Flight Simulator 2000: Sidewinder Precision 2 Joystick Does Not Work Correctly (329552)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition, when used with:
    • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000, when used with:
    • Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2
This article was previously published under Q329552
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

If you try to use SideWinder Precision 2 to play Flight Simulator 2000, the joystick may not control the airplane. In Control Panel, the description of the joystick may appear in non-English characters, which look similar to the Wingdings font.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, remove and then reinstall Flight Simulator and SideWinder Precision 2, and then manually assign actions to the joystick. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: This procedure does not resolve the non-English characters in the joystick description. There is currently no resolution for this behavior.

Part 1: Use a Clean Boot to Restart Your Computer

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the following check boxes:

    • Process SYSTEM.INI File
    • Process WIN.INI File
    • Load Startup Items
    The Use Original BOOT.INI check box is unavailable.
  4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  5. Click OK, and then click Restart to restart your computer.

Part 2: Remove the Flight Simulator Software

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
  3. On the Currently installed programs list, click Flight Simulator 2000, and then click Remove or Change/Remove.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the removal process.

Part 3: Install Flight Simulator to a Different Folder and Then Restart the Game

  1. Insert the Flight Simulator CD into the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive. Hold down the SHIFT key to prevent the program from starting automatically.
  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
  4. In the left pane, click Add New Programs.
  5. In the right pane, click CD or Floppy.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to start the installation process.
  7. When the program prompts you to enter the installation destination folder, select a folder other than the one that you used when you first installed the game.
  8. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
  9. When the installation process is complete, try to use your keyboard to control the game.

    The keyboard control works successfully.

Part 4: Remove the SideWinder Software

  1. In Control Panel, use Add or Remove Programs to remove the SideWinder software. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
    2. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
    3. On the Currently installed programs list, click Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2, and then click Remove.
    4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the removal process.
  2. Remove the Flight Simulator registry keys. To do this, follow these steps. WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
    3. In Registry Editor, locate and then right-click the following registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator

    4. Click Delete.
    5. When the program prompts you to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
    6. Repeat steps c through e to delete the following registry keys:
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Gaming Input Devices HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Gaming Input Devices
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\joystick\all subkeys
    7. Quit Registry Editor.
  3. Remove the Flight Simulator folders. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Start Windows Explorer.
    2. Locate, and then right-click the following folder:

      C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2000

    3. Click Delete.
    4. When the program prompts you to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
    5. Repeat steps b through d to delete the following folder:

      C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Game Controllers

Part 5: Install the SideWinder Software to a Different Folder

  1. Press SHIFT, and then insert the SideWinder CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
  4. In the left pane, click Add New Programs.
  5. In the right pane, click CD or Floppy.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to start the installation process.
  7. When the program prompts you to enter the installation destination folder, select a folder other than the one that you used when you first installed the game.
  8. Continue to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
  9. When the installation process is complete, plug in your SideWinder joystick.

Part 6: Check the Joystick Properties

  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Game Controllers.
  3. Verify that SideWinder appears under Controllers, and that the word OK appears under Status.

Part 7: Manually Assign Actions to the Joystick

  1. Start a new flight in Flight Simulator 2000.
  2. On the Options menu, point to Controls, and then click Assignments.
  3. To assign events to the buttons on the joystick, click the Buttons/Keys tab.

    To assign events to the axes on your game joystick, click the Joystick axes tab.
  4. In the Joystick type box, click SideWinder Precision 2.
  5. Under Event, click to select the line for an event that you want to assign to a button or to an axis on the joystick, and then click Change assignment.
  6. On the joystick, press the button or move the axis that you want to use for the action.

    If you receive a warning message that you have already assigned a different action to the joystick button or axis, click the green check mark to accept the new assignment, or click Clear to select a different button.
  7. After you manually assign events to the buttons and axes on the joystick, click the green check mark.
  8. Restart Flight Simulator, and then test the joystick.
  9. Quit, and then restart Flight Simulator.
  10. Test the joystick again.

Part 8: Return Your Computer from a Clean Boot State

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  3. On the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services.
  4. Click OK, and then click Restart to restart your computer.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB329552
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