So Close I can smell the Grass of EK.... :(

[Aggie1]

Ok, First of all thanks to all the great advice on these boards. Truly amazing. I am almost up and running. I just have one last hurdle...

The dreaded 1017. Now before you tell me to RTFM, I have been through most of the guides and done numerous searches. I am posting here because those other items were very informative but vague as how to specifically tell what is causing your 1017. I thought some kind soul may be able to help with a more direct answer. My problem is as follows:

Personal server. Just me, myself and I. DSL connection sitting behind a D-Link DI604 router and Norton Internet Security. Everything is up to date. Tight ship.

Installed Eq again after a year break.
Updated EQ.
Ran Advanced scan 2x.

Created /eqemu
Installed the items to the folder from the various files.
(By the way can someone tell me exacly what databases need to be in the SQL bin directory and what exactly needs to be sourced?) Same with Eqemu please if necessary.
Couldn't get Grant Options to work. Took FOREVER, but found a remote thread with the fix. Replaced *.* with eq.* and voila.

Start Minilogin, start, world.exe (loads fine), start bootzones (loads fine), start game. Loads fine. Login works fine. Pick server from list (it shows server fine).

Choose my server and the screen flashes back to desktop. Flashes a couple times and back to EQ where it tells me the dreaded 1017 MOB has spawned and owned my a$$. Gives me the usual Patch me message or the connection is down.

I've heard people say that database mismatch can cause this. If I resource my database will this perhaps fix it? Will I hose up my current setup and have to start all over? What database should I use?

I've heard people say that not letting my computer know to expect requests from Port 9000 etc may cause this. I know computers, but networking has me flumoxed. I examined the admin on my router but don't see a simple way to make rules in the NAT. Can someone please explain how to do this if you know? Is there a way outside the router? I'm learning but not fast enough to keep up with what I want to do here. Thanks in advance.

The database file I sourced was eqbackup00.zip from one of the sticky threads. I forget the individuals name but the walkthrough helped a ton. Only part of that walkthrough I had to "other source" was the Grant Options...

Is that database ok to use?

Finally last question. I have read conflicting accounts of the directory the patch program for EQEMU has to be in. Does it go in the original Everquest folder or does it go in my EQEMU folder? Am I patching my original Everquest game or the EQEMU?

I'm 99% my problem is one of these things and one of you brilliant people out there can walk me through it. Thanks again in advance. This site is great!