Ques.- Windows xp and Game controllers

I have a microsoft sidewinder joystick and a force
feedback steering wheel. They worked fine on windows 98.
I recently bought a new comp. with windows xp. I put in
the sidewinder cd and I always get a window pop up
saying "Sidewinder game device software 3.x installs
drivers that are incompatible with this version of
windows. For more info, contact microsoft."
I have tried lots of links with no luck. Is there a
solution to sidewinder controllers and windows xp?

Hi Bg,

Yes, the solution is to use the XP drivers instead of the old software.

Here are instructions for both the USB and the Gameport models:

Version 3 software isn't XP compatible, we'll use XP's drivers instead.
While USB devices just plug and play, GamePort devices need work:

To install a GamePort controller, Plug it in, click Start / Control Panel /
Switch to Classic view if you haven't already / click Game Controllers
Click Add... / Select Microsoft Sidewinder Auto Detect / OK / OK.

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

"bg" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:042f01c47a7c$7ba26470$a601280a@phx.gbl...
|
| I have a microsoft sidewinder joystick and a force
| feedback steering wheel. They worked fine on windows 98.
| I recently bought a new comp. with windows xp. I put in
| the sidewinder cd and I always get a window pop up
| saying "Sidewinder game device software 3.x installs
| drivers that are incompatible with this version of
| windows. For more info, contact microsoft."
| I have tried lots of links with no luck. Is there a
| solution to sidewinder controllers and windows xp?

I have followed your instructions and it works alongside my other devices
now, however can you please explain how I can use the features of the
sidewinder software that appear to be unavailible now ?? Ie the game profiles
and specific hardware setups re: the force feedback settings. The stock
settings are a little too firm for my liking and the only part I can find is
to caliberate the device not actualy set it up

Kind regards and thanks for helping this far.

Mark.

Hi Mark,

That's one of the drawbacks.. those profiles aren't available.
We have to rely on in game settings which are available for
the majority of recent games, but are lacking in older games.

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com


Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

"Mark Reynolds" <Mark Reynolds@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4AF020D0-00BB-4112-9D0E-D2C5E3D57518@microsoft.com...
| I have followed your instructions and it works alongside my other devices
| now, however can you please explain how I can use the features of the
| sidewinder software that appear to be unavailible now ?? Ie the game profiles
| and specific hardware setups re: the force feedback settings. The stock
| settings are a little too firm for my liking and the only part I can find is
| to caliberate the device not actualy set it up
|
| Kind regards and thanks for helping this far.
|
| Mark.

That really sucks large eggs, an MS product that wont work 100% correctly in
an MS o/s

Jeepers that really does grip my sh**, specialy as I have yet to find
another FF joystick with the same level of feel and build quality to replace
it, I bought a second hand Logitech FF stick and its completely pants and
rubbish in comparisson with my 5 year old MSFF serial stick.......and you
cant even buy the FF2 in the UK now so im double knackered

I there no way we can plead with MS to make a compatabilty patch ?? is there
not any way at all

Thanks kindly for your advice so far - just a shame I cant find a conclusion
to this, surely there must be some values buried in the registry relating to
the FFB settings ??? im more than capable of some reg editing if required and
could even prolly make a reg template for other people to adjust to new
presets once we nailed the right figures ?

Cheers again.

Mark.

"Jimmy S." wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> That's one of the drawbacks.. those profiles aren't available.
> We have to rely on in game settings which are available for
> the majority of recent games, but are lacking in older games.
>
> --
> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>
>
> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
> MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
> _________________________________________________________
>
> "Mark Reynolds" <Mark Reynolds@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4AF020D0-00BB-4112-9D0E-D2C5E3D57518@microsoft.com...
> | I have followed your instructions and it works alongside my other devices
> | now, however can you please explain how I can use the features of the
> | sidewinder software that appear to be unavailible now ?? Ie the game profiles
> | and specific hardware setups re: the force feedback settings. The stock
> | settings are a little too firm for my liking and the only part I can find is
> | to caliberate the device not actualy set it up
> |
> | Kind regards and thanks for helping this far.
> |
> | Mark.
>
>
>

Hi Mark,

In order to make Windows XP more stable, they implemented
a Hardware Abstraction Layer which prevents those profile
API's from being functional. Sorry to bear the news.

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

"Mark." <Mark.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message newsF15A519-C14D-4AF0-96CD-AF180EC22811@microsoft.com...
> That really sucks large eggs, an MS product that wont work 100% correctly in
> an MS o/s
>
> Jeepers that really does grip my sh**, specialy as I have yet to find
> another FF joystick with the same level of feel and build quality to replace
> it, I bought a second hand Logitech FF stick and its completely pants and
> rubbish in comparisson with my 5 year old MSFF serial stick.......and you
> cant even buy the FF2 in the UK now so im double knackered
>
> I there no way we can plead with MS to make a compatabilty patch ?? is there
> not any way at all
>
> Thanks kindly for your advice so far - just a shame I cant find a conclusion
> to this, surely there must be some values buried in the registry relating to
> the FFB settings ??? im more than capable of some reg editing if required and
> could even prolly make a reg template for other people to adjust to new
> presets once we nailed the right figures ?
>
> Cheers again.
>
> Mark.
>
> "Jimmy S." wrote:
>
>> Hi Mark,
>>
>> That's one of the drawbacks.. those profiles aren't available.
>> We have to rely on in game settings which are available for
>> the majority of recent games, but are lacking in older games.
>>
>> --
>> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
>> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>>
>>
>> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
>> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
>> MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
>> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
>> _________________________________________________________
>>
>> "Mark Reynolds" <Mark Reynolds@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:4AF020D0-00BB-4112-9D0E-D2C5E3D57518@microsoft.com...
>> | I have followed your instructions and it works alongside my other devices
>> | now, however can you please explain how I can use the features of the
>> | sidewinder software that appear to be unavailible now ?? Ie the game profiles
>> | and specific hardware setups re: the force feedback settings. The stock
>> | settings are a little too firm for my liking and the only part I can find is
>> | to caliberate the device not actualy set it up
>> |
>> | Kind regards and thanks for helping this far.
>> |
>> | Mark.
>>
>>
>>

