Windows 8 Problems

[Vexan]

I recently updated to windows 8 and my computer will not display any of the character models or the models of the monsters ("mobs"). I reinstalled the game, did not work, I reinstalled windows 8 and FFXI, still the same problem...Please let me know if you have found any solutions! I have been working on this problem for about 4 days now!
Thank you!

[RAIST]

If I remember right, there was lots of funkiness with Windows 8 over the last year when it was in RC testing over at the site that supports that 3rd party tool which shall not be named here. Not sure if they ever managed to find workarounds for the wonkiness.

It's likely an issue (AGAIN) with how Microsoft is managing DirectX (which FFXI uses some very outdated implementations, which leads to a host of problems for GPU's released post 2010 in Vista or later Windows). Some of the more common tweaks that have fixed a lot of issues in the past: disable advanced features for the graphics card and/or game. For examples: turn off Catalyst AI (ATI specific), disable Dual-GPU support (Xfire or SLI), turn off shadows, weather effects, etc. in game...and so and so and so forth.

In short, FFXI simply isn't <officially> (http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/envi/win/win01.html?pageID=win) supported on the Win8 platform yet, nor the more recent graphics processors..

[Baudle]

Hello Vexan,

We're sorry to hear that you are having this difficulty. As this issue sounds more like a technical issue with your operating system than with Final Fantasy XI's design, we recommend contacting Square Enix Support Center (https://support.na.square-enix.com/contact.php?id=20&la=1) for more direct help.

Thank you for your time,
GM Baudle

[kithyen2012]

Having the same issues as above (Along with random crashes). I uninstalled out of frustration but may give it another go after I get back in town. If it doesn't work I'll get into touch with technical support.

Has there been any fixes out of game with the I5/Intel HD4000? I'm pretty sure I tried everything possible in game and wasn't able to get models to show up not to mention the random crashes as well.

[Psxpert2011]

Windows is going to suck no matter how many versions Microsoft makes. Moving on...

SE,
Please make FFxi for linux!! V.V*

[Manque]

I am successfully playing FFXI on windows 8! Things I did to fix your problem before getting it to work:

1
Found and installed directX 9.

2
Used my graphics card config tool to ensure that ffxi graphics were running off my geforce card and not on board graphics (might be the opposite case for you)

3
Updated my graphics drivers after upgrading to windows 8.

Happily playing now!

[Vexan]

I fixed this "models not showing problem". If you have an Nvidia graphics card, go into the Nvidia control panel, click "Manage 3D settings", Under "Preferred graphics processor" change it from "Auto-Select" to "High-Performance NVIDIA Processor". The computer, has two graphics cards, it is not choosing the correct card for the game. But, this WILL drain your laptop's battery! You can click on "Program settings" tab and have the Nvidia card change whenever you play ffxi. But i am still having another issue...my screen freezes when playing ffxi, takes about 10-20mins. I played the game in a Window mode and the Nvidia driver says it stoped responding. I don't know why this happens. Let me know if you have the same issue! Let me know if the nvidia control panel thing fixes your problem with the models.

[TigerDawn]

I recently updated to windows 8 and my computer will not display any of the character models or the models of the monsters ("mobs"). I reinstalled the game, did not work, I reinstalled windows 8 and FFXI, still the same problem...Please let me know if you have found any solutions! I have been working on this problem for about 4 days now!
Thank you!
I am having this exact problem....I've tried turning off showdows, turning everything all the way down, turning it all the way up and I'm still having the same trouble. If anyone know anything more about how to get DirX to work right I'd love to hear it.

[kithyen2012]

Whelp....

I've been pretty much banging my head against every wall trying to get this silly game to work. I've literally run thru every possible fix I can think of. I've updated drivers, rolled back drivers, reinstalled and reupdated about three or four times. Before I could at least get into the game before I crashed. Now my game gets to the character select screen and PoL stops working. I've turned off window's defender/firewall I've left firewall open with added exceptions to let it do it's thing and nothing.

I've run every compatability mode. I've downloaded and installed directx 9.0. I've tried windowed mode as well as multiple resolutions in both full screen and windowed mode all ran as administrator with different UAC settings etc.

If anybody can think of anything else. I can try, I'm all ears. Right now it's looking like I picked up the one laptop that will probably never play this game. My free 30 days is running out :\

[Vexan]

TigerDawn, does your game crash as well or the character models do not show? I contacted Nvidia about this problem...I really think it is a graphics card driver issue... I have an Nvidia 650M GT.

