Gameport Driver

[lphvwbus]

I have a Inspirion 2600 laptop and recently I had to format and reinstall windows and all of my hardware drivers. (I had a corrupted C: drive) Everything seems to be fine, but then i noticed my plug and play MS sidewinder game pad (USB) wouldn't work. I checked device manager and found out that there was no standard gameport driver installed.. just the audio and video codecs. I tried manual installing the standard gameport driver, but then it told me I had a resource conflict (I/O) with the Motherboard resources with each basic configuration.. I checked the windows help and support and it told me that my only option was to figure out which motherboard resource it's conflicting with and disable it. There are multiple motherboard resources so I didn't know which to disable exactly, nor did I know if disabling it would mess things up... i think my audio card is made by Intel from the description of the driver (Intel AC'97 Audio Controller - SigmaTel Codec).

I just need a little advice on what I should do because my game pad worked before I was forced to reinstall my drivers. Besides the fact that I figured the drivers were dated, I haven't found any gameport drivers or updates available.

Oh and other controllers have worked on it, an older USB Microsoft gamepad, despite the lack of a gameport driver.

Thanks,
Frank

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

I have a Inspirion 2600 laptop and recently I had to format and reinstall windows and all of my hardware drivers. (I had a corrupted C: drive) Everything seems to be fine, but then i noticed my plug and play MS sidewinder game pad (USB) wouldn't work. I checked device manager and found out that there was no standard gameport driver installed.. just the audio and video codecs. I tried manual installing the standard gameport driver, but then it told me I had a resource conflict (I/O) with the Motherboard resources with each basic configuration.. I checked the windows help and support and it told me that my only option was to figure out which motherboard resource it's conflicting with and disable it. There are multiple motherboard resources so I didn't know which to disable exactly, nor did I know if disabling it would mess things up... i think my audio card is made by Intel from the description of the driver (Intel AC'97 Audio Controller - SigmaTel Codec).

I just need a little advice on what I should do because my game pad worked before I was forced to reinstall my drivers. Besides the fact that I figured the drivers were dated, I haven't found any gameport drivers or updates available.

Oh and other controllers have worked on it, an older USB Microsoft gamepad, despite the lack of a gameport driver.

Thanks,
Frank

This is your AC'97 Audio Driver, just follow Dell instructions to install,http://support.euro.dell.com/support...f ileid=43855
You may need to update the chipset driver, I'll check for it and post back if the Audio driver does not solve the problem.

Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

This is your AC'97 Audio Driver, just follow Dell instructions to install,http://support.euro.dell.com/support...f ileid=43855
You may need to update the chipset driver, I'll check for it and post back if the Audio driver does not solve the problem.

Hope this helps

Well, I tried that link and downloaded the drivers, but all that ended up happening was the current drivers were overwritten and it still doesn't recognize when the gamepad is plugged into the usb port. I'm pretty sure I have those same exact drivers on the cd that came with the laptop.. so I'm gonna go ahead and try and figure out something about the chipset driver as well.. thanks for trying though

Update: I tried chipset update and still no dice. It did improve my graphics driver though. The audio is as up to date as it's gonna get. I did figure something out though. When I went to manual install a gameport driver, instead of using the Standard gameport driver (the one that conflicts with the mother boards resources) I tried installing the one other driver called "Aureal Vortex Game port". That driver did NOT conflict, but once I had plugged in the gamepad, it showed up in device manager as "Microsoft Sidewinder (autodetect)" but with a exclaimation mark next to it. It was a code 10 error. So I was close to getting somewhere. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks again,

-Frank

-Frank

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Well, I tried that link and downloaded the drivers, but all that ended up happening was the current drivers were overwritten and it still doesn't recognize when the gamepad is plugged into the usb port. I'm pretty sure I have those same exact drivers on the cd that came with the laptop.. so I'm gonna go ahead and try and figure out something about the chipset driver as well.. thanks for trying though

Update: I tried chipset update and still no dice. It did improve my graphics driver though. The audio is as up to date as it's gonna get. I did figure something out though. When I went to manual install a gameport driver, instead of using the Standard gameport driver (the one that conflicts with the mother boards resources) I tried installing the one other driver called "Aureal Vortex Game port". That driver did NOT conflict, but once I had plugged in the gamepad, it showed up in device manager as "Microsoft Sidewinder (autodetect)" but with a exclaimation mark next to it. It was a code 10 error. So I was close to getting somewhere. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks again,

-Frank

-Frank

This is an explanation of Device manager error code 10 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310123/EN-US/

now that it is actually showing up in Device manager try to update the driver through Device manager, give permission to go online to search, You say you have the drivers on Disc, if so insert disc in cd drive, if it opens, just close and leave in drive. go to Device Manager and install that way, device manager will find and extract the driver automatically from the disc.

hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

This is an explanation of Device manager error code 10 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310123/EN-US/

now that it is actually showing up in Device manager try to update the driver through Device manager, give permission to go online to search, You say you have the drivers on Disc, if so insert disc in cd drive, if it opens, just close and leave in drive. go to Device Manager and install that way, device manager will find and extract the driver automatically from the disc.

hope this helps

Well I only have the chipset and audio drivers available... the plug and play controller didn't come with any software. I've updated the drivers I currently have many times with no result.. i've even found the most recent drivers available for both chipset and audio.. nothing.

