no joy with joystick

[charles murrman]

I purchased a new HP that came without a serial port for
my joystick. I than purchased a Sound Blaster 16 PCI Card
with serial port.My new computer runs Microsoft XP Home
Edition. While attempting to download via the SideWinder
Joystick startup disk, a message states"SideWinder game
device software 3.X installs drivers that are incompati-
ble with this version of windows". Is this just another
way that M.S. prematurely outdates their gaming
peripherals in order to sell NEW ?

Open for any suggestions.
Thanks.

 

[Chris H.]

The game port devices are just plugged in and then you go to Control
Panel/Game Controllers and Add it. The old software (3.x versions) were
written in a language unsupported on Windows XP, but the system itself will
get you going.

As for "out-dating" the hardware, the game port controllers haven't even
been manufactured for probably six or seven years now as the industry went
to USB devices.

 

[-xiray-]

As for "out-dating" the hardware, the game port controllers haven't even
been manufactured for probably six or seven years now as the industry went
to USB devices.

Besides, USB gaming controllers are much easier to manage. Anyone ever
try to run both a serial port joystick AND and driving wheel on the
same machine? Not exactly a smooth process despite that they both used
the same driver software (which allowed toggling between devices).

USB saves tons of headaches. A definite case where upgrading to a new
controller is well worth the money.