Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Joystick

Microsoft sidewinder joystick for apple free download - Microsoft Sidewinder Game Controller Software, SideWinder 3D Pro for Macintosh 1.0 Software Files (Macsw3d.bin), Microsoft Sidewinder. Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro - joystick - wired overview and full product specs on CNET.

I've just dragged my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick out ofstorage to use with MS Flight Simulator on my new Windows 7 machine. Thejoystick doesn't seem to be supported and Windows 7 shows it as a gamecontroller pad with none of the configuration options it used to have backin the Win2K days. Microsoft's website doesn't appear to have drivers forthis device anymore. This surprises me because Microsoft made it and haven'treleased anything that supersedes it - do they really expect us to replacesuch devices with hardware from another manufacturer? Doesn't it make senseto keep the joystick supported in their OSs until at least they come up witha successor. Can anyone help me with a workaround to get the device workingproperly in Windows 7? Please let me know the secret!

Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4309 (20090805) The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.http://www.eset.com. I've also dragged out my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, andplugged it in.

Using Windows 7 64 bits, it is recognised properly. Going to'Set up USB game devices' and every function is properly recognised (meaningthat every button and function that is on the joystick is working).I haven't done anything special aside of plugging it in. I've plugged it inon the back side of the case, directly on the motherboard. It might be if youplugged it in through the front side of the case (if that is possible) thatthere is some kind of problem with the connector on the motherboard foradditional USB ports. I've just dragged my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick out ofstorage to use with MS Flight Simulator on my new Windows 7 machine. Thejoystick doesn't seem to be supported and Windows 7 shows it as a gamecontroller pad with none of the configuration options it used to have backin the Win2K days.

Microsoft's website doesn't appear to have drivers forthis device anymore. This surprises me because Microsoft made it and haven'treleased anything that supersedes it - do they really expect us to replacesuch devices with hardware from another manufacturer? Doesn't it make senseto keep the joystick supported in their OSs until at least they come up witha successor. Can anyone help me with a workaround to get the device workingproperly in Windows 7? Please let me know the secret! Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4309 (20090805) The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.http://www.eset.com. I've also dragged out my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, andplugged it in.

Using Windows 7 64 bits, it is recognised properly. Going to'Set up USB game devices' and every function is properly recognised (meaningthat every button and function that is on the joystick is working).I haven't done anything special aside of plugging it in. I've plugged it inon the back side of the case, directly on the motherboard. It might be if youplugged it in through the front side of the case (if that is possible) thatthere is some kind of problem with the connector on the motherboard foradditional USB ports. I've also dragged out my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, andplugged it in. Using Windows 7 64 bits, it is recognised properly. Going to'Set up USB game devices' and every function is properly recognised (meaningthat every button and function that is on the joystick is working).I haven't done anything special aside of plugging it in.

I've plugged it inon the back side of the case, directly on the motherboard. It might be if youplugged it in through the front side of the case (if that is possible) thatthere is some kind of problem with the connector on the motherboard foradditional USB ports. I recently decided to install x-plane 9 again, only to want more 'Combat Flight Simulator'.

Even though it is older, its funner imo. Ive played it for years. Unfortunately for me, the game refuses to recognize the controller properly and constantly gives me like 'Your game controller name has changed from 'sdgfsdfw' to 'bleh something weird' Would you like to reset the control assignments?' I have win7 and the disk that came with the sidewider gives an error when i try to configure the controller and it refused to detect the controller during setup so i was forced to skip it. Game still doesn't recognize the controller.Paul Murphy wrote:Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick05-Aug-09I have just dragged my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick out ofstorage to use with MS Flight Simulator on my new Windows 7 machine. Thejoystick does not seem to be supported and Windows 7 shows it as a gamecontroller pad with none of the configuration options it used to have backin the Win2K days. Microsoft's website does not appear to have drivers forthis device anymore.

This surprises me because Microsoft made it and have notreleased anything that supersedes it - do they really expect us to replacesuch devices with hardware from another manufacturer? Doesn't it make senseto keep the joystick supported in their OSs until at least they come up witha successor.

Can anyone help me with a workaround to get the device workingproperly in Windows 7? Please let me know the secret! Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4309 (20090805) The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.Posts In This Thread:On Wednesday, August 05, 2009 5:25 PMPaul Murphy wrote:Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 JoystickI have just dragged my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick out ofstorage to use with MS Flight Simulator on my new Windows 7 machine. Thejoystick does not seem to be supported and Windows 7 shows it as a gamecontroller pad with none of the configuration options it used to have backin the Win2K days.

