bought the ffxi collection online, i installed the vista POL and everything but i cant seem for the life of me to install the game... i have the dvd rom version so there is only one disk and when i put that disk in it only gives me the option to install POL and tetra whatever.... im thoroughly confused and quite frustrated, please help

First step is to download the Vista POL client off of their website.

Next, open the DVD, explore, and run the individual installers for FFXI and each of the expansions. Don't use the setup.exe as it'll try to install POL which obviously won't work.