Microsoft KB Archive/315926

Knowledge Base

How to troubleshoot joystick problems in Flight Simulator

Article ID: 315926

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe
• Microsoft Flight Simulator X Standard
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q315926

SYMPTOMS

When you run Microsoft Flight Simulator, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The joystick behaves erratically.
• The joystick does not respond.
• The rudder or throttle does not respond.
• The brakes do not release.

RESOLUTION

To resolve these issues, use the following troubleshooting methods in the order that they appear in. After you complete each method, test to see whether the issue is resolved. If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Verify that the operating system supports your game controller

Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, and Windows Vista support both analog and digital game controllers. For best performance, verify that the latest version of the game controller driver for your game controller is installed on your computer.

Examine the game controller connection to the game port

If you use a game port game controller, verify that the game controller is connected directly to the game port in your computer. "Daisy-chained" game controllers or game port adaptors can interfere with communication between the game port and the game controller.

If you use a USB game controller, verify that the game controller is connected correctly to the USB port in your computer or to a compatible USB hub that is connected to the USB port in your computer.

If you use a USB game controller, try removing any additional USB devices such as cameras, scanners, or additional game controllers that are not being used.

Note If you are using a RealFlight game controller, it may conflict with the game's ability to read keyboard commands. Disconnect the RealFlight game controller as a troubleshooting step.

Disable any profiling software

Many game controllers come with what is known as "profiling software". This software can let you assign actions such as keyboard commands or multiple input "macros" to a single button on your device. Profiling software can sometimes interfere with a game that cannot accept this kind of input. For information about how to disable your profiling software, contact the manufacturer of your game controller.

Note If you use a SideWinder game controller, disable the SideWinder Game Device Profiler or the SideWinder Game Controller software. To do this, right-click the Game Device Profiler icon or the Game Controller Software icon in the notification area, and then click Unload or click Disable.

Confirm that your game controller is assigned to Controller ID 1 or that it is the preferred device

Some games do not recognize game controllers that are not assigned to Controller ID 1.

To verify that your game controller is assigned to Controller ID 1 in Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows 2000, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Game Controllers.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. If the game controller that you want to use is not assigned to Controller ID 1, click Change.
5. In the Game Controllers box, click the game controller that you want to use, and then click the UP ARROW or the DOWN ARROW to change the Selected ID value to 1.
6. Click OK, and then click OK again.
7. Close Control Panel.

To configure your game controller as the preferred device in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3. Click Game Controllers.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Under Preferred device, select the game controller that you want to use, and then click OK.
6. Click OK to close the Games Controllers dialog box.

Configure the game controller as the preferred device in Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Change the preferred game controller" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/6065f372-90dd-44cd-bc8d-c89d17f0fdfd1033.mspx

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Change the preferred game controller" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Change the preferred game controller, and then click Search Help.
3. In the list of topics, click Change the preferred game controller.
4. Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5. Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

Calibrate the game controller

If you use a digital Microsoft SideWinder game controller with Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software version 2.0 or a later version or Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software, the software automatically calibrates the game controller.

To test the calibration for your game controller in Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows 2000, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Game Controllers.
3. On the General tab, click the game controller that you want to test in the Game Controllers box, and then click Properties.
4. On the Test tab, test all the functions for your digital SideWinder game controller, click OK, and then click OK again.
5. Close Control Panel.

To test the calibration for your game controller in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and Other Hardware.
3. Click Game Controllers.
4. Under Installed game controllers, click the controller that you want to calibrate, and then click Properties.
5. On the Settings tab, click Calibrate, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

To test the calibration for your game controller in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type Game Controllers in the Start Search box, and then click Game Controllers in the Programs list.
2. Under Installed game controllers, click the controller that you want to calibrate, and then click Properties.
3. On the Settings tab, click Calibrate, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

If you cannot calibrate your game controller, or if your game controller does not function correctly when you test it, Microsoft Windows may be unable to communicate correctly with the game controller. If this is true, contact the manufacturer of your game controller for information about how to configure the device correctly in Windows. You may also have to obtain and install the latest version of the game controller device driver.

Test the game controller in the game

If you calibrate and test the game controller successfully, start Flight Simulator to test the game controller in the game. If the issue continues to occur, calibrate the device in Flight Simulator.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Flight Simulator.
2. On the main screen, click Settings.
3. Click Calibrate Joystick.
   

Note If Calibrate Joystick is not available, click Enable Joystick, and then click Calibrate Joystick.

Reset the default actions

To reset the default actions assigned to the game controller, follow these steps:

1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator.
2. On the main screen, click Settings.
3. In the Controls box, click Assignments.
4. On the Buttons/Keys tab, click Reset defaults.
5. On the Joystick Axes tab, click Reset defaults.
6. To determine whether the default events are selected for your 4-axis game controller, verify that the Axis settings for each event match the settings in the following table.
   
