I can't get freespace to detect my joystick

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2004-08-06 05:40pm

Please, for the love of god, no inappropreate jokes.....

I've put the joystick into one of the computer's usb ports, and downloaded the drivers from microsoft's web site (It's a sidewinder precision pro),but when I try to play freespace, it won't work. It doesn't detect the joystick at all.
It's as if it's not there.

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2004-08-06 05:59pm

Can you access the joystick from "Gaming Options" in the Control Panel? If so, can you play around with it under the calibration menu (in Properties)? That would help to narrow down the issue. Freespace should recognize anything that appears in that menu.

Also, with the Sidewinder, you have to install the drivers before plugging the unit in, or it starts behaving strangely (if you plugged it in before installing, pull the joystick out, uninstall then reinstall the driver set, then plug the unit back in). I have a Precision Pro as well, and this issue was one of the more annoying ones with it.

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2004-08-06 06:40pm

I followed your advice, uninstalled the files, unplugged the joystick, and re-installed them. It didn't work.

Does it matter that i'm using files from microsoft's web site instead of the CD?

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2004-08-06 07:58pm

Darksider wrote:I followed your advice, uninstalled the files, unplugged the joystick, and re-installed them. It didn't work.

Does it matter that i'm using files from microsoft's web site instead of the CD?

Did you do the first thing I mentioned? Does it appear in the Control Panel menu I had listed, and does it work there? I can't really say anything else until I know that.

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2004-08-06 08:27pm

Datana wrote:
Darksider wrote:I followed your advice, uninstalled the files, unplugged the joystick, and re-installed them. It didn't work.

Does it matter that i'm using files from microsoft's web site instead of the CD?
Did you do the first thing I mentioned? Does it appear in the Control Panel menu I had listed, and does it work there? I can't really say anything else until I know that.

It shows up as "Not connected".

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2004-08-06 08:44pm

Darksider wrote:It shows up as "Not connected".

Have you tried moving the joystick to a different USB port (or another computer) and seeing if it works then? It sounds like the joystick isn't being detected even when plugged in. If it still doesn't work despite being moved to another port, then the issue is probably with the joystick itself.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-08-07 05:10am

If the CP knows what to look for, yet can't find it, problem is probebly in the joystick, or maybe the USB cable is bad.