SideWinder: Game Controller Stops Responding When Audio Starts

ID: Q194579

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro, version 1.0
Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro, version 1.0
Microsoft SideWinder game pad, version 1.0
Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
Microsoft SideWinder FreeStyle Pro, version 1.0
Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel, version 1.0
Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

When you play a game with high-qulity sound, your SideWinder Game Controller may stop responding when sound playback begins.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if your computer is unable to process game controller input at the same time it plays high-quality sounds.

The following table lists processor speed and sound card combinations that can cause this behavior with different SideWinder game controllers:


   SideWinder Game Controller      Processor     Sound Card
   -----------------------------------------------------------------

   SideWinder game pad             Pentium 90    Aztech Audio
                                   or slower     Telephony 2000

   SideWinder game pad             Pentium 120   Ensoniq Vivo
                                   or slower

   SideWinder Precision Pro        Pentium 90    Creative Labs Sound
                                   or slower     Blaster Pro

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 90    Aztech Audio
                                   or slower     Telephony 2000

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 90    Orchid NuSound
                                   or slower    Plug and Play

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 90    STB SoundRage 32
                                   or slower

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 120   Opti 931
                                   or slower

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 166   Ensoniq Soundscape
                                   or slower     Elite

   SideWinder Force Feedback Pro   Pentium 166   Ensoniq Vivo
                                   or slower

RESOLUTION

To work around or resolve this issue, using one of the following methods.

Change Sound to Mono

Change the sound setting in your game to "mono" instead of stereo.

For information about how to change the sound settings in your game, see the game documentation.

Reduce Sound Quality

Reduce the sound output quality from 44 kilohertz (kHz) to 22 kHz, or from 22 kHz to 11 kHz.

For information about how to change the sound settings in your game, see the game documentation.

Change Sound from 16-Bit to 8-Bit

If you have a 16-bit sound card, configure the sound card to play 8-bit sound instead of 16-bit sound.

For information about how to change this setting, see your hardware documentation or contact your hardware manufacturer.

Install Updated Audio Drivers

Contact your sound card or computer manufacturer to inquire about obtaining the latest version of the drivers for your sound card.

For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, query in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for one of the following articles:

Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to help you find the technical support you need. This contact information is subject to change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: connected hangs locks up freeze inactive response

Keywords : kb3rdparty kbenv kbhw sidewinder gamepad swpp swff joystick kbimu
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,3.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb