Cannot Connect to Playonline, Error code:POL-0206

[Votraftur]

Good morning and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XI Technical Forums.

We apologize for any inconvenience experienced when trying to play Final Fantasy XI. For us to better assist you, please respond with the following information:
What Platform are you using? (Steam/Windows/etc.)
What Platform is your brother using?

At what point does the issue occur?
Have you ever been able to log onto FINAL FANTASY XI?

Are you running any additional programs alongside Final Fantasy XI?

All steps taken to resolve the issue:

If possible, would you be able to try removing the local files to wipe the login details and try again? Please navigate to 'Program Files(x86)' > 'PlayOnline' > 'SQUARE ENIX' > 'FINAL FANTASY XI' > 'USER' and copy this 'USER' folder so it may be stored elsewhere as a backup. Once complete, proceed to remove sub folders out of this main folder one by one (Not the backup) so you may determine if there may be corrupt files.

Alternatively, we may recommend removing the folder completely and performing a file check from the PlayOnline Viewer so the client may recreate/restore this folder. Please be advised that removing the 'USER' folder will also remove any macros that may have been created.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XI Technical Support Forums!

[Dragoy]

It would appear to me that all of the information requested (again) is already available in this thread.

Few additional observations:

If possible, would you be able to try removing the local files to wipe the login details and try again? Please navigate to 'Program Files(x86)' > 'PlayOnline' > 'SQUARE ENIX' > 'FINAL FANTASY XI' > 'USER' and copy this 'USER' folder so it may be stored elsewhere as a backup. Once complete, proceed to remove sub folders out of this main folder one by one (Not the backup) so you may determine if there may be corrupt files.

I believe the path referred to here may actually be

'Program Files(x86)' > 'SquareEnix' > 'FINAL FANTASY XI' > 'USER'

where

'Program Files(x86)'

could be anything else chosen during the installation process.

Furthermore, per information provided in this topic, the issue already happens when logging in to PlayOnline, so FINAL FANTASY XI probably doesn't even need to be installed and this path would not exist.

Instead, I believe that what might be referred to here and be relevant, is the PlayOnline user information which is stored under the PlayOnlineViewer path.

There was also a mention of logging in as a guest, though I think only for the account that is functional.

I imagine that also fails for the account that is not functional?

As a sidey-note, I thought of something new to try: what happens if that account tries to log in to the Friend List Plus?

You can find this link on the left side of the PlayOnline website:

https://secure.playonline.com/polplusus/friendlist/login.html

[Hegmo]

It would appear to me that all of the information requested (again) is already available in this thread.

Few additional observations:


I believe the path referred to here may actually be

'Program Files(x86)' > 'SquareEnix' > 'FINAL FANTASY XI' > 'USER'

where

'Program Files(x86)'

could be anything else chosen during the installation process.

Furthermore, per information provided in this topic, the issue already happens when logging in to PlayOnline, so FINAL FANTASY XI probably doesn't even need to be installed and this path would not exist.

Instead, I believe that what might be referred to here and be relevant, is the PlayOnline user information which is stored under the PlayOnlineViewer path.

There was also a mention of logging in as a guest, though I think only for the account that is functional.

I imagine that also fails for the account that is not functional?

As a sidey-note, I thought of something new to try: what happens if that account tries to log in to the Friend List Plus?

You can find this link on the left side of the PlayOnline website:

https://secure.playonline.com/polplusus/friendlist/login.html

Thank you for your input, when we try to log in to this account on Freinds List Plus I get an error:

Server Error: The server is busy or undergoing maintenance. Please try again later.

[Dragoy]

Welcome back!

If only it was an actual return to Vana'diel as well this time.

Thank you for the update regardless!

Thank you for your input, when we try to log in to this account on Freinds List Plus I get an error:

Server Error: The server is busy or undergoing maintenance. Please try again later.

So I suppose this should help confirm even more (as if it was not confirmed enough already), that the issue has nothing to do with the game installation at least.

It may or may not be interesting that the error message is different. The reason it's being tripped seems potentially unexpected, so the error messages being bogus I could see as expected.

Are you able to test with a working account as well?

It does work for me right now, and I don't believe there was any scheduled (or not) maintenace going on around your post time either.

[Hegmo]

Are you able to test with a working account as well?.

Yes, I was able to log in with my account no problem (to both POL/FFXI and Friends List Plus and see my friends list), while my brothers gives me the server is busy error. I'm fully convinced there is some account database level issue. I've tried changing the POL password, the SE password, etc, with him and nothing works to clear the account. We're able to log in to SE account management, see the Account info, etc, but whenever trying to log in to any validated service (logging in to POL, friends list plus, etc) it just kicks an error, but logging in on the same network account to my account gives no error.

[Hegmo]

Good morning and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XI Technical Forums.

We apologize for any inconvenience experienced when trying to play Final Fantasy XI. For us to better assist you, please respond with the following information:
What Platform are you using? (Steam/Windows/etc.)
What Platform is your brother using?

At what point does the issue occur?
Have you ever been able to log onto FINAL FANTASY XI?

Are you running any additional programs alongside Final Fantasy XI?

All steps taken to resolve the issue:

If possible, would you be able to try removing the local files to wipe the login details and try again? Please navigate to 'Program Files(x86)' > 'PlayOnline' > 'SQUARE ENIX' > 'FINAL FANTASY XI' > 'USER' and copy this 'USER' folder so it may be stored elsewhere as a backup. Once complete, proceed to remove sub folders out of this main folder one by one (Not the backup) so you may determine if there may be corrupt files.

Alternatively, we may recommend removing the folder completely and performing a file check from the PlayOnline Viewer so the client may recreate/restore this folder. Please be advised that removing the 'USER' folder will also remove any macros that may have been created.

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XI Technical Support Forums!

Another login campaign attempt to access this account - we have tried to access this account multiple times but to no avail and have largely written off the lost $ on the account, but every time free login comes around I am hopeful that maybe it will be fixed and I can convince my brother to play again.

I don't believe this is an issue with local files, as it occurs on multiple PCs, but I did try wiping the user folder, and I tried logging in as a guest, and i get the same POL-0206 network issue when we try to log in to this account specifically.

Still inaccessible