ms force feedback pro 1.0

[riz 0]

hey all,

 

first of all, it's been a long while since i've posted anything. It's cause ive had WinME on my computer lately, and i'm thinking of going back to 2000. Now the main reason i switched from 2000 to ME in the first place was because my Microsoft Force Feedback Pro Joystick (the version 1.0 (that came with Mechwarrior 3) doesn't give any force feedback in games in 2000, and in some games causes it to lag horribly (like NFS 5: Porsche). I think it's due to my crappy Yamaha generic sound card, but i'm not sure.

 

Just wanted to know if anyone else had problems with any of their MS force feedback joysticks, be it a new or old version.

 

thanks,

riz

[Brian Frank 0]

Do you have drivers for it? Im not talking about the ones that are in the OS when you install it, but ones that youve downloaded. This doesnt have anything to do with your soundcard. I got the MS Sidewinder Precision 2, and it works great. Only trouble is, I dont play flight sims, except for Descent 3, so Im pretty horrible at it.

 

Definitely check to see if MS has drivers for Win2k for the joystick.

[yakkob 0]

I got the Sidewinder FF pro 2, and it works ok in W2k except that in StarLancer I do not get Force Feedback; even though I get it in W98SE.

I have just purchased the GamePad Pro 2 USB also, and that works fine.

What version of the Sidewinder have you got?

 

Mine is release ver 4.0, and this is supposed to fix some stuff in W2k.

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Microsoft still haven't updated their Game controller software on their site, so you can only Download 3.02

 

So you have to buy a new pad or JS to get 4.0 which IMHO really sucks!

Good Luck

[Wolf87 0]

Windows 2k includes its own drivers for Ms Force Feedback 1 plugged through the midi port. I do not remember that Sidewinder 3.02 software could be installed. The quality of the sound card midi port can bring problems. Some few cards did provide accelerated ports for joysticks (Diamond Monster sound series). Ms Force Feedback 2 USB comes with Sidewinder 4 software for the installation of USB HID drivers. Use with Ms FF 1 seems improbable.

 

The Compatibility tab in Sidwinder 4 panel contains this:

 

"Version 4.0 of the SideWinder software works only with SideWinder USB-only game controllers. Installing version 4.0 doesn't delete or overwrite earlier versions of the SideWinder software. You need to use version 3.02 or earlier to customize your SideWinder game port controllers."

 

So SW 3.02 and 4.00 can be combined on Windows 98 or Millenium but not Windows 2000 due to SW 3.02 installation problem.

 

Force Feedback 1 will work fine with Starlancer, Tachyon but not with Combat Flight Simulator 2. FF 2 does the reverse. I keep MS FF 1 & 2 joysticks and a CH Combat Flight stick for older Windows and Dos games like Longbow. Games being programmed to use analog, digital or USB, the use of the proper joystick is sometimes necessary to play.

[l385265 0]

I have also had problems with the Sidewinder hardware in W2K. I have a Sidewinder FF Wheel, but in the Gaming Options panel in version 4.0 of the software, the Forces tab annouces:

 

"An unknown problem occurred while trying to initialize force feedback."

 

I've previously used the wheel fine under Windows ME, and all reports say it SHOULD also work fine under 2000. One thing I should mention is that when installing the software from the CD, I received a prompt to locate "hidusb.sys", which I had to download. Is this the problem? If so, what do I do about it? Any pointers would be appreciated!