SideWinder: USB Controller Is Not Displayed in the Game Controller Tool (264248)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SideWinder Dual Strike
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder FreeStyle Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder game pad Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder game pad
  • Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Joystick 1.0 (USB)
  • Microsoft SideWinder Plug and Play game pad USB
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
  • Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
This article was previously published under Q264248

SYMPTOMS

When you connect one of the Microsoft SideWinder game controllers listed at the beginning of this article to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port in your computer, the game controller may not be displayed in the Game Controllers tool in Control Panel.

NOTE: The USB game controller is displayed in Device Manager in the Sound, video and game controllers branch.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Joystick.inf file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use all the following steps to replace the Joystick.inf file:
  1. Configure Microsoft Windows Explorer to show all files:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Folder Options.
    2. Click the View tab.
    3. In the Advanced settings box, click Show all files under Hidden files.
    4. Click OK.
  2. Rename the Joystick.inf file:
    1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
    2. In the Named box, type joystick.inf.
    3. In the Look in box, click My Computer.
    4. Click Find Now.
    5. If the Joystick.inf file in not found in the Windows\Inf folder, proceed to step 3.

      If the Joystick.inf file is found, right click the Joystick.inf file in the list of found files, and then click Rename.
    6. Type joystick.old, and then press ENTER.
    NOTE: The next step requires you to have the Microsoft Windows 98 CD-ROM available or a copy of the Windows 98 Cabinet (.cab) files installed on the hard disk of your computer. These steps do not work if you use a quick restore CD-ROM supplied by your computer manufacturer.

  3. Use System File Checker to extract a new Joystick.inf file:
    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type sfc, and then click OK.
    3. Click Extract one file from installation disk.
    4. In the Specify the system file you would like to restore box, type joystick.inf, and then click Start.
    5. In the Restore from box, type drive, where drive is the letter of the CD-ROM drive or the path where the Windows 98 cabinet files are located on the hard disk.
    6. In the Save file in box, type the following line, and then click OK

      drive:\windows\inf

      where drive is the letter of the hard disk on which Windows 98 is installed.
    7. If you are prompted to back up the existing file, click OK.

      If you are prompted with a message, stating that the backup folder does not exist, click Yes to create the backup folder.
    8. Click OK, and then click Close.
  4. Disconnect and reconnect the SideWinder USB controller to the USB port while the computer is running.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbdisplay kbHardware kbprb KB264248
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.