Microsoft KB Archive/173751

Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad Readme.txt Contents

PSS ID Number: Q173751 Article last modified on 09-12-1997

WINDOWS:2.0

WINDOWS

================================================================ ==

The information in this article applies to:

 == Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software version 2.0 == 

= SUMMARY =

This article contains a copy of the contents of the SideWinder Game Pad Readme.txt file, which is located in the root folder of the Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software 2.0 CD-ROM.

= MORE INFORMATION =

 Microsoft Corporation, 1997

THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROGRAM, OR ANY PORTION OF IT, MAY RESULT IN SEVERE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER THE LAW.

This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad Online User’s Guide.

To learn more about the Microsoft game devices, as well as other Microsoft hardware products and updates, visit our World Wide Web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/

————————- CONTENTS ————————-

Part 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ON GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS

1.1 Don’t Connect Your Game Device to a Network AUI Port 1.2 Game Port Y-Cables 1.3 Game Port Extender Cables 1.4 Game Port and Sound Card Issues

Part 2: GAMES-COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER DIGITAL-ONLY DEVICES

2.1 Games That May Exhibit Problems 2.2 Notes on Other Games 2.3 Hot Plugging

2.4 Mode Switching

Part 3: GAME PAD CONNECTION ISSUES

3.1 Pass-through Mode Does Not Work With Add-on Devices 3.2 Kraft Thunderstick Switches Out of Pass-through Mode 3.3 Adjustable Speed Game Cards

Part 4: GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY

4.1 Setting up the SideWinder Game Pad for MS-DOS-based Games 4.2 Playing Games in an MS-DOS Window Under Windows 4.3 Using Multiple Game Pads 4.4 Games Compatibility

Part 5: TROUBLESHOOTING

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============================================= Part 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ON GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS ==========================================================

1.1 Don’t Connect Your Game Device to a Network AUI Port

Network adapters with an AUI 15-pin port resemble the standard game port. If you plug your SideWinder game device into a network port, you may damage the game device or network card.

1.2 Game Port Y-Cables

Don’t use a Y-cable to connect the SideWinder game device to your computer because some Y-cables can damage your game device.

1.3 Game Port Extender Cables

Don’t use a game port extender cable to connect the SideWinder game device to your computer. Extender cables can severely reduce the performance of your game device.

1.4 Game Port and Sound Card Issues

If you plug your SideWinder game device into a game port of one of the following sound cards, your joystick or game pad may experience problems or may not work.

Also note that SideWinder game devices are designed to work with only one game port installed; using multiple game ports may cause problems.

  Diamond Edge 3D (Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.) or other NVIDIA based 3D accelerator card. The onboard game port is incompatible with the Microsoft game devices digital drivers. To use the joystick or game pad, you must install a standard game port.   Game Jammer PC Card (New Media Systems Corp.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro.   Hewlett-Packard HP4000CT laptop docking station (Hewlett-Packard Co.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro.   Media Vision Prosonic and Pro Audio 3D(Media Vision, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. If you have problems, try loading the DOS drivers for the card. For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS drivers as well as the Windows drivers. If you continue to experience problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode. </li>  Microcomputer Microconnect 34 You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with certain games if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should play properly. </li>  Mwave sound card (IBM Corp.), used in the IBM Aptiva You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with certain games if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should play properly. </li>  Quick Shot PCMCIA (Bondwell Global, Ltd.) To properly configure this game port, you need to obtain one of the manufacturer’s new drivers: JOYA.COM or JOYB.COM. For more information, contact Quick Shot. </li>  Roland RAP 10/AT (Roland Corp.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad and SideWinder Precision Pro; and is incompatible with the SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. </li>  Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-1 (Creative Labs, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. NOTE: All other Sound Blaster game ports are fully compatible with digital-only game devices. </li>  TeleVideo TeleWave Q32/SRS (TeleVideo, Inc.) This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such as the SideWinder game pad, 3D Pro, and Force Feedback Pro. If you have problems, try loading the DOS drivers for the card. For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS drivers as well as the Windows drivers. If you continue to experience problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode. </li>  Chromatic MPACT This sound card is incompatible with any SideWinder game device except for the SideWinder 3D Pro, which can be operated in Analog mode. </li>  Toshiba Tecra 700CT notebook computer (Toshiba America, Inc.) Uses a built-in game port which may produce erratic results. </li>  Toshiba Tecra 720 notebook computer (Toshiba America, Inc.) In Low power mode, there is not enough power available for the SideWinder game pad to work properly from the docking station game port or from a PCMCIA-based game port. If you switch to Full power, both game ports work properly. For information about changing the notebook setting to Full power, see your computer’s manual. </li>  Sound cards or systems using the ESS or Opti chip sets You may experience problems or poor performance with games if you have the sound on. To correct this problem, the “Use Single Mode DMA” setting should be selected from Control Panel devices, double-click the “Audio for …”, click the settings button, and check the box for “Use Single Mode DMA.” </li></ul>

=
==================================================== Part 2: GAMES-COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER DIGITAL-ONLY DEVICES =================================================================

2.1 Games That May Exhibit Problems

The games below may experience problems with SideWinder digital-only game devices (SideWinder Game Pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro). Digital-only game devices are designed specifically for Windows and may have problems establishing proper communication with these non-Windows-based games. You may want to check with the game publisher for possible updates or patches to their product.

