Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro Readme.txt File
  
PSS ID Number: Q176040
Article last modified on 10-31-1997
 
WINDOWS:1.0
 
WINDOWS
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro, version 1.0
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SUMMARY
=======
 
This article contains a copy of the information contained in the "SW
Precision Pro Readme.txt" file included on the Microsoft SideWinder
Precision Pro CD-ROM.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
-----------------------------------------------------------
 Readme File for Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
       July 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------
 
   (c) Microsoft Corporation, 1997
 
THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AND INTERNATIONAL
TREATIES. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROGRAM, OR
ANY PORTION OF IT, MAY RESULT IN SEVERE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND
WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER THE LAW.
 
This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements
the Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro Online User's Guide.
 
To learn more about the Microsoft game devices, as well as other Microsoft
hardware products and updates,visit our World Wide Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/
 
------------------------- CONTENTS -------------------------
 
Part 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ON GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS
 
1.1  Don't Connect Your Game Device to a Network AUI Port
1.2  Game Port Y-Cables
1.3  Game Port Extender Cables
1.4  Game Port and Sound Card Issues
 
Part 2: GAMES-COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER DIGITAL-ONLY DEVICES
 
2.1 Games That May Exhibit Problems
2.2 Notes on Other Games
2.3 Hot Plugging
2.4 Mode Switching
 
Parts 3: TROUBLESHOOTING
 
==========================================================
Part 1: GENERAL INFORMATION ON GAME PORTS AND SOUND CARDS
==========================================================
 
1.1  Don't Connect Your Game Device to a Network AUI Port
 
Network adapters with an AUI 15-pin port resemble the standard game port.
If you plug your SideWinder game device into a network port, you may damage
the game device or network card.
 
1.2  Game Port Y-Cables
 
Don't use a y-cable to connect your SideWinder game device to your computer
because some y-cables can damage your game device.
 
1.3  Game Port Extender Cables
 
Don't use a game port extender cable to connect the SideWinder game device
to your computer. Extender cables can severely reduce the performance of
your game device.
 
1.4  Game Port and Sound Card Issues
 
If you plug your SideWinder game device into a game port of one of the
following sound cards, your joystick or game pad may experience problems or
may not work.
 
(Also note that SideWinder game devices are designed to work with only one
game port installed; using multiple game ports may cause problems.)
 
  * Diamond Edge 3D (Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.) or other
    Nvidia-based 3D accelerator card.
 
    The onboard game port is incompatible with the Microsoft game devices
    digital drivers. To use the joystick or game pad, you must install a
    standard game port.
 
  * Game Jammer PC Card (New Media Systems Corp.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder
    Force Feedback Pro.
 
  * Hewlett-Packard HP4000CT laptop docking station (Hewlett-Packard Co.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder
    Force Feedback Pro.
 
  * Media Vision Prosonic and Pro Audio 3D(Media Vision, Inc.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder
    Force Feedback Pro. If you have problems, try loading the DOS drivers
    for the card.
 
    For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS
    drivers as well as the Windows drivers. If you still experience
    problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode.
 
  * Microcomputer Microconnect 34
 
    You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with games
    if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should
    play properly.
 
  * Mwave sound card (IBM Corp.), used in the IBM Aptiva
 
    You may experience problems (such as erratic button presses) with games
    if you have the sound on. If you disable the sound, your game should
    play properly.
 
  * Quick Shot PCMCIA (Bondwell Global, Ltd.)
 
    To properly configure this game port, you need to obtain one of the
    manufacturer's new drivers: JOYA.COM or JOYB.COM. For more information,
    contact Quick Shot.
 
  * Roland RAP 10/AT (Roland Corp.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad and SideWinder Precision Pro; and is
    incompatible with the SideWinder Force Feedback Pro.
 
  * Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-1 (Creative Labs, Inc.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder
    Force Feedback Pro.
 
    NOTE: All other Sound Blaster game ports are compatible with
    digital-only game devices.
 
  * TeleVideo TeleWave Q32/SRS (TeleVideo, Inc.)
 
    This game port may experience problems with digital-only devices such
    as the SideWinder game pad, 3D Pro, and Force Feedback Pro. If you
    have problems, try loading the DOS drivers for the card.
 
    For the SideWinder 3D Pro to work properly, you must load the MS-DOS
    drivers as well as the Windows drivers. If you still experience
    problems, use the SideWinder 3D Pro in analog mode.
 
  * Chromatic MPACT
 
    This sound card is not compatible with any SideWinder game device
    except for the SideWinder 3D Pro, which can be operated in Analog mode.
 
  * Toshiba Tecra 700CT notebook computer (Toshiba America, Inc.)
 
    Uses a built-in game port which may produce erratic results.
 
  * Toshiba Tecra 720 notebook computer (Toshiba America, Inc.)
 
    In Low power mode, there is not enough power available for the
    SideWinder game pad to work properly from the docking station game port
    or from a PCMCIA-based game port. If you switch to Full power, both
    game ports work properly. For information about changing the notebook
    setting to Full power, see your computer's manual.
 
