Sidewinder 3D pro.

C

Colin Hickey

Is anyone running one of these with Windows 2000, i've
recently just tried to use mine after a very long time and
it keeps appears as connected and then no connected and
just continues this cycle.

I have the sidewinder 3.02 software which supports this
joystick but that does not work in windows 2000.

anyone got any ideas?

Thanks
Col.
 
J

Joshua Smith [MSFT]

Hi Colin

This behavior usually happens when the gameport the device is connected
to is having a hard time getting data to the system reliably. Since the
gameport is handled by the sound card this can either be caused by cost
saving shortcuts taken in the gameport/sound card, or by the sound card
getting too busy trying to handle sound. First you should check the switch
on the front of the device and make sure it didn't get stuck in the middle.
If it always happens, even when not playing any sound you might want to try
a different sound card. If you have a friend with a different system that
you could test it on that might be easiest. If it works good on their system
you might try their card in your system before you buy another one. One
final note is to make sure you only have one gameport installed in the
system. Even if there isn't a physical gameport on the motherboard you
should check the BIOS to see if there is an option for disabling an onboard
gameport if you have a separated sound card in the system.

I know this has been kind of generic advice. I am not really sure of what
your system has except for the device. If you need more help just let me
know and we can take it from there. Good luck.


Joshua Smith
DirectInput and OpenGL Test Labs
Microsoft
 
V

*Vanguard*

"Colin Hickey" said in news:[email protected]:
Is anyone running one of these with Windows 2000, i've
recently just tried to use mine after a very long time and
it keeps appears as connected and then no connected and
just continues this cycle.

Note the name of this newsgroup:

microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware

Then note the name of this other newsgroup:

microsoft.public.win2000.hardware

Repost to the correct newsgroup for the version of Windows you claim to
be using (Windows 2000).

I have an old Sidewinder Pro (non-forcefeedback). My recollection under
Windows 2000 (and XP) is that you have to use the embedded Windows
driver by using the Game Controllers applet in Control Panel to add the
auto-detect Sidewinder device. The Sidewinder 3.02 software won't work
under NT-based Windows. It was developed for Windows 9x (and hasn't
been updated in ages despite what datestamp its download might have).
You only get the driver, not all the programmable features afforded by
the software.

Did you check on the manufacturer's web site for a new driver, new
software, a patch, a support article addressing your problem? There is
a patch at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/Downloads.asp
(scroll down to "3d Pro patch") but obviously it probably won't work
until you get the Sidewinder 3.02 software installed.
I have the sidewinder 3.02 software which supports this
joystick but that does not work in windows 2000.

See http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/downloads/302.asp where
only Windows 95 and 98 are listed as supported.

When switching to a new operating system (changing from Windows 9x/ME to
Windows NT4/2000/XP is a *switch* and not really an upgrade), you need
to check the hardware compatibility list (HCL) to see if your old device
is listed. Otherwise, figure on losing or replacing some hardware if
you later find that it isn't supported (or not well enough to keep it
usable).

Check Hardware and Software Compatibility
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/upgrading/compat/default.asp

A search there on "Microsoft", "Sidewinder 3D Pro", "Input devices",
lists the device as "The driver for this hardware device is included on
the Windows 2000 CD-ROM". That's all the support you'll get. The
Sidewinder 3.02 is unusable under Windows 2000. All you get is the
driver to support the device.
 

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