Author Topic: MS Sidewinder 3D Pro problem (Read 602 times)

Aiswulf · « **on:** November 08, 2001, 03:28:00 PM »

Hail All
My present setup is 700mhz, 256 SDRAM, OS Win98se and I have the MS Sidewinder 3D Pro.

For reasons unknown my joystick does not show as connected in the Game Controller section.
The software and drivers are loaded and there are no apparent conflicts. I even deleted and reinstalled all the sound and game port drivers adn still no success.
I then manually installed the HID compatible Standard Gameport drivers with no more success than before.
I'm having a friend take my joystick to his place tonight to test it on his system just to make sure its not the joystick but I'd be highly surprised if it is.
If anyone has any ideas on what I might try next to get my system to detect my joystick I'd greatly appreciate it. I'd really like to get up in the air in AH asap :-)

Awulf

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2001, 03:31:00 PM »

did it stop working or is this a fresh install of an OS?

I've had problems with Win98SE failing to recognize game port joysticks in the past. Its not consistant in what computer it affects, but it is consistant in that an affected computer hasn't been fixed (that I've seen).

I had to go USB on my win98 system as a result.

AKDejaVu

Aiswulf · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2001, 05:44:00 PM »

The OS is a fresh install.
The last time I used my joystick was on an older system with Win95 back when I flew AW.
Hate to think I need to get another joystick but may have no choice I guess :-P

Awulf

Badger · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2001, 06:02:00 PM »

This older MS 3d Pro stick (15 pin D connector) will not work properly on fast CPU systems without a patch that's available from MS's dowload area. Even using the special DLL from MS, my experience with 3 of them was they worked "hit and miss" up to and including my 600 Mhz Intel machine. The symptom was the "not found" error you're experiencing. I used to do a lot of rebooting to try and catch them in a "connected" state.

Once I went to an 866 Mhz and higher, none of them worked at all even with the patch. I finally went out and bought Sidewinder Precision 2 USB version.

Sorry I don't have better information for you.

Regards,
Badger

bloom25 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2001, 07:37:00 PM »

The patch is at: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/downloads/default.asp#3Dpatch

Good luck, the patch doesn't always work.

Aiswulf · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2001, 09:40:00 PM »

Hey thanx for the info
I was beginning to realize that its gonna have to be a new stick before I get fly.

Again thanx for the input :-P

Awulf

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2001, 11:35:00 AM »

I had the same problem when I built my new system. The patch won't work for everyone it seems. I never did get mine running correctly. I bought a new stick when it was all over with

Good Luck!

Rocket

Lephturn · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2001, 11:40:00 AM »

Been there, done that. Gave up. Bought myself a new Sidewinder Pre Pro 2.0 and I use the old 3D Pro at work with Win2k. To be honest, I highly suspect it's a Soundblaster issue. I've had the stick work through the game ports of other types of soundcards in Win98.

That was the joystick I went out and bought years ago to play WB when it first came out, like 1.01 or so. Wow... I'm dating myself here...

That stick STILL works great. I use it to play LAN AH at work and slap my co-workers around.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2001, 12:08:00 PM »

BTW.. I had a 600MHz machine that was running Win95. The Microsoft Sidewinder 3d Pro worked stellar. I upgraded to Win98SE and it no longer worked.

AKDejaVu