Sidewinder wheel

Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder precision
racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software too?
And how come they no longer offer support for this
product?

Jim

Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a couple years ago, Jim.
I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows XP, but you need to
have a game port available to you.

There are no older drivers for the game port devices, since the form in
which they were written is not supported on Windows XP - however, just plug
in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game Controllers and select
Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft SideWinder) listing,
highlight it and then OK your way out.

The correct drivers necessary are already part of Windows XP and will be
installed for you by the system. You will lose the old "profile"
capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers, but if the games
themselves support the settings, you can save them there.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone



"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder precision
> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software too?
> And how come they no longer offer support for this
> product?
>
> Jim

Chris,
Thanks for your reply, but appears XP has some issues
with sidewinder. First off when plugged in it
autodetects and sets up controller. Not a big issue but
like i said earlier, the y axis (positive) is what is
having issues. There is a glitch and needs to be a
patch. Second, i can't not delete sidewinder controller
and add a generic, like 2 axis, 6 button etc.



>-----Original Message-----
>Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a
couple years ago, Jim.
>I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows
XP, but you need to
>have a game port available to you.
>
>There are no older drivers for the game port devices,
since the form in
>which they were written is not supported on Windows XP -
however, just plug
>in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game
Controllers and select
>Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft
SideWinder) listing,
>highlight it and then OK your way out.
>
>The correct drivers necessary are already part of
Windows XP and will be
>installed for you by the system. You will lose the
old "profile"
>capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers, but
if the games
>themselves support the settings, you can save them there.
>--
>Chris H.
>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>Associate Expert
>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
>
>"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
>news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
precision
>> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software too?
>> And how come they no longer offer support for this
>> product?
>>
>> Jim
>
>
>.
>

This is typical of Microsoft. They force us to by new
software/hardware because they stop support for them and
force compatability issues. With all the techinical
advances Microsoft can't tell me they can't come up with
a fix for this?
Nice way to run a monopoly and i have no sympathy when
people copy software.


>-----Original Message-----
>Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
precision
>racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software too?
>And how come they no longer offer support for this
>product?
>
>Jim
>.
>

I would suggest you might look into updating the drivers for your game port
(if they're still available). Otherwise, the proper newsgroup for support
on your issues is probably microsoft.public.mshardware.product .
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0aea01c5184a$1032fa30$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Chris,
> Thanks for your reply, but appears XP has some issues
> with sidewinder. First off when plugged in it
> autodetects and sets up controller. Not a big issue but
> like i said earlier, the y axis (positive) is what is
> having issues. There is a glitch and needs to be a
> patch. Second, i can't not delete sidewinder controller
> and add a generic, like 2 axis, 6 button etc.
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a
> couple years ago, Jim.
>>I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows
> XP, but you need to
>>have a game port available to you.
>>
>>There are no older drivers for the game port devices,
> since the form in
>>which they were written is not supported on Windows XP -
> however, just plug
>>in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game
> Controllers and select
>>Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft
> SideWinder) listing,
>>highlight it and then OK your way out.
>>
>>The correct drivers necessary are already part of
> Windows XP and will be
>>installed for you by the system. You will lose the
> old "profile"
>>capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers, but
> if the games
>>themselves support the settings, you can save them there.
>>--
>>Chris H.
>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>Associate Expert
>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>
>>
>>
>>"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message
>>news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
> precision
>>> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software too?
>>> And how come they no longer offer support for this
>>> product?
>>>
>>> Jim
>>
>>
>>.
>>

Chris,
question for you, my racing wheel is not a game port
connection...it is a usb type

>-----Original Message-----
>I would suggest you might look into updating the drivers
for your game port
>(if they're still available). Otherwise, the proper
newsgroup for support
>on your issues is probably
microsoft.public.mshardware.product .
>--
>Chris H.
>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>Associate Expert
>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:0aea01c5184a$1032fa30$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Chris,
>> Thanks for your reply, but appears XP has some issues
>> with sidewinder. First off when plugged in it
>> autodetects and sets up controller. Not a big issue
but
>> like i said earlier, the y axis (positive) is what is
>> having issues. There is a glitch and needs to be a
>> patch. Second, i can't not delete sidewinder
controller
>> and add a generic, like 2 axis, 6 button etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a
>> couple years ago, Jim.
>>>I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows
>> XP, but you need to
>>>have a game port available to you.
>>>
>>>There are no older drivers for the game port devices,
>> since the form in
>>>which they were written is not supported on Windows
XP -
>> however, just plug
>>>in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game
>> Controllers and select
>>>Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft
>> SideWinder) listing,
>>>highlight it and then OK your way out.
>>>
>>>The correct drivers necessary are already part of
>> Windows XP and will be
>>>installed for you by the system. You will lose the
>> old "profile"
>>>capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers,
but
>> if the games
>>>themselves support the settings, you can save them
there.
>>>--
>>>Chris H.
>>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>>Associate Expert
>>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> message
>>>news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed).. .
>>>> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
>> precision
>>>> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software
too?
>>>> And how come they no longer offer support for this
>>>> product?
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>>.
>>>
>
>
>.
>

