Troubleshooting Joystick Problems in Flight Simulator 98

ID: q176714

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 98

SYMPTOMS

When you run Flight Simulator 98, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • The joystick behaves erratically.


  • The joystick does not respond.


  • The rudder or throttle does not respond.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following troubleshooting methods in the order in which they are listed. As you complete each troubleshooting method, start Flight Simulator 98 and test if the issue is resolved.

Verify That Your Operating System Supports Your Game Controller

To provide game port support in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you must install Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP3 or later supports most analog game controllers. However, it does not support digital game controllers.

Microsoft Windows 95/98 supports both analog and digital game controllers. For best performance, verify that latest version of the device drivers for your game controller are installed in your computer.

The following table shows operating system compatibility for Microsoft SideWinder game controllers:

Game Controller Windows NT 4.0 with SP3 or later Windows 95/98
SideWinder standard Yes Yes
SideWinder 3DPro Analog mode only Yes
SideWinder Game Pad No Yes
SideWinder Precision Pro No Yes
SideWinder Force Feedback Pro No Yes
SideWinder FreeStyle Pro No Yes
SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel No Yes

Confirm the Game Controller Connection to the Game Port

Verify that the game controller is connected directly to the game port on your computer. Daisy-chained game controllers or game port adapters can interfere with communication between the game port and the game controller. Windows NT 4.0 does not support daisy-chained game controllers or game port adapters.

Disable the SideWinder Game Device Profiler

If you use a SideWinder game controller, disable the SideWinder Game Device Profiler or the SideWinder Game Controller software. To do this, right-click the Game Device Profiler icon or the Game Controller Software icon in the status area on the taskbar, and then click Unload.

Calibrate the Game Controller

If you use a digital Microsoft SideWinder game controller with version 2.0 or later of the Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software or the Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software, the software calibrates the game controller automatically.

To use version 2.0 of the Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software to test the calibration for your digital SideWinder game controller, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Game Controllers.


  3. On the Test tab, test all of the functions for your digital SideWinder game controller, and then click OK.


  4. Close Control Panel.


To use version 3.0 of the Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software to test the calibration for your digital SideWinder game controller, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Game Controllers.


  3. On the General tab, click the game controller you want to test in the Game Controllers box, and then click Properties.


  4. On the Test tab, test all of the functions for your digital SideWinder game controller, click OK, and then click OK again.


  5. Close Control Panel.


If you use an analog game controller, or if you use a Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro or a Microsoft SideWinder game pad with version 1.5 of the SideWinder Game Device software, follow these steps to calibrate the game controller:

NOTE: No calibration option is available in version 1.5 of the SideWinder Game Device software unless you install Flight Simulator 98 with DirectX 5.0.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Game Controllers.


  3. Select the gaming device you want to calibrate in the Controller column, and then click Properties.


  4. Click Calibrate, and then follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate the game controller. If you use a SideWinder 3D Pro with version 1.0 of the SideWinder software, when you are prompted to press a button on the controller, press a button on the joystick, not on the joystick base.

    NOTE: Because of differences between analog game controllers, you may notice a certain amount of deviation between the graphic display for the joystick position and the actual joystick movement. This is normal and does not affect you game controller calibration.


  5. When you receive the "You have successfully calibrated your device" message, click Finish.


  6. On the Test tab, test all of the functions for your game controller, and then click OK.


  7. Close Control Panel.


If you cannot calibrate your game controller, or if your game controller does not function properly when you test it, Windows may be unable to communicate properly with the game controller. If this is true, contact the manufacturer of your game controller for information about how to configure the device correctly in Windows. You may also need to obtain and install the latest version of the device drivers.

If you calibrate and test the game controller successfully, start Flight Simulator 98 to test the game controller in the game. If the issue continues to occur, calibrate the device in Flight Simulator 98. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98.


  2. On the Options menu, click Custom Controls.


  3. Verify that the Enable Joystick check box is selected, and then click Calibrate.


  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate your game controller.


Reset Default Actions

To reset the default actions assigned to the game controller, follow these steps:
  1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98.