   

   Event	Axis
   Elevator axis	Y
   Ailerons axis	X
   Rudder axis	Z Rotation
   Throttle axis	Slider

   
   

   If the default event is assigned to an axis but the event behaves in reverse--for example, up instead of down, or right instead of left, click to select or click to clear the check box under the Reverse column for that axis.
7. Click OK.

Rebuild the config (cfg) file

To rebuild the Flight Simulator config file, press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT as you start Flight Simulator and start a new flight. Continue to hold down CTRL+SHIFT until the game is in Cockpit view.

Note When you rebuild the config file, some of your joystick settings may change.

If your game controller is installed correctly and the Devices.cfg file contains the default settings for your game controller, Flight Simulator adds the appropriate entries for your game controller to the config file.

The Devices.cfg file contains the following game controllers:

Generic
Generic Game pad
Mad Catz Panther XL
Gravis GrIP MultiPort
Logitech ThunderPad Digital
Microsoft SideWinder Freestyle Pro
Microsoft USB SideWinder Game Pad
Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
INTERACT Vortex 3D (General 2)
Logitech CyberMan 2
Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro w/combined pedals
Logitech WingMan Warrior
Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital
INTERACT Vortex 3D (Flight Simulation)
Spacetec SpaceOrb 360
Creative Game pad
Gravis Game pad
Gravis GrIP
Gravis Analog Joystick
Gravis Analog Pro Joystick
Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 without adaptor
Thrustmaster Flight Control System
ThrustMaster Attack Throttle
Logitech WingMan Light
Logitech WingMan Extreme
Logitech WingMan
Logitech ThunderPad
CH Flightstick
CH Flightstick Pro
CH Virtual Pilot
CH Virtual Pilot Pro
CH Flight Sim Yoke LE
CH Flight Sim Yoke PC (Win98)
CH GameStick 14
CH GameStick 3D USB
CH GameStick 3D
CH Force FX Joystick (analog mode)
Suncom Sceptor LCD
Suncom SFS Flight Controller USB
Suncom SFS Throttle and SFS Flight Controller with Left grip
Mad Catz Panther DX
Microsoft SideWinder game pad
Microsoft SideWinder
Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro
Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro
Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro (USB)
Microsoft SideWinder Dual Strike
CH FLIGHT SIM YOKE USB
CH PRO PEDALS USB
CH Pro Pedals USB Rudder Pedals
Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2
SideWinder Precision 2 Joystick
SideWinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick

Note If your game controller is not defined in the Devices.cfg file, Flight Simulator may not assign any actions to the buttons on your game controller. To manually assign actions to the buttons on your game control device, see the "Manually assign actions" section.

Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX

To download and install the latest version of DirectX, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.mspx

For more information about how to obtain and install the latest version of DirectX, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

179113 How to download and install DirectX

Manually assign actions

To manually assign an action to a button or to an axis on your game controller, follow these steps:

1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator.
2. On the main screen, click Settings.
3. In the Controls box, click Assignments.
4. To assign events to buttons on your game controller, click the Buttons/Keys tab.
5. To assign events to the axes on your game controller, click the Joystick Axes tab.
6. In the Joystick type box, click the game controller that you want to use.
7. In the Event column, click the line for an event that you want to assign to a button or to an axis on your game controller, and then click Change assignment.
8. On the game controller, press the button or move the axis that you want to use for the selected action.

Notes

• If you receive a warning message that states that a different action is already assigned to the game controller button or to the axis, click the green check mark to accept the new assignment, or click Clear to select a different button.
• When you finish manually assigning events to the buttons and axes on your game controller, click the green check mark.

Configure the game controller as a different device

Use the Game Controllers item in Control Panel to configure your game controller as a different device. These steps will only work with analog controllers. USB devices cannot be configured as a different device.

Note These steps do not apply to Windows Vista.

For example, to configure a SideWinder 3D Pro joystick as a three-axis, four-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 that appear 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 correctly.
2. When you finish calibrating and testing the game controller, click OK, and then click OK again.

Reduce hardware sound acceleration

If the sound card cannot correctly process game port signals and high-quality game sounds at the same time, you may be able to work around the issue by reducing the sound playback quality in the game.

To do this, follow these steps.

Note These steps do not apply to Windows Vista.

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Under DirectX Features, move Hardware Sound Acceleration Level two notches to the left to Basic.
3. Click Exit.

Remove and reinstall Flight Simulator

Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, and Windows XP

To remove and reinstall Flight Simulator, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Flight Simulator Disc 1 CD into the CD drive.
2. Press and hold down SHIFT when you insert the CD to prevent the program from automatically starting.
3. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
4. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
5. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Flight, and then click Add/Remove.
6. Click to select the Remove saved flight and flight videos check box.
7. Click Uninstall.
8. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion of Flight Simulator, click Yes.
9. In Microsoft Windows Explorer, delete the Flight Simulator folder.
   