2.2 Notes on Other Games

  Descent and Descent II (Interplay Productions, Inc.) You need to run these games with the “-joypolled” command switch. For more information, refer to the Descent or Descent II Readme file. </li>  Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (LucasArts Entertainment Co.) For the SideWinder game device to work correctly, do not use the game’s joystick calibration feature. </li>  Day of the Tentacle (LucasArts Entertainment Co.) For the SideWinder game device to work correctly, do not use the game’s joystick calibration feature. </li>  Lode Runner (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) To activate a move that your game has pre-assigned to a game pad button, you will need to press the button twice. </li>  Mega Man X (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.) In order to get the most functionality from this game, you need to select the Capcom controller in the game’s Option Mode screen. </li> <li> Wing Commander 3 & 4 (Origin Systems, Inc.) For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly with these games, you need an alternate joystick DLL file (WC3JOY.DLL or WC4JOY.DLL) that is available from Origin Systems. </li> <li> NFL Quarterback Club ’97 (Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.) When played with a SideWinder game device, this game detects a single game device as two game devices. In the case of a joystick, only buttons 1 and 2 on the joystick work with this game. When using a game pad, only buttons A and B work with this game. </li></ul>

2.3 Hot Plugging

Some games will not detect a game device that you connect during game play. To change or add a game device, exit your game, connect the game device you want to use for that game session, and then re-start your game.

Connecting your game device during game play may work better with either the Editor, Activator, or Control Panel running.

2.4 Mode Switching

In some games, when you switch from a SideWinder game pad to a SideWinder joystick during game play, the game will not recognize the joystick. In these cases, you may need to recalibrate the joystick in your game in order for it to work properly. Or, you may need to restart your game.

For more information about joystick calibration, refer to your game’s manual.

=
====================================== Part 3: GAME PAD CONNECTION ISSUES ===================================================

3.1 Pass-through Mode Does Not Work With Add-on Devices

The SideWinder game pad doesn’t work with Pass-through mode for add-on devices such as throttles, pedals, and so on. Check the manual for your add-on device to see if it must be connected directly to your computer. For example, the Thrustmaster Rudder Control System’s manual states specifically that it needs to be connected directly to the computer. Therefore, the Thrustmaster will not work with the SideWinder game pad in Pass-through mode.

3.2 Kraft Thunderstick Switches Out of Pass-through Mode

If you have connected a Kraft Thunderstick to your SideWinder game pad and the game pad is in Pass-through mode, pressing buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously on the Kraft Thunderstick switches the SideWinder game pad out of Pass-through mode. To use the Kraft Thunderstick again, press the Mode button on your SideWinder game pad once. This puts the game pad back into Pass-through mode. Then avoid pressing buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously on your Kraft Thunderstick.

3.3 Adjustable Speed Game Cards

If you’ve connected four SideWinder game pads together in a chain, and you have an adjustable game card (such as Computer City Dual Port Game Card MX-911), you may experience “phantom” button presses if your game card isn’t set up properly. If you do experience this phenomenon, refer to your game card manual for help adjusting the game card’s speed.

=
================================================ Part 4: GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY =============================================================

4.1 Setting up the SideWinder Game Pad for MS-DOS-based Games

Some MS-DOS-based games require you to choose either a joystick or a game pad in the setup program. In such cases, the SideWinder game pad may respond better if you choose “joystick” rather than “game pad.”

4.2 Playing Games in an MS-DOS Window Under Windows

Typically, buttons C and Z on the SideWinder game pad don’t work for games played in an MS-DOS window. However, if your game works with the “PC-Fighter” 6-button game pad, to get the extra functionality that these two buttons provide, set your game for the PC-Fighter device.

NOTE: This is true only if one SideWinder game pad is connected.

If you are playing a game in an MS-DOS window, the number of SideWinder game pad buttons that work depends on the number of SideWinder game pads connected, as well as the number of buttons your game works with.

4.3 Using Multiple Game Pads

Some games, including those listed below, do not recognize game devices that are plugged in after the game has been started. If you want to use multiple SideWinder game pads in these games, you must connect them before starting the game.

4.4 Games Compatibility

<ul> <li> Silent Thunder (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly, you need an updated version of the game (version 1.1) from Sierra. </li> <li> Triple Play 97 (Electronic Arts) The third and fourth SideWinder game pads stop functioning during game play. Check with Electronic Arts for a patch that solves this problem. </li></ul>

=
============ Part 5: TROUBLESHOOTING =========================

This section contains answers to specific questions you may have. For additional troubleshooting information, see the Trouble-shooting sections of the Online User’s Guide for your SideWinder game device and the Game Device Profiler Online Help.

QUESTION: I have several game pads connected in a chain, but Game Controller Properties shows that one or more of my game pads are “not connected.” What should I do?

