Windows 8 = Always POL-1400 Error Starting FFXI

[Haruhigumi]

Ever since I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Professional, I cannot play FFXI since the 26th. I Can log into the POL viewer, but when I get to the shortcut to launch FFXI from the viewer I am always presented with POL-1400 Content Communication Error.

I've tried making sure all the drivers were up to date, I've tried every compatibility mode setting back to Windows XP compatibility, I've tried restarting, I've tried launching the game with administrative privileges, I've tried reinstalling DirectX 11.

My Partial DXDiag information (too long to post) :

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/31/2012, 09:16:29
       Machine name: KARL-HP
   Operating System: Windows 8 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.120926-1855)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP 630 Notebook PC              
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU        P6200  @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3894MB RAM
          Page File: 2595MB used, 4882MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.02.9200.16384 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics
       Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
          Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics (Pentium)
           DAC type: Internal
        Device Type: Full Device
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_3674103C&REV_02
     Display Memory: 1696 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
      Shared Memory: 1632 MB
       Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: SEC4351
        Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (60.031Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2858 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.15.10.2858
        DDI Version: 10
     Feature Levels: 10.0,9.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Graphics Preemption: DMA
 Compute Preemption: DMA
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 10/10/2012 15:44:10, 8368576 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp: 
       D3D9 Overlay: Supported
            DXVA-HD: Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
...

[Haruhigumi]

Also I cannot update the POL viewer from version 1.18.00n because I cannot get past the POL-1400 even after re-installing the game completely, as such it can't get updated and I can only use my POL login (not my linked SE account).

[Haruhigumi]

I've re-installed windows 8 cleanly (no settings etc saved). Got FFXI reinstalled from steam, POL got updated to 1.18.15e, now I'm going thru the FFXI update process, will update after it's done on whether or not it had an impact on being able to start the game itself.

[Haruhigumi]

Seems fine after a re-install of the entire OS cleanly.