Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel

CTJ · January 7th, 2003, 07:54 PM

I have a Microsoft force feedback wheel and can not get the force feedback to work in windows XP its a USB wheel and when I tried to look for drivers, all I found was for win 95 or 98. Also the wheel seems to be recognized by XP as a joystick (it works in game to drive but has no force Feedback. Please Help!

U-96 · January 8th, 2003, 06:32 AM

If you haven't already been there, this page may help:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/si...te/default.asp

Looks like they are addressing the problems in WinXP and with the VIA USB boards.

Dudster · January 8th, 2003, 03:32 PM

I used to use a gameport MS FF wheel with XP and it used drivers built-in to XP as the SideWinder version 3 software doesn't work on XP. The USB wheel needs the software that comes with it (SideWinder version 4.0) installing or I don't think it'll work properly. I dunno what you can do if you don't have a CD with it on as I've not seen it available for download (though version 3 is).

ivanbn · January 9th, 2003, 10:42 PM

Dudster, how did you get the gameport version working under Windows XP? I have the same wheel, and it is detected as a generic game-port device in Device Manager, but it doesn't appear in Game Controllers. The sidewinder 4.0 drivers won't work either. Your advice would be much appreciated.

Dudster · January 10th, 2003, 01:08 AM

I think version 4.0 of the software is only for USB controllers. Version 3.02 is the correct one for gameport controllers but it's not compatible with XP.

I'd uninstall the SideWinder software version 4.0 and then you just go to Control Panel > Game Controllers > Add > Microsoft SideWinder (Auto Detect) > OK. Then check in Properties that the wheel's working ok. Using the built-in drivers, the pedals will be set to split-axis (each pedal is it's own independant axis) and you can't change it (so if the game doesn't like split-axis...). The default with the SideWinder software 3.0 is combined/single axis.

ivanbn · January 10th, 2003, 10:22 PM

Thanks, mate; I've tried what you suggested, and it works. You'd really think that Microsoft would support it's own hardware though.

shawshank62 · January 10th, 2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

You'd really think that Microsoft would support it's own hardware though.

u'd think so wouldnt you. Welcome to techimo ivanbn.

RADAR_Brian · February 3rd, 2003, 01:33 PM

I just got the MS FF wheel gameport version and with XP it recognizes fine and works fine in all my games except for the fact that Force Feedback is non existent..

Does anyone have this wheel with XP and have FF working?

Thanks...

Radar_Brian

ivanbn · February 3rd, 2003, 06:53 PM

Hi, I'm using it under XP, and the FF works well, but of course the game you are using must support FF. The button in the middle of the wheel toggles FF on and off. I find that sometimes FF can stop working in the middle of a game, but I have not found an explanation for this yet.

RADAR_Brian · February 3rd, 2003, 08:23 PM

Hmmm... The game I tried under XP was NFS Porshe Edition... I set all the FF settings in the game on... but had no FF.. However, I have a second machine running 98 and it worked fine...

Strange...