Freakishly annoying problem

[Bamshu]

Whenever I try to play FFXI, everything is going fine until I click "Play", then I am greeted with the message "Beta version is installed, please install retail version" when I quite clearly have the retail version.

Ideas anyone?

[Jei]

Re: Why do they lie? - "Booting up problem"

Then you have the beta version installed then. Where did you get your box from? Just return it and get the new DVD one.

[Mhurron]

Re: Why do they lie? - "Booting up problem"

Are you on the XBox? Were you part of the 360 Beta? Did you install the Beta thinking you were going to get on without buying the game? Did you uninstall the Beta correctly?

[Bamshu]

Re: Why do they lie? - "Booting up problem"

Nope, I have the PC version. And no it's not the beta version. I've used it on my old PC.

Now you might understand why I'm so puzzled about this.

[Bamshu]

Freakishly annoying problem

Sorry to make another thread on the same subject, but it's been 2 whole weeks of agonising pain trying to sort this out and still no answer in the other thread.

Right, Whenever I click "Play" the message "Beta version is installed, please install retail version" appears. THis is DEFINETLY not the case as I've used the very same discs on my old PC and it worked fine.

Also, after creating a shortcut to the game on my desktop, the icon is blanked out and when clicking on it a search for "polboot.exe" starts but nothing is found. This seems more then likely to be the problem.

I tried re-installing but the same thing happened.

Please, please, please can someone help me here. 2 whole weeks I've been trying to sort this out. I e-mailed playonline and instead of giving me a solution they told me to call thier helpline at a premium rate...

Someone on these forums MUST have a solution. Please, my patience is on the very edge here.

[neighbortaru]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

i seem to recall that error message is a symptom of not uninstalling the game cleanly. uninstall game, delete directories, delete registry entries (run a registry cleaner), reinstall. if that doesn't work either call POL support (or use their web chat) or format the PC and retry from scratch. sorry if that's not what you want to hear.

[Bamshu]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Thank you. I'll give that a go. I'll post again if it doesn't work. >_<

Should I uninstall Playonline too?

[neighbortaru]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

yes, uninstall ALL of it and don't forget to delete folders and registry entries

[Bamshu]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Grrrrrr. Still the same thing. I'm getting so sick of this now.

Another detail that won't make much difference but I'll say anyway, is that on the playonline "Check files" menu, FFXI isn't even there. Just Playonline and Tetra master.

Also, another problem...

When trying to use the web chat doo-hickey on the playonline website, there doesn't seem to be any actual way of talking to anyone. I'll take a screenshot to show you what I mean...



No enter button? No continue button? Nothing. Is it a problem on my part? Or is it only available at certain times or something?

The helpline is closed for the next 2 days. And I really would like to play FF over the weekend. >_<

[Macht]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Grrrrrr. Still the same thing. I'm getting so sick of this now.
Another detail that won't make much difference but I'll say anyway, is that on the playonline "Check files" menu, FFXI isn't even there. Just Playonline and Tetra master.
Also, another problem...
When trying to use the web chat doo-hickey on the playonline website, there doesn't seem to be any actual way of talking to anyone. I'll take a screenshot to show you what I mean...

No enter button? No continue button? Nothing. Is it a problem on my part? Or is it only available at certain times or something?
The helpline is closed for the next 2 days. And I really would like to play FF over the weekend. >_<

Ok, considering your lack of ability to think of trying to EXPAND the window size for the webchat help. I question your ability to properly install the game, I would advice if you have someone else in the house who is better skilled at installations to try.

Sorry, I know I'm sounding like a dick saying that but info provided and picture suggests you are lacking the proper attention to solve the problem. It's smelling of the person beating the crap out of his system because it won't start, later to find that it wasn't starting because the power cord WASN'T PLUGGED IN!!!

Sorry, answered this after a long work day were I couldn't even get freaking 5 min. to eat lunch without being pulled away from it.


