SideWinder: USB Game Controller No Longer Functions When You Connect Another Game Controller to the Game Port (260175)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Dual Strike
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder FreeStyle Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder game pad
  • Microsoft SideWinder game pad Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Plug and Play game pad USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
This article was previously published under Q260175

SYMPTOMS

When a SideWinder game controller is connected to the universal serial bus (USB) port in your computer, if you connect another SideWinder game controller to the game port in your computer, you may experience the following symptoms:
  • The USB SideWinder game controller may no longer function.
  • The USB SideWinder game controller may no longer appear in the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel.
  • Two copies of the game port SideWinder game controller may appear in the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel.
In addition, when both a game port SideWinder game controller and a USB SideWinder game controller are installed, you cannot assign the USB SideWinder game controller to Controller ID 1.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, turn off the computer, disconnect the Gameport device, and then restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

A Gameport device always enumerates as Controller ID 1. If a game does not support devices other than Controller ID 1 then you must disconnect the gameport device. You may opt to select a different Controller ID. To assign the USB game controller to Controller ID 1, follow these steps.

Note Do not follow these steps if your computer is running Microsoft Windows XP. The steps for Windows XP are described later in this article.

Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows 2000

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Game Controllers, and then click the Advanced tab.
  3. Under Controller ID Assignment, click the game controller listed next to Controller ID 1, and then click Change.
  4. In the Game Controllers box, click the USB game controller that you want, and then click OK.
  5. If the USB game controller that you changed to use Controller ID 1 is using another Controller ID, click that Controller ID, click Change, click None, and then click OK.
  6. Click OK, and then close Control Panel.

Windows XP

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Click Printers and other devices.
  3. Click Gaming Controllers, and then click the Advanced tab.
  4. Select the controller that you want to use, click OK, and then click OK again.
  5. Start the game, and then verify that the gaming device works.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbHardware kbprb KB260175
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.