  2. On the Options menu, click Custom Controls.


  3. Click the Assignments tab.


  4. Under the Game Device column, click any command to select it.


  5. Click Reset Defaults, and then click Yes.


  6. To check if the default actions are selected for your 4-axis game controller, verify that the game device settings for the control axes in the game match the settings in the following table:


    Action Game Device
    Ailerons axis Axis 01
    Elevator axis Axis 02
    Rudder axis Axis 04
    Throttle axis Axis 03


    If the default actions are not selected, repeat steps 4-5, or follow the steps in the "Manually Assign Actions" method to assign the default actions manually.


If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Rebuild the Fltsim98.cfg File

To rebuild the Fltsim98.cfg file, press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT as you start Flight Simulator 98 and start a new flight. Continue to hold down CTRL+SHIFT until you are in the cockpit view.

NOTE: When you rebuild the Fltsim98.cfg file, some of your joystick settings may change.


If your game controller is installed properly and the Devices.cfg file contains the default settings for your game controller, Flight Simulator 98 adds the appropriate entries for your game controller to the Fltsim98.cfg file.

The Devices.cfg file contains the following joystick headings: 


[Generic_4]
[Generic_4 SLEW]
[Generic_3]
[Generic_3 RUDDER]
[Generic_3 SLEW]
[Generic_2]
[Generic_2 SLEW]
[Spacetec SpaceOrb 360]
[Spacetec SpaceOrb 360 SLEW]
[Creative GamePad]
[Creative GamePad SLEW]
[Gravis Gamepad]
[Gravis Gamepad SLEW]
[Gravis GrIP]
[Gravis GrIP SLEW]
[Gravis Analog Joystick]
[Gravis Analog Joystick RUDDER]
[Gravis Analog Joystick SLEW]
[Gravis Analog Joystick RUDDER SLEW]
[Gravis Analog Pro Joystick]
[Gravis Analog Pro Joystick RUDDER]
[Gravis Analog Pro Joystick SLEW]
[Gravis Analog Pro Joystick RUDDER SLEW]
[Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 without adapter]
[Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 without adapter SLEW]
[Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 with adapter]
[Thrustmaster Formula T1/T2 with adapter SLEW]
[Thrustmaster Flight Control System]
[Thrustmaster Flight Control System RUDDER]
[Thrustmaster Flight Control System SLEW]
[Thrustmaster Flight Control System RUDDER SLEW]
[Logitech WingMan Light]
[Logitech WingMan Light RUDDER]
[Logitech WingMan Light SLEW]
[Logitech WingMan Light RUDDER SLEW]
[Logitech WingMan Extreme]
[Logitech WingMan Extreme SLEW]
[Logitech WingMan]
[Logitech WingMan RUDDER]
[Logitech WingMan SLEW]
[Logitech WingMan RUDDER SLEW]
[Logitech ThunderPad]
[Logitech ThunderPad SLEW]
[CH Flightstick]
[CH Flightstick RUDDER]
[CH Flightstick SLEW]
[CH Flightstick RUDDER SLEW]
[CH Flightstick Pro]
[CH Flightstick Pro RUDDER]
[CH Flightstick Pro SLEW]
[CH Flightstick Pro RUDDER SLEW]
[CH Virtual Pilot]
[CH Virtual Pilot RUDDER]
[CH Virtual Pilot SLEW]
[CH Virtual Pilot RUDDER SLEW]
[CH Virtual Pilot Pro]
[CH Virtual Pilot Pro RUDDER]
[CH Virtual Pilot Pro SLEW]
[CH Virtual Pilot Pro RUDDER SLEW]
[Microsoft SideWinder game pad]
[Microsoft SideWinder game pad SLEW]
[Microsoft SideWinder]
[Microsoft SideWinder SLEW]
[Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro]
[Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro SLEW]
[Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro]
[Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro SLEW]
[Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro]
[Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro SLEW]

The settings under the SLEW headings determine how the game controller behaves in Slew mode. The settings under the RUDDER headings determine how the game controller behaves when the rudder is enabled. To enable the Rudder settings, click to select the Rudder check box on the Settings tab in the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel.

NOTE: If your game controller is not defined in the Devices.cfg file, Flight Simulator 98 may not assign any actions to the buttons on your game controller. To manually assign actions to the buttons on your game control device, proceed to the "Manually Assign Actions" method.