[Ardire]

I have Windows 8 and I have no problems. :x I'm not sure what it could be..

[SE_Chris]

If you're still having an issue even booting FINAL FANTASY XI on your Windows 8 environment we recommend the big 3 maintenance steps: Windows Update (windowsupdate.microsoft.com), DirectX Update (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fdownload%2Fdetails.aspx%3Fid%3D35&ei=dPuaUKaNOMK6igL_84BA&usg=AFQjCNFYhiXimXLGKrLEs90pKTCmQBehXg&sig2=i5dCqS6LmllpMqv_53f_AA) and graphics card driver update from either AMD (http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx)or Nvidia (http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us). If you cover all those bases and it's still giving you a headache go ahead and contact us via the Square Enix Support center (http://support.na.square-enix.com/contacttop.php?id=20&la=1)so that we can look into it for you. The Support Center is actively gathering some of this information on the contacts we receive.

[Mirvana]

I'm having the same issue with Windows 8 and no character models loading. All of the environments load fine, but nothing else will show up. Everything I've tweaked the settings on is not getting them to load properly.

[kithyen2012]

K so I keep trying to send off for technical support via email and keeps giving me form error messages saying required fields need to be filled. I've filled in everything that has a red * next to it. I'm getting weary of having to type in the same info over and over again :\

[Xmishma]

I was having the exact same issue with the character models not loading and I came across a tip that solved my issue.

Go into device manager, find your graphics adapter, go into it's properties, then to the driver tab and choose update driver. When the software update screen appears choose browse my computer for driver software followed by "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer". On the next screen it displays (in my case at least) 3 models. Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000, Intel(R) HD Graphics Family (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM 1.2) and Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. In order to get this to work I used the HD Graphics Family driver and I was able to run XI.

I hope this helps anyone who is having this issue.

Source:
http://www.ffxiah.com/forum/topic/34252/windows-8-ffxi-not-best-friends/2/ from Spidermike

[kithyen2012]

Mine wasn't called HD Graphics Family Driver, it was just called HD Graphics 4000 but had the WDDM in parentheses. So congratulations....I owe you a beer. Of all the things I've tried this seemed so simple. I rolled back the drivers like that once but didn't go further than the update before the current one cause I just assumed they wouldn't work as well. Thank you so much.

[SE_Chris]

Wow, great find Xmishma, thanks. I'll be sure to pass this along to our support center. As we get more contacts with Windows 8 I'm sure we'll be looking for fixes like this moving forward. Thanks again.

[Solumbum]

Im having the same issue with Windows 8 I have tried all troubleshooting listed in this forum and it helped for 24hrs then after logging off and coming back the very next day everything is back to being ghosts ~_~; I tried to submit a support ticket but keep getting Form Errors after typing in all the info. So Ive come here to hopefully find help

Edit: Seems after re trying everything on forum numerous times; Characters are back will update if they vanish again

[Xmishma]

I also ran into this problem. I obviously don't know what triggered it for you but, in my case it happened when I connected my laptop to an external monitor. I went ahead and reconfigured my video driver and now works between my normal display and external display. Seeing as you have not posted with issues again for a few days I'm assuming you haven't had any trouble since.

For anyone having future issues with invisible characters, just make sure to check the video driver, especially if you do use dual/external monitors since Windows uses profiles to tell the difference between displays.

Hope this helps anyone in the future

EDIT: After looking around a little bit, when you install the generic video driver, if you have automatic updates setup, Windows will want to install the correct driver for the video. Seeing as some drivers are not loading up char models, you can change the windows update setting to "Check for updates, but let me choose whether to download and install". For anyone who doesn't know how to do this, right click start > system and click on Windows Update and then change settings.

[Abhilfe]

Wow, thank you Xmishma!! Your solution worked for me. Only difference being I had HD Graphics 4000. But it worked nonetheless :)

[SE_Chris]

If none of the fixes in this thread resolve the issue, please let us know so that we may endeavor to assist you further.

[bigdave]

I have installed this game on my win 8 notebook every time I try to load it goes to the character selection screen then crashes saying direct 3d is not working. I have rolled back driver tried windows 7 combability etc I am to the point I would rather quit the game than fight with this any more maybe you should make a patch for windows 8 like you did 7.