FFXI freeze before accept/reject screen Windows 8

New Lenovo Y510P laptop, Windows 8.  FFXI runs fine by itself, but when I try to use Windower 4 to start the game, it freezes just as the accept/reject screen should be loading.  I have to use the Task Manager to close POL Viewer; it says "not responding".  Any ideas?  I have tried reinstalling POL Viewer, FFXI (and all the expansion packs), and Windower 4.  I upgraded to 8.1, it didn't change anything, then restored the laptop to factory state, then reinstalled everything again, no change.  Please help.

I'm having exactly the same problem. Halp