Even though Microsoft no longer supports the devices, the drivers are easy
enough to locate if you look a few places - like a Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=SideWinder+drivers
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:009101c51854$4a824ce0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Chris,
> question for you, my racing wheel is not a game port
> connection...it is a usb type
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I would suggest you might look into updating the drivers
> for your game port
>>(if they're still available). Otherwise, the proper
> newsgroup for support
>>on your issues is probably
> microsoft.public.mshardware.product .
>>--
>>Chris H.
>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>Associate Expert
>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>
>>
>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:0aea01c5184a$1032fa30$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Chris,
>>> Thanks for your reply, but appears XP has some issues
>>> with sidewinder. First off when plugged in it
>>> autodetects and sets up controller. Not a big issue
> but
>>> like i said earlier, the y axis (positive) is what is
>>> having issues. There is a glitch and needs to be a
>>> patch. Second, i can't not delete sidewinder
> controller
>>> and add a generic, like 2 axis, 6 button etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a
>>> couple years ago, Jim.
>>>>I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows
>>> XP, but you need to
>>>>have a game port available to you.
>>>>
>>>>There are no older drivers for the game port devices,
>>> since the form in
>>>>which they were written is not supported on Windows
> XP -
>>> however, just plug
>>>>in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game
>>> Controllers and select
>>>>Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft
>>> SideWinder) listing,
>>>>highlight it and then OK your way out.
>>>>
>>>>The correct drivers necessary are already part of
>>> Windows XP and will be
>>>>installed for you by the system. You will lose the
>>> old "profile"
>>>>capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers,
> but
>>> if the games
>>>>themselves support the settings, you can save them
> there.
>>>>--
>>>>Chris H.
>>>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>>>Associate Expert
>>>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>>> message
>>>>news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed). ..
>>>>> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
>>> precision
>>>>> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software
> too?
>>>>> And how come they no longer offer support for this
>>>>> product?
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>.
>>

Well, not that we'd expect anything resembling intelligent facts here,
but.......

Microsoft has not produced the gameport version for about 5 years now. The
big reason is gameport devices are affected by the speeds of the processor.
Such limitations do not exist with USB devices, which is the reason you have
seen ALL manufacturers move away from gameport devices.

Additionally, the drivers which make gameport devices are vxd's, which of
course only exist on the Win9x kernel, who's last OS was Millenium. They
have never worked on the NT OS kernel, which of course is what XP is a
descendant of.

Just figured I'd clear up a few facts for you.......after all, if you're
going to post a useless ramble that will misead people, you may as well
present a few facts instead of an ill-informed opinion.

Steve

Which device do you actually have?

Microsoft produced to steering wheels. One was a gameport version, whose
drivers only work on Win9.x, and those drivers ended with 3.02. The USB
version shipped with a 4.0 version whose software works on XP. Your
postings are implying both the USB version and gameport (where you mention
incompatible software). Which do you have?

For your knowledge, regardless of which you have, there are base drivers
provided by the operating system. The bundled software provides extra
functionality.

Be sure your devices is directly plugged into the PC--no adapter.

I hope this helps for now, but if not, please post further details for which
device you have, where it's plugged in, and the software you're trying to
install.

Finally, if you're talking a gameport, what kind of gameport? You're
showing symptoms of having an all in one card which typically had difficulty
with digital devices and would only recognize as simple analog sticks.



Steve



<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:009101c51854$4a824ce0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Chris,
> question for you, my racing wheel is not a game port
> connection...it is a usb type
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I would suggest you might look into updating the drivers
> for your game port
>>(if they're still available). Otherwise, the proper
> newsgroup for support
>>on your issues is probably
> microsoft.public.mshardware.product .
>>--
>>Chris H.
>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>Associate Expert
>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>
>>
>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:0aea01c5184a$1032fa30$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Chris,
>>> Thanks for your reply, but appears XP has some issues
>>> with sidewinder. First off when plugged in it
>>> autodetects and sets up controller. Not a big issue
> but
>>> like i said earlier, the y axis (positive) is what is
>>> having issues. There is a glitch and needs to be a
>>> patch. Second, i can't not delete sidewinder
> controller
>>> and add a generic, like 2 axis, 6 button etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Microsoft stopped manufacturing PC game controllers a
>>> couple years ago, Jim.
>>>>I still use mine (the non-USB variety) even on Windows
>>> XP, but you need to
>>>>have a game port available to you.
>>>>
>>>>There are no older drivers for the game port devices,
>>> since the form in
>>>>which they were written is not supported on Windows
> XP -
>>> however, just plug
>>>>in the controller, then go into Control Panel/Game
>>> Controllers and select
>>>>Add, then scroll to the proper device (like Microsoft
>>> SideWinder) listing,
>>>>highlight it and then OK your way out.
>>>>
>>>>The correct drivers necessary are already part of
>>> Windows XP and will be
>>>>installed for you by the system. You will lose the
>>> old "profile"
>>>>capabilities formerly available in Game Controllers,
> but
>>> if the games
>>>>themselves support the settings, you can save them
> there.
>>>>--
>>>>Chris H.
>>>>Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
>>>>Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
>>>>Associate Expert
>>>>Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Jim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>>> message
>>>>news:070501c517db$20c6bfe0$(E-Mail Removed). ..
>>>>> Question, why is microsoft selling a sidewinder
>>> precision
>>>>> racing wheel that is for windows 98 only? software
> too?
>>>>> And how come they no longer offer support for this
>>>>> product?
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>.
>>>>
>>
>>
>>.
>>