My windower crashes ("PlayOnline has experienced an unexpected error") seemingly randomly, though I have noticed these occurrences:
1. Twice during Uleguerand khimera Fulmination animation.
2. NNI when attempting to sleep a gear
These are extremely frustrating and I believe related to Windower, not PlayOnline itself. Any ideas?
Windower Crashing Semi-randomly
Windower crashing semi-randomly
If you get a POL error, it's very likely not a Windower issue. What's the error code?
Most likely pol error 2059 as i get them as well. It is completely random it seems and it just instantly d/c's you. Still searching for solution.
No POL error. It just freezes, and I get the Windows error that it "stopped responding". It just froze again on an Iron Giant's Ballistic Kick (only when it killed someone, not the first time).
I had these Problem to 2 days ago.
2 days ago. same problem,only when teleporting.File checked, no POL error.Seems to have righted itself now though.
Third time in a row I froze during Fulmination.
Bahamut.Genevie said: »
2 days ago. same problem,only when teleporting.File checked, no POL error.Seems to have righted itself now though.
do you use spellcast or otherwise change gear on teleport?
changing gear while loading scene is on makes you crash
Bithor said: »
Most likely pol error 2059 as i get them as well. It is completely random it seems and it just instantly d/c's you. Still searching for solution.
my wife pc does this all the time too
i did a pol file check came up empty
then i did a manual md5 verification on my dat files against hers
i found 3 she was missing.
i'm not sure this fixed it yet. but it might indicate that the pol file verification only check files you have and does not check for missing files
I've been having similar issues with FFXI-- with AND without Windower 3/4. And, the only thing I can figure out is that it started after one of the Windows Updates back in July, that I cannot track down at the moment. So my last option is to reinstall Windows 8 or use the Refresh option.
All Event Viewer gives me is this: (Start/Search -> Event Viewer -> Windows Logs -> Applications)
Things I've tried and have not fixed it:
Symptoms:
So, the only conclusion I can come up with is that since the game has been running error-free since the end of April up until the first or second June Windows Update, something got installed from Microsoft that's causing a conflict with POL.exe and FFXIMain.dll.
I have tested this on a non-Windows 8 system-- my netbook with Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit). After updating it through Windows Update, FFXI crashed the exact same way as it did under Windows 8 after the June Windows Update was installed. Unfortunately, tracking down which update is which on two different OSes is a bit difficult even when some of the updates cannot be uninstalled.
All Event Viewer gives me is this: (Start/Search -> Event Viewer -> Windows Logs -> Applications)
Code
Faulting application name: pol.exe, version: 1.18.13.0, time stamp: 0x4e3bcddc Faulting module name: FFXiMain.dll, version: 3.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x51825a32 Exception code: 0xc0000005 Fault offset: 0x0014c9ad Faulting process id: 0x4024 Faulting application start time: 0x01ce73d2719c5d4b Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\pol.exe Faulting module path: G:\Final Fantasy XI\SquareEnix\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\FFXiMain.dll Report Id: f6efc83b-dfce-11e2-beeb-001b2198408b Faulting package full name: Faulting package-relative application ID:
Things I've tried and have not fixed it:
Move Windower directories.
Delete Hook.dll before starting up Windower 4 and re-download it.
Uninstall antivirus software, run FFXI, crashes. Reinstalled antivirus software, run FFXI. Both crash similarly.
Disable and re-enable Windows Firewall.
Reinstall FFXI and POL
Moved POL installation to another hard drive.
Moved FFXI installation to another hard drive.
Run Windower 3/4 under Windows 7 and Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode.
Run PlayOnline Viewer under Windows 7 and Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode.
Updated and downgraded video card and chipset drivers.
Virus and malware scans show no infection.
sfc /scannow in Command Prompt shows no issues with Windows system files.
Disable all Windower 4 LUA-based add-ons.
Disable all Windower 3/4 non-LUA-based plug-ins.
Load Windower 3/4 without anything else loaded-- plug-ins and add-ons.
Symptoms:
Crashes between zoning-- anywhere between 1 to 4 zones it crashes to desktop-- with and without Windower.
Crashes when taking a screenshot-- through Windower and without Windower (internal FFXI screenshot function).
Crashes when treasure pool is open-- with and without Windower.
Casting a spell or using a job ability-- with and without Windower.
Expanding chat log-- with and without Windower.
So, the only conclusion I can come up with is that since the game has been running error-free since the end of April up until the first or second June Windows Update, something got installed from Microsoft that's causing a conflict with POL.exe and FFXIMain.dll.