  * Sound cards or systems using the ESS or Opti chip sets
 
    You may experience problems or poor performance with games if you have
    the sound on. To correct this problem, the "Use Single Mode DMA"
    setting should be selected from Control Panel\Multimedia\Advanced\Audio
    devices, double click the "Audio for ...", click the settings button,
    check the box for "Use single Mode DMA"
 
=================================================================
Part 2: GAMES-COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER DIGITAL-ONLY DEVICES
=================================================================
 
2.1  Games That May Exhibit Problems
 
The games below may experience problems with SideWinder digital-only game
devices (SideWinder Game Pad, SideWinder Precision Pro, and SideWinder
Force Feedback Pro). Digital-only game devices are designed specifically
for Windows and may have problems establishing proper communication with
these non-Windows-based games. You may want to check with the game
publisher for possible updates or patches to their product.
 
    GAME                                PUBLISHER
--------------                      -----------------
AH-64D Longbow                      Origin Systems, Inc
Alien Odyssey                       Argonaut Software, Ltd.
Body Count                          Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.)
Corridor 7                          Capstone (IntraCorp, Inc.)
Cyberia                             Interplay Productions, Inc.
Cyberia 2                           Interplay Productions, Inc.
Delta V                             Bethesda Softworks, Inc.
Earthworm Jim: The Whole Can        Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
   of Worms Playmates
Flight Unlimited (DOS version)      Looking Glass Technologies, Inc.
Football Pro '96                    Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Full Throttle                       LucasArts Entertainment Co.
Hardball 5                          Accolade, Inc.
Iron Assault                        Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
Mortal Kombat I                     Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.
Need For Speed                      Electronic Arts
Raiden                              Imagitec Design, Inc.
Savage Warriors                     Mindscape, Inc.
Screamer                            Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
Star Trek 25th Anniversary          Interplay Productions, Inc.
Star Wars: Rebel Assault I and II   LucasArts Entertainment Co.
Shattered Steel                     Interplay Productions, Inc.
SuperKarts                          Manic Media Productions, Ltd.
System Shock                        Origin Systems, Inc.
Terminator: Future Shock            Bethesda Softworks
Tetris                              Spectrum HoloByte, Inc.
TFX                                 Ocean Software, Ltd.
The Dig                             LucasArts Entertainment Co.
Ultimate Body Blows                 European Leisure Software Publishers
Assoc.
Wetlands                            New World Computing, Inc.
Zoop                                Viacom International, Inc.
 
2.2  Notes on Other Games
 
  * Mech Warrior II  (Activision)
 
    Mech Warrior II does not operate correctly with the hat switch on the
    SideWinder Precision Pro and SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. Use the
    "control configuration" provided with Mech Warrior II to assign the
    correct directional commands to the hat switch.
 
  * Descent and Descent II (Interplay Productions, Inc.)
 
    You need to run these games with the "-joypolled" command switch. For
    more information, check the Descent or Descent II Readme file.
 
  * Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (LucasArts Entertainment Co.)
 
    For the SideWinder game device to work correctly, do not use the game's
    joystick calibration feature.
 
  * Day of the Tentacle (LucasArts Entertainment Co.)
 
    For the SideWinder game device to work correctly, do not use the game's
    joystick calibration feature.
 
  * Lode Runner (Sierra On-Line, Inc.)
 
    To activate a move that your game has pre-assigned to a game pad
    button, you will need to press the button twice.
 
  * Mega Man X (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.)
 
    In order to get the most functionality from this game, select the
    Capcom controller in the game's Option Mode screen.
 
  * Wing Commander 3 & 4 (Origin Systems, Inc.)
 
    For the SideWinder game pad to work correctly with these games, you
    need an alternate joystick DLL file (WC3JOY.DLL or WC4JOY.DLL) that is
    available from Origin Systems.
 
  * NFL Quarterback Club '97 (Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.)
 
    When played with a SideWinder game device, this game detects a single
    game device as two game devices. In the case of a joystick, only
    buttons 1 and 2 on the joystick work with this game. When using a game
    pad, only buttons A and B work with this game.
 
2.3  Hot Plugging
 
Some games will not detect a game device that you connect during game
play. To change or add a game device, exit your game, connect the game
device you want to use for that game session, and then re-start your game.
 
Connecting your game device during game play may work better with either
the Editor, Activator, or Control Panel running.
 
2.4  Mode Switching
 
In some games, when you switch from a SideWinder game pad to a SideWinder
joystick during game play, the game will not recognize the joystick. In
these cases, you may need to recalibrate the joystick in your game in order
for it to work properly. Or, you may need to restart your game.
 
For more information about joystick calibration, refer to your game's
manual.
 
=========================
Part 3: TROUBLESHOOTING
=========================
 
This section contains answers to specific questions you may have. For
additional troubleshooting information, see the Trouble-shooting sections
of the Online User's Guide for your SideWinder game device and the Game
Device Profiler Online Help.
 
