Microsoft Sidewinder 3d Pro

[Kanth]

I had upgraded my system a while back only to find that my MS3dPro was giving me the 'non connected' message.

At the time I could find no solution for this (other than replace a .vxd file which didn't work)  and went out and bought another stick , the cyborg 3d Gold USB stick. Which is a decent stick but it wasn't my old stick.

Recently I was searching for a way to get my old SW working and came accross a website.

http://www.cc.utah.edu/~dlg7/sidewinder/repair.html

in it he has instructions for a registry change which worked for me.

update I have been testing a registry edit for Win98SE that has gotten me one step closer to solving this problem. Thought I should post this here and get input from other users and see if we can finally fix this. First, install the 3d Pro drivers. I have used both the original and version 3 for this. Now open your registry and go to "HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\control\mediaproperties\privateproperties\ joystick\oem\Microsoft sidewinder 3d pro". Edit the string entry "OEMCallout" and delete the value of it (MSgame.vxd) and exit. Then remove and re-add the sidewinder 3D in the game controller panel. It should show up as "OK" now. The problems I have found- W/ the 3.0 drivers, the callibration window is all messed up. W/ the original drivers, everything works fine, except you can only push one button at a time, a la CH flightstick mode.

I have Windows 98SE running the 3.0 SW software.

I removed the offending registry setting (altho it wasn't where he said it'd be I did a search for it) and my old joystick finally came up as connected.

When I tried to use it however, the hat didn't function properly, it was recognized as hitting buttons 1 2 3 4 in different sequences as I moved the hat which cause my guns to fire, dropped my flaps and was just bad news.

So I chose a custom controller setup within windows game controller in control panel with the 2 axis 4 button with rudder and hat. This setup works, in part, for my stick but doesn't let me use the throttle control.

As of now I'd have to use keyboard for it.

Has anyone gotten any further with this type of fix to get everything recognized properly and functioning correctly?

Right now I'm just so happy to have my old stick back I don't mind using the keyboard for the throttle but if I can have it the way it was before I upgraded my system hardware I'd like that best.

[flakbait]

Uninstall the 3.0 drivers totally and re-add the stick as a CH Flightstick Pro. Click the switch on the base over to position one and you'll get it all back. The hat is limited to 4 views instead of 8, and the base buttons don't work, but everything else does! Oh, it won't let you push more then one button at a time either. So if you've got fire primary and fire secondary on different buttons, get used to using the keyboard to shoot 'em off all at once.

You'd be better off with a new stick. The Sidewinder Precision Pro 2 is USB and it works a ton better. Good springs, excellent centering, and the hat won't dump on you after 6 months like those Saitek jobs. It's the next thing on my list after a new sound card (AC97 audio sucks)




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Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"For yay did the sky darken, and split open and spew forth fire, and
through the smoke rode the Four Wurgers of the Apocalypse.
And on their canopies was tattooed the number of the Beast, and the
number was 190." Jedi, Verse Five, Capter Two, The Book of Dweeb

[Kanth]

did the CH Pro thing now I'm trying to figure out how I can get my 8 hat views..

I'm not switching to another stick, none of them are small enough or easy enough to move about as my Sidewinder 3D Pro.

I had bought another stick but the stem of the handle was too long and too high for my hand..even being as adjustable as it is it was just too high up for me and hard to control to any fine degree..I can also feel the springs in it which is creaky and uneven for pressures which cost me E

it's all working sept the POV now, I'll get that going somehow =)

Thanks for the info =)

It's too bad they don't make sticks for children, I could prolly do fine with one of those..the rest are just too freaking large.

[Elfie]

If your finances allow, you might try upgrading Windows. I recently did a major hardware upgrade also ( motherboard, cpu and ram). I had difficulties playing AH until I upgraded from Win98SE to WinXPPro. I use a Sidewinder Force Feedback stick (gameport). I had to have windows search for my stick, but once Windows found it everything was fine. (All the buttons, hat and axis work fine). Interesting side note though, WinXP is incompatible with the Sidewinder software. Although if your stick is USB you might be able to DL new software from Microsoft.

GL

Elfie

[Shane]

reinstalling dx might clear up the recognition of "missing" buttons.

[Seeker]

Kanth,

You can get a "serial to USB" converter plug for the SIdewinder, it's a standard MS part which came in the box with later (series one) sidewinders.

That fixed it for me.

[Kanth]

Seeker    I maybe totally incorrect on this but I think you are thinking of the later sidewinders..mine is the 3d pro, it was before USB. The precision pro and whatever was created after it are USB but mine's from 1996 time frame...a beater.

Shane it's not a matter of direct X, I actually built a New PC with new MB and cards and such..(upgrading from abit BH6 with celeron 300a oc'd 100mhz bus)

3d pro's were issued a patch for the 100mhz bus (which only worked on some systems) but anything beyond that weren't patched because MS stopped making the stick entirely and so they no longer keep up support for it.

So it's a case of a really old joystick that I just won't give up on that is all set to go except the 8 hat views..which I'll figure out somehow..

the big break in this was the article the guy posted to remove that oem callout because before that the stick wasn't even recognized as connected. (which meant I couldn't even finagle it) at least now I can load the wrong driver for it and use it

it may seem like alot of work to make this old thing work, but man I just can't get rid of it, it's like old bessie from way back and there isn't another stick made that fits my handsize and is as easy to push around.

[Gooss]

to buy a new stick.

I had the same thing happen.  I futzed with it for days before coming to the conclusion that a new computer deserved a new stick.

I like the newer MS sticks as well as the Sidewinder 3d Pro.  The Precision Pro 2  will work immediately and doesn't cost much.  The FF stick is around a hundred bucks and gives slightly better control.

Yes, I was pist that MS OS gave me such a hard time with MS hardware.  But, spending a little money is better than spending a lot of time.

HONK!
Gooss