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Client Setup Windows

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Zach Toogood edited this page Feb 8, 2023 · 8 revisions

Note: To be able to update the Final Fantasy XI client - and connect to private servers using the most recent version - you must be capable of connecting to retail at least once. Possible methods for doing so may be found below in Section 2 - Connect to Retail. LandSandBoat does not condone methods enabling client updates without having connected to SquareEnix's retail servers.

1. Install and Update Final Fantasy XI

  1. Official link to download US installation files (get all of them). These files include updates until April 2019.

  2. Extract the files first by executing the "FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe" then proceed to the installation through "FFXISetup.exe" (freshly extracted).

  3. Once the whole installation is complete, execute PlayOnline Viewer. If an update is available, click on "Next", then:

    • Select "Update" ; once this is done, click on "OK" then "Next". PlayOnline Viewer should restart automatically.
    • Select "For PlayOnline Members!".
    • On the next screen, enter id like 1234ABCD or ABCD1234 (4 letters 4 numbers it doesn't care about the order, doesn't matter if they're accurate or not) in the "Member Name" and "PlayOnline ID" fields. If you wish to use your retail or trial account, you can input that.
    • Click on "Register" > "Yes" > "OK" > "Exit" and finally "Yes".

  4. Check that DirectPlay is enabled.
    This step is for Windows 10 users and can be skipped otherwise.

    • To enable DirectPlay, first press the Windpws key + R keyboard shortcut to open Run.
    • Then enter "Control Panel" in Run, and click the OK button.
    • Click "Programs and Features".
    • Click "Turn Windows features on or off".
    • Double-click "Legacy Components" to expand it.
    • Check the DirectPlay check box (if it is not already marked).

  5. Configure game technical optiones.

    • Start Menu > PlayOnline > FINAL FANTASY XI Config; or
    • (Root FFXI Install Directory)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/Tools/FINAL FANTASY XI Config

2. Connecting to Retail

To be capable of connecting to a private server, you must be able to update your local install of Final Fantasy XI. To do this, you must connect - or have connected - to SquareEnix's retail servers at least once. You may connect to the official retail servers in the following ways:

  1. Connect to retail with your existing retail subscription.
  2. Purchase a copy of Final Fantasy XI, which comes with a 30-day subscription.
  3. For users who have previously purchased Final Fantasy XI and have since reinstalled the software, connect to retail during a Return Home to Vana'diel campaign when SquareEnix allows former subscribers to play on retail servers for free.
  4. Activate a trial account provided by SquareEnix. When you do so, you will be emailed an activation key. This key may be used like a normal activation key.

3. Later Updates

After having connected to retail at least once since installing Final Fantasy XI, you may then update it at any time by deleting a file on your local installation and using "Check Files" from the PlayOnline Viewer. You may use this method even if your previous subscription to retail is inactive.

  1. Inside the \PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\ROM\0 folder > delete the 0.dat file.

  2. Execute PlayOnline Viewer. Click on "Check Files" from the list on the left.

  3. Select "FINAL FANTASY XI" in the drop-down menu ("PlayOnline Viewer" is selected by default) then click on "Check Files". Be sure that you are checking Final Fantasy XI and not the PlayOnline Viewer.

  4. If Final Fantasy XI is not an option available in the drop-down menu from the "Check Files" menu, you have not connected to retail since installing the client.

  5. PlayOnline Viewer will find errors, click on "File Repair" then "Yes".

  6. Once everything is done, click on "OK" then "Exit Viewer" and "Yes".

4. xiloader

To connect to a private server you need to point your client at that private server. This is done through bootloaders like xiloader.

Note: Ashita comes bundled with it's own bootloader. Users who plan to use Ashita may skip to Section 6 - Launcher Configuration. However, we highly recommend connecting to your server for the first time with only xiloader so that you can minimize potential setup problems.

5. Connecting to a Private Server

  • Execute xiloader.exe as an administrator (after launching xi_connect and xi_map if connecting to your own local sever), then select the "Create New Account" option by hitting "2" then:
Username: Username
Password: Password (then repeat)
  • After that, with each launch, select the "Login" option by hitting "1" then:
Username: Username
Password: Password

⚠️ Notes ⚠️

  • Username (3-15) (as displayed on the loader for now): less than 3 characters and more than 15 characters works.
  • Password (6-15) (as displayed on the loader for now): less than 6 characters works. More than 15 characters works when you register, BUT note that typing the first 15 characters when you're trying to log in will let you in.

6. Launcher Configuration

After confirming that your client can connect to a server, you can use one of the popular third-party launchers for ease-of-use and additional features.

6a. Launching via Ashita v4

NOTE: Ashita v3 seems to be nearing end-of-life and Ashita v4 has been very stable in beta for a long time. We recommend getting the Ashita v4 Beta from their Discord.

Ashita v4

  1. Download Ashita v4 Beta from their Discord.

  2. Go to Ashita-v4beta\config\boot and make a copy of example-privateserver.ini, renaming it to localhost.ini.

  3. Alter the [ashita.boot] section in localhost.ini to look like this:

    [ashita.boot]
; Private Server Usage
file        = .\\bootloader\\pol.exe
command     = --server 127.0.0.1
gamemodule  = ffximain.dll
script      = default.txt
args        =

  4. Create a Windows shortcut:

    Target:
C:\ffxi\Ashita-v4beta\Ashita-cli.exe localhost.ini

Starts In:
C:\ffxi\Ashita-v4beta\

  5. Double-click your new shortcut to connect to your local server.

Ashita v3

  1. Download Ashita v3.

  2. Run Ashita as administrator.

  3. Click on the Plus icon to make a new configuration, then edit the file line with the file path to your xiloader (can use the ... to browse).

  4. In the command line, place your server details as --server yourserverip --hairpin (if externally facing). You can also use --user and -pass to autopopulate your credentials.

  5. Choose "Window" to adjust your resolution if need be.

  6. Click the paper icon to save, launch with the red arrow.

6b. Launching via Windower

Windower v4

  1. Download Windower.

  2. Execute Windower as an administrator and it will download updates automatically.

  3. Click on the pen to edit the "Default Profile" and modify its options at your will.

  4. Open the settings.xml file and set your options as followed (don't forget to save changes):

    <profile name="Username">
<args>--server Server.IP.address --user Username --pass Password</args>
<executable>HDD:\path\to\xiloader.exe</executable>
</profile>

  5. Execute Windower.exe.

  6. Select your profile and click on the arrow (bottom right), it will launch xiloader.

Windower v5 / Fennestra

Nobody in LandSandBoat has much experience using Windower v5/Fennestra, so we can't give any advice on how to use it. You can check out their Discord though!

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