Something (no clue what) is causing me to crash.

The program launches correctly, I am able to successfully enter my info and click on "Login" but when I click on "Play" the game crashes and gives me this error... Please help me get back into Eorzea! ; ;

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: ffxivgame.exe
Application Version: 1.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4df0f645
Fault Module Name: ffxivgame.exe
Fault Module Version: 1.0.00
Fault Module Timestamp: 4df0f645
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00488214
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 13fd
Additional Information 2: 69433498fa44fbb88166e1a3a9b986a6
Additional Information 3: ce94
Additional Information 4: c9f7dab265e9a4d2b1b44b310445e22a
Read our privacy statement:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409

c0000005 is most frequently driver related, and when it isn't, it is memory related (though rarely in a way that doesn't involve drivers). If I remember correctly. Regardless. The FFX14 Configuration tool has a thing that lets you copy your system specs to the clipboard. Use that to post your system specs for us, and please let us know what your FF14 settings are at (draw quality, AA/AO settings, etc., etc.) That will let us know where to look.

Here ya go. Also included a copy of my computer specs. (No clue if they're included.)

Specs::
Windows Edition:
-Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium
-Copyright (c) 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved
-Service Pack 2

System:
Manufacturer- Alienware (Don't judge too harshly, it was a gift.)
Rating- 5.0
Processor- Intel(R) Cote(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 2.40 GHz
Memory- 2.00 GB
System Type- 32-bit Operating System

-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition Service Pack 2 32bit (build 6002)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Number of Processors Logical Core Count 4 Physical Core Count 4
BIOS Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Language English (Regional Setting: English)
Physical Memory 2045.824MB
Virtual Memory 2047.875MB
Page File 4334.641MB
Storage C:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 224.125GB Free Disk Space 44.732GB
DirectX Version DirectX 10
Graphic Device(s) NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT
+Device \\.\DISPLAY1
+Chip GeForce 9800 GT
+Maker NVIDIA
+Video Memory 499.563 MB
+Shared Video Memory 767.252 MB
+DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
+Display Mode 1360 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
+Driver nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
+Driver Version 8.17.0012.7533
+Driver Date 5/25/2011 2:09:05 AM
+Driver Language English
+Vertex Shader 3.0
+Pixel Shader 3.0
+Vertex Texture Supported
Sound Device(s) Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
+Device ID {973647A8-0BCD-4C83-8600-2F8A5ABE9474}
+Device Name HdAudiosys
+Driver Version 6.00.6002.18005
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 4/10/2009 9:43:04 PM
Sound Device(s) Digital Output Device (SPDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
+Device ID {6DA33F45-C849-4498-B51D-A8CA7A9F06B0}
+Device Name HdAudio.sys
+Driver Version 6.00.6002.18005
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 4/10/2009 9:43:04 PM
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Mouse
+Notes Axis 3 Button 8 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Keyboard
+Notes Axis 0 Button 128 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {8697F390-9473-11E0-8002444553540000}
+Name Razer Tarantula Keyboard
+Notes Axis 0 Button 573 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {869A6490-9473-11E0-8003444553540000}
+Name Razer Tarantula Keyboard
+Notes Axis 0 Button 3 Field of View 0

-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-
Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX
Conduit Engine
FINAL FANTASY XI
FINAL FANTASY XI: Chains of Promathia
FINAL FANTASY XI: Rise of the Zilart
FINAL FANTASY XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan
FINAL FANTASY XI: Wings of the Goddess
FINAL FANTASY XIV
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB953595)
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB958484)
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Microsoft Xbox 360 Accessories 1.2
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver 275.33
NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver 275.33
NVIDIA Control Panel 275.33
NVIDIA Drivers
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 275.33
NVIDIA Install Application
NVIDIA PhysX
NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.10.0514
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver
NVIDIA Update 1.3.5
NVIDIA Update Components
PlayOnline Viewer & Tetra Master
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB2416473)
Star Wars(R) Knights of the Old Republic(R) II: The Sith Lords(TM)
Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB963707)
uTorrentBar Toolbar
µTorrent

-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Xbox 360 Accessories\XBoxStat.exe 000007E8
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Display\nvtray.exe 00000EA4
C:\Program Files\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV\ffxivconfig.exe 00000D30
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe 00000E8C
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe 00000F20
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE 00000E58
C:\Windows\system32\DllHost.exe 00000CA8
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe 00000FA0
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe 00000B74
C:\Windows\system32\wuauclt.exe 00000578

Does anyone have any idea how we could help Fitzy fix this? I've been trying to help him for weeks and can't figure out what's wrong.
The game used to run perfectly for him. After he had to reformat his PC it just wont start up anymore. First there were issues in patching the game and once that finally worked, it won't start.
Direct X is installed, the Nvidia drivers are up to date, the PC can handle the game as he played on it for months... I am seriously out of ideas, anyone?

Did you install the DirectX that was on the FFXIV dvd? Did you try window/fullscreen mode? Did you update DirectX using the webinstaller? Did you try newest/older gpu drivers? Are the settings in nvidia control panel set to default?
If the above doesn't help try "Disable Sound Device" in the ffxiv config. If that prevents the crashing it means theres a sound device problem.
Final option: Install Win7.

Honestly couldn't tell ya what the problem is, but I highly recommend you upgrade to Win7. Its worlds better than Vista, and isn't as much a resource hog, plus games run much better with 7.

He just tried installing Direct X 9.0c as someone recommended that, nothing changed. Changing to window mode with low settings did not help either.
The thing is he was able to play without any difficulties for months. Then his FFXI install got so corrupted that he had to reformat his PC. But now his FFXIV won't run anymore... @.@

Did he completely delete all ffxiv data with that format? (game folder and settings in the user folder)
Maybe his HDD is broken. ffxiv crashed for me all the time when I had it on a damaged HDD.
In that case I would just try copying the game folder to a new HDD.

Do me a favor and post your Final Fantasy 14 Config for me; every setting from every page of the config util. Some things to try in the meantime; make sure that, even though it is installed, you have the 3D stereoscopic stuff disabled; that you have the latest video drivers from nVidia on a /clean/ install (there is no need to run a sweeper program; just install them from the nvidia installer, custom configuration, clean install. If you have already done this, no need to again. If you did not do this when you first installed them on windows vista, please do it.) Also make sure that you have all the latest windows updates, etc. You can try uninstalling directx and reinstalling just 9c, but I don't think that will matter. If you have done anything I've suggested so far, just ignore it. :) You can also try deleting the Final Fantasy XIV 14 folder from the games folder, and try running the program again. (don't actually delete it; just move it to your desktop or something). Once you post the configuration options you have selected, i might have more detailed suggestions for you.

Network:
-UPnP Port Mapping: Automatic
-Port (55296-55551): 55296 (greyed out)

Video Settings:
-Devices: //./DISPLAY1
-Display Mode: Windowed
-Window Size: 1280x1024
-Multisampling: No AA.
-General Drawing Quality: 1 (Lowest)
-Background Drawing Quality: 1 (Low)
-Shadow Detail: Lowest

Graphics:
-Ambient Occlusion: Unchecked
-Depth of Field: Unchecked
-Disable cutscene effects: Unchecked
-Enable Hardware Mouse: Checked
-Texture Quality: Low
-Texture Filtering: Low

Sound:
-Disable Sound Device: Unchecked
-Play sound when application is in background: Unchecked

Font Settings: Unchecked (Just to simplify things)