[Angmar]

I've figured out, on my own, after weeks of testing and debates with fellow players, that the CAUSE of the random crash to desktop with NO error reports or anything, (also tried controller drivers, graphics drivers, reinstalling, reformatting, reinstalling OS, etc etc).

Anyway, this ERROR (Crash To Desktop Randomly While In-Game) is caused NOT by FINAL FANTASY XI, but by the PLAYONLINE VIEWER.

The way it works is, you NEED POL open to run FFXI right? Its like, u need an OS to run POL. Well, what happens is, while you are playing the game, which is automatically in Full-Screen Mode, you do NOT see what is happening in POL. So what is happening is, POL is being crashed or shut down or turned off by SOMETHING (i have not found out what). So when POL shuts off, FFXI goes to look for it and says "wtf? where'd it go?" and shuts itself off to prevent hacking/damage/it doesnt know what else to do.

So this in a nutshell is, POL causes the error, not FFXI.

I did find a fix for MY PC, which does work, and I have tested it.
MY fix for MY pc (not guaranteed to work with all pcs) was to go into the POL config (Start Menu > Program Files > Playonline) and turn OFF controller, turn OFF sound, turn ON full screen mode. This seems to fix the bug, permanently.

*note*
I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING, TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND NOW ITS FIXED, I LEFT MY CHARACTER ON FOR 9 AND A HALF HOURS WITH NO ERRORS AT 1024 X 1024 BACKGROUND RESOLUTION WITH SOUND ON.

*note2*
I recommend trying my solution, if you have tried everything and have had no success.


My PC STATS:
Radeon 9800 XT (Omega Drivers)
Pentium 4 3.06 GHZ HTT w/ 800 mhz FSB
512 mb RAM
On-board sound card
Windows XP Pro sp1
Direct X 9
Satellite ISP

[Rodin]

The simple thing is to make sure the vibration is turned off, that's how it crased to my desktop the first few times, until I looked at the PS2>PC controller FAQ on this webisite.

[Cecil118]

One reason i found it to crash was temporary logging, then checking someones inventory, and sometimes it crashes. The would link it to POL, so....

[Angmar]

my method is to be used AFTER you have tried using/not using the controller and what-not.

in my case, turning off the vibration function for the controller was definitely not the problem.

[Condor85]

2 ways it crashes for me...


1) Using the temporary logout command to go back to POL... then in game while checking inventory.. cRaSH.



2) Using fraps while also using windows media player for music in the background. I think it has problems keep framerates of both.. i think it has something to do with the visualizations of media player, maybe if you use an winamp or something it might work better.

[Kekori]

Ya, this happens continuesly to me too. But it only happens when I'm in the City Windurst, and all other places besides the other cities, Saruta, and Ron.

[Omena]

I just upgraded my rig and I've been getting these random crashes to desktop ever since. I hope this works, because currently I'm unable to play.

edit: Ok my problem seems to have been overheating. I lowered my CPU clocks and no more crashing since then.