   By default, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 - Century of Flight are installed in the following folders:

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002
   
   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2004

   Note In these folder names, drive is the drive letter of the hard disk where Flight Simulator 2002 or Flight Simulator 2004 - Century of Flight is installed.
10. Close all the programs that are running on your computer that you do not have to have. To do this, use one of the following methods:
    • In Windows 98 or in Windows Millennium Edition, follow these steps:
      1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
      2. In the Close Program dialog box, click any program except Explorer or Systray, and then click End Task. Explorer and Systray are components of Microsoft Windows.
         
         Note If you receive a message that states that the program is busy or is not responding, click End Task again.
      3. Repeat step b to close all the programs that are running on your computer that you do not have to have.
      4. Close Windows Task Manager.
    • In Windows 2000 or in Windows XP, follow these steps:
      1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
      2. On the Applications tab, click any program, and then click End Task.
      3. Repeat step b to close all the programs that are running on your computer that you do not have to have.
      4. Close Windows Task Manager.
11. Click Start, click Run, type cd-rom:\setup.exe, and then click OK.
    
    Note In this example, cd-rom is the drive letter of the CD drive.
12. To install the program, follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Windows Vista

1. Insert the Flight Simulator Disc 1 CD into the CD drive.
2. Press and hold down SHIFT when you insert the CD to prevent the program from automatically starting.
3. Click Start, type programs and features in the Start Search box, and then click Programs and Features in the Programs list.
4. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft Flight, and then click Uninstall.
5. Click to select the Remove saved flight and flight videos check box.
6. Click Uninstall.
7. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion of Flight Simulator, click Yes.
8. Delete the Flight Simulator folder.
   
   By default, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 - Century of Flight are installed in the following folders:

   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002
   
   drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2004

   Note In these folder names, drive is the drive letter of the hard disk where Flight Simulator 2002 or Flight Simulator 2004 - Century of Flight is installed.
9. Close all the non-essential programs that are running on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
   2. On the Applications tab, click any program, and then click End Task.
   3. Repeat step 2 to close all the non-essential programs running on the computer.
   4. Close Windows Task Manager.
10. Click Start, type cd-rom:\setup.exe, and then press ENTER.
    
    Note In this example, cd-rom is the drive letter of the CD drive.
11. To install the program, follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Obtain and install updated device drivers

If your game controller is connected to the game port on the sound card, contact the manufacturer of the sound card to inquire about how to obtain and install the latest version of the sound driver for the sound card.

For information about how to contact the manufacturer of the sound card, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

Configure the sound card to use only one DMA channel

If your game controller is connected to the game port on the sound card, your game controller may perform better if you configure the sound card to use only one DMA channel.

Note Some programs cannot run with only one DMA channel. If you experience this issue, restore your original sound card settings.

To configure an earlier sound card driver on a Microsoft Windows 98-based computer to use single-mode DMA, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Multimedia.
3. On the Devices tab or on the Advanced tab, expand Audio Devices.
4. Click the sound card, and then click Properties.
5. Click Settings.
6. To configure the sound card to use single-mode DMA, see the sound card documentation, or use one of the following methods:
   • Click to select the Use Single-Mode DMA check box, click OK until Control Panel is displayed again, and then restart the computer.
   • In the DMA Channel (16-bit) box, click Disable, click OK until Control Panel is displayed again, and then restart the computer.
   • In the High DMA box, click Use DMA until Control Panel is displayed again, and then restart the computer.

To configure a native sound card driver on a Windows 98-based computer to use single-mode DMA, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. Click the Device Manager tab.
4. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Click the sound card, and then click Properties.
6. Click the Resources tab.
7. Under Resource Type, locate the Direct Memory Access (DMA) lines. If you see more than one Direct Memory Access (DMA) line, configure the sound card for single-mode DMA. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click to clear the Use Automatic Settings check box.
   2. In the Settings Based On box, click a basic configuration that uses only one DMA channel setting.
   3. Use one of the following methods:
      • If you see a conflict message in the Conflicting Device list, repeat this step to select another basic configuration that uses only one DMA channel and that does not conflict with any other devices.
      • If you do not see a conflict message in the Conflicting Device list, click OK, and then click Yes.
   4. Click Close, and then restart the computer.

Disable force-feedback effects

If you use a SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick or a SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel, disable the force-feedback effects.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Game Controllers.
3. Click Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro or click Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel.
4. Click Properties.
5. On the Settings tab, drag the Force Feedback slider to the Off position.
6. Click OK, and then click OK again.

Windows Vista

1. Click Start, type Game Controllers in the Start Search box, and then click Game Controllers in the Programs list.
2. Under Installed game controllers, click Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro or click Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel.
3. Click Properties.
4. On the Settings tab, drag the Force Feedback slider to the Off position.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

Additional query words: msgame flightsim2004 flightsim2002 fltsim2004 fltsim2002 gamecontroller gaming device joystick

Keywords: kbtshoot kbhardware kbprb KB315926

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