Install Guide

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Two official videos are available on the Talk Page.

Introduction

This guide is designed to help people install the game. My images and processes are based on a Windows 10 install.

Installation

PlayOnline & FFXI Download and Install

First, download the game's install file's from HERE. Note that this is for the US install. For the EU install go HERE There are 5 files and are a total of roughly 7.2GB so it may take a while to download them. FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe FFXIFullSetup_US.part2.rar FFXIFullSetup_US.part3.rar FFXIFullSetup_US.part4.rar FFXIFullSetup_US.part5.rar Once you have them downloaded make sure you have all 5 in the same location and then run FFXIFullSetup_US.part1.exe.

File:InstallGuide1A.PNG Download page from PlayOnline

An extracter will appear. Select "Extract". This will extract all the files to the specified location, which you will have to manually open, so take note of the location it defaults to.

File:InstallGuide2A.PNG Extractinator

Navigate to the location you extracted to and run the "FFXISetup.exe" file.

File:InstallGuide3A.PNG Run the EXE

Check all 3 boxes and then click "Install".

File:InstallGuide4A.PNG Multi-Install

The first install is for DirectX. Click the radio button for "I Accept" and click "Next".

File:InstallGuide5A.PNG DirectX instal

Click "Next" again.

File:InstallGuide6A.PNG Next!

After it is done installing, click "Finish".

File:InstallGuide7A.PNG Finish DirectX

The POL installer is next, click "Next".

File:InstallGuide8A.PNG POL Installer

License agreement, we know you won't read it so click "Next".

File:InstallGuide9A.PNG License Agreement POL

A note about background applications during the install, just hit "Next".

File:InstallGuide10A.PNG Background Apps

Install location, verify where you want it and hit "Next".

File:InstallGuide11A.PNG Install Location

Decide if you want a shortcut(you don't) and click "Install".

File:InstallGuide12A.PNG Installing...

Once it is done, click "Finish".

File:InstallGuide13A.PNG Finish POL

It will now install the actual game, once it loads, just click "Next".

File:InstallGuide14A.PNG Actual FFXI Installer

Check that you Agree and "Next" once again.

File:InstallGuide15A.PNG More License agreements

Another note about background applications. Click "Next".

File:InstallGuide16A.PNG NEXT!

Again, if you want to change the location here's where you do it for the XI install itself. It'll default to where you installed POL but make sure you install it where you'd like it. Hit "Next" when you are done.

File:InstallGuide17A.PNG XI install location

A note about DirectPlay, Click "Next".

File:InstallGuide18A.PNG DirectPlay

Decide if you want a shortcut to XI and click "Install".

File:InstallGuide19A.PNG Shortcuts?

Once the game is done installing, click "Finish".

File:InstallGuide20A.PNG Finishing XI install

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PlayOnline and account setup

PlayOnline First time setup

Now that the game is installed, open up the start menu and navigate to the "PlayOnline" folder. **Note that in this section you have the "PlayOnline Viewer Config" and "Final Fantasy XI Config" which will allow you to set various settings which you may need.

File:InstallGuide47.png A wild start menu appears

Once POL opens it will ask you to update. Just hit "Next".

File:InstallGuide48.png POL updater

This one is the short one. Just click "Update".

File:InstallGuide49.png Update Screen

It'll run through an initial file check and then start downloading necessary files and install them. This is a pretty short update

File:InstallGuide50.png Updates!

Once it completes, hit "OK".

File:InstallGuide51.png POL update complete

After the update POL wants to restart. Click "Next".

File:InstallGuide52.png Restarting POL

Once restarted it asks you if you're a member or not. If you click "For PlayOnline Members!" then it goes to the next screen to fill out details. If you select "Start PlayOnline Registration" I think it takes you to POL's site to let you set up an SE account and get your PlayOnline account as well. If you do not already have your accounts set up, continue on with the guide. If you already have your accounts, then skip ahead to the "Add POL Member" section.

File:InstallGuide53.png Registration

Free Trial Account Setup

If you have not played before or just want to start over, you can start a free trial account by going to SE's store: SE's Store On this page click "ADD TO CART".

File:InstallGuide54.png Add your trial to cart

A drop-down menu will appear. Click "Check Out" to continue.

File:InstallGuide55.png Added to cart

It will ask you to sign in. If you have an SE store account already you can use it here but if you don't, you'll have to set up a new one. Click "New Customer" at the top.

File:InstallGuide56.png Sign in or New Customer

On the "New Customer" tab it has you fill out several fields: A working email address to receive you A unique username Create a new password (write it down just in case) Pick your country Enter Birthday (probably have to be 13+ to play the game but not sure) If you had an old store account you can pick yes here, if not, just pick "No, create a new one". Uncheck if you don't want the SE newsletter The next three boxes you have to check or it won't let you continue. After everything is filled, hit "JOIN NOW".

File:InstallGuide57.png SE Store account registration

Now that you have an account it will have you confirm that this item is what you want. Hit "CONTINUE".

File:InstallGuide57-B.png Confirm Order

Since SE wants all your data they force you to fill out shipping information despite not shipping you anything. You'll have to enter all of this but keep in mind that only the email and possibly the country actually matter. You could fill in basically anything you want for the rest. Check the box for "Shipping address is the same as Billing address" or you'll have to enter a separate address. Uncheck the box for "email product updates" unless you just like spam. Click "CONTINUE" once done.

File:InstallGuide58.png "Order" details

This is the order review screen. Not much to do here, just click "PLACE ORDER".