I have tested this on a non-Windows 8 system-- my netbook with Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit). After updating it through Windows Update, FFXI crashed the exact same way as it did under Windows 8 after the June Windows Update was installed. Unfortunately, tracking down which update is which on two different OSes is a bit difficult even when some of the updates cannot be uninstalled.
Have you checked to see if you crash using different characters?
Shiva.Paulu said: »
Have you checked to see if you crash using different characters?
Only have one character activated at the moment. And, as for DAT mods, only that character model in my avatar. I have tested it with and without the DAT mod, still crashes both on Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers.
I have a feeling it is an external issue outside FFXI/PlayOnline that I cannot figure out.
My other thought is it might be ISP related as well. Not that you could do much there...
Well, doing some testing, I re-installed Windows 8 Pro (64-bit) today on my desktop PC-- clean installation, formatted hard drive. Installed all the drivers and only left FFXI installed. I did not install any Windows Updates this time.
I tested it with and without Windower 3/4 and it still crashes the exact same way even without the updates.
So, now I'm curious-- How is it crashing the exact same way in Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit) on my netbook?
These are entirely two different kinds of computers, both with updated versions of FFXI and PlayOnline, and they crash exactly the same way with and without Windower running.
You have to remember: Both installations were working perfectly from April of this year up until the June updates for Windows 7 and 8. But, with no June updates installed this time, Windows 8 still crashes it. And, even with the June updates, Windows 7 still crashes PlayOnline/FFXI.
The only common link between the two is this: PlayOnline (POL.dll) and FFXI (FFXIMain.dll) are crashing according to Event Viewer.
Other than that-- two entirely different processors: Atom N455 in netbook and i5 2400 in desktop PC.
This is a complete mystery to me now.
EDIT: Also, forgot to mention: Before "vanilla" PlayOnline and "windower-enabled" PlayOnline crash, characters and monsters disappear from my screen on both the netbook and desktop PC.
Neither system shows overheating and the video cards are within 65C to 75C at load.
I tested it with and without Windower 3/4 and it still crashes the exact same way even without the updates.
So, now I'm curious-- How is it crashing the exact same way in Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit) on my netbook?
These are entirely two different kinds of computers, both with updated versions of FFXI and PlayOnline, and they crash exactly the same way with and without Windower running.
You have to remember: Both installations were working perfectly from April of this year up until the June updates for Windows 7 and 8. But, with no June updates installed this time, Windows 8 still crashes it. And, even with the June updates, Windows 7 still crashes PlayOnline/FFXI.
The only common link between the two is this: PlayOnline (POL.dll) and FFXI (FFXIMain.dll) are crashing according to Event Viewer.
Other than that-- two entirely different processors: Atom N455 in netbook and i5 2400 in desktop PC.
This is a complete mystery to me now.
EDIT: Also, forgot to mention: Before "vanilla" PlayOnline and "windower-enabled" PlayOnline crash, characters and monsters disappear from my screen on both the netbook and desktop PC.
Neither system shows overheating and the video cards are within 65C to 75C at load.
Re-posted the problem on the FFXI Forums here:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35041-Rare-bug-FFXI-crashes-often-since-May-23rd.-Update
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35041-Rare-bug-FFXI-crashes-often-since-May-23rd.-Update
Bismarck.Josiahfk said: »
That's weird aselin, when you did a fresh install of FFXI after the problem started, the problem still persisted?
Need to always always update windows when you get a new computer before you install FFXI or any other programs.Get all that 100 update crap out of the way and secure so your system is stable.
Need to always always update windows when you get a new computer before you install FFXI or any other programs.Get all that 100 update crap out of the way and secure so your system is stable.
It was only way to figure out if the June updates for Windows was causing the issue. At first I thought it was a security update (one for XML and the other for .NET Framework) causing conflicts with POL.exe and FFXIMain.dll. It wasn't.
With the June updates and before I reinstalled FFXI/Windows 8, FFXI was crashing pretty often on both computers after May 23rd. It didn't make sense because it's been working fine since the end of April. And, on both computers. The netbook with Windows 7 was the last to get the FFXI updates about a week after May 23rd.
When I reinstalled FFXI on the desktop PC after installing Windows 8 Pro on a formatted hard drive and did it without Windows Updates, FFXI still crashed the same way.
Then, I installed the Windows Updates (all 653MB of it) and uninstalled/reinstalled XI and it still crashed.