QUESTION: In the Control Panel, I see a "Game Controllers" icon, but I
can't open it; or, I can open it, but my joystick is listed as "not
connected."
 
ANSWER: If you previously had a game port, but it was removed, the Setup
program incorrectly detects that you still have a game port. Install a card
with a game port (such as a sound card), and then run Setup again.
 
If there is no response from the joystick, or the Windows Device Manager
reports that the joystick is not present, not working properly, or does not
have all of its drivers installed, perform the following procedure.
 
To resolve your joystick problem:
 
  1. Start the computer in Safe mode since real-mode device drivers may
     conflict with the Windows drivers and disable the game port. (For
     step-by-step instructions, consult your Windows manual.)
 
  2. Remove the GamePort Joystick from the Control Panel Device Manager
and then add it again:
 
     a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control
        Panel.
 
     b. Double-click the System icon and then click the Device Manager tab.
 
     c. Double-click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, and then check for
        a GamePort Joystick. If one exists, click it and then click
        Remove.
 
     d. Click OK, and then click Close.
 
     To add the GamePort Joystick, or if there is no GamePort Joystick
     entry, run the Add New Hardware Wizard in the Control Panel. For more
     information, consult your Windows manual.
 
  3. Verify that the GamePort Joystick is working at the MS-DOS level. To
do so, try to use the joystick with an MS-DOS-based game. Refer to
     the game's manual for information about configuring the joystick.
 
QUESTION: The General tab on the Control Panel/Game Controllers does not
list the new game pad when I plug it into first game pad(s) already
connected to the computer.
 
ANSWER: This is normal operation. To get the game pad to appear in the
list, click the Advanced tab and then the General tab again.
 
QUESTION: I just turned on my computer and opened the Control Panel. Why
don't I see Game Controllers icon?
 
ANSWER: Your sound card may not be initialized properly due to a game port
or driver problem.
 
To reinitialize your sound card so that you can access Game Device
Properties:
 
  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control
     Panel.
 
  2. Double-click the System icon, and then click the Device Manager tab.
 
  3. Double-click Sound, Video, and Game Controllers, select Gameport
     Joystick (or the device that has an error), and then click Properties.
 
  4. Click the Resources tab, and then click Set Configuration Manually.
 
  5. Clear the Use Automatic Settings check box, and then click OK.
 
  6. In System Properties, click OK, close the Control Panel, and then
restart your computer.
 
QUESTION: What's the minimum system configuration I need to run the
SideWinder Game Device Software 2.0?
 
ANSWER: You must have a personal computer with a 486DX/66 or higher
processor, with 8 megabytes of RAM, 6 megabytes of available hard disk
space, 256-color VGA or better display, and running Windows.
 
QUESTION: Why doesn't my SideWinder game device work when I restart my
computer in MS-DOS mode ("real mode")?
 
ANSWER: Other than the SideWinder 3D Pro, SideWinder game devices digital-
only devices. Only games that run under Windows or in an MS-DOS window
under Windows will work with digital game devices.
 
QUESTION: I connected a game device while I was playing a game, but the
game does not recognize it. What's the problem?
 
ANSWER: Some games do not recognize game devices that are connected after
the game has already been started. To change or add a game device, exit
your game, connect all of the game devices you want to use for the session,
and then re-start your game.
 
QUESTION: The Test page of the Game Controller Properties shows the
joystick handle still twisting after I let go. Why is this happening?
 
ANSWER: This is normal behavior for a digital joystick.
 
QUESTION: I'm having trouble calibrating my joystick in my game's joystick
calibration routine; what do I need to do?
 
ANSWER: If your game's joystick calibration routine requires you to press a
button (such as the trigger) on your joystick, the game will not "see" the
button press if you have changed the way this button works in your game by
means of the Profile Editor. It is recommended that you do not change the
functions of the primary button(s) on your joystick.
 
QUESTION: I have more than one game port on my computer; will this pose any
sort of problem when using SideWinder game devices?
 
ANSWER: Multiple game ports can cause the game device to not function,
especially in the case of a SideWinder Force Feedback Pro. The solution is
to remove or disable any game port not being used by removing the board or
following the manufacture's instructions on disabling it.
 
QUESTION: I had my analog controller connected to my computer with a status
of "OK" in the Game Controllers properties window then I added a SideWinder
game device. Now my analog controller is not in the list, but there are two
SideWinder devices. How do I get my analog controller back in the list so
that I can use it.
 
ANSWER: SideWinder game device take priority in the Control Panel when
they are connected. To use your analog controller, reconnect it to the game
port and assign it to ID1 as described under "My other game device isn't
working" in the Online User's Guide.
 
Also, you can remove unwanted game controllers from the list in the Game
Controllers properties window by selecting it and clicking the Remove
button.
 
Additional query words: 1.00
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Keywords          : joystick sidewinder
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbreadme
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997.