Combat Flight Simulator 2: Cannot Control Rudder or Throttle (303029)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater
This article was previously published under Q303029
WARNING:This information is preliminary and has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Use only with discretion.IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you play Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2, you may not be able to control the throttle, the rudder, or both.

CAUSE

This issue can occur in the following situation:
  • You are using a Microsoft SideWinder game controller.

    -and-
  • The game controller is connected to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove and then reinstall the game controller software and the Combat Flight Simulator 2 program. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.


Step 1: Remove Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2

  1. Quit all running programs.
  2. Unplug the USB game controller.
  3. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Combat Flight Simulator 2, and then click Uninstall Combat Flight Simulator 2.
  4. On the Combat Flight Simulator 2 screen that appears, click Uninstall, and then click OK.
  5. You receive the following message:

    Combat Flight Simulator 2 was uninstalled successfully

    Click OK.

Step 2: Remove Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller Software

  1. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Hardware, point to SideWinder Game Controller Software 4.0, point to SideWinder controllername, and then click Uninstall SideWinder Game Controller Software 4.0.

    You receive the following message:

    Are you sure you want to completely remove "SideWinder controllername" and all of its
    components?

  2. Click Yes. On the Uninstallation dialog box that appears, click OK to delete all files. If a Remove Shared File dialog box appears, click Yes To All, and then click Yes to confirm the removal of shared components that the system indicates are no longer being used.
  3. Click OK.

Step 3: Restart the Computer in Safe Mode

  1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type Msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. In System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Advanced.
  4. In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, click to select the Enable Startup Menu check box.
  5. Click OK twice, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
  6. On the Microsoft Windows version Startup menu that appears, select Safe mode, and then press ENTER.
  7. Click OK to close the Safe Mode dialog box or close the Help and Support window.

Step 4: Remove USB Devices

  1. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, double-click System.
  3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab.
  4. Click the plus sign next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand the branch.
  5. Under Sound, video and game controllers, remove the following devices:

    Microsoft SideWinder devices
    HID-compliant game controllers
    Microsoft Virtual Keyboards or Pointing devices

    To do this, click a device, and then click Remove. On the Confirm Device Removal message that appears, click OK.

    NOTE: You must expand the Sound, video and game controllers branch again after each device removal.
  6. Click the plus sign next to Universal Serial Bus controllers to expand the branch.
  7. Under Universal Serial Bus controllers, remove all devices. To do this, click a device, and then click Remove. On the Confirm Device Removal message that appears, click OK.
  8. Click Close.

Step 5: Remove USB Device Enumeration Registry Keys

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


  1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type Regedit, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, expand the following registry subkey.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\HID

  4. Click the HID folder, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.

    You receive the following message:

    Are you sure you want to delete this key?

  5. Click Yes.
  6. Expand the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\USB

  7. Click the USB folder, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.

    You receive the following message:

    Are you sure you want to delete this key?

  8. Click Yes.
  9. Expand the following registry subkey.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\joystick

  10. Click the joystick folder, and then on the Edit menu, click Delete.

    You receive the following message:

    Are you sure you want to delete this key?

  11. Click Yes.
  12. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

Step 6: Delete the Contents of the Temp Folder

  1. Start Windows Explorer, and then navigate to the following folder

    C:\Windows\Temp

    where C is the drive on which Windows is installed and where Windows is the folder in which Windows is installed.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
  3. On the File menu, click Delete. If you receive a message that states "Confirm Multiple File Delete," click Yes. If you receive a message that states "Confirm File Delete," click Yes to All.
  4. Quit Windows Explorer.

Step 7: Empty the Recycle Bin

  1. On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin.
  2. On the File menu, click Empty Recycle Bin. If you receive a message that states "Confirm Multiple File Delete," click Yes.
  3. Quit Recycle Bin.

Step 8: Restart Windows Normally

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type Msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. In System Configuration Utility, click Advanced on the General tab.
  4. In the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, click to clear the Enable Startup Menu check box.
  5. Click OK twice, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
  6. Follow the steps of the Add New Hardware Wizard to install drivers for the devices in the computer.

    NOTE: You may need to insert the Windows CD into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

    NOTE: If you have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows, the Windows files may also be located in one of the following folders:

    C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
    C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL

Step 9: Reinstall Game Controller and Combat Flight Simulator 2

  1. Reinstall the Microsoft SideWinder game controller and game controller software. Restart the computer if prompted.
  2. Reinstall Combat Flight Simulator 2.

    NOTE: During Setup, select Customize installation options on the Default Installation Options screen. Do NOT install Combat Flight Simulator 2 the following default folder:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Combat Flight Simulator 2

    Install Combat Flight Simulator 2 in a different folder.
  3. Restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about USB game controller issues, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

191721 Disk Activity May Interfere with USB Devices

216096 SideWinder USB: Status Reported as Not Connected

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB303029
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