You aren't the only on having problems with a Windows 8.1 xD I just got my new laptop like....a week to a week and a half ago and I have FFXI installed correctly and POL viewer installed correctly but when I try to launch FFXI, it opens the DirectPlay install window then freezes my WHOLE system. Had it going for 2 hours, waiting for it to start respoding but to no avail. Kinda upset about this cuz I finally have a laptop that can play MOST games on decent settings, including Elder Scrolls 4 on high to very high settings. Last laptop could barely handle Very Low settings T_T