Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2

Question

I have used this item for many, many years. Today it cesed to work it is not listed in contrl settings the only facility listed is "mouse yoke" I have tried to check drivers etc which are all up to date. Anyone help?

Answer 1

That was good news Roy.   True, the mysteries of FSX continue to baffle the most savvy of the simming tribe.   Thanks for letting us know the outcome:  I can, like you, rest easy tonight!

Chris

Answer 2

Hi Chris,

Having done all the usual checks, Control panel,different usb slot without success then this happened.

Opened up FSX, went to settings,controls and there it was sidewinder 2. And it worked!!! Why do these things happen??

Can I tell you that I appreciate the help that you have given me. It certainly helps to get another opinion.

Thank you again. Until the next time?

Regards,

Roy

Answer 3

Hi again Roy,

This is a strange problem that still mystifies us, so of course there would be several things you could do to try and get the joystick recognized in FSX.   I don't know what you have tried so far though I would probably go through this list in the following order, remembering to start FSX after each 'fix' to check if the stick works:

a.     is the joystick showing up in your Control Panel > Hardware > Devices?   Or is it only not showing in FSX?   If not showing in Control Panel, check that the USB port is working (i.e. try using it for another device (e.g. external drive)).  Use another available port to check.  There may be not enough power going into the port because of other hardware being used on other ports.  Either disconnect other connections and try or maybe use a USB Power Hub that would supply extra power to that port.   You could also go into Device Manager (type it in your Start Search box) and select the USB controllers one at a time:  right click each one and go into Properties and then to the Power Management Tab and unclick  Allow the computer to turn off this device.....    Reboot computer and launch FSX.

b.     If not showing only in FSX:  unplug the joystick cable from the USB port and shut down the computer.   Re-plug it into the port and boot up the computer.   Does it show in both Control Panel and FSX?

c.     Delete you fsx.cfg file (FSX will automatically create a new one when its re-launched).   To find this file, go to:  

Your Drive Letter:\Users\Your Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\fsx/CFG (not the .txt file).   Before deleting this, you may want to back it up (i.e. copy it to another location and rename it:  fsx.CFG.bak.   Then delete fsx.CFG in your AppData folder and close all folders.   Restart FSX.   Does the joystick appear in FSX Control Panel?   If not, and you want to use the old fsx.CFG, then paste it back in to the location shown in the file path above and change the file name back to  fsx.CFG.

d.     The final effort:  and this one will mean you will lose all your specially mapped settings in FSX Controller Settings.  Go into your FSX Settings > Controls.   Then click on Reset Defaults for each of the Tabs (Calibration, Buttons/Keys, Control Axis).   Exit FSX and then re-launch.   Any difference?

Hope you can get some success with this, or at least try and narrow down the cause of the problem.

Chris

Answer 4

Hi Chris,

Thanks for responding. I have used it for years in FSX.

Answer 5

Hi Roy,

What type of game are you using with your Sidewinder?   Looking at "mouse yoke", I would assume FSX or FSX-SE, but thought to check first with you.

Chris