I can't get my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro to work with my Creative Sounblaster AWE62 Gold ISA card. The joystick has the old midi connector and worked fine on another computer running Windows XP. I'm building a retro Windows 98se PC and wanted to use this soundcard, but the joystick shows as not-connected. I know Windows 98 supports this joystick, but does the sound card have support?
Did you install the driver software? The Sidewinder uses the MIDI interface to communicate. Without drivers, it won't work (and in plain DOS, it will not work at all).
I couldn't find any special drivers. I thought Windows 98 would already support the joystick.
Yeah, I tried that link but when you download the file, it only has drivers for the Sidewinder wheel. There is no menu like the one shown in that thread. I think the author uploaded the wrong file.
You are correct, that file is not correctly uploaded. But anyway, the driver is required for the joystick to work.
To use Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro and SideWinder Game Controller Software, you need: […]
To use Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro and SideWinder Game Controller Software, you need:
* Personal Computer with Pentium 90 processor or higher
* Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system
* 16 MB of RAM
* 25 MB of available hard-disk space (an additional 15 MB recommended for install)
* Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
* Super VGA, 256 color monitor
* Sound Blaster compatible audio board with Gameport/MIDI port
* Enclosed joystick driver
* Feedback forces are only enabled with games using Microsoft Force Feedback technology and are comptible with the Microsoft DirectX API version 5.0 or later.
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0a or later, Netscape Navigator 3.0 or later, or other frames-compatible browser
* SideWinder Force Feedback Pro works with Windows 95 or Windows 98 compatible games only
Check your games for minimum requirements
I'm pretty sure the driver can be found out there.
I'll dig around the web for it. If I find it, I'll upload here.
Thanks
Probably this thing: https://web.archive.org/web/20040615055258/ht … wnloads/302.asp
The full CD is surprisingly hard to find, though.
Yes, I think that might be it!
I'll test it and see if that works.
Thank you
I should have the full CD somewhere. I got it together with a large box of all sorts of Sidewinder stuff incl. the Force Feedback Pro and the FF Wheel. No idea where the CD currently is, however.
I've uploaded an iso of my FF Pro driver CD here
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ctjeyvfp5g88qa/SW3 … _MECH3.ISO?dl=0
Besides the drivers, It has a profiles for games including Mechwarrior 3, but the Mechwarrior 3 game was on a separate CD.
Download is ~ 158.5 MB
I vaguely remember having problems with joysticks on AWE64 under Windows 98. The issue was that Windows installs Microsoft's gameport drivers that don't work and stay installed even after you install AWE64 drivers from Creative disk. So you have to manually remove Microsoft's gameport driver and install Creative's one.
Thanks for the CD ISO. I've been too busy yesterday and today, but I'll try testing tonight.
wrote:I vaguely remember having problems with joysticks on AWE64 under Windows 98. The issue was that Windows installs Microsoft's gameport drivers that don't work and stay installed even after you install AWE64 drivers from Creative disk. So you have to manually remove Microsoft's gameport driver and install Creative's one.
I was unable to get any joysticks to work with my AWE64 gold and Windows 98. I've tried Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (like the original poster) and the CH Flightstick Pro.
I ended up getting a Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 which interfaces via USB. The Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 works fine, even for DOS games (executed through windows).
I'll try removing the Microsoft gameport driver like you suggest.
wrote:I'll try removing the Microsoft gameport driver like you suggest.
No joy. I removed the gameport driver and installed the one off my original AWE64 Gold driver CD (copywrite 1996). I got a few prompts stating, "the file being replaced is newer than the file being copied. Do you want to keep the newer file?" and chose to replace with the older files. The CH Flightstick Pro is still not detected through the gameport.
After installing the MS SideWinder game controller software (3.02) and restarting the PC, head for the control panel and then start the game controllers dialogue. On the general tab, try to add the controller you have connected to the game port and then check again. Or did you already do this?
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