POL/FFXI installation problems... install disappearing?!Follow

Hello, been having some problems with installing POL and FFXI over the last few days... here is the scoop:

I reformatted my PC (several times), installed sound drivers, installed AOL, and I go to install POL.. it installs fine (I even see that it is being registered at the end of the install), I then check it out in Add/Remove programs, and it is there...
So then I continue to install FFXI... I go through the first 3 CDs (the 4th CD is the Rise of the Zilart expansion) and see that it registers the game at the end of THAT install (I check Add/Remove programs yet again, and it is there). I then put in the 4th CD and install it.. I see the register, and then I go to install the Chains of Promathia pack... and the computer lets me know that FFXI is not installed and I should install it first... (which I have just done) (and the POL and FFXI entries in the Add/Remove programs are GONE at this point)

So when I put CD1 of FFXI back in it tells me that POL needs to be installed first... which it was but for some odd reason it isnt installed NOW... so I go back and click on the POL shortcut and it tells me, "Error code = 20008014 Cannot open registry key for install path of Playonline-compatible software ID=1000"

So I try it again, and it does the same thing...

At one point I was actually getting a Installshield errors too... where it woudn't even try to install it...

I have WinXP w/SP1 (had SP2 but it was giving me hell too), GeForce ti 4400 video card, 1GB RAM, 2700+ Athlon (or somewhere around that)... two HDDS... one HDD for WinXP/programs, and one HDD for FFXI/POL/files/mp3s/etc... newly reformatted PC (several times) ... did quick format and slow/tedious format... NTFS (not FAT)... NOTHING is on the PC that shouldnt be there except maybe AOL (I only say this because AOL is the only other thing on it)...

Is there a virus that will do something like that? Could it have infected my other HDD and somehow linking with FFXI when I try to install it?

ANY help would be appreciated.





Edited, Thu Feb 16 23:38:38 2006 by PentUpAnger