Sidewinder Precision 2 fix!!!!
katrob
disappearing sidewinder joysticks in Win98 (possibly all
OS's)!! Here is two official fixes from the UK MS support
crew as it was sent to me (the second one worked like a
charm):
This sounds like an issue we see from time to time with
the non-powered Sidewinder devices. The problem is that
the devices sometimes build up a small amount of static
that can interfere with the signals passing through the
cable. There is an easy way to fix this as outlined below.
1. Unplug the device and examine the USB connection on it.
2. You should notice that there are five metal parts to
the plug.
>> The metal casing around the plug and
>> The four pins inside this metal casing.
3. Each of the pins needs to be connected to the metal
casing by means of a metal conductor such as a paperclip
or hair clip.
4. The connection only needs to be held for a second or
two.
5. Do this for each pin inside the plug.
6. Once this is done you should be able to plug the device
back into your PC now.
If the above does not work please try the following,
1) Remove all USB devices from your computer and uninstall
the Sidewinder software.
2) Click START -> RUN, type "msconfig" into the box and
press OK. Click on the ADVANCED button and put a check in
the box labeled "Enable Startup Menu". Then click OK, OK
and then YES.
3) When the computer restarts, you will see a menu, choose
option 3, SAFE MODE and hit enter. When windows Boots up,
close any open windows, such as "Help And Support".
4) Click with the right mouse button on MY COMPUTER and
choose PROPERTIES. This should bring up the System
Properties window so click on the DEVICE MANAGER tab.
5) Remove all entries under the following headings:
> Human Interface Devices
> Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
And any listings mentioning HID or USB under the section:
> Sound Video & Game Controllers.
NOTE: To open a section and see it's contents, click the
small + beside the section heading.
6) Once this is done, you can close all open windows and
restart your computer.
7) Plug back in all of your USB devices except the
Sidewinder.
8) Insert the Sidewinder CD and go through the installtion
procedure as you normally would.
Thank you for your attention,
Kind Regards
Frances Ball
Microsoft Technical Support.
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Hope these can help all of my fellow sufferers.
¤ Phil C
"katrob" <kat...@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:024801c33483$bc2e31d0$a001...@phx.gbl...
> I have finally got a fix for all of those with
> disappearing sidewinder joysticks in Win98 (possibly all
> OS's)!! Here is two official fixes from the UK MS support
> crew as it was sent to me (the second one worked like a
> charm):
>
> This sounds like an issue we see from time to time with
> the non-powered Sidewinder devices. The problem is that
> the devices sometimes build up a small amount of static
> that can interfere with the signals passing through the
> cable. There is an easy way to fix this as outlined below.
>
> 1. Unplug the device and examine the USB connection on it.
> 2. You should notice that there are five metal parts to
> the plug.
> >> The metal casing around the plug and
> >> The four pins inside this metal casing.
> 3. Each of the pins needs to be connected to the metal
> casing by means of a metal conductor such as a paperclip
> or hair clip.
> 4. The connection only needs to be held for a second or
> two.
> 5. Do this for each pin inside the plug.
> 6. Once this is done you should be able to plug the device
> back into your PC now.
----- Warning ----- (Well, maybe it's not a WARNING, really.)
This is just my two cents worth. Some settling of contents may have occured
I tried the above method several times with no success.
Then I wet the paperclip & put the damp tip of my toungue
on the touching parts each time for each hole.
(No, don't even THINK that.) Any way ...............
I could "taste" the electricity kind of like a good AA cell --
definatley NOT too "shocking" like a 9V battery ;) .
I plugged it in the USB expecting the 1/10 second of hope that it would work
... like usual
(I have plugged it in maybe 100 times sigh ...)
BAM !! Freakin' computer has found some kinda device MS Precis 2 ----- ¤
pop ¤---
OMG ! There it is ! My JOYSTICK !
Definately try my way if it doesn't work first time dry.
Just don't SLOBBER all over it.
If it STILL won't work you might try the below method .......
--
Phil C
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
