Client Installation and Client Updates

Client Installation

Prerequisites

• An archive opening program, such as 7-zip.
• MSVC x86 version runtimes - even if your OS is 64bit (if you get errors about a missing DLL, you are missing a runtime)
  As time goes on and programs get updated, the version required can change: 2015, 2017, etc.
  Generally searching the error message will tell you which version the program is expecting.
  Depending on what operating system you use, you may already have a newer version of these runtimes.
• A compatible version of the loader.
  One comes with Ashita - this loader will not work until the Ashita devs update it. You need LSB's xiloader.
• If a fresh install that has never updated, you will need to either sign into the official game first (free trial account works) or use this patch.

Basic outline of steps include

• Installing the game from the CDs or the online install file
• Updating the game files for the first time
• Preforming the Check Files on FFXI (not POL) and patching
• Downloading xiloader
• Make sure your profile in Windower or Ashita uses xiloader.exe, not pol.exe. It is recommended to place xiloader.exe in its own sub folder that is not on your desktop or inside "Program Files". C:\xiloader\xiloader.exe works fine. See this link for profile configuration details.

You may also run into some errors if this is your first time. So make sure you check the LSB Client Install Guide for the three Dynamic Link Library files listed. Chances are if Windower or Ashita are not working and you have already used the r-click -> run as admin steps, you may need the three .dll files found in the Common Errors section of the linked page.

Client patch steps (using POL)

• Step 1.
  Open PlayOnline Viewer (POL) (NOT Ashita/Windower - open POL directly).

• Step 2.
  Select "Check Files" and then "Final Fantasy XI" BUT don't do anything yet. If an installer window comes up, just cancel it.

• Step 3.
  Browse into your FFXI install directory, by default this will be \PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI.
  Now browse into the ROM subfolder, then into the the 0 subfolder (that is a zero for the name of the subfolder)

• Step 4.
  Delete, yes DELETE, 0.dat (again, that is a zero)

• Step 5.
  Go back to POL (that you should still have open...You DO still have it open, don't you? If not, slap yourself and repeat Steps 1 and 2! 😄). Start the Check Files process. It will check your local files, see 0.dat is missing, then report that it found 1 problem and ask to fix it. Press OK, and it will recheck your files AGAIN except this time against the latest version on SE's servers. When that finishes it will finally begin updating. Ain't SE's update system grand? /sarcasm.

DISCLAIMER: Removing \ROM\0\0.dat has worked for thousands of people without issue. Not all files get found and replaced by the Check Files process, so do not listen to anyone telling you to delete a different file. These instructions have always worked if they were followed correctly. I cannot be held responsible if you screw up your client and have to reinstall from scratch. 😄

ROM/dat Sets

If you are looking for ROM/dat file sets, please visit 9994.jumpingcrab.com or tehkrizz.net

As of November 8th, 2022, the cloud host that jumpingcrabs files were on mass deleted the files without warning. At present, tehkrizz is now the only place to reliably find romdat sets.

After November 4, 2024, tehkrizz.net also went dark. November 4, 2024 is the last available snapshot of the site on The Wayback Machine.