[Shiro_Hayate]

As the title says. I'm installing FFXI on two computers and plan to copy and paste everything except PlayOnline (the other computer is great and all, but the DVD drive f-ed up on me a few months back, I'm not buying a new one....plus the update takes forever).

Would this work? or am I going to get 5 million errors?

[Feba]

probably not; you'll also need to copy registry keys, and I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't get them all.

you can probably pull the DVD drive out of your one computer and pop it in the other to install it there. Or perhaps make .iso backups of your DVD, transfer them to the other machine, and use the iso as a virtual disk.

[Ameroth]

No this would not work. You cannot install most programs simply copying the files to the drive. Many registry entries are often made that are required by the system to work.

Originally Posted by Feba

you can probably pull the DVD drive out of your one computer and pop it in the other to install it there. Or perhaps make .iso backups of your DVD, transfer them to the other machine, and use the iso as a virtual disk.

This is good advice. If for some reason you can't spend the whole $20 on a new drive, these are easy work-arounds. I'd recommend swapping the DVD drives physically because making backup .ISOs of the DVDs could take a much longer time. If you can wait: google alcohol 120 and daemon.

[Shiro_Hayate]

See, I figured as much for PlayOnline, but what about the .dat files in FFXI?

I'm downloading PlayOnline right now on the other computer and going to update it, if I were to just copy all the files missing from FFXI would it run? Has anyone tried this?

And yes, I realize the registry thing but there are already registry problems from using PlayOnline Vista that are fixed by manually installing....so I'm wondering if C&P works ONLY for the game itself (not PlayOnline).

And I REALLY don't want to do any pulling/plugging in solely because I spent literally hours placing all the wires behind my case on my new computer, not to mention I might have to unplug the watercooling components. -___-

[Armando]

What you can do is install in one PC, download all the patches, install on the second, and copy-paste. This prevents you from having to download all the patches a second time. I do it all the time. Just make sure you install everything first before attempting to paste over it.

[Shiro_Hayate]

Originally Posted by Armando

What you can do is install in one PC, download all the patches, install on the second, and copy-paste. This prevents you from having to download all the patches a second time. I do it all the time. Just make sure you install everything first before attempting to paste over it.

Think I can install by C&Ping the folders from the CD? lol

Great, I have another problem; I lost my ex's account that I bought for her.

If I were to buy the XBox360 or PS2 version, would the cd keys inside it work? I have a feeling the 360 version won't due to them having their own way to connect (I'm assuming it's not through PlayOnline because Microsoft likes doing gay shit like that). I'm using the US version of FFXI on PC.

[Durahansolo]

Originally Posted by Shiro_Hayate

Great, I have another problem; I lost my ex's account that I bought for her.

Originally Posted by Shiro_Hayate

If I were to buy the XBox360 or PS2 version, would the cd keys inside it work? I have a feeling the 360 version won't due to them having their own way to connect (I'm assuming it's not through PlayOnline because Microsoft likes doing gay shit like that). I'm using the US version of FFXI on PC.

I think the keys are specific to that version. But if I'm understanding what you're asking....For example, if you bought Vanadiel Edition 2008 for 360 and installed it with the codes and then bought Vanadiel Edition 2008 for PC, you won't need the codes for the PC edition because you have the game already registered with the 360 version. So in that case all you'd need to do would be to install the PC version and just sign in with your Playonline ID.

[Ameroth]

Originally Posted by Shiro_Hayate

If I were to buy the XBox360 or PS2 version, would the cd keys inside it work? I have a feeling the 360 version won't due to them having their own way to connect (I'm assuming it's not through PlayOnline because Microsoft likes doing gay shit like that). I'm using the US version of FFXI on PC.

As long as you buy the VD Collection (lol VD), the reg. codes should work regardless of what platform you are installing to.

As for you original copy&paste problem, I really just don't see how it's going to work. The only copypasta that will benefit you will be what Armando was explaining about pasting update files. I've done this before and I know it works, provided you do it right.

But you'll need to run the installers on both machines first.

[Shiro_Hayate]

Thanks for your help everyone. I copied and pasted the installer files onto the second computer and proceeded to install...now just waiting for update -_- Then I'll C&P the rest over.

Finally I can stop playing WoW...can't stand the amount of idiots in that game, there's more idiots running raids than dune newbs.

[Heoki]

It actually is very simple to copy and paste without having to install again. I used this command

FOR /R %%G IN (*.dll) DO regsvr32 /s %%G

in command prompt to register all DLLs in C:\Games\SquareEnix to register my final fantasy on a separate computer.

You have to be sure to get the registry key for the game and be sure to have the directories listed properly.

[bungiefan]

You can copy and paste to avoid having to download the patch twice. You can also export the registry and import it on the other computer, assuming you have the same OS on both, and you install to the same relative location on both. I've done it with my computers with no trouble. If you don't want to mess with the registry, you still have to install PlayOnline Viewer and core FFXI to set up the registry and DLL files, and then copy the current versions from the first computer over the base installs on the second. I keep a backup of my FFXI folder on an external hard drive after every patch or macro update I make, and I have copied it onto the computers of a dozen or so friends to save them from dealing with a large patch when they first start the game.

BlueGartr used to have a guide posted on how to do exactly what I have done, and also converting installs between European and American, since European WotG went up on their FTP first.