Microsoft's website does not appear to have drivers forthis device anymore. This surprises me because Microsoft made it and have notreleased anything that supersedes it - do they really expect us to replacesuch devices with hardware from another manufacturer? Doesn't it make senseto keep the joystick supported in their OSs until at least they come up witha successor. Can anyone help me with a workaround to get the device workingproperly in Windows 7? Please let me know the secret! Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4309 (20090805) The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.Wednesday, September 02, 2009 3:57 PMKutagh wrote:I've also dragged out my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, andI have also dragged out my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, andplugged it in. Using Windows 7 64 bits, it is recognised properly.

Going to'Set up USB game devices' and every function is properly recognised (meaningthat every button and function that is on the joystick is working).I have not done anything special aside of plugging it in. I have plugged it inon the back side of the case, directly on the motherboard. It might be if youplugged it in through the front side of the case (if that is possible) thatthere is some kind of problem with the connector on the motherboard foradditional USB ports.'

Paul Murphy' wrote:On Sunday, September 06, 2009 6:22 PMCatamount wrote:I also just recently dragged out this joystick, and while Windows 7 RC 64-bitI also just recently dragged out this joystick, and while Windows 7 RC 64-bitrecognizes it fine, and even allows for Force Feedback from the outset, Ilack the ability to adjust the strength of the force feedback and centeringlike I could back on Windows 98. If anyone is aware of a utility that wouldallow for that, it would be greatly appreciated.' Kutagh' wrote:On Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:16 PMDavidRo wrote:Ditto me.

32 bit Windows 7 and it worked first time.Ditto me. 32 bit Windows 7 and it worked first time. Plugged in the power,connected to my USB port, allowed it to automatically find the drivers.Bingo!Go to Start - Search - Type 'Set up USB game devices' and test thedevice. I LOVE Windows 7!!!!!!!!' I've just dragged my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick out ofstorage to use with MS Flight Simulator on my new Windows 7 machine.

Thejoystick doesn't seem to be supported and Windows 7 shows it as a gamecontroller pad with none of the configuration options it used to have backin the Win2K days. Microsoft's website doesn't appear to have drivers forthis device anymore.

This surprises me because Microsoft made it and haven'treleased anything that supersedes it - do they really expect us to replacesuch devices with hardware from another manufacturer? Doesn't it make senseto keep the joystick supported in their OSs until at least they come up witha successor.

Can anyone help me with a workaround to get the device workingproperly in Windows 7? Please let me know the secret!

Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4309 (20090805) The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.was having problems and then simply changed the USB port I was using and WAMMO WORKING FINE!!!

First-generation Microsoft SideWinder gamepadMicrosoft SideWinder was the general name given to the family of digital developed by for. The line was first launched in 1995. Although intended only for use with, Microsoft SideWinder game controllers can also be used with, with third-party software, and.The term 'SideWinder' describes many types of Microsoft's PC game controllers including,.

Several types of joysticks were made, including the Force Feedback 2, the 3D Pro, and the regular SideWinder joystick. Also, several types of gamepads were made, such as the original version, a game port version, and the version.

Steering wheels are the Precision Racing Wheel and the Force Feedback Wheel variants which include throttle and brake pedals.The family also includes some more exotic devices such as the SideWinder Game Voice system and the SideWinder Strategic Commander.The SideWinder family of products was discontinued by Microsoft in 2003, citing poor sales. The company has since re-entered the gaming hardware market, in hopes of designing a standardized gamepad for with both the and the that allows the use of the wireless Xbox 360 controller on the PC.In August 2007, Microsoft announced they were relaunching the SideWinder line of gaming peripherals, starting with the SideWinder Mouse.

The mouse was given an MSRP of $80 and a launch date of October 2007.As of October 2014, Microsoft no longer has any Sidewinder branded products on its hardware website. Gamepads sold on the website use Microsoft's or branding. The Precision Pro joystick.

The 'hat' switch is visible at the top of the stick, and the throttle wheel at the bottom.Microsoft introduced the SideWinder Precision Pro in 1995, correcting the ergonomic issues, fixing some of the electrical issues, and adding new features.The Precision Pro introduced a new stick that was far more ergonomic than the 'geometric' design of the 3D Pro. Microsoft also gave the rest of the Precision Pro a more rounded design, replacing the rectangular base buttons with more rounded versions at the top of the base, the slider-based throttle with a wheel-based throttle, and the base itself was made more rounded.

The Precision Pro also added a shift button to the base, doubling the number of possible button combinations.Signatures can be seen inside the joystick, on the base coverplate. Fred Iyc and Edie Adams are among the 17 people who have signed it.For its electronics, the Precision Pro featured a refined hybrid system, resolving some of the hardware compatibility issues with the 3D Pro.

