Sidewinder FFP + Windows XP

Romain Riviere ACCFR2

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Apr 8, 2004, 12:33:11 PM4/8/04

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Hello,

I have just changed PC and WinXP came along with the upgrade.
I own a MS Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (gameport) and I seem to
understand that it is NOT supported by WinXP :(

Does anyone know if using a gameport -> USB adapter can improve things a
little ? I'd hate to be forced into buying a new jostick (this one is
great, better than the FFP 2, IMHO).

Thanks for your help,
Regards,
Romain Rivere

KH

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Apr 8, 2004, 2:49:19 PM4/8/04

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Hi Romain,

Did you try plugging in / installing the FFP? I got concerned about
the same thing when I upgraded to a new PC with XP. However, I found
that if I just plugged in the gameport FFP, it was successfully
installed and worked as well as ever (i.e., no USB adapter nor install
CD required). Yes, the forces also worked. So, I'm not sure why the
compatibility reports seem to say that the FFP is not compatible with
XP, but they do!

I hope it works for you.

Regards,

Karl

--
-------------------------------
To email me directly, remove my aging brain.

George S. Marinakis

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Apr 8, 2004, 3:03:06 PM4/8/04

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I can also confirm that the FFP does work in XP (without the adapter and
install CD) but I have not been completely problem free. In both FS2K2
and FS9 I had uncommanded view switches which became incredibly annoying
(there is nothing worse than when you are final and view keeps switching
to left rear and then back to out the front repeatedly). I traced the
problem to the hat switch on the FFP and I solved it by disabling any
assignment to that switch in FS2K2's and FS9's joystick button
assignment setup. The trade off is that I can no longer pan the view
with the hat switch which is something that I have learned to live without.

I have had some other folks tell me that the problem is the game port on
my sound card. It seems that the game port is very susceptible to noise
which does not affect the USB port. So even though the FFP will work in
XP, I have a sneaking suspicion that you are better off with a USB
joystick. It would be interesting to see if a USB adapter would make
any difference.

-GSM-

Romain Riviere ACCFR2

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Apr 8, 2004, 6:06:49 PM4/8/04

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Hi,

Thank you both for your answers.
The FFP is indeed recognized properly by Win XP (utter joy!) :) I haven't
tried FF yet since I'm still in the process of re-installing everything
from scratch.
The only thing I'm gonna miss is the profile editor/manager (Sidewinder
software), because it's incompatible with XP.

Quote :

"SideWinder Force Feedback Pro
SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel
SideWinder Game Pad
SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (game port version only) SideWinder 3D Pro

These game devices and the accompanying SideWinder software (version
3.02) were designed to work with Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98.

If you have Windows 2000, the operating system includes device drivers for
the game controllers listed above, so the device will function properly.
However, the accompanying SideWinder software (version 3.02 or any
previous version) will not function, so you will not be able to create
profiles for these devices using the SideWinder software on Windows 2000.
Microsoft is not planning to update the SideWinder software (version 3.02)
for game port devices.

If you have Windows XP, these game devices are not supported."

Great news, typical of MS though...

Cheers,
Romain

Katy

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Apr 8, 2004, 6:30:23 PM4/8/04

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It will work provided that you declare it in XP via the control panel,
game controllers and choose Sidewinder auto-detect, and most
importantly for the gameport version that your gameport drivers
support the joystick correctly. Most often built-in gameport on the
motherboard do not, using a PCI sound card is recommended instead.

All you will miss is the useless profiler but you can assign all
commands in FS instead.

---
All the Best
Katy Pluta

FS FAQ at http://www.simflight.com

Visit Project Magenta!
http://www.projectmagenta.com

Bob Fiedler

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Apr 8, 2004, 6:49:31 PM4/8/04

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"Katy" <katy...@hotmail.invalid> wrote in message
news:edkb70pd15t7us6mn...@4ax.com...

The setup is in the "devices.cfg"' file. It aliases the force feedback with
the precision pro stick, so the settings are the same. There is a seperate
listing of settings for the USB stick. If the installation hasn't already
extracted this list to your FSx.cfg file, you can do it by cutting and
pasting to replace whatever is already in your FSx.cfg file for joystick
settings. The newest version of FSUIPC allows you to assign key functions to
the joystick buttons also.
Bob F.

RobertVA

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Apr 8, 2004, 9:58:22 PM4/8/04

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Most adaptors to use gameport controllers on a USB port only relay the four
analog axis and accompanying four button inputs. Unfortunately gameport
force feedback devives utilize the gameports bidirectional MIDI port
capabilities. MIDI was originally intended as a specialized serial data
channel for communications with electronic musical instruments like
synthisizers and piano/organ style keyboards. Support for MIDI / digital
controlers would be required for a USB adaptor to work with the MS FFB stick
or any other gameport "digital" controler.

"Romain Riviere ACCFR2" <deputy....@vacc-france.org> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.04.08....@vacc-france.org...