Microsoft KB Archive/294672

Knowledge Base

You experience issues when you use a Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joystick together with Flight Simulator on a Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista-based computer

Article ID: 294672

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe
• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Standard
• Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater
• Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition
• Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro

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This article was previously published under Q294672

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joystick to play a Microsoft Flight Simulator game on a Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, or Windows Vista-based computer, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The joystick may not work at all in the games listed in the "Applies to" section. However, the joystick may still be recognized in the Game Controller/Game Options window.
• The Enable check box for the joystick is selected in the games listed in the "Applies to" section. However, it is unavailable (dimmed).
• The joystick may work in Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Pacific Theater. But you feel no forces through it in any of the other games listed.
• You may not feel force feedback effects during flight.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if one of the following sound cards is installed on the computer.

Turtle Beach Santa CruzAC'97-based onboard sound cards made by the following companies:

• Avance
• Intel
• SoundMax
• VIA

These cards are incompatible with the SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick when it is installed on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer, a Microsoft Windows XP-based comptuer, or a Windows Vista-based computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Scenario 1:

If the Force Feedback Pro 1.0 is connected to an onboard game port, contact the computer manufacturer for information about how to configure the BIOS to enable onboard audio support and MPU-401.

Also, make sure that resource settings are set to 300 - 305 (or similar). Note If you configure the BIOS incorrectly, you may be unable to start the computer. Do not change the BIOS unless you clearly understand the procedures that the manufacturer provides.

Scenario 2:

The Force Feedback Pro 1.0 is connected to a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) sound card game port and the computer has an onboard sound card.

To resolve this issue, disable the onboard game port and midi/MPU-401 port. You can disable the onboard sound card gameport in BIOS.

Some computers include a sound card or audio chip set on the motherboard. If you install a new sound card with the onboard chip set, you may experience this problem because of direct memory access (DMA) conflicts between the onboard audio chip set and the installed sound card. Windows cannot manage the DMA channel that may still be assigned to the onboard audio chip set and conflicts with the DMA channel that is assigned to the installed sound card and game port.

To resolve this issue, disable the onboard sound card. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the onboard sound card is disabled in the computer's complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings. See your computer's documentation or contact the manufacturer for information about how to do this.
2. ==== Disable the onboard sound card on Windows 2000 or on Windows XP ====
   1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
      
      On Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Double-click System.
   2. Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
   3. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   4. Click the onboard sound device, and then click Properties.
   5. On the General tab, select Do not use this device (disable) under Device Usage.
   6. Click OK or Close until you return to Windows.
   7. Restart the computer.

   Disable the onboard sound card on Windows Vista

   1. Click Start, type system in the Start Search box, and then click System in the Programs list.
   2. Click Device Manager.
      
      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
   3. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   4. Right-click the onboard sound device, and then click Disable.
   5. Click Yes.
      
      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
   6. Click OK.

For more information about the Turtle Beach sound card, visit the following Turtle Beach Web site:

http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/soundcards/

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
To determine the manufacturer and model of the sound card, use the method that is appropriate for the operating system that you are using.

Windows 2000 or Windows XP

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. On the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
4. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Under the Sound, video and game controllers branch, note the manufacturer and model of sound card.
6. Close all open windows.

Windows Vista

1. Click Start, type system in the Start Search box, and then click System in the Programs list.
2. Click Device Manager.
   

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

1. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
2. Under the Sound, video and game controllers branch, note the manufacturer and model of sound card.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

305862 Game port does not work after upgrade on some HP computers with Via AC97 audio controller

Additional query words: msgame gaming device gamecontroller joystick

Keywords: kbhardware kbprb KB294672

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