I have both joysticks, but only a handful of DOS games supports the digital functions of the Sidewinder 3D Pro (I think Mechwarrior 2 being one of them).
For the most part, the joystick falls back into its analog mode under DOS, meaning that the buttons on the base don't function.
I've never experienced any problems with this joystick under DOS and played endless hours of X-Wing and Privateer on it.
Refer this post: Topic 34088
5 posts down there's a link on how the different buttons at the bottom of the joystick function.
Also check out the Wikipedia page for Microsoft Sidewinder.

The 3D Pro Plus is a digital only joystick. It doesn't function under "real" DOS (only Windows).
You might be able to play your DOS games via a DOS command prompt inside Windows, but I never tried it.

^Cheers mate. Appreciate the response!

The CH Flightstick mode is almost perfect, just for the fact of the simultaneous button presses. I don't think that would affect me much on Fleet Defender since i'll never encounter the need of firing the guns and a missile at the same time, while being able to use the throttle and rudder. The Thrustmaster mode is cool too, only lacking the throttle, but the simultaneous button presses make it best for arcade games.

However and although it seems the stick is great, i need to make sure it works in Fleet Defender. It's pretty much the main game the stick will be used for. If you or anybody who owns one can test Fleet Defender for me, i'd be very thankful!

Unfortunately, I don't have that particular game. Must be honest, I didn't even know this particular Microprose title existed - I do know of other Microprose titles. But, then again, flight simulators never caught onto me.
Having said that, I don't think you should have any problems playing any DOS game (that claims to support either the CH Flightstick Pro or Thrustmaster) with the Sidewinder 3D Pro.
Just be aware of the ergonomics of the Sidewinder 3D Pro. After a couple of hours, my hand became sore, since it wasn't the most comfortable joystick. But, apart from this small drawback, a very nice joystick to have for both DOS and (mostly) Windows 9x.

Got myself a 3D Pro yesterday. I can't get it to work under pure DOS on my 486 machine. Googling shows that it can be incompatible with some of the Sound Blasters — though I'm using it with a ESS 1868F card and also tried plugging it into motherboard's gameport. Will test it with a bunch of Vibras and AWE64 this weekend, also have an ISP-16 Opti-based card.

It does, however, work perfectly under Windows 98SE after I've installed the software (using AWE64 CT4500), so it's definitely a gameport issue.

jheronimus wrote:

Got myself a 3D Pro yesterday. I can't get it to work under pure DOS on my 486 machine. Googling shows that it can be incompatible with some of the Sound Blasters — though I'm using it with a ESS 1868F card and also tried plugging it into motherboard's gameport. Will test it with a bunch of Vibras and AWE64 this weekend, also have an ISP-16 Opti-based card.

It does, however, work perfectly under Windows 98SE after I've installed the software (using AWE64 CT4500), so it's definitely a gameport issue.

Silly question, but are you sure it's a 3D Pro and not perhaps a 3D Pro Plus (a.k.a. the Precision Pro)?
Look at the bottom of the joystick - is there a selector switch?
Here's a pic of the Sidewinder 3D Pro

And here's one of the 3D Pro Plus

No, it's a 3D Pro and it has a switch. The switch doesn't do anything ATM. I've tested it in Descent: Destination Saturn and Wing Commander I.

jheronimus wrote:

No, it's a 3D Pro and it has a switch. The switch doesn't do anything ATM. I've tested it in Descent: Destination Saturn and Wing Commander I.

That is strange. I used to run this joystick via my AWE64 value without any problems (first under DOS 6.22 and later Windows 98SE's MS-DOS mode).

Maybe check to confirm that the joystick port is enabled on your sound card under DOS (there is usually a utility that enables you to choose those settings).
Also, don't enable both your sound card and your on board joystick port at the same time (they could be conflicting with each other).

jesolo wrote:

That is strange. I used to run this joystick via my AWE64 value without any problems (first under DOS 6.22 and later Windows 98S […]
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jheronimus wrote:

No, it's a 3D Pro and it has a switch. The switch doesn't do anything ATM. I've tested it in Descent: Destination Saturn and Wing Commander I.

That is strange. I used to run this joystick via my AWE64 value without any problems (first under DOS 6.22 and later Windows 98SE's MS-DOS mode).

Maybe check to confirm that the joystick port is enabled on your sound card under DOS (there is usually a utility that enables you to choose those settings).
Also, don't enable both your sound card and your on board joystick port at the same time (they could be conflicting with each other).

It's a ESS card, and the J option is enabled in autoexec.bat. Also, I only enabled the onboard gameport to test it with the joystick (it's normally off), so that is also out.

I'll test it with AWE64 on a weekend though.

Just responding to say, the OP is not alone in having trouble making the Sidewinder 3D Pro work in DOS. In my case I have a Soundblaster 16 so I always figured it was that, but if someone is having the same issue with a different sound blaster, well...

Here was my topic on it: getting the Sidewinder 3D Pro working in DOS?

Just a thought, the Windows drivers for this thing had an issue of needing their timings adjusted to be caught on faster computers (someone released a whole load of "alternative drivers" for this very purpose)... maybe that's true of the DOS drivers as well?

Oh, forgot to give an update. It works with a SB16 Value CT2770, no adjustments needed.

How can I find out what kind of SB16 I have?

EdmondDantes wrote:

How can I find out what kind of SB16 I have?

You should see a CTXXXX model number, usually in the top left corner on the front side of your card's PCB. Like this is a CT2770:

Sound Blasters are pretty well documented, so you just have to google that CTXXXX and you will know if it's a SB16, a Vibra, an AWE32/64, etc.

Hope that helps.

I use this page as a starting point for Creative SB identification:

http://www.ask.asia.creative.com/wwenglish/ge … _list_audio.htm