Technical Problem

[Rain_Blade]

Everytime I try to play Final Fantasy XI, it says tthis:

Terminated as error occurred in Final Fantasy XI. Failed to recognize Hardware TnL. Please check that this computer has the required specifications to run Final Fantasy XI.(-1)

Please help me. I would be sooooooooooo grateful.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Technical Problem

Check that your video card drivers are up to date. What video card are you running on? It may not be supported by FFXI.

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

I don't know. I don't even know where to find what video card on the computer.

[x1ang]

Re: Technical Problem

Right click on desktop > properties > settings

you should see it under "Display" along with the monitor model

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

(Multiple Monitors) on ATI RAGE Mobility(DELL)

[sevenpointflaw]

Re: Technical Problem

This is a known issue that crops up with onboard video cards, specificly Intel based video cards. My roomate had the same exact problem.

The Issue: While Final Fantasy XI relies primarily on the processor and the system memmory, with minimal use for GPU/Video Memmory, it does have to use DirectX to do this. T&L (Texture and Lighting) would be the hardware feature of the video cards that supports the DirectX calls to handle - you guessed it - advanced texture and lightning. For eample, swirlies when you cast magic, dynamic shadows, etc.

The Problem: It is a hardware issue. No updating of drivers is going to change the fact that your video card does not support T&L. Period, no questions asked.

The Fix: Get a new video card. This is the only real way to fix the issue. If money is an issue, a GeForce 4000MX will do the trick just fine. I have one in my server, which I used to play FFXI on. If money isn't an issue, go with a ATI Radeon x700 or x800. They rock FFXI two ways to sunday even with the high-res registry hacks if you want.

The Ducttape Solution: If getting a video card is not an option because you don't have the money ($50-$70 for a low end AGP/PCI graphics card like the GeForce 4000MX), or you don't have an available PCI slot or AGP slot, there is a software fix for it using third party software. This is how I fixed my roomates computer.

Its important to note that while this may work for you, it may result in laggy graphics, or various artifacts (artifacts would be white lines between textures, random blockyness, white washing of some textures like the V. Dunes terrain, or funny shadows on PC's faces). Its also important to note that the software fix adds tremendous strain on the processor and memmory because you are using software - not hardware - to emulate T&L.

Give it a try if you want, but do so at your own risk. I do not know how well this fix will work with the Radeon card you have, but it does work like a gem for the same problem on Intel based cards.

1.) Go to this website and download 3D Analyzer. Make sure that you use this version. Newer version of this program lack the ability to lift T&L caps on games that require two programs (POL and Final Fantasy in this case). The installer is in German, but just go with the flow - the program is in English. I reccomend virus checking etc., just for your own saftey though I have had no problems with it.: http://rapidshare.de/files/7292532/3...r_164.exe.html

2.) Install 3D-Anlyzer, and run the program.

3.) When you run the program, you will be presented with four steps. Do not do them in order. Begin with Step 3. Select your POL directory, and choose your POL program as the program to run.

4.) Under Step 1 on the screen, choose the same POL program you chose before.

5.) Go to Step 2 on the screen. Choose your Final Fantasy XI directory, not your POL directory, and select any file. This will set the DLL path for you, and allow POL to switch to Final Fantasy when you login to play.

6.) Make sure there is a check next to "emulate HW TNL caps" and nothing else.

7.) Click Run.

When you do this, it will launch POL, and it should allow for play of FFXI. Please be aware this works for many but -not- all Intel/other video cards that lack T&L. Some will run but be unplayable (everything is black; there is no overlay; no textures, etc.). If this is the case for you, there is nothing for it but to get a new video card.

If you have any questions about the use of 3DAnalyze, I'll try to answer, but beyond what I've already said I can't really think of anything else you should need. It will either work, or it won't.

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

O_o Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

[sevenpointflaw]

Re: Technical Problem

O_o Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

LOL. Don't thank me yet. Even if it -does- work, the game still may not be playable.

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

Heh. I got a question.

"Begin with Step 3. Select your POL directory, and choose your POL program as the program to run."

Do you have any ideas of where to open it?

