Joystick Problems with FS2002 (MS ForceFeedback)

[rkanaan]

Hello everyone

This is driving me nuts and I cant enjoy FS2002 at all.

The Force Feedback Pro Joystick i have connected to the gameport (not USB) worked initially when I installed FS2002.
Then it stopped working. This is an older Force Feedback i have had for about 3-4 years now.
Somehow trying selecting a DIFFERENT aircraft/airport/adventure combo seemed to make it work again.
Now it stopped working entirely.
The selection for Joystick is completely blacked out.
Am using Win XP Home Edition and have recently upgraded to SP1 without any luck.. I read all the forums on Microsoft web site without luck. All the SW is correctly installed and recognized and Joystick seems to work fine on other games. I even tried deleting and re-installing FS2002 without any luck/.. Its totally dead :(
can anyone help?
Thanks
Alex

[mjfox]

Havr you tried updating the Sidewinder Software? It worked for me

Get the newest (3.02) version here...

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/si...nloads/302.asp

Regards,

Greyfox

[rkanaan]

I tried it but It doesnt work with XP....

[pbyrne43]

Hi
Got the same problem, I think it be microsoft's way of telling us to get a newer model.

[Buddha]

This is an earlier post of mine,

'I'm assuming your joystick is connected to the gameport on an SB Live or other Creative soundcard and your motherboard has onboard sound The problem is a conflict between the onboard game/MIDI port and the SB Live game/MIDI port. When I had the problem I found that although the BIOS settings for onboard sound and the game port had been disabled (these are found in the Integrated Peripherals section of the BIOS) the MIDI port was still enabled. Disabling the MIDI port resolved the problem, FS2002 now recognised the joystick and could be enabled.
Prior to finding the problem in the BIOS, I disabled the MIDI Device via the Control Panel. Go into Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager - Sound, video and game controllers - MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device and disable it. This also resolves the problem, however depending on which card and drivers you have installed this method may not be an option.'

Buddha

[ajmitch]

If you have installed any software for the Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro under Windows XP, the first thing you must do is uninstall it. It is not compatable with XP. The article on Microsoft's knowledgebase gives the lowdown on this.
XP will install it's own driver for this stick and providing you don't have problems with the MPU401 issue, as described by Buddha, then you shouldn't have any problems with it being recognised in FS or in assigning actions.
Having said all that, when I recently upgraded my system, I ran into problems. My new mobo is the ASUS A7V333 and if I have USB2 enabled, the gameport does not operate correctly.

I set up this tutorial on my website about the end of last year, it may help you. Feel free to give it a look, but be patient with the graphics loading.
http://www.simworld.themutual.net/Tu...swfs2k2xp.html


Tony

[rkanaan]

Would getting a new USB joystick solve this problem?? Is it worth it (am I gett8ing anything new?

[rkanaan]

Everyone ... I gave up and bought a new FF2 Joystick. It is not THAT much better in performance although it does seem smoother, but at least it works and I can actually enjoy FS2002.. Shame on Microsoft for not providing the SideWinder sw update on its Web Site.. Maybe I should have a bought a Logitech WINGMAN instead....

[pbyrne43]

hi rkanaan
Its a shame you had to give microsoft even more money so you could keep enjoying fs 2002, Im going to soldier on and try to find the problem, could you let me know what motherboard your using and if it has integrated sound, I think the solution lies there, I've tried everything else.
Thanks

[rkanaan]

Well good luck to you...I am not sure what my motherboard make is, but my PC is an ACER Aspire PIV 1.5, it does have integrated sound on board and even disabling the Midi driver didnt work.. If you finally get it to work drop my a mail arkanaan@hotmail.com I am gonna hand-me down the joystick to my nephew and in case he has problems I would like to know if they can be fixed ;) Yes I know, I took the easy way out, but I hadn't touched flight sim for 8 months due to that problem. I didnt realize I had missed it so much intil I played it with the new Joystick!! (PS Microsoft took the JOY out of Joystick though with the amount of money ripped off from me. Where I live, I paid over USD150 for the first joystick (3 years ago) and now this one was just under USD80...talk about Bill Gates getting rich on my shoulders ...hehehe
Cheers,
Alex