Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

[Kabuki]

I was a victim of not knowing that Vista was bad for FFXI. It was crazy to drop to 10 FPS when there was a dozen of people around me. I'm looking to downgrade back to XP but I dont know how to. The only way I know how to is to do system restore and get rid of Windows that way, but I would also be losing FFXI. Is this the only way to? I just hate the long 5 hour update.

[Icemage]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

I was a victim of not knowing that Vista was bad for FFXI. It was crazy to drop to 10 FPS when there was a dozen of people around me. I'm looking to downgrade back to XP but I dont know how to. The only way I know how to is to do system restore and get rid of Windows that way, but I would also be losing FFXI. Is this the only way to? I just hate the long 5 hour update.

It's the only way, unless you happen to have a disk image of an XP installation for FFXI via something like Norton Ghost.

I don't recall it taking 5 hours to update, though, unless your internet connection is exceptionally slow (56K?). Getting the new Vana'diel collection would speed the process up significantly, as well since it'll require less updating if you're using older discs.


Icemage

[Jarre]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

If you have a DVD burner you could abckup your playonline folder onto 2 DVD's then after xp has been installed and updated install the game. Then replace the folder with the playonline backup folder (this should also keep your macros) then you will jsut have to sit through the 45 mintue file check and let it download any files it still thinks you need. May not work 100% of the time but it saves time if it does, took me 13 hours to install windows xp and update + final fantasy + updates.

[Seiyuuki]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

What I do is split my harddrive into 2 partitions when I install windows (incase a virus fecks it all to hell). C:Local and D:Data, install windows and other things to C:, then anything I REALY dont want to loose goes on data so when re-installing windows I only work the C: drive. Anything thats on D: stays on D:.

Though having said that, I'm not sure what would happen if you used this setup and only tried to change the OS on the 1 partition....

Just something people could try if they want to back stuffs up without using buttloads of CDs or DVDs.

[Balfree]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

Why don't you just let it update during the night...?

[Jarre]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

The problem is with having the different partitions, you loose some of your program registry files that are installed on the C:\ drive (you can;t stop this) therefore you will find theat you have to reinstall the program to get your registry entries ok, unless you are very litereate in able to deal with reg edits. I had that problem, and I ended up reinstalling them . You shouldn;t be worried about viruses as long as you have a decent viurus software, spyware killers and a fire wall.

[Balfree]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

May I ask what are your computer specs? Maybe Vista isnt even your biggest problem, who knows.

[Kabuki]

Re: Afraid of losing FFXI when downgrading

I have a core 2 duo e6600, 2 gb ram, geforce 8800gtx. I heard people reporting that the change from xp to vista causes the fps issue because they were using a 8600 and it was always at 29 fps. I'll let you guys know how it turns out when I get the XP disc.