Microsoft Sidewinder USB Gamepad?

[Muddle]

Is there any way to get this working under Vista. The sidewinder web site
is kaput.
If not what programmable Gamepad exists for Vista. I need one that can be
programmed to emulate keyboard keys with different profile set up for
different games.
Thanks

 

[Andy [YaYa]]

Is there any way to get this working under Vista. The sidewinder web site
is kaput.
If not what programmable Gamepad exists for Vista. I need one that can be
programmed to emulate keyboard keys with different profile set up for
different games.

Dude, the XBox 360 control pad is probably the BEST gamepad for Vista now.
Heh, I said "Dude"... shut up, it's early.

Seriously if you have a wired 360 controller just plug it into Vista and
you're good to go, if you have a Wireless 360 pad you have to buy a little
"dongle" that lets you use the wireless controllers with Windows.

Wireless Receiver:
http://tinyurl.com/yosa39

Allows you to use:
http://tinyurl.com/2ajh3o (Note, any 360 wireless controller will work, not
just the one marked for Windows)

Or you can just go wired for less:
http://tinyurl.com/26v8yr

Your other choice might be a Logitech pad, funny thing is the 360 pad is
based off the most recent logitech wireless design.

As for your sidewinder USB... Can't see why the controller wouldn't just
work in Vista. It's a Microsoft controller, it's not very old, Vista should
have the drivers already for it. What happens when you plug in the device?
Do you get anything? If you go to Gaming Controllers in the control panel
does anything show up for the controller?

-A.

 

[VRG Scotty]

As for your sidewinder USB... Can't see why the controller wouldn't just
work in Vista. It's a Microsoft controller, it's not very old, Vista
should have the drivers already for it.

Yup, you're correct Andy..mine just picked up, then I went to game
controllers and configured it, works perfectly

 

[Muddle]

Dude, the XBox 360 control pad is probably the BEST gamepad for Vista now.
Heh, I said "Dude"... shut up, it's early.

Seriously if you have a wired 360 controller just plug it into Vista and
you're good to go, if you have a Wireless 360 pad you have to buy a little
"dongle" that lets you use the wireless controllers with Windows.

Wireless Receiver:
http://tinyurl.com/yosa39

Allows you to use:
http://tinyurl.com/2ajh3o (Note, any 360 wireless controller will work,
not just the one marked for Windows)

Or you can just go wired for less:
http://tinyurl.com/26v8yr

Your other choice might be a Logitech pad, funny thing is the 360 pad is
based off the most recent logitech wireless design.

As for your sidewinder USB... Can't see why the controller wouldn't just
work in Vista. It's a Microsoft controller, it's not very old, Vista
should have the drivers already for it. What happens when you plug in the
device? Do you get anything? If you go to Gaming Controllers in the
control panel does anything show up for the controller?

-A.

Starting the Sidwinder configuration software to assign the gamepad keys
their keyboard equivelent causes a rundll32.dll error in Vista even with DEP
turned off for the executable. I just went ahead and got the logitech and
it's config. software wouldn't work until I got an updated version from
their website.
I've put off purchasing a new Vista machine for my son, because he has a ton
of games designed for Windows 95 and 98 that he still played.

 

[Andy [YaYa]]

Starting the Sidwinder configuration software to assign the gamepad keys
their keyboard equivelent causes a rundll32.dll error in Vista even with
DEP turned off for the executable. I just went ahead and got the logitech
and it's config. software wouldn't work until I got an updated version
from their website.
I've put off purchasing a new Vista machine for my son, because he has a
ton of games designed for Windows 95 and 98 that he still played.

Simple, uninstall the software, the Sidewider software (excuse my french)
sucks anyways, could be really old and is probably no longer supported. When
you plug in the controller, Vista should treat it like a generic gamepad, it
should work fine with the drivers built into Vista.

I run all sorts of Windows 9x games in Vista, but you're right, you could
run into problems and if there's nothing he wants to play outside of his
Windows 9x games, then why bother updating?

Good luck,
A.