sidewinder

[alan]

i recently purchased a new computer with windows xp i also
got flight sim 2002 standard. using an adapter i have
tried to convert my old sidewinder force feedback joy
stick to my new m/c (USB) but it won't recognise the
instalation disc
what am i doing wrong
ps i know next to nothing about computers

signed
desperate

 

[Joshua Smith [MSFT]]

I am taking a guess here. This is what I think is happening. You have a
gameport only Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joystick. Your new computer
doesn't have a gameport on it. You purchaced a gameport to USB adapter to
connect your FF Pro to the system. If this is the case then chances are this
is not going to work. The driver for that device is in Windows XP. It is
written to look for the device on a gameport. Also the forces are
transmitted to the device through the MIDI portion of the gameport. Of the
gameport to USB converters I have seen (which isn't many) they only present
themselves to the system as generic devices and use just the standard HID
driver that DirectInput provides.
If the above isn't the case can you provide me more information about the
particular converter you are using?

 

[Peter Hutchison]

So does this mean there is no way of converting any of
the Sidewinder Force feedback series from Gameport to USB?
I have a force feedback wheel which plugs into my
gameport, but the XP supplied driver does not work
properly and I have been told, through this service, that
MS do not intend to update the driver. Which would leave
me the only option of buying a new USB version, when my
gameport verison is only around 3 years old.

You got it in one!

Peter Hutchison
Windows FAQ
http://www.pcguru.plus.com/