Manually Assign Actions

To manually assign an action to a button on your game controller, follow these steps:

  1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 98.


  2. On the Options menu, click Custom Controls.


  3. Click the Assignments tab.


  4. Under the Game Device column, click to select the line for an action you want to assign to a game device command, and then click Assign.

    NOTE: When you click Assign, the blue line in the Game Device column becomes a white box, and you have five seconds to assign the selected action to a game controller command.


  5. On the game controller, press the button or move the axis you want to use for the selected action. If you receive a warning message that a different action is already assigned to the game controller button or axis, click OK.


If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Calibrate as a Different Device

Use the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel to configure your game controller as a different device.

NOTE: You cannot configure any Microsoft SideWinder gaming device as a different device except the SideWinder Standard or the SideWinder 3D Pro.

For example, to configure a SideWinder 3D Pro joystick as a 3-axis 4-button joystick with Rudder/Pedals, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Game Controllers, and then click Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro.


  3. Click Remove, and then click Yes.


  4. Click Add, click 3-Axis, 4-Button Joystick, and then click OK.


  5. Click Properties.


  6. On the Settings tab, click to select the Rudder/Pedals check box.


  7. Click Calibrate, and then follow the instructions on the screen to calibrate the game controller.

    NOTE: Axis 3 is the throttle control, and axis 4 is the rudder control.


  8. Click Test to verify that the game controller functions properly.


If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Reduce Sound Playback Quality

If your sound card is unable to properly process game port signals and high quality game sounds at the same time, you may be able to work around the issue by reducing the sound playback quality in the game. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


  2. In the Named box, type fltsim98.cfg, and then click Find Now.


  3. In the list of found files, double-click the Fltsim98.cfg file.


  4. In the Choose the program you want to use box, double-click Notepad.


  5. Scroll to the end of the file, press ENTER twice, and then type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line: 


    6. 
 [SOUND]
 Channels=1
 SamplesPerSec=11025

  6. On the File menu, click Exit. When you are prompted to save the changes, click Yes.


You can also change the SamplesPerSec= line automatically when you download and install Patch Set 1.0 for Flight Simulator 98. This patch set also updates other Flight Simulator 98 components. Patch Set 1.0 for Flight Simulator 98 is available as a free download from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/products.asp?filter=fsim
If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Remove and Then Reinstall Flight Simulator 98

To remove and then reinstall Flight Simulator 98, follow these steps:
  1. Insert the Flight Simulator 98 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Press and hold down SHIFT as you insert the CD-ROM to prevent the program from starting automatically.


  2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  3. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.


  4. On the Install/Uninstall tab, double-click Microsoft Flight Simulator 98.


  5. When you are prompted to remove Flight Simulator 98, click OK.


  6. Delete the Flight Simulator folder. By default, Flight Simulator 98 is installed in the following folder:
    drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator
    where drive is the drive letter for the hard disk on which Flight Simulator 98 is installed.

    For more information about how to delete folders in Windows, see your printed documentation or online Help file.


  7. Click Start, and then click Run.


  8. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK
    cd-rom:\setup.exe
    where cd-rom is the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive.


  9. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the program.


If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Update Device Drivers

If you are using version 1.0 of the SideWinder Game Device Software, download and install the latest version of the SideWinder Game Controller software from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/sidewinder
To determine the version of the SideWinder Game Device or SideWinder Game Controller software installed in your computer, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


  2. In the Named box, type sw3dpro.vxd.


  3. In the Look In box, click All Hard Drives or click the hard disk on which Windows is installed, and then click Find Now.


  4. In the list of found files, right-click the Sw3dpro.vxd file, and then click Properties.

    NOTE: If the Sw3dpro.vxd file is not in the list of found files, the SideWinder software is not installed.


  5. On the Version tab, note the value on the File Version line, and then click OK.


  6. Close the Find: Files Named Sw3dpro.vxd window.


Contact your game controller and sound card manufacturers to inquire about how to obtain and install the latest version of the drivers for your game controller and sound card. For additional information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
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

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Configure the Sound Card to Use Only One DMA Channel

Your game controller may perform better if you configure the sound card to use only one DMA channel.