Without Windower, one of two things happen before it freezes:
- Character animations stop midway
- OR... Screen goes completely white
With Windower, it freezes several ways:
- After zoning multiple times(i.e.- West Adoulin > LowerJeuno > Upper Jeuno>Whitegate > Crash. Or, Lower Jeuno > West Adoulin > Crash.) Going between Salvage floors is another place it'd crash.
- Activating a macro, selecting an item, or looking at treasure pool.
- Right at "Setting up connection" or "Connecting to lobby" before the title screen.
In both cases, on both computers, POL.exe hits 90-95% CPU usage right before it crashes/freezes.
Neither CPU is overclocked and neither CPU is overheating.
At the moment, I'm using plain, vanilla FFXI. I can stay online the longest up until it crashes. With Windower enabled, it'll crash at random places so I can't even trust it to run it.
It's a complete enigma to me right now. I'm the only one among my LS mates with Windows 7 and 8 with this issue, especially since it's happening on two entirely different computers with two different operating systems.
All I did was reinstalled/installed FFXI, updated it and ran it. Maybe I hit some kind of rare memory leak or something. Who knows?
The FFXIV ARR Beta client doesn't even crash on me. It's more stable than the FFXI client.
Video of the bug in action (non-Windower enabled FFXI):
![]()
This is what happens moments before it crashes. Video recorded using Xsplit.
Remember: This is after a clean install of Windows 8 Pro AND FFXI. All drivers updated and all Windows Updates installed.
This also happens in Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit on my netbook as well. Exact. Same. Issue.
Either myself or a party member stops completely animating.
AND/OR...
An engaged monster disappears completely from the screen while non-engaged monsters are still visible.
When FFXI (POL.exe) completely locks up, POL.exe's CPU usage jumps to 90-95% CPU usage.
This is what happens moments before it crashes. Video recorded using Xsplit.
Remember: This is after a clean install of Windows 8 Pro AND FFXI. All drivers updated and all Windows Updates installed.
This also happens in Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit on my netbook as well. Exact. Same. Issue.
Either myself or a party member stops completely animating.
AND/OR...
An engaged monster disappears completely from the screen while non-engaged monsters are still visible.
When FFXI (POL.exe) completely locks up, POL.exe's CPU usage jumps to 90-95% CPU usage.
Managed to get a crash dump analyzed:
Maybe someone can understand this gibberish because I can't.
I deal a lot with computer hardware, not software, so this is a bit foreign to me.
Code
Microsoft (R) Windows Debugger Version 6.12.0002.633 AMD64 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Loading Dump File [C:\Users\October\AppData\Local\Temp\pol.DMP] User Mini Dump File with Full Memory: Only application data is available Symbol search path is: SRV*C:\Symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols Executable search path is: Windows 7 Version 9200 MP (4 procs) Free x64 Product: WinNt, suite: SingleUserTS Machine Name: Debug session time: Fri Jul 5 17:00:11.000 2013 (UTC - 7:00) System Uptime: 0 days 6:54:17.541 Process Uptime: 0 days 6:35:04.000 ................................................................ ................................................. *** WARNING: Unable to verify checksum for FFXiMain.dll *** ERROR: Symbol file could not be found. Defaulted to export symbols for FFXiMain.dll - FFXiMain!DllUnregisterServer+0x442ff: 052c27ef 8bf0 mov esi,eax ******************************************************************************* * * * Exception Analysis * * * ******************************************************************************* The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. .load wow64exts will do this if you haven't loaded it already. The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. .load wow64exts will do this if you haven't loaded it already. The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. . . . . The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. .load wow64exts will do this if you haven't loaded it already. The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. .load wow64exts will do this if you haven't loaded it already. The wow64exts extension must be loaded to access 32-bit state. . . . . GetPageUrlData failed, server returned HTTP status 404 URL requested: http://watson.microsoft.com/StageOne/pol_exe/1_18_13_0/4e3bcddc/unknown/0_0_0_0/bbbbbbb4/80000003/00000000.htm?Retriage=1 FAULTING_IP: +83b2140 00000000 ?? ??? EXCEPTION_RECORD: ffffffffffffffff -- (.exr 0xffffffffffffffff) ExceptionAddress: 0000000000000000 ExceptionCode: 80000003 (Break instruction exception) ExceptionFlags: 00000000 NumberParameters: 0 FAULTING_THREAD: 0000000000002114 DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID: ZEROED_STACK PROCESS_NAME: pol.exe ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0x80000003 - {EXCEPTION} Breakpoint A breakpoint has been reached. EXCEPTION_CODE: (HRESULT) 0x80000003 (2147483651) - One or more arguments are invalid MOD_LIST: <ANALYSIS/> NTGLOBALFLAG: 0 APPLICATION_VERIFIER_FLAGS: 0 PRIMARY_PROBLEM_CLASS: ZEROED_STACK BUGCHECK_STR: APPLICATION_FAULT_ZEROED_STACK LAST_CONTROL_TRANSFER: from 00000000052958f8 to 00000000052c27ef STACK_TEXT: WARNING: Stack unwind information not available. Following frames may be wrong. 