Update February 27, 2011: I discovered today that you can omit installing PlayOnline if you also include those files you backup. In other words, if you copy the entire PlayOnline folder and follow the steps outline below, you don’t even have to install (and then update) PlayOnline.
Installing FFXI for the first time takes a very long time. For many players, the process involves installing the base game, each expansion pack, and a very long version update process. Once you go through this process once, it really is undesirable to go through it again if you reformat your harddrive. Worse yet, if you wanted to purchase the Steam version of FFXI just for the codes, the download had to be started to get the keys that you needed to register expansion packs; deleting this partial download will wipe FFXI from the Windows registry rendering it useless.
Fortunately, there is a solution. The solution depends on whether you use an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of Windows of Windows Vista or Windows 7. If you are using Windows XP and don’t know which to use, just follow the 32-bit instructions.
Windows Vista & Windows 7 users: If you have UAC enabled, the instructions will require you to open an elevated command prompt. To do this, go to the Start Menu, and in the “Search programs and files” box, begin typing cmd. Cmd.exe should show up in the results. While holding down Shift and Ctrl, click on Cmd.exe. You should receive a User Account Control pop up asking if you want Cmd.exe to make changes to the computer. Select yes.
Notice: While I have found these instructions to be helpful, modifying the registry keys always comes with some amount of risk (especially if you don’t know what you’re doing). Please make sure you have a current working backup before proceeding. (You do test your backups, don’t you?) Do not attempt to use any of these instructions on a work computer. I take no responsibility if following these instructions causes problems with your computer through incompetence or mistakes of my own or yours.
32-bit Windows Instructions
I want to make a special note that I have not had an opportunity to test the 32-bit instructions.
Begin by installing PlayOnline. If you are using Windows XP, use the PlayOnline that came on the disc. If you are using Windows Vista/7, you need to install the version of PlayOnline found on S-E’s website.
Note: The registry keys assume PlayOnline has been installed to C:\Program Files\. If this is not the case, you will need to change the keys. If you need to change the directory, please notice that there needs to be two forward slashes between each folder, e.g. C:\\Program Files\\. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING PAST THE “PLAYONLINE” FOLDER.
Copy the following and put it into a file with a REG extension. For example, name it FFXIfix.reg. Double click the file to merge the values with the registry. If you use any registry hacks to improve the background resolution, etc. of FFXI, you will have to change these when you are finished.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\InstallFolder]
"0002"="C:\\Program Files\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\TetraMaster"
"1000"="C:\\Program Files\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\PlayOnlineViewer"
"0001"="C:\\Program Files\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\FINAL FANTASY XI\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\Interface]
"0002"="0022241c"
"1000"="0022240d"
"0001"="0015d6a2"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\FinalFantasyXI]
"bFirst"=hex:00
"0001"=dword:00000280
"0002"=dword:000001e0
"0021"=dword:00000000
"0000"=dword:00000000
"0003"=dword:00000200
"0004"=dword:00000200
"0007"=dword:00000001
"0011"=dword:00000001
"0017"=dword:00000000
"0018"=dword:00000001
"0019"=dword:00000001
"0020"=dword:00000001
"0022"=dword:00000001
"0023"=dword:00000000
"0024"=dword:00000000
"0028"=dword:00000000
"0029"=dword:0000000c
"0030"=dword:00000000
"0031"=dword:3bc49ba6
"0032"=dword:00000000
"0033"=dword:00000000
"padsin000"="6,4,11,5,10,1,3,2,0,8,-1,-1,9,33,33,32,32,34,34,37,37,41,41,40,40,7,-1"
"padmode000"="1,0,1,1"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer]
"FirstBootPlayMovie"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\Settings]
"ResetSettings"=dword:00000000
"PlayOpeningMovie"=dword:00000001
"FullScreen"=dword:00000000
"PlayAudio"=dword:00000001
"UseGameController"=dword:00000001
"WindowX"=dword:00000162
"WindowY"=dword:0000011b
"WindowW"=dword:00000280
"WindowH"=dword:000001e0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\Settings\Controller]
"AnchorUp"=dword:00000030
"AnchorRight"=dword:00000032
"AnchorLeft"=dword:00000036
"AnchorDown"=dword:00000034
"ChrCsrNext"=dword:00000007
"ChrCsrPrev"=dword:00000006
"PageNext"=dword:00000005
"PagePrev"=dword:00000004
"Navi"=dword:00000003
"Menu"=dword:00000000
"Ok"=dword:00000002
"Cancel"=dword:00000001
"ID"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\SystemInfo]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\SystemInfo\QCheck]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\TetraMaster]
"LOADDIR"="C:\\Program Files\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\TetraMaster\\"
Copy the contents of the file below and save it to the ..\PlayOnline\SquareEnix folder. Name it something like FFXIregfix.cmd. In an elevated command prompt, navigate to this folder by typing cd "X:\Path\To\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\". Again, typically this will be cd "C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix". Note that the folder is surrounded by quotation marks, this is very important.
regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXi.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiMain.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiResource.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiVersions.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\polhook.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\unicows.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\patchfiles\PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\app.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\patchfiles\PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\polcore.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\polcfg\sysinfo.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\util\unicows.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\MSVCR71.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\polmvf.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\polmvfINT.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\app.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\polcore.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\contents\PolContents.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\contents\polcontentsINT.dll" /s regsvr32 "TetraMaster\TM.dll" /s
The command prompt should now show the full path to the SquareEnix folder. At this point, type in the file name for the CMD file you saved here earlier, e.g. FFXIregfix.cmd.
That’s it! Test your installation by running FFXI. If PlayOnline will not start, then the CMD file did not take for some reason. Double check to make sure you ran the file in the correct folder and using an elevated command prompt.
If PlayOnline starts, attempt to run FFXI. If you get a message saying that FFXI is not installed, this means that either the CMD file or other registry file did not take. Double check your work.
If this is successful, you will get a very odd error screen. Hit “retry” and it will proceed to do a version check against the files found.
64-bit Windows Instructions
Begin by installing PlayOnline. If you are using Windows XP, use the PlayOnline that came on the disc. If you are using Windows Vista/7, you need to install the version of PlayOnline found on S-E’s website.
Note: The registry keys assume PlayOnline has been installed to C:\Program Files (x86)\. If this is not the case, you will need to change the keys. If you need to change the directory, please notice that there needs to be two forward slashes between each folder, e.g. C:\\Program Files (x86)\\. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING PAST THE “PLAYONLINE” FOLDER.
Copy the following and put it into a file with a REG extension. For example, name it FFXIfix.reg. Double click the file to merge the values with the registry. If you use any registry hacks to improve the background resolution, etc. of FFXI, you will have to change these when you are finished.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS]
"CommonFilesFolder"="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\InstallFolder]
"1000"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\PlayOnlineViewer"
"0002"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\TetraMaster"
"0001"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix\\FINAL FANTASY XI\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\Interface]
"0002"="5e82ef35"
"1000"="5e82ee9a"
"0001"="5ec96e0a"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\FinalFantasyXI]
"bFirst"=hex:00
"0001"=dword:00000500
"0002"=dword:00000320
"0021"=dword:00000001
"0000"=dword:00000000
"0003"=dword:00000500
"0004"=dword:00000320
"0007"=dword:00000001
"0011"=dword:00000001
"0017"=dword:00000000
"0018"=dword:00000001
"0019"=dword:00000001
"0020"=dword:00000001
"0022"=dword:00000000
"0023"=dword:00000000
"0024"=dword:00000000
"0028"=dword:00000000
"0029"=dword:00000010
"0030"=dword:00000000
"0031"=dword:3bc49ba6
"0032"=dword:00000000
"0033"=dword:00000000
"0034"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer]
"FirstBootPlayMovie"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\Settings]
"UseGameController"=dword:00000000
"WindowH"=dword:000001ea
"ResetSettings"=dword:00000000
"SupportLanguage"=dword:00000001
"WindowW"=dword:0000028a
"PlayAudio"=dword:00000000
"PlayOpeningMovie"=dword:00000001
"FullScreen"=dword:00000000
"Language"=dword:00000001
"WindowX"=dword:000000c8
"WindowY"=dword:000000c8
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\Settings\Controller]
"ChrCsrNext"=dword:00000007
"AnchorLeft"=dword:00000036
"AnchorUp"=dword:00000030
"Menu"=dword:00000000
"ID"=dword:00000000
"AnchorDown"=dword:00000034
"Ok"=dword:00000001
"Navi"=dword:00000003
"Cancel"=dword:00000002
"PageNext"=dword:00000005
"ChrCsrPrev"=dword:00000006
"AnchorRight"=dword:00000032
"PagePrev"=dword:00000004
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\SystemInfo]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\SystemInfo\QCheck]
"LastMeasurementTime"=hex:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PlayOnlineUS\SquareEnix\TetraMaster]
"LOADDIR"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\PlayOnline\\SquareEnix/TetraMaster/"
Copy the contents of the file below and save it to the ..\PlayOnline\SquareEnix folder. Name it something like FFXIregfix.cmd. In an elevated command prompt, navigate to this folder by typing cd "X:\Path\To\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\". Again, typically this will be cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix". Note that the folder is surrounded by quotation marks, this is very important.
regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXi.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiMain.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiResource.dll" /s regsvr32 "FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiVersions.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\polhook.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\unicows.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\patchfiles\PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\app.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\patchfiles\PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\polcore.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\polcfg\sysinfo.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\util\unicows.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\MSVCR71.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\polmvf.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\ax\polmvfINT.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\app.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\com\polcore.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\contents\PolContents.dll" /s regsvr32 "PlayOnlineViewer\viewer\contents\polcontentsINT.dll" /s regsvr32 "TetraMaster\TM.dll" /s
The command prompt should now show the full path to the SquareEnix folder. At this point, type in the file name for the CMD file you saved here earlier, e.g. FFXIregfix.cmd.
That’s it! Test your installation by running FFXI. If PlayOnline will not start, then the CMD file did not take for some reason. Double check to make sure you ran the file in the correct folder and using an elevated command prompt.
If PlayOnline starts, attempt to run FFXI. If you get a message saying that FFXI is not installed, this means that either the CMD file or other registry file did not take. Double check your work.
If this is successful, you will get a very odd error screen. Hit “retry” and it will proceed to do a version check against the files found.
The Black Mage's Apprentice 
Thank you! After THREE days and plenty of work with Windows 7, I managed to get FFXI working only to have this happen! I was about to cry. ; ~; After doing what you’ve outlined here, quite clearly and easily followable, I might add, everything is working smoothly! You’re a life saver! If you ever see “PariahEternal” in game, feel free to snag me for a party. You’ve earned it.
I’m glad to help! Best of luck in your adventures.
Dear Iresire,
I need your help please.
I am a FFXI player. Previously, I was using Windows XP. Due to some trojans that infected my PC, I decided to reformat my PC. I also took the chance to upgrade my OS from Windows XP to Windows 7 (64 bit).
Now, I have some problems installing FFXI on my computer (with the Windows 7 as OS). First, I installed the PlayOnline (POL) that is inside my FFXI CD (its has 5 CD in it, 1 for POL, 3 for FFXI and 1 for Rise of the Zilart). Then I installed the rest of my 4 CDs. Then I installed the expansions (Chain of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan and lastly Seekers of Adoulin). Then I realised that the original POL (installed from my CD) is not working.
So, I went to this website (http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/download/media/vista01.html?pageID=media) to download the new POL for Windows 7. Then I just installed this new POL for Windows 7 (I did not uninstall the old POL, just installed this new POL for Windows 7 on top of it).
After installing this new POL, I am able to patch it to the latest version, then I login using my PlayOnline ID, all the way to that “Play” button for FFXI. However, when I clicked on the “Play” button, it states error 020 : FFXI not installed.
So, not sure what to do now, I decided to tried what you advised above. Using the instructions for 64 bit Windows 7, I created a .REG file copying what you posted above, and then I double clicked to merge the values into my registry. I also created a .CMD file copying what you posted above. Then using your instruction above, I used elevated command prompt and I run the .CMD file (which is saved inside the SquareEnix folder).
Then, I tried to run the new POL (for Windows 7). I login all the way to that “Play” button for FFXI. However, when I clicked on the “Play” button, it still states error 020 : FFXI not installed.
What should I do now? Please advise.
Many thanks in advance.
Regards,
Meng Teck
I’m going to guess, but I suspect the issue stems from step where you create a “.cmd” file. How are you running it? I run with UAC enabled and – for some reason – Windows is picky about running batch files as the Administrative user.
The easiest test would be to try that step again, but take the “/s” off the first line to see if you an error message. The “/s” at the end of each line just tells regsvr32 to not display any messages at all.
I haven’t been playing in some time and it’s been even longer since I’ve tested this method for “installing” FFXI. There’s also the possibility I’m missing a DLL or two.
Hi irethesire,
I wasn’t sure how to do what you advised, so I just bought a FFXI Ultimate Collection (which is compataible with Windows 7) and installed it. Took a long time, but it worked. :p
Thanks for the reply anyway.
Regards,
Meng Teck
This is a few years old I know, but I had played FFXI on my old pc, then quit playing it for awhile. I had then gotten a new computer with better graphics recently and decided to come back to playing it. I knew I had paid for the expansions and all that already but couldn’t get it to go on my new pc. I tried the steps above and they actually worked for me!! I couldn’t thank you enough for putting this up on here. I had been trying to get it to work for the passed 3 days and you have saved me more time and money!
~ Nancy