Readme File for Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB)

February 2002
(C) 1995-2002, Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel Online User's Guide.

To learn more:


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Compatibility Information

SideWinder Game Controller Software 4.0

Force Feedback Troubleshooting

Game Play and Game Compatibility Information

USB Connection Information



Compatibility Information

Version compatibility information

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Compatible operating systems

The SideWinder software included with your SideWinder wheel was designed for Windows 98 and later . It is not compatible with earlier Windows-based operating systems.

If you have Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows XP Home Edition, simply install the SideWinder software according to the instructions in this manual.

To install the SideWinder software on Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, you must log on to a user account that is a member of the Administrators group. For information about user account groups and security settings, see Windows Help.

Note  If you get a message indicating that the software was designed for Windows 98 and features may not work properly on Windows 2000, you can ignore the message and continue with Setup. The software is compatible with Windows 98 and later operating systems.

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USB host controller

The following problems may be related to your USB host controller:

If you're experiencing one or more of these problems, your USB host controller may not be compatible with the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB).

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SideWinder Game Controller Software

 

Extra button symbols on the Macro Recorder tab

When you record a macro consisting of two or more keys or buttons pressed simultaneously, the Game Action Recorder may insert extra keys or button presses into the macro. This occurs because the Game Action Recorder is extremely sensitive to steering wheel and key board input. For example, A+B might get recorded as A A+B B; AA+B; or A+BB. If this occurs, select the extraneous keystroke or button press, right-click, and then click Cut.

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Key Combinations that the Game Action Recorder doesn't record

It is not possible to record the following keystroke combinations on the Keystrokes or Macros tab of the Game Action Recorder:

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Installing version 1.5 of the SideWinder software over version 4.0

If you install SideWinder Game Device Software version 1.5 on your computer after version 4.0 has already been installed, your SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) will no longer appear in the list of Game Controllers in the Control Panel. To fix this problem, disconnect the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) from the USB port, close the Control Panel, and then reconnect it.

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In version 2.0 of the SideWinder software, an additional SideWinder game pad appears on the Test tab when the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) is connected

If you are using version 2.0 of the SideWinder Game Controller software with a SideWinder game pad and you also have version 4.0 of the SideWinder software installed for your SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB), the Test tab in Control Panel: Game Controllers for the SideWinder game pad will display two game pads when both the SideWinder game pad and the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) are connected. The buttons on the second game pad (Game Pad 2) will not respond when you press buttons on either the SideWinder game pad or the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB).

This happens because the Test tab in version 2.0 is able to test up to four SideWinder game pads that are connected together. It recognizes the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) as a game pad and displays a second device even though the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) is not compatible with version 2.0 of the software. You cannot test the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) on the Test tab for the SideWinder game pad. You can use this page to test the buttons on your SideWinder game pad, however only Game Pad 1 in the picture will respond when you press the SideWinder game pad's buttons.

To test the buttons on your SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB), select it from the list of devices in Control Panel: Game Controllers, click Properties, and then click the Test tab.

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Force Feedback Troubleshooting

Force feedback troubleshooting tips

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The red LED on the Force button is not lit

If the LED is not lit, either forces are turned off, or the wheel does not have a working USB connection. Try the following:

If troubleshooting the USB connection didn't solve the problem, and the LED is still not lit, the USB port or USB hub may be nonfunctional. If your computer has more than one USB port, try plugging your wheel into a different USB port. Or, if you're using a USB hub, try plugging your USB connector into a different port on the USB hub.

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The red LED on the Force button is blinking

If the LED on the Force button is blinking, your wheel is not getting power.

Try the following:

If you've tried the previous steps and the red LED is still blinking, it's possible that the power connection on the wheel or AC adapter is broken. Visit the Microsoft Product Support Services Web site for more troubleshooting information.

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The red LED on the Force button is lit

A lit LED indicates the following:

If force feedback is not working:

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If return-to-center tension is not working:

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Game Play and Game Compatibility Issues

General notes

You may experience problems in some games while using the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB). If this occurs, try the following troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the problem.

If your game isn't responding to the steering wheel or some of its controls, try the following:

For more information about any of the previous troubleshooting tips, please refer to the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) Online User's Guide.

If you continue to experience problems:

If the troubleshooting tips included here and in the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) Online User's Guide don't resolve your problem, your game might not be compatible with the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB). You can also try:

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Game compatibility issues for the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB)

Because USB is a relatively new technology, some games do not yet work with USB game controllers, or the game may not work as expected. For example, game response may be slower than normal when playing with a USB game controller.

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Playing MS-DOS based games

SideWinder USB game controllers will function with most MS-DOS games played under Windows 98; however, there are some games that do not work with USB controllers. If you are having difficulty playing your MS-DOS game, it may be due to USB incompatibility.

When playing MS-DOS games with SideWinder USB game controllers, keep in mind the following:

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USB Connection Issues

Connecting multiple SideWinder USB Game Controllers to a USB hub

If you have a USB hub and you connect, disconnect, and then reconnect two or more SideWinder USB game controllers to the hub in succession, Control Panel: Game Controllers may not update correctly and you may receive a "Game Controller Not Connected" message for a game controller that is connected to the hub.

To fix this problem, close Control Panel: Game Controllers and then re-open it to update the game controller's status in the Control Panel.

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System may freeze when starting the computer with multiple USB game controllers connected

If you have both version 3.02 and version 4.0 of the SideWinder Game Controller Software installed on your computer and have at least one version 3.02-compatible USB controller (SideWinder Precision Pro USB or SideWinder Freestyle Pro USB) connected in addition to the SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB), your system may freeze up when you start or restart your computer.

If this occurs, unplug any version 3.02-compatible game controllers that are connected to your computer, start Windows 98, and then re-connect your USB game controllers.

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