0018e954 052958f8 0018e96c 20c4ca80 1c2f6a16 FFXiMain!DllUnregisterServer+0x442ff 0018e970 052c8aae 20bf4220 20bf1ac0 00000000 FFXiMain!DllUnregisterServer+0x17408 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 FFXiMain!DllUnregisterServer+0x4a5be STACK_COMMAND: ~0s; .ecxr ; kb FOLLOWUP_IP: FFXiMain!DllUnregisterServer+442ff 052c27ef 8bf0 mov esi,eax SYMBOL_STACK_INDEX: 0 SYMBOL_NAME: ffximain!DllUnregisterServer+442ff FOLLOWUP_NAME: MachineOwner MODULE_NAME: FFXiMain IMAGE_NAME: FFXiMain.dll DEBUG_FLR_IMAGE_TIMESTAMP: 51825a32 FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: ZEROED_STACK_80000003_FFXiMain.dll!DllUnregisterServer BUCKET_ID: X64_APPLICATION_FAULT_ZEROED_STACK_ffximain!DllUnregisterServer+442ff WATSON_STAGEONE_URL: http://watson.microsoft.com/StageOne/pol_exe/1_18_13_0/4e3bcddc/unknown/0_0_0_0/bbbbbbb4/80000003/00000000.htm?Retriage=1 Followup: MachineOwner ---------
Maybe someone can understand this gibberish because I can't.
I deal a lot with computer hardware, not software, so this is a bit foreign to me.
Bismarck.Josiahfk said: »
So you fresh install on multiple computers now
Then update windows fully
Then install Ffxi afterwards and it still happens?
Sounds like your Ffxi installation files might be damaged then, have you kept using one source? And lastly aselin how do you appear to party members; everything looks perfectly normal to them?
Then update windows fully
Then install Ffxi afterwards and it still happens?
Sounds like your Ffxi installation files might be damaged then, have you kept using one source? And lastly aselin how do you appear to party members; everything looks perfectly normal to them?
Yup, clean installations-- Windows and FFXI.
Both updated fully.
FFXI still crashes.
As I said in the FFXI forums, I've tested with three different versions:
- Amazon Digital Download of FFXI Abyssea Collector's Edition I bought a few years ago.
- GamersGate Digital Download of FFXI Seekers of Adoulin Collector's Edition I bought back in April.
- The Playonline setup.exe file from the official Playonline website for Windows 7/Vista, then using the digital download installation from GamersGate.
The only one I have not tried is the old FFXI installation discs I got back in 2004. But, from the looks of it, it looks like FFXIMain.dll is the culprit here.
Maybe someone can send me their versions and I'll test it out on my end.
To other people in party and alliance, I animate and run perfectly normal to them on their computers.
I have not received a single response off their official FFXI forums. Heck, today, I crashed twice during two Delve runs.
There are only several things in common here:
- FFXIMain.dll is the culprit
- Both computers are using Intel chipsets (but of different models)
- Both computers are using Intel processors (but of different models)
- Both computers are using Windows (but of different versions-- Windows 8 64-bit and Windows 7 32-bit)
- Both computers are using the same versions of PlayOnline and FFXI, and both computers are updated including DirectX, Visual C++ Redist., and .NET Framework.
There are only several things in common here:
- FFXIMain.dll is the culprit
- Both computers are using Intel chipsets (but of different models)
- Both computers are using Intel processors (but of different models)
- Both computers are using Windows (but of different versions-- Windows 8 64-bit and Windows 7 32-bit)
- Both computers are using the same versions of PlayOnline and FFXI, and both computers are updated including DirectX, Visual C++ Redist., and .NET Framework.
Bismarck.Josiahfk said: »
Do you use an external hdd or anything similar that is plugged into both computers at different times? Anything that can tie them together besides the user
None of the external hard drives-- two of them-- are connected at all times.
Only other thing that ties them together is the wireless router, a Buffalo WHR-G21 with Tomato firmware.
All FFXI content and images © 2002-2025 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. FINAL
FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd.