Quadstick Windows 10 issue

[cody...@gmail.com]

I have a Windows 10 PC and when I use my QuadStick it will work at first but then will disconnect and say it isn't compatible and stop working. Sometimes it does it after a few minutes but other times it won't for an hour or more. My QuadStick works fine on my PS4 and Xbox One. Does anyone know how to solve this issue? Thanks!

-Cody

[Fred Davison]

Hi Cody:

The kinds of things to try are:

• Change to a different USB port on the PC. 
  
• If it is a 3.0 port (blue), try a USB 2.0 hub in between. 
• If using a USB hub, is it powered or does it get its power only through the USB cable?
  
• Try a different cable.
• Try a different hub.
  
• Make sure the plug is fully inserted into the USB-B socket.

That message comes from the PC detecting the device, due to a voltage signal from the quadstick, but not hearing any data on the cable.

When the Quadstick hears a USB reset command from the PC, you can see the two red leds (#2 & #4) light up for a few seconds.  It should normally happen only during the initial power up.  If the PC is having trouble talking to the QS, it can happen more often.

[cody...@gmail.com]

Hi Fred,

I tried your solutions and am still having the issue unfortunately. It gives the error message "USB device malfunctioned Windows does not recognize it." I made sure everything is updated and that my computer has the latest drivers on everything in the device manager. I also ran a Dell diagnostic test that found no issues with my USB ports or anything else so I'm not sure what to try next.

[Fred Davison]

We could swap out the PCB board and see if that makes a difference.

I don't know why I didn't think about this yesterday, but a workaround would be to force the Quadstick to reinitialize the USB interface.  If you loaded in a configuration file that was set for a different emulation mode, (x360, X360ce, DS3 or DS4), you could activate that file, which would force a USB re-enumeration, then switch back to the default emulation mode.  It would act to the PC like you had unplugged the Quadstick and plugged it back in.

Try the x360ce configuration.  It is basically the Default Configuration but with the Quadstick in a different USB configuration that works the X360CE program.  You will still have access to the mouse, keyboard and flash drive. 

I'll attach the CSV and you can just copy it into the flash.  Chances are it will sort out to be the last filename in your Quadstick's flash, so a long hard sip on the side tube, move the joystick left, then press the lip button will load it.

[SteamyBiscuit]

I'm not sure if this might help but do you think in the advanced battery settings of windows 10 , there's a section I'm thinking around the lines of USB energy saver .... I turned mine off or bump it up to two hours

[Fred Davison]

That's a good idea.  The Quadstick uses very little power.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3r2bp8/is_it_possible_to_completely_disable_usb_power/

[cody...@gmail.com]

I'll try the x360ce file and see if it helps and it should be a handy workaround in the meantime at the very least. I'll also try turning off the USB power saving mode and see what happens. Thanks! I wonder if adding bluetooth to the QuadStick would help if it came down to it.

[Fred Davison]

Bluetooth combo (mouse & keyboard) mode would work back to the PC even while connected to the CronusMax.

The USB-A socket can also be used.  Power always comes through the B socket, but the connection can be switched through the  USB-A socket with a USB A-to-A cable.  There is a preference setting that controls which port is active:

enable_usb_a_device

1

You can add a Preference sheet to a config spreadsheet with that to use the A port when that file is active.    That would be a way to test for the problem being a PC setting vs a hardware issue with the QS B port.  If the same issue happens while using the A port, that would probably mean it is some obscure setting the PC's USB.

[cody...@gmail.com]

I think I fixed it. I updated the QuadStick firmware to 1242 and it hasn't had the issue since so maybe either the latest update works better on Windows 10 or something interfered with the QuadStick connecting to my PC when I first used it on my PC and updating the QuadStick firmware forced it to start over in connecting properly.

[cody...@gmail.com]

The issue came back over the past few weeks. I might have gotten lucky that it stayed connected back when I last posted about it. I've tried a lot of solutions for Windows 10 USB issues and none have worked. I've tried diagnostic tests for my computer and it passes. My other USB devices don't experience any issues and the QuadStick has no problems on my PS4 so it's not the QuadStick's hardware. My computer is brand new from when I first posted this thread and I haven't found anything wrong with it otherwise and my other USB devices work on it even when tried in the same USB plug. I've also tried the QuadStick in both USB 2 and 3 slots. I'm considering getting a previous version of Windows just in case the QuadStick has difficulty on Windows 10.

[Fred Davison]

I don't believe there is any "windows 10" problem with the Quadstick that would be cured by changing to another version of Windows.  The protocols used by Windows USB devices have been stable for literally decades.

I think it was just coincidence that changing the firmware to 1242 made a difference.  The USB software driver in the Quadstick itself has been unchanged since 2014.

My guess is a power, cabling, connector or hardware problem. A powered hub would be one way to remove PC motherboard power as an issue. 

If you put in a configuration file that uses a different USB protocol, like the X360CE, loading that config file will force a USB reset.  Then you can switch back.

Also, make sure your "Power Options" plan settings have "USB selective suspend" disabled.  If your PC is a laptop, make sure both AC powered and Battery powered profiles have this changed.

I can always swap out the PCB board in the Quadstick, you'd just have to mail it back to me.  I have seen a couple of USB-B connectors that were broken, which could lead to your symptoms.  They can be broken by a jerk on the cable, for instance if someone trips over the cable.  If it was cracked, then as you slightly moved it while using the Quadstick, the connection could be OK one second and go bad the next, then be OK again.

[cody...@gmail.com]

Hi Fred,

That makes sense about it not being a Windows 10 issue. I turned off selective suspend a few weeks ago and unfortunately it didn't fix the issue. I would do the USB reset workaround but most of the time the issue happens the QuadStick gets stuck with the red lights on or no lights on at all which prevents me from switching to that configuration. I think sending it in to replace the PCB board is my best option. Thanks!

[Fred Davison]

Does the side tube stop working for loading a new config file?

[cody...@gmail.com]

Yeah it won't let me change configurations when it happens. It stays lit up red or no lights on and never gets back to purple lights to let me change modes with the side tube.

[Fred Davison]

Go ahead and send it back.

If you get a chance before you send it and it does it again.  Just wait for about three minutes and see if it reboots.  That will tell us if the Watchdog timer has detected that the main program loop has locked up. 

If the main loop is running, a long hard sip on the side tube should put you in the config file selection mode, regardless of anything else going on.  The only time that it would not work is if the main program had faulted in some way and got hung.  The Watchdog should eventually time-out and reset the processor if that happens, but it takes a couple of minutes.

[cody...@gmail.com]

Thanks Fred. I will send it in. There were times that waiting a few minutes did get it back to that point but there have been times that I waited a lot longer to see and it didn't work even though I could see and hear that it was resetting itself and trying to reconnect.