However, with the widespread introduction of in consumer computers shortly after the Precision Pro was released, Microsoft soon re-released the joystick in a USB-compatible form (joysticks labeled as Part No. X03-57540, Product I.D. The revised joystick still featured a gameport connector but had additional circuitry for interfacing with USB, and was bundled with a USB converter (a DIY converter project exists).

Original Precision Pros remain incompatible with this converter, but a user made converter exists. The creation of the USB converter bypassed the problems with the analog gameport entirely, and as a result became the true solution to the electrical problems. However, due to a flaw in the design of the Precision Pro, in rare cases the stick would build up a static charge in its electronics and require either a complex process to discharge that was not always successful, or simply needed to stay unpowered for a number of hours to slowly discharge on its own. This is also one of the first joysticks to use light sensors instead of potentiometers so it required no calibration, and thus had no electronical moving parts.

The only moving parts were mechanical on the throttle and joystick pivots which gave this joystick virtually unlimited lifetime. The Precision Pro 2 had reintroduced potentiometers to save money and thus their lifetime was limited to wear and tear of the potentiometers.Thanks to the timing of the launch of the Precision Pro to coincide with the widespread launch of USB along the ergonomic corrections and rarity of the static charge problem, the Precision Pro saw a much higher sales volume and review scores than the earlier 3D Pro.Force Feedback Pro. Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro JoystickFrom technology acquired from EXOS, Inc, Microsoft then released a product called the Force Feedback Pro. Built on the design of the Precision Pro, the Force Feedback Pro differed only in the inclusion of motors for the force feedback effects, and the lack of USB compatibility. (A exists.) Due to the inclusion of the motors, the Force Feedback Pro was significantly larger and heavier than the Precision Pro, making it easy to differentiate between the two.As the PC joystick port is input-only, the only way for data to be sent to the joystick (to trigger force feedback events) is to use the capabilities of the port. This extension to the original gameport, first popularised by in their early sound cards, was intended to allow MIDI instruments to be connected to the joystick port but is used here to provide bidirectional communication with the joystick instead. Force feedback events are triggered by messages on MIDI channel 6, with effect data uploaded via messages.

This means that force feedback would be unavailable on the earliest of PCs, where the gameports lack MIDI functionality.Precision 2. Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2 JoystickThe basis of Microsoft's last generation of SideWinder joysticks, the Precision 2 design was a further refinement of the previous Precision Pro. Compared to the Precision Pro, the Precision 2 dropped the Pro's shift button, replaced the throttle wheel with a more traditional lever, and rearranged the face buttons on the stick into a symmetric design.

The Precision 2 also dropped all gameport compatibility by only shipping in a USB version, and was slightly smaller and lighter than the Pro. In spite of being Microsoft's 2nd-generation USB controller, the Precision 2 in particular seemed to suffer more from the USB SideWinder's long-standing static buildup problem than the original Precision Pro.Force Feedback 2 Along with replacing the Precision Pro with a new design, the Force Feedback Pro was replaced with a Precision 2 derivative, the Force Feedback 2. Compared to the Force Feedback Pro and the Precision 2, nothing new was added to the Force Feedback 2 that wasn't added to the Precision 2, in fact the shift button was taken away. The overall size and weight difference was not so great with the use of smaller motors. This joystick came in two varieties: one version with a silver trigger, and an updated version with a translucent red trigger. One of the main ideas in the Force Feedback 2 was the removal of the.

Since the release of the Force Feedback 2, the stick has garnered a reputation of reliability and resiliency, many Force Feedback 2 sticks are still in use currently. On eBay Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joysticks regularly sell for more than the original MSRP of $109.

Joystick Using the Precision 2 design once again, Microsoft introduced a value-oriented SideWinder joystick, simply called the SideWinder Joystick. In spite of its value designation, the SideWinder Joystick was functionally similar to the Precision 2. The main features dropped were Z-axis control and the 8-way hat switch. Otherwise the differences were cosmetic, including shrinking the base, moving the throttle to the front of the base, and replacing 2 of the rounded buttons on the stick with more rectangular buttons.

Support for this joystick was dropped with the advent of.Force Feedback Wheel The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel is a controller for. It was the first wheel controller to contain force feedback.

Strategic Commander. Microsoft Strategic CommanderThe Strategic Commander is designed to complement a standard mouse/keyboard setup for Real Time Strategy games. It features a total of 6 programmable command buttons, 2 zoom buttons, 3 shift buttons, a macro record button and a 3-point configuration switch. The device also has three movement axes: X, Y and Z (rotation).

