Installation Guide

Ashita/Windower
If you already have FFXI setup with Ashita or Windower, connect with
 * nightbrood.no-ip.info

New install
Step 1

The following is the link official to download the Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition which has the entire game client. You need all 4 files fully downloaded before continuing. http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/download/media/install_win.html 

Step 2

Run the "FFXISETUP.exe" and follow the instructions for install, make sure all of the boxes for the expansions are ticked. DirectX 8.1 is not needed (unless for some reason you don't have DirectX). Be aware the installation needs 5 GB of space for the temporary files, and 10-13 GB for install depending if your drive is compressed.

Step 3

In the download below, there should be a zip archive telling you to do this step before running PlayOnline. Extract the files to "\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI". https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dzB4w8SIi7sQ0eaSTRKUUD89oBqxYwxx

Step 4

Start up PlayOnline. It will ask you to patch. Do it!

After it has patched it will restart. Once it has opened it will ask you to either register a new account or login as an existing member, choose existing member. Choose a member name. Then for your PlayOnline ID, put ABCD1234 (In caps). Select Register.

Step 5

Now you need to update Final Fantasy XI to the correct version.

To do this, go to the main login screen in PlayOnline, there should be a list of options on the left. Choose 'Check Files'. There should be a drop down box, select Final Fantasy XI (Version should be read as Unknown) and follow the instructions to check the files. After it has finished, there should be some files that need to be 'repaired'. Click on repair files and this should update your client to the latest version.'''

Step 6

After the update has finished, copy the data folder at PlayOnline\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\data  to the Final Fantasy XI directory at PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI. Afterwards you should have the directory PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\data.

Adding a launcher to your client
There are two launchers to choose from: Ashita or Windower.

For Ashita V3
Click here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r2JU6UWfSWOU1q3UX0hp2pdMqitenHhg

Place the file you downloaded to where you choose. Please also remember to download x86 and x64 from here and install both https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145 here.

Run Ashita.exe as an administrator.

Edit the NIGHTBROOD configuration by clicking the pencil.

The Command line (2) contains the server address, with optional username and password. Start by entering the command as:

--server nightbrood.no-ip.info

Next, go to the Window tab (3) and set your desired resolution in both Final Fantasty XI Config (located (...\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\Tools) and Ashita V3, they MUST match!

Click the save button (4) then click the play button to start the launcher. You will then be prompted to login or create new account (the web forum account is not connected to the game server account). After you've made your account, you can later update your command line to instantly login.

--server nightbrood.no-ip.info --user yourusername --pass yourpassword

For Windower 4 (from the forums)
To get started, download Windower 4 over at windower.net, and get the latest xiloader.exe from github.com/DarkstarProject/xiloader/releases/latest/

Place xiloader.exe to your SquareEnix/PlayOnlineViewer folder (the same one that has pol.exe in it).

After that, run windower.exe in its own folder so it downloads all the necessary files. Open settings.xml with an editor (or open windower and create some profiles first), since the options we need to add are not in the GUI. You'll need to add xiloader.exe to every profile, as well as with your arguments (server, user, etc.).

As an example profile:

Code:  Insert 6    1     2     true --server nightbrood.no-ip.info --user (usernamehere) --pass (passwordhere) xiloader.exe

Make sure you change the username and password fields for your account! After that, you should be able to select your profile from the launcher and play using Windower 4!