SideWinder: USB Game Controller Is Not Detected After You Restart the Computer (263682)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SideWinder Dual Strike
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder FreeStyle Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder game pad Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Game Voice
  • Microsoft SideWinder Plug and Play game pad USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel
  • Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander
This article was previously published under Q263682

SYMPTOMS

When you connect a Microsoft SideWinder game controller that is listed at the beginning of this article to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your comptuter, the game controller may not be detected after you restart the computer.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if both of the following conditions are true:
  • An ESS Technology based sound card is installed in your computer.
  • The driver for the sound card is outdated.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, download and install the latest driver for the ESS Technology sound card from the following ESS Technology Web site

http://www.esstech.com

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine if the ESS Maestro-1 audio accelerator is causing this issue to occur:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click System.
  3. Click the Device Manager tab.
  4. Click the plus sign (+) next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand the branch.
  5. Check to see if any of the devices in the following list are installed:
    • Maestro Device Manager
    • Maestro DOS Games/FM Devices
    • Maestro Enumerator
    • Maestro MPU-401
    • Maestro MPU-401 Device (Win/DOS)
    • Maestro Wave/Wavetable Synthesis

  6. If one of devices in the list are installed, double-click that device.
  7. Click to select the Disable in this hardware profile check box, and then click OK.
  8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until you disable all the Maestro sound devices.
  9. Click OK, and then restart the computer.
Check the status of the SideWinder USB game controller to determine if it is detected by the computer.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbHardware kbprb KB263682
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.