[sevenpointflaw]

Re: Technical Problem

Heh. I got a question.

"Begin with Step 3. Select your POL directory, and choose your POL program as the program to run."

Do you have any ideas of where to open it?

Windows XP/2000 - c:/program files/square enix/playonline/pol.exe is the POL directory I believe. c:/program files/square enix/final fantasy xi/ for FFXI i think

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

Heh. I got a question

IT WORKED!!! YAY!!!

-but, the graphics look terrrrrrrrrible. I can only seen distorted squares and....it's just horrible. Also, I never knew this is a problem, but I've been curious. Before PlayOnline starts, it says this:

"Error code = 20008010
Screen may not be displayed properly wih curren graphic card. Start PlayOnline anyway?"

Any helpful ideas?

P.S. You're a big help.

[sevenpointflaw]

Re: Technical Problem

Heh. I got a question

IT WORKED!!! YAY!!!

-but, the graphics look terrrrrrrrrible. I can only seen distorted squares and....it's just horrible. Also, I never knew this is a problem, but I've been curious. Before PlayOnline starts, it says this:

"Error code = 20008010
Screen may not be displayed properly wih curren graphic card. Start PlayOnline anyway?"

Any helpful ideas?

P.S. You're a big help.

Those would be the graphics artifacts I was talking about that may or may not appear. There's really not anything can be done about them. No idea how to fix that, nor am I familiar with the POL error you're experiencing. It may just be recognizing the fact that you have software T&L now.

[Rain_Blade]

Re: Technical Problem

Oh ok. Well, thank you for all of your help!!! I appreciate it soooooo much .

[bside]

Re: Technical Problem

It may just be recognizing the fact that you have software T&L now.

just so ppl won't get the wrong understanding...

ffxi requires GPU's hardware TnL. what 3D Anlyzer does is to emulate the hardware TnL so that the applications like ffxi "think" that it's there, but it does NOT "create" software TnL. the fact is when hardware TnL isn't present, all the TnL is done through the CPU, regardless of 3D Analyzer. in other words, u have software TnL no matter what.

one of the reasons why some apps require hardware TnL, while CPU can handle the TnL anyway, is a speed. hardware TnL can handle the instrunctions so much faster than when it's done by CPU, no matter how fast the CPU is. also, hardware and software TnL use different sets of instructions, and one for the software TnL needs more complicated, or longer one. as u can see now, ffxi can only "issue" the instructions for hardware TnL, so GPU without hardware TnL can't even understand the instructions. what 3D Anlyzer is actually doing is to "translate" those instructions and send them to the CPU. and obviously, doing so takes extra time.


i strongly recommend to get a new PC, as the laptop w/ RAGE Mobility must be several generations old, and as u mentioned the graphic is horrible that u can't stand playing. not to mention ur CPU must be slowing things down as well. and unfortnately, u don't have an option of upgrading the GPU because it's a laptop.

[sevenpointflaw]

Re: Technical Problem

just so ppl won't get the wrong understanding...

ffxi requires GPU's hardware TnL. what 3D Anlyzer does is to emulate the hardware TnL so that the applications like ffxi "think" that it's there, but it does NOT "create" software TnL. the fact is when hardware TnL isn't present, all the TnL is done through the CPU, regardless of 3D Analyzer. in other words, u have software TnL no matter what.

one of the reasons why some apps require hardware TnL, while CPU can handle the TnL anyway, is a speed. hardware TnL can handle the instrunctions so much faster than when it's done by CPU, no matter how fast the CPU is. also, hardware and software TnL use different sets of instructions, and one for the software TnL needs more complicated, or longer one. as u can see now, ffxi can only "issue" the instructions for hardware TnL, so GPU without hardware TnL can't even understand the instructions. what 3D Anlyzer is actually doing is to "translate" those instructions and send them to the CPU. and obviously, doing so takes extra time.


i strongly recommend to get a new PC, as the laptop w/ RAGE Mobility must be several generations old, and as u mentioned the graphic is horrible that u can't stand playing. not to mention ur CPU must be slowing things down as well. and unfortnately, u don't have an option of upgrading the GPU because it's a laptop.

much better explination ^^

TY.