MS Sidewinder Forcefeedback 2 win7 compatibility

[carlsoti]

Years ago, Microsoft made this cool force feedback stick with 3 axis control and a throttle slider, lots of extra buttons, etc. Back when it was the hot new thing, I think I might've been running win98 (or maybe even something before that), and it worked flawlessly.

Now I'm on Win7, and MS has not provided any appropriate drivers for it. It "kinda" works, but it's not quite the same.

In the past, if you overspeeded a plane, it was nearly impossible to move the stick. You really had to lay into it. If a surface started to flutter, the stick when ballistic. In flight games that had shooting involved, the stick would kick whenever you shot off a missile, or pulse when using cannons or machine guns. Now, it only gives the slightest hint that there's any force feedback.

I don't know enough about computer programming to even begin to know where to look to find something like this.

Does anyone have the capability to re-create hardware drivers for newer OSs, or know of anywhere I could look to find someone that does?

Thanks,

Tim

[Fozzer]

Personally, since owning a number of different force-feedback joysticks since the old MS FF2, (presently the Saitek Cyborg Evo Force), I have always found the force effects to be very unrealistic, and mostly annoying, in the Flight Sim, so I generally disable the Force Effect!

(It is sometimes necessary to obtain a "force feed-back-type" joystick, to obtain the; "Twist" function for the Rudder).

Have you tried changing the settings in the Flight Sim Sim drop-down Menu:

Menu/Options/Controls/
Disable
Calibrate
Assignments
Sensitivities
Joystick Forces

I'm guessing you probably don't require the old MS FF joystick drivers to get the Joystick to function...

Paul...FS 2004..(and FSX)... ...!

[Bass]

I got that old FFB and had it on my win7 once.
It worked. Windows got the drivers to most of their own products in newer versions.

You dont tell us what sim you're flying!
As far as i've checked, not all AC in FSX have the [ForceFeedBack] included in the aircraft.cfg! You'll have to check and maybe copy it from another AC.

As Fozzer says, you need to make a run through the joystick settings.

Good luck

[Fozzer]

This was my pride and joy, many years ago...>>>

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... wAw&dur=82

One of the best-made joysticks, which unfortunately gave up the ghost many years ago, due to a fault in the internal electronics.

I still have it, as a memento from times past!

Paul... ...!

P.S...it cost me £100 new, in the late 1990's!

[Bass]

Yes Sir, this is nostalgy.

I got this one
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Sidewin ... B00005NIMB
and i still love it

[carlsoti]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm using FS2004, or FS9, however you want to call it.

I'm not a real pilot, so I don't know if the way it used to work is realistic or not, but I do know that currently, when trying to fly a glider, it does not provide enough feedback for it to be useful.

I have futzed with the sensitivities and such, but it didn't make much of a difference, at least not in the way I wanted it to.

I'm pretty sure it's currently running of of some generic driver for joysticks, but I'm not actually certain which one. I also have a RC flight sim Realflight 6.something, and the associated controller, as well as a logitec console PS2 type controller all hooked up to the same computer.

I'm not particularly computer savvy when it comes to software, and that's why I asked if anyone knew anything about writing or modifying drivers.

[carlsoti]

OMG!!! They want $500+ usd on Amazon for the same one I'm using. I think I might've paid $125 new, likely even less, as I can be quite a cheapskate when it come to non-essential items.

[Fozzer]

Carl...

When it comes to gliders (or any aeroplane for that matter), The flight simulators do not replicate "real" air flow/pressure/etc....

It is the one thing that is poorly represented in the Sim!
You have no sense of air flow!

...clouds' etc, are OK...but not varying air flows/pressures!

If you want some exciting Glider effects, search for "soaring scenery" in the Sim V Library....I use it for all my flights (including normal aircraft).

It positions "special" visible clouds all around you, (all around the World), and creates lift, (rising and falling), when you enter the areas!
(Add it in the same way as you do for your other add-on scenery. You can ignore the actual "airfield" locations, and just use the "special cloud" effects!)
Perfect for glider flights...and "bumpy" for motorised aircraft!!... ...!

Paul....FS 2004... ...!

[Bass]

OMG!!! They want $500+ usd on Amazon for the same one I'm using. I think I might've paid $125 new, likely even less, as I can be quite a cheapskate when it come to non-essential items.

Yes Carl, as i said its nostalgi, there aren't many around these days, so take care of it

As for "drivers", you can allways try to mess around with the [ForceFeedBack] power section inside aircraft.cfg, but please, make a backup before you do, and be very carefull by using small changes

[carlsoti]

Thanks for the tips, guys. During my last set-up, I wasn't into gliders at all. Since then I've taken up R/C soaring, particularly F3K. Now I'm totally hooked on thermal hunting. I was hoping the sim would replicate it well enough. As my grandfather used to always say "Hope in one hand and in the other. Then tell me which fills up faster."

[Fozzer]

Thanks for the tips, guys. During my last set-up, I wasn't into gliders at all. Since then I've taken up R/C soaring, particularly F3K. Now I'm totally hooked on thermal hunting. I was hoping the sim would replicate it well enough. As my grandfather used to always say "Hope in one hand and in the other. Then tell me which fills up faster."

Don't forget to try out my "soaring scenery" tip, in the Sim V library. You wont be disappointed!

http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1 ... ry&x=0&y=0

Have a search for a "Variometer" Gauge.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variometer ....to add to your Gliders.
It gives a rising/falling pitch note, depending upon your progress through the air!

...a useful piece of kit!

Paul...gliding through the daffodils... ...!

[retrovertigo]

Just bought a new laptop that should be capable of running FSX reasoanbly well and wanted to get back in to it. But as with the OP I'm running Windows 7 and wondered if there is an answer to whether it works or not as the topic has gone off topic somewhat

Don't want to go to the trouble of installing FSX if I cam't get the stick working properly. It's a great piece of kit and FSX isn't worth playing without it in my

[Fozzer]

Just bought a new laptop that should be capable of running FSX reasoanbly well and wanted to get back in to it. But as with the OP I'm running Windows 7 and wondered if there is an answer to whether it works or not as the topic has gone off topic somewhat

Don't want to go to the trouble of installing FSX if I can't get the stick working properly. It's a great piece of kit and FSX isn't worth playing without it in my

Like the original poster, are you hoping to use your obsolete? Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick for the Flight Sim?
There have been no specific Microsoft drivers available for it for many years now, but as many Joysticks are simple; "Plug and play", there is always the possibility it will work successfully in both Windows XP, 7, and 8...(just give it a try!).

Remember, there are many excellent, modern Force-feedback, Twist, Flight Joysticks with modern drivers available now, Saitek, Logitech, etc, etc, at less than half of the cost of the original Sidewinder Joystick!

Paul....FS 2004+FSX, Win 7 32-bit, Saitek Cyborg Evo Force Joystick.... ...!

[retrovertigo]

Well you may call it obsolete, but like many people, I still think it is one of the best (I think its force feedback is unmatched - but I know that is a personal taste thing) - plus, even though newer ones are cheaper, the one I have is free

I want to get back into FSX, but not if I have to start going spending more money to be honest. I will need to buy the game again anyway as I have no idea what I did with my discs. But I don't want to play it if it is going to cost me a reasonable amount of money

[Bass]

This might help you

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/406 ... k-joystick

You can get into trouble if you connect the sidewinder to an onboard soundcard!! (A lot of reading in this next)

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... cc4dbeb80d

but using a usb port, you should find the HID.
As for creating macros, thats a complete different story.