Through extensive configuration of the shift and command buttons, it is possible to create a total of 24 different commands per configuration.The Strategic Commander is a highly ergonomic device, and resembles a large mouse in shape, contoured for the left hand. It has an upper section attached to a base. On the upper section, the programmable buttons mentioned above are located near the tips of the index, middle and ring fingers for quick access. Three buttons are located near the thumb in an arc.A feature of the device is that the upper section is also a 2-axis motion controller with additional support for rotation. It allows motion in the X, Y & Z axis (corresponding to Forward, Backwards, Strafe left & right, Turn left & right). This made it an ideal companion for FPS and similar games, because you can aim weapons or look up and down with the right hand while simultaneously slewing position with the left hand, and change weapons etc.

With the left finger buttons.Software was included for the device to provide for a number of (then popular) games. The buttons are also programmable, allowing the device to be used with other games and applications. For example, one application developed at used the device as a peripheral for navigating massive maps.Linux treats this device as a joystick (with all 3 axis and 12 plus 3 buttons) and can be used as one or using various applets can be used as a 'joystick action to key press' device (e.g. Joy2Key)Game Voice The Game Voice is an early device. It was shaped like a hockey puck, with four channel buttons that allowed the user to speak to individual teammates.

It could also be set to communicate with the entire team, or globally to all players. The driver software also allowed it to function as a using programmable macros.

The package included a headset with an attached microphone, though these could be substituted with any other PC headset/microphone. The puck acted as an intermediary between the sound card and the sound input/output devices. The headset, along with the system speakers, plugged into the puck, where a switch could be used to set whether sound would be output from the speakers or the headset.

The puck also had its own volume control. To provide power for the puck LEDs and drive the voice command and channel functions, a USB connection was also required.

Microsoft recommended Game Voice as a microphone for use with the feature of.Microsoft discontinued the product in 2003. By then, the market for voice chat had seen intense competition from downloadable and free-to-use software like and, among others. These software packages only charge the host or server, whereas each person would have to own a Game Voice in order to use the hardware and software. As a result, the Game Voice ultimately lost that market. However, these competing software packages do not offer voice command systems.Microsoft has not released the hardware specifications so that an open source driver could be developed. The device is supported under Windows XP, but no new driver is planned for Windows Vista. Despite this, GNU/Linux based operating systems can use this device using various third party applets (i.e.

Kamevoice)Freestyle Pro. SideWinder Freestyle Pro gamepadThe Freestyle Pro, released in 1998, was a unique gamepad, as the up-down-left-right directions in analogue mode were controlled by the physical movement of the controller, more precisely by the absolute pitch and roll position of the pad. This reaction on movement is quite similar to some of the features of the Sony PlayStation 3. Games such as (which was bundled with and designed for the controller) profited from this physical interaction. Microsoft Sidewinder X5 MouseIn 2007, following a collaboration with in creating the Microsoft Habu and Microsoft Reclusa, a gaming mouse and gaming keyboard sold under the plain Microsoft Hardware brand, Microsoft resurrected the SideWinder brand with an all-new SideWinder Mouse, designed from the ground up for high-end PC gaming. The design incorporated a number of advanced features including adjustable weights, programmable macro mode, on- the- fly DPI change, and a built-in LCD display, the first ever found in a mouse.In 2008, Microsoft also released the SideWinder X6 Gaming Keyboard, which is designed to be the keyboard counterpart of the Sidewinder Mouse. It features up to 30 programmable macro keys, volume control, media control, a detachable numpad and backlighting.

Along with this keyboard a new mouse was released dubbed the SideWinder X5. The X5 has a more basic function set than its predecessor but was well received because of its lower price. Its shape is the same as the original but without the LCD, weight adjusting and metal side buttons. It also comes with a complete black design with red 'LED Jets' on the back to make it stand out from the original and better fit the X6 keyboard.In February 2009, Microsoft released another update to the SideWinder line, the SideWinder X8 gaming mouse.

This new iteration incorporated new Microsoft BlueTrack tracking technology, intended to provide better tracking on non-standard surfaces. In addition, the mouse was made wireless, and the maximum DPI sensitivity was upped to 4000.In March 2010, Microsoft released a second gaming keyboard, the Sidewinder X4.

In comparison with the earlier X6, anti-ghosting technology was added. However, the detachable numpad was removed, and a numpad was instead attached permanently to the keyboard.As of October 2014, Microsoft no longer offers any gaming mice or keyboards in the US. References. Retrieved 19 October 2014. Johnson, Ian. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2012.

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Retrieved September 30, 2017. Retrieved 2015-11-11.External links.