Microsoft KB Archive/176923

= Flight Simulator 98: Rudder Pedals Do Not Work Correctly =

Article ID: 176923

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2002

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q176923



SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to use the rudder control for your game controller in Flight Simulator 98 it may not function properly, even though the rudder control functions properly when you use the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel to calibrate and test your game controller.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the following troubleshooting methods.

Disable Auto-Coordination
The Auto-Coordination feature in Flight Simulator 98 disables the rudder controller. If the game does not respond when you use the rudder controls for your game controller, Auto-Coordination may be enabled. To disable Auto-Coordination, follow these steps:


 * 1) Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98.
 * 2) On the Aircraft menu, click Aircraft Settings.
 * 3) On the Realism tab, click to clear the Auto-Coordination check box.
 * 4) Click OK.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Reset the Default Game Controller Actions:
To reset the default actions in Flight Simulator, follow these steps:

 Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98. On the Options menu, click Custom Controls. Click the Assignments tab. Under the Game Device column, click any command to select it. Click Reset Defaults, and then click Yes.  To check if the default actions are selected for your 4-axis game controller, verify that the the game device settings for the control axes in the game match the settings in the following table:

  Action          Game Device ---

Ailerons axis  Axis 01 Elevator axis  Axis 02 Rudder axis    Axis 04 Throttle axis  Axis 03

If the default actions are not selected, repeat steps 4-5, or follow these steps to assign the default actions manually: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Under the Game Device column, click to select the line for an action you want to assign to a game device command, and then click Assign.

NOTE: When you click Assign, the blue line in the Game Device column becomes a white box, and you have five seconds to assign the selected action to a game controller command.</li> On the game controller, press the button or move the axis you want to use for the selected action. If you receive a warning message that a different action is already assigned to the game controller button or axis, click OK.</li></ol> </li></ol>

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Calibrate the Joystick in Flight Simulator
To calibrate the joystick in Flight Simulator 98, follow these steps:


 * 1) Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98.
 * 2) On the Options menu, click Custom Controls.
 * 3) Click to select the Enable Joystick check box, and then click Calibrate.
 * 4) Follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate your game controller.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Disable Sound in Flight Simulator 98
To determine if there is a problem with the sound card or sound driver, disable the sound in Flight Simulator 98. To do this, press the Q key.

If the issue is resolved when you disable sound in the game, contact your sound card manufacturer for information about how to obtain and install an updated driver for your sound card.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Reduce Sound Playback Quality
If the issue is resolved when you disable sound in the game, your sound card may be unable to properly process game port signals and high quality game sounds at the same time. If so, you may be able to work around the issue by reducing the sound playback quality in the game. To do this, follow these steps:

<ol> Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.</li> In the Named box, type fltsim98.cfg, and then click Find Now.</li> In the list of found files, double-click the Fltsim98.cfg file.</li> In the Choose the program you want to use box, double-click Notepad.</li> Scroll to the end of the file, press ENTER twice, and then type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

[SOUND]

Channels=1

SamplesPerSec=11025

</li> On the File menu, click Exit. When you are prompted to save the changes, click Yes.</li></ol>

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Configure the Game Controller as a Different Device
Use the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel to configure your game controller as a different device. For example, set the joystick up as a 3-axis, 4-button joystick or as a CH Virtual Pilot, and then click the Rudder/Pedals check box to enable the option before you calibrate the device.

NOTE: You cannot configure any Microsoft SideWinder gaming device as a different device except the SideWinder Standard or the SideWinder 3D Pro.

For example, to set up a SideWinder 3D Pro joystick as a 3-axis 4-button joystick with Rudder/Pedals, follow these steps:


 * 1) Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click Game Controllers, and then click Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro.
 * 3) Click Remove, and then click Yes.
 * 4) Click Add, click 3-Axis, 4-Button Joystick, and then click OK.
 * 5) Click Properties.
 * 6) On the Settings tab, click to select the Rudder/Pedals check box.
 * 7) Click Calibrate, and then follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate the game controller.

NOTE: Axis 3 is the throttle control, and axis 4 is the rudder control.
 * 1) Click Test to verify that the game controller functions properly.

Additional query words: flightsim fltsim fs98 flt sim msgame

Keywords: kbtshoot kbhardware kbprb kbsound kbusage KB176923

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