SideWinder: Game Controller Properties Are Not Displayed (236409)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SideWinder FreeStyle Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
This article was previously published under Q236409

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to view the properties for the Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro joystick or the Microsoft SideWinder Freestyle Pro game pad in the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel, the properties for your SideWinder game controller may not be available, or you may see the standard properties for a generic game controller.

If you see the Standard Properties for a Generic Game Controller, you may not be able to test all of the buttons on your joystick. For example, the Shift button on the SideWinder Precision Pro may not be illuminated when you press it.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the following conditions are true:
  • The game controller is connected to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your computer.
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) is installed on your computer.
NOTE: This behavior does not occur if your game controller is connected to the game port on your computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
  2. On the View menu, click Folder Options.
  3. Click the View tab.
  4. Under the Hidden files branch, click Show all files.
  5. Click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box, and then click OK.
  6. Quit Windows Explorer.
  7. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
  8. In the Named box, type msjstick.inf.
  9. In the Look in box, click My Computer, and then click Find Now.
  10. In the list of found files, right-click the Msjstick.inf file, and then click Cut.
  11. Close the Find: Files Named Msjstick.inf window.
  12. Click Start, and then click Run.
  13. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK

    drive:\windows\inf

    where drive is drive letter of the hard disk on which Windows 98 is installed.
  14. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
  15. Double-click the Msjstick.inf file.
  16. On the File menu, click Save As, click Save, and then click Yes.
  17. Close the Inf window.
  18. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  19. Double-click System.
  20. On the Device Manager tab, click the PLUS SIGN (+) next to Sound, video, and game controllers to expand the branch.
  21. Under the Sound, video, and game controllers branch, click an entry for your SideWinder USB game controller, and then click Remove. If you are prompted to confirm the device removal, click OK.

    Repeat this step to remove all entries for your SideWinder USB game controller.
  22. Click OK, and then close Control Panel.
  23. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
  24. On the View menu, click Folder Options.
  25. Click the View tab.
  26. Under the Hidden files branch, click Show all files.
  27. Click to select the Hide file extensions for known file types check box, and then click OK.
  28. Quit Windows Explorer.
  29. Disconnect your SideWinder game controller from the USB port on your computer, and then reconnect it.
  30. After Windows detects and installs the SideWinder game controller, make sure that the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel now opens the correct Properties dialog box for your SideWinder game controller.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbenv kbHardware kbpending KB236409
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.