NOTE: Some programs are unable to run with only one DMA channel. If you experience this issue, restore your original sound card settings.

To configure the sound card to use single-mode DMA on a computer running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0-based computer or on a Microsoft Windows 95/98-based computer with legacy sound drivers installed, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Multimedia.


  3. On the Devices tab (Windows 98/NT) or the Advanced tab (Windows 95), double-click the Audio Devices branch to expand it.


  4. Under the Audio Devices branch, click the sound card, and then click Properties.


  5. Click Settings.


  6. To configure the sound card to use single-mode DMA, see your sound card documentation or use one of the following procedures:

    • Click to select the Use Single-Mode DMA check box, click OK until you return to Control Panel, and then restart the computer.


    • In the DMA Channel (16-bit) box, click Disable, click OK until you return to Control Panel, and then restart the computer.


    • In the High DMA box, click Use DMA, click OK until you return to Control Panel, and then restart the computer.

    If you cannot use the sound driver to configure single-mode DMA, click Cancel until you return to Control Panel, and then proceed to the "Disable Force-Feedback Effects" method.


To configure the sound card to use single-mode DMA on a computer running Windows 95/98-based computer with native sound drivers installed, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click System.


  3. On the Device Manager tab, double-click the Sound, Video And Game Controllers branch to expand it.


  4. Under the Sound, Video, And Game Controllers branch, click the sound card, and then click Properties.


  5. On the Resources tab, locate the Direct Memory Access (DMA) lines under Resource Type. If you see more than one Direct Memory Access (DMA) line, follow these steps to configure the sound card for single-mode DMA:

    1. Click to clear the Use Automatic Settings check box.


    2. In the Settings Based On box, click a Basic Configuration that uses only one DMA channel setting.


    3. If you see a conflict message in the Conflicting Device List box, repeat step b to select another basic configuration that uses only one DMA channel and does not conflict with any other devices.

      If you do not see a conflict message in the Conflicting Device List box, click OK, and then click Yes.


    4. Click Close, and then restart the computer.


    If you see only one Direct Memory Access (DMA) line, or if you cannot find a basic configuration that uses only one DMA channel, click Cancel, click Cancel again, and then proceed to the next method.


Disable Force-Feedback Effects

If you use a SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick, disable the force- feedback effects. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Game Controllers.


  3. Click to select Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro.


  4. Click Properties.


  5. On the Settings tab, drag the Force Feedback slider to Off.


  6. Click OK, and then click OK again.


If the issue is resolved when you disable the force-feedback effects, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for additional troubleshooting information, or call Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Technical Support at (425) 635-7040:
Q175184 SideWinder Force Feedback Pro: No Forces Felt on Test Forces Tab

Q175701 No Force Feedback Effects Testing SideWinder Force Feedback Pro

Q175233 SideWinder Force Feedback Pro Test Is Slow or Does Not Respond

Q174436 Game Port Resource Settings for SideWinder Force Feedback

Q174432 Game Port Requirements for SideWinder Force Feedback Pro

Q173689 SideWinder Force Feedback Joystick Behaves Erratically

Q175158 Force Feedback Err Msg: Your Gaming Device is Not Connected

Q175054 SideWinder Not Compatible with Game Port-MIDI Adapter Cable

Q174437 Joystick Does Not Work or You Cannot Feel Force Feedback Effects

Q174433 Connecting SideWinder Force Feedback Pro for Best Performance


MORE INFORMATION

If you use a Logitech Warrior joystick, connect it to the game port. Do not connect it to the serial port. The Logitech Warrior does not function properly with DirectX version 5.0 when it is connected to a serial port.

Because the Logitech Warrior is not listed in the Devices.cfg file, Flight Simulator 98 may not assign any actions to the buttons on the joystick or may configure it as a generic joystick.

Additional query words: 98 flightsim fltsim flt sim fs98 buttons troubleshoot tshoot generic_8359 msgame

Keywords : kbenv kbhw kbsetup kbsound kbtshoot kbtlc fs98 kbimu
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: August 12, 1999
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