Additionally, the old *.vxd file format in which the old drivers were
written is not supported on Windows XP. Since USB controllers came into
being about three years before XP came out, the support went to USB devices.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"Jimmy S." <Private> wrote in message
news:ORmlLIesEHA.820@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi Mark,
>
> In order to make Windows XP more stable, they implemented
> a Hardware Abstraction Layer which prevents those profile
> API's from being functional. Sorry to bear the news.
>
> --
> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>
> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
> Contact
> MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
> rights.
> _________________________________________________________
>
> "Mark." <Mark.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsF15A519-C14D-4AF0-96CD-AF180EC22811@microsoft.com...
>> That really sucks large eggs, an MS product that wont work 100% correctly
>> in
>> an MS o/s
>>
>> Jeepers that really does grip my sh**, specialy as I have yet to find
>> another FF joystick with the same level of feel and build quality to
>> replace
>> it, I bought a second hand Logitech FF stick and its completely pants and
>> rubbish in comparisson with my 5 year old MSFF serial stick.......and you
>> cant even buy the FF2 in the UK now so im double knackered
>>
>> I there no way we can plead with MS to make a compatabilty patch ?? is
>> there
>> not any way at all
>>
>> Thanks kindly for your advice so far - just a shame I cant find a
>> conclusion
>> to this, surely there must be some values buried in the registry relating
>> to
>> the FFB settings ??? im more than capable of some reg editing if required
>> and
>> could even prolly make a reg template for other people to adjust to new
>> presets once we nailed the right figures ?
>>
>> Cheers again.
>>
>> Mark.
>>
>> "Jimmy S." wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Mark,
>>>
>>> That's one of the drawbacks.. those profiles aren't available.
>>> We have to rely on in game settings which are available for
>>> the majority of recent games, but are lacking in older games.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
>>> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
>>> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
>>> Contact
>>> MS Support at:
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...id=sz;en-us;top
>>> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
>>> rights.
>>> _________________________________________________________
>>>
>>> "Mark Reynolds" <Mark Reynolds@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>>> message
>>> news:4AF020D0-00BB-4112-9D0E-D2C5E3D57518@microsoft.com...
>>> | I have followed your instructions and it works alongside my other
>>> devices
>>> | now, however can you please explain how I can use the features of the
>>> | sidewinder software that appear to be unavailible now ?? Ie the game
>>> profiles
>>> | and specific hardware setups re: the force feedback settings. The
>>> stock
>>> | settings are a little too firm for my liking and the only part I can
>>> find is
>>> | to caliberate the device not actualy set it up
>>> |
>>> | Kind regards and thanks for helping this far.
>>> |
>>> | Mark.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

Ok I live without the profiles I guess

Anyways, there must be some hardware control values in the registry surely ?
otherwise how would the device know what to default to ?? Using the stick on
the default FFB strength is overpowering and ruins the experience for me as
it shakes my wrist to peices causing serious RSI type pains after only a
short time.

Cheers.

Mark.

If your games themselves support saving the settings in the Options, you can
use that, otherwise with the old software language not supported in Windows
XP there is no way to do it. Remember, those controllers haven't been
manufactured in the mainstream of controllers for several years.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:412662C1-07DC-4E28-89BB-A836E7ED80B3@microsoft.com...
> Ok I live without the profiles I guess
>
> Anyways, there must be some hardware control values in the registry surely
> ?
> otherwise how would the device know what to default to ?? Using the stick
> on
> the default FFB strength is overpowering and ruins the experience for me
> as
> it shakes my wrist to peices causing serious RSI type pains after only a
> short time.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Mark.

Is there a way I can read the data within the specific DLL for the sidewinder
stick, im guessing this file might hold the default values that I seek to
edit ?

Cheers

Mark.

"Chris H." wrote:

> If your games themselves support saving the settings in the Options, you can
> use that, otherwise with the old software language not supported in Windows
> XP there is no way to do it. Remember, those controllers haven't been
> manufactured in the mainstream of controllers for several years.
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
> Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
> Associate Expert
> Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
> "Mark" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:412662C1-07DC-4E28-89BB-A836E7ED80B3@microsoft.com...
> > Ok I live without the profiles I guess
> >
> > Anyways, there must be some hardware control values in the registry surely
> > ?
> > otherwise how would the device know what to default to ?? Using the stick
> > on
> > the default FFB strength is overpowering and ruins the experience for me
> > as
> > it shakes my wrist to peices causing serious RSI type pains after only a
> > short time.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > Mark.
>
>
>