
Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:17 pm
by toprob
I understand that, provided you have an appropriate gameport, XP has its own drivers for the Pro. It won't install them automatically, as the joystick isn't recognised like a USB stick, but provided you install the drivers first, the joystick should work ok.
The steps are:
Install the driver: Control Panel: Game Controllers: Add: Microsoft Sidewinder (auto detect);
Shut down the computer, and plug the joystick in;
When you restart it, it should recognise the joystick.
However some people have problems with this, so don't blame me if you can't get it going!
EDIT: just read Spongebob's reply, I think that the main problem that people have is trying to connect it to an adapter -- you need one of the old gameports, though.

Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:14 pm
by Charl
Yeah I also bought an el cheapo USB adapter for my beloved SWP, and no go.
It sits on the shelf, with a wicked gleam in its eye while I battle on with its miserable Saitek replacement.
Helo flying in particular has become Not Too Much Fun.
A medal awaits he who comes up with the fix for a modern computer (=No Gameport) to run one of these with Force Feedback.

Posted:
Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:20 pm
by spongebob206
Charl wrote:Yeah I also bought an el cheapo USB adapter for my beloved SWP, and no go.
It sits on the shelf, with a wicked gleam in its eye while I battle on with its miserable Saitek replacement.
Helo flying in particular has become Not Too Much Fun.
A medal awaits he who comes up with the fix for a modern computer (=No Gameport) to run one of these with Force Feedback.
Here here.

Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:03 am
by HardCorePawn
PCI soundcard with gameport adapter == problem solved...
They're cheap-as on TradeMe... ie. $1 no reserve etc.
Although if you run Vista you could be S.O.O.L.


Posted:
Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:27 am
by Charl
Think you may have nailed it - I was looking at new soundcards for this but of course they wouldn't have a gameport.
Now to figure out if my old Soundblaster can run on my "modern" computer, there was a driver issue at least...