ANSWER: Restart your computer without any game pads connected, and then connect and test each one in turn.

To test your game pads:


 * 1) Unplug all of your game pads, turn off your computer, and then start your computer again.
 * 2) Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 3) Double-click Game Devices.
 * 4) Plug in a game pad, then click Test and ensure that all of your buttons are working properly.
 * 5) Continue plugging in your game pads (up to four in a chain), testing each game pad to ensure that it is working properly.

QUESTION: In the Control Panel, I see a “Game Controllers” icon, but I can’t open it; or, I can open it, but my joystick is listed as “not connected.”

ANSWER: If you previously had a game port, but it was removed, the Setup program incorrectly detects that you still have a game port. Install a card with a game port (such as a sound card), and then run Setup again.

If there is no response from the joystick, or the Windows Device Manager reports that the joystick is not present, not working properly, or does not have all of its drivers installed, perform the following procedure.

To resolve your joystick problem:

<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"> <li> Start the computer in Safe mode since real-mode device drivers may conflict with the Windows drivers and disable the game port. (For step-by-step instructions, consult your Windows manual.) </li> <li> Remove the GamePort Joystick from the Control Panel Device Manager and then add it again: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.</li> <li>Double-click the System icon and then click the Device Manager tab.</li> <li>Double-click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, and then check for a GamePort Joystick. If one exists, click it and then click Remove.</li> <li>Click OK, and then click Close.</li></ol>

To add the GamePort Joystick, or if there is no GamePort Joystick

entry, run the Add New Hardware Wizard in the Control Panel. For more

information, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help. </li> <li> Verify that the GamePort Joystick is working at the MS-DOS level. To do so, try to use the joystick with an MS-DOS-based game. Refer to the game’s manual for information about configuring the joystick. </li></ol>

QUESTION: The General tab on the Game Controllers Control Panel does not list the new game pad when I plug it into first game pad(s) already connected to the computer.

ANSWER: This is normal operation. To get the game pad to appear in the list, click the Advanced tab and then the General tab again.

QUESTION: I just turned on my computer and opened the Control Panel. Why don’t I see Game Controllers icon?

ANSWER: Your sound card may not be initialized properly due to a game port or driver problem.

To reinitialize your sound card so that you can access Game Device Properties:


 * 1) Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click the System icon, and then click the Device Manager tab.
 * 3) Double-click Sound, Video, And Game Controllers, click the Gameport Joystick (or the device that has an error), and then click Properties.
 * 4) Click the Resources tab, and then click Set Configuration Manually.
 * 5) Clear the Use Automatic Settings check box, and then click OK.
 * 6) In System Properties, click OK, close the Control Panel, and then restart your computer.

QUESTION: What’s the minimum system configuration I need to run the SideWinder Game Device Software 2.0?

ANSWER: You must have a personal computer with a 486DX/66 or higher processor, with 8 megabytes of RAM, 6 megabytes of available hard disk space, 256-color VGA or better display, and running Windows.

QUESTION: Why doesn’t my SideWinder game device work when I restart my computer in MS-DOS mode (“real mode”)?

ANSWER: Other than the SideWinder 3D Pro, SideWinder game devices are digital-only devices. Only games that run under Windows or in an MS-DOS window under Windows will work with digital game devices.

QUESTION: I connected a game device while I was playing a game, but the game does not recognize it. What’s the problem?

ANSWER: Some games do not recognize game devices that are connected after the game has already been started. To change or add a game device, exit your game, connect all of the game devices you want to use for the session, and then re-start your game.

QUESTION: The Test page of the Game Controller Properties shows the joystick handle still twisting after I let go. Why is this happening?

ANSWER: This is normal behavior for a digital joystick.

QUESTION: I’m having trouble calibrating my joystick in my game’s joystick calibration routine; what do I need to do?

ANSWER: If your game’s joystick calibration routine requires you to press a button (such as the trigger) on your joystick, the game will not “see” the button press if you have changed the way this button works in your game by means of the Profile Editor. It is recommended that you do not change the functions of the primary button(s) on your joystick.

QUESTION: I have more than one game port on my computer; will this pose any sort of problem when using SideWinder game devices?

ANSWER: Multiple game ports can cause the game device to not function, especially in the case of a SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. The solution is to remove or disable any game port not being used by removing the board or following the manufacture’s instructions on disabling it.

QUESTION: I had my analog controller connected to my computer with a status of “OK” in the Game Controllers properties window then I added a SideWinder game device. Now my analog controller is not in the list, but there are two SideWinder devices. How do I get my analog controller back in the list so that I can use it?

ANSWER: SideWinder game device take priority in the Control Panel when they are connected. To use your analog controller, reconnect it to the game port and assign it to ID1 as described under “My other game device isn’t working” in the Online User’s Guide.

Also, you can remove unwanted game controllers from the list in the Game Controllers properties window by clicking it and then clicking the Remove button.

= Additional query words: 2.00 =

Keywords : gamepad joystick Version : WINDOWS:2.0 Platform : WINDOWS Issue type : kbreadme ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997.