Sidewinder

[FOGOLD]

This is not strictly AH so feel free to ignore it.

I got a Cougar and went to install my old Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (gameport) on my son's Win98 machine.

Loaded all the drivers etc, went to test and get message " Your Game Controller Power is Off. Please Make Sure The Power Supply Is Plugged In" and it wont work.

The thing was working fine on my XP machine. Of course I've checked the power is plugged in! Green light is on and you can feel the force  when you touch it.   Jeez, I've searched the web and can't find an answer. I'm guessing the onboard gameport is incompatible somehow.

His regular USB stick is fine.

Anybody else had this?

Thanks in advance.

[FOGOLD]

It's an external power supply. You knew that.

[cjcobu]

Hi FOGOLD,
   I have both MSFF & MS FF2 w/ Win98SE. 1st go to control panel/gaming options and check that there is no other game devices showing especially above the MS FF. If so, highlight and remove them. Boot system and let Windows find the J-stick.
    Next option is control panel/add-remove programs and uninstall any gaming device software including MS FF. Boot system and let Windows find new device(MS FF).
   Desparation option is to go to "My Computer" icon, right click then left click on properties then Device Manager tab. Scroll down to Sound, Video, and Game Controllers and highlight, then remove at bottom. Boot system and let Windows reinstall bus controller. That's all I can think of for now except that there is a possibility that your power supply for the stick is slightly below the recommended voltage. Borrowing another and testing that would be the way to go. Good Luck........CJ

[Turbot]

radio shack sells a neat little gismo called a "Gameport to USB Adapter" for I think about $17.  You cam ethen connect any gamepad/JS/rudders to the USB port, maybe you will have better luck USB.

[FOGOLD]

i don't think USB/Gameport adapter will work with Sidewinder FF Pro cos its a digital device and adapters usually only work with analogue. Might give it a go. The theory about low voltage might be plausable.  Just took it off my XP Athlon 1800 machine running Win XP though where it was working perfectly.

Thanks for all the help guys!;)