File:InstallGuide59.png Review screen

At this point your order is done and you should receive an email. I'd recommend you save your order number just in case you have issues.

File:InstallGuide60.png Order Complete

The email will come from [email protected]. Click the completion link to finish.

File:InstallGuide61.png Trial Account activation email

The link in your email will bring you to a page with your activation key which is a 20 character code. Take note of this somewhere as you'll need it for the next section.

File:InstallGuide62.png Activation Key

Create an SquareEnix ID

Navigate to SquareEnix's management site: SE's Management site NA version SE's Management site EU version This guide's images and instructions will be based on the NA version but hopefully they are similar enough to help. Once there, click on the large red button labeled "Register new account". The blue one will be your go to for any account changes so I'd recommend bookmarking that one.

File:InstallGuide64.png SE Management Site

The next screen will have you fill out all the information needed to set up your SEID. You'll need: A unique username for your SEID (this will be what you log in to the SE site as well as your primary for PlayOnline for playing XI. A password Your email address. And yeah, this one has to work too as you can't continue without the email it sends. Birthday A security question and answer for it. Hit the Captcha checkbox to prove skynet isn't learning to play MMOs and click "Next".

File:InstallGuide65.png SE Account registration

On the next page it will point you to your email as you should have gotten an account registration email. In that email is a Confirmation Code. Grab it.

File:InstallGuide67.png Confirmation Code email

Here's where you'll enter the confirmation code sent to your email. Once entered, hit "Confirm".

File:InstallGuide68.png Enter confirmation code

And that part is done. Hitting next here brings you to your account. (I don't recall if it makes you log in a second time)

File:InstallGuide69.png SEID registration complete

SE sends you another email with your SEID. I'd recommend getting this and your password saved somewhere.

File:InstallGuide70.png SE email with account details

Once logged you can do several things here but we'll focus on getting your XI set up. Click the blue icon that says "Service Accounts" and has the FFXI logo on it.

File:InstallGuide71.png Your SE Dashboard

SE again wants information. Whatever you enter here, be sure to make note of it as much of it you may need later if you need to recover your account. Once you're done entering your information, hit "Next".

File:InstallGuide72.png SE Account information

SE finds it necessary to tell you that you've registered, click "Next".

File:InstallGuide74.png More confirmations

You first need to get a PlayOnline account. Click "Add new PlayOnline servcies account".

File:InstallGuide75.png FFXI Service accounts page

It's possible there is some important information in here... I didn't read it. Hit "Next" to continue.

File:InstallGuide76.png More legal crap

On this page you must enter your registration codes for PlayOnline. If you started a trial, you'll enter that code from your email I referenced previously in the guide. If you bought your game, you should have gotten your codes in another way. If purchased with physical copies, your codes would be within the game disc case. In steam, you'll have gotten them within the steam system under "View Codes". If you bought it from SE's site, you'll get them in an email similar to the trial. DO NOT LOSE THESE! You may need them. In any case, get your codes and enter them. Click "Next" once done.

File:InstallGuide78.png PlayOnline Registration Codes

This goes over a few things about the free trial. Click "Next".

File:InstallGuide79.png Trial Details

More agreements... Click "Next".

File:InstallGuide81.png XI Agreement

Finally, you have your POL ID and now you can go set up POL.

File:InstallGuide83.png POL ID Obtained

Add POL Member

Open up PlayOnline and click "Add Member".

File:InstallGuide84.png POL login screen

You'll need to fill out most of these: Member Name is whatever you want this entry to be shown as, can be whatever you want. PlayOnline ID is the 8 character code that starts with 4 letters and ends in 4 numbers that you have to get from SE's site. Set Password allows you to save your PlayOnline password so you don't have to type it in every time you log in. It is optional. PlayOnline Password is where you enter that if you want it saved and you have the previous option set. Member Password is just an additional password if you want to use it but it really doesn't add much security as it is only local. Square Enix ID or SEID is the username you need to log in to SE's website to manage your account. One-Time Password is what you turn on if you have a security token. If you do, then set to "Use". After filling all necessary fields, click "Register".

File:InstallGuide85.png Add Member screen

Once registered it will bring you back to the login screen where you can click your newly added entry. A screen will pop up and just click "Log In". On the next screen enter your SE password and if you use the one-time password enter that generated code and hit "Connect".

File:InstallGuide86.png Logging in

If this is the first time you've logged in, you'll have to create a "Handle". Which is basically your POL name. Make one and hit "Register".

File:InstallGuide87.png Handle

It then asks if you would like to edit any of the details of your handle, click "Yes" if you do.

File:InstallGuide88.png More handle stuff

If you decided to edit, it'll bring you to a screen where you can pick a handle image or give details about yourself which your friends will be able to see. Just hit "Back" when done.

File:InstallGuide89.png Handle edit window

How many agreements does SE make you agree to? On this one you literally have to scroll to the bottom before you hit "Accept" or it will yell at you.

File:InstallGuide90.png PoL Agreement

On this screen just hit "FINAL FANTASY XI".

File:InstallGuide91.png POL menu

And on this screen, click "Play".

File:InstallGuide92.png And another POL menu

SE attempts to warn you not to play too much. Click "Play".

File:InstallGuide93.png Don't get addicted!!

Now the game has to update. Click "Update".

File:InstallGuide94.png Dreaded update screen

First thing you should know is that SE's update system is terrible. Each file downloads one at a time and because of how it is structured, it takes forever regardless of how good your internet is. Luckily, SE recently created a fresh installer so it is much faster than it used to be.

File:InstallGuide96.png How long it used to take...