Alternate I can say is go through your steps again 1 at a time provide as much detail as possible to us. The more detail you provide of what you did and your system's enviornment the better picture you provide for someone to solve it. Otherwise you really are giving us very little to help you solve it with. At most all I'm getting out of this thread is someone freaking out and losing themselves to irrational behavior. Stop for a second take a step back, relax, and then review what you've done with a bit more of an analytical eye.

[Bamshu]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Of course I tried to frickin' expand the window. (I swear it wasn't working earlier...)
No agents available at the moment. Ah well.

Anyway, I think any detail I give wouldn't make a difference. Because I installed everything the standard way. Basically, I just do this...

Installed the playonline disc, registered my POL ID to it and tested if it was working. It's fine. Then I install FFXI and then on then look on the "Check files" menu to find that FFXI apparently doesn't exist. Try and play regardless and of course it says I have the beta version.

Oh, and I don't think I would bash up my brand new PC to get a game to work...

If you could tell me any specific details I should be giving, that would also make things easier. It's clear this isn't a simple problem, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult me saying I can't do the simple task of installing a game. It worked fine on my old PC. >_<

Edit: Oh, I've tried installing it with AVG on and shamefully with it off. Both ended up with the same message.

[Macht]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Of course I tried to frickin' expand the window. (I swear it wasn't working earlier...)
No agents available at the moment. Ah well.
Anyway, I think any detail I give wouldn't make a difference. Because I installed everything the standard way. Basically, I just do this...
Installed the playonline disc, registered my POL ID to it and tested if it was working. It's fine. Then I install FFXI and then on then look on the "Check files" menu to find that FFXI apparently doesn't exist. Try and play regardless and of course it says I have the beta version.
Oh, and I don't think I would bash up my brand new PC to get a game to work...
If you could tell me any specific details I should be giving, that would also make things easier.

Well for one thing you state you installed FFXI. Are we to assume that you went and clicked on "Final Fantasy XI: Online" first and installed it then when to "Final Fantasy: Rize of the Zilarts" and then installed it?

Or are we to assume you figured that installing only Final Fantasy XI: Online without RoZ was sufficient enough to get the game going? or perhaps are we to assume you thought that just installing an expansion such as RoZ alone would have all of the FFXI's basic files?

You never even answered the question of weather you were a beta tester. So we have no clue there, all you've stated and repeated when question of being a beta tester was that you had it installed on your old computer and it worked fine. If you did beta test then questions such as "are you sure you got the right POL ID and not accidently using the one you got from the Beta Testing?" would be coming up. Along with other potential questions.

Then there is ofcourse did you let it install were it suggested or did you redirect it? If you redirected it then maybe you want to check the path to make sure that FFXI did in-fact install itself and you can see the files and folders existing on the drive. Can confirm that there is a ROM, ROM2, ROM3, and so on for each expansion you have.

There is ton's more potential but it's waste of my time to think of potential issues without a real direction.

Alright I just tested the admins, you obvious have no patience since it took exactly 2 min. to get an admin responding and talking about your issue. He suggested that it's best that you go there to get it first hand, which I agree with. When you get the message "All admins are currently busy. Please stand by." do exactly as it says and WAIT! Doesn't take long for one to answer you.

[Bamshu]

Re: Freakishly annoying problem

Firstly, to answer a few questions...

1. I was not a beta tester. Ever. And I'm using the PC version. The one that comes with 7 discs. 1 for playonline and tetra master, 3 for FFXI, and 3 for the 2 following expansion packs.
2. I've tried both installing FFXI alone, and FFXI with both expansion packs. The same thing happened with both.
3. I let it install where it was suggested.

I have plenty of patience. You used the North America web chat I assume. I'm from Europe, England. It's probably too late in the day for it to be running now. I just hope I can get on saturday afternooon.

I used the web chat a week ago and they were puzzled at the problem. They told me to re-install again. I wasn't able to get back onto the web chat again after that because of the whole window thing, but that's okay now.

Edit: With the europe web chat, it just says "No admins are currently available, please try again later." and the window must be closed.