What leads me to believe I need the computer to not conflict with the "standard gameport driver" is that though it doesn't conflict with the Aureal driver, the only result i get with that gameport driver is the code 10 (device cannot start)... i've updated the Microsoft Sidewinder (autodetect) and I allowed it to check windows update... it does it's thing but nothing happens.. says it's installed with a problem, device cannot start. There's still something weird about this, my computer used to autodetect the gamepad and install it without me having to go to game controllers in control panel and selecting "Add".. so that leads me to believe it's probably a case of the gameports compatibility with my particular controller. This is confusing..

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Well I only have the chipset and audio drivers available... the plug and play controller didn't come with any software. I've updated the drivers I currently have many times with no result.. i've even found the most recent drivers available for both chipset and audio.. nothing.

What leads me to believe I need the computer to not conflict with the "standard gameport driver" is that though it doesn't conflict with the Aureal driver, the only result i get with that gameport driver is the code 10 (device cannot start)... i've updated the Microsoft Sidewinder (autodetect) and I allowed it to check windows update... it does it's thing but nothing happens.. says it's installed with a problem, device cannot start. There's still something weird about this, my computer used to autodetect the gamepad and install it without me having to go to game controllers in control panel and selecting "Add".. so that leads me to believe it's probably a case of the gameports compatibility with my particular controller. This is confusing..

This programe will tell you all the drivers you have installed on your machine and in most cases where to get updates.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...entifier.shtml

Don't know if you have seen this but there are 2 chipset drivers, look through the list.http://support.euro.dell.com/support...&os=WW1&osl=EN

Also look at this from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;320554


Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

This programe will tell you all the drivers you have installed on your machine and in most cases where to get updates.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...entifier.shtml

Don't know if you have seen this but there are 2 chipset drivers, look through the list.http://support.euro.dell.com/support...&os=WW1&osl=EN

Also look at this from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;320554


Hope this helps

Yay! So it turns out that second chipset driver, O2Micro Cardbus Controller installed and it's once again recognizing the contoller when connected.. but there is still one problem... the gamepad won't calibrate now! The buttons show up okay, but I have yet to get the directional pad to show some response on the screen. I'm trying the static buildup check now to see if it might help. Oh and I've noticed I can disable that gameport driver and it doesn't effect the controller, leading me to believe its useless. I'm almost there!

Update: I was wrong, you need that gameport driver! Oh bother, back to the drawing board.. more exclaimation marks and less autodetecting...

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Yay! So it turns out that second chipset driver, O2Micro Cardbus Controller installed and it's once again recognizing the contoller when connected.. but there is still one problem... the gamepad won't calibrate now! The buttons show up okay, but I have yet to get the directional pad to show some response on the screen. I'm trying the static buildup check now to see if it might help. Oh and I've noticed I can disable that gameport driver and it doesn't effect the controller, leading me to believe its useless. I'm almost there!

Update: I was wrong, you need that gameport driver! Oh bother, back to the drawing board.. more exclaimation marks and less autodetecting...

With Intel you have to update the Chipset driver first before installing any other drivers, for some reason if you don't do this the drivers are not recognised, I would update all the drivers in the Sound, video and gameport that are shown useing the Device Manager install driver option,one at a time, creating a System Restore Point, before each installation.

Just one more thought, have you checked if there is a driver update for your Sidewinder available from Microsoft.

Update: there does'nt seem to be a driver listed for XP, i'll keep looking.

Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

With Intel you have to update the Chipset driver first before installing any other drivers, for some reason if you don't do this the drivers are not recognised, I would update all the drivers in the Sound, video and gameport that are shown useing the Device Manager install driver option,one at a time, creating a System Restore Point, before each installation.

Just one more thought, have you checked if there is a driver update for your Sidewinder available from Microsoft.

Update: there does'nt seem to be a driver listed for XP, i'll keep looking.

Hope this helps

Okay.. I'm starting believe it's not meant to work anymore. It's not working on the computer it would normally work on either (NOT the one I reinstalled windows). I must have been lucky when it was working momentarily on the reinstalled computer when I would plug it and unplug it and it would show up on in the game controller category. At first I thought I just messed up by removing the gameport thinking it's not necessary, but now that I find that it's not working with my other computer, I'm guessing it's just damaged or something.

One odd thing I did note that someone had wrote on another message board, sometimes shuting down and disconnecting has to be a little longer than a few minutes to get it to recognize again. I dunno if that has to do with the static or what.. just thought it was strange and wondered if it applied to my situation.

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Okay.. I'm starting believe it's not meant to work anymore. It's not working on the computer it would normally work on either (NOT the one I reinstalled windows). I must have been lucky when it was working momentarily on the reinstalled computer when I would plug it and unplug it and it would show up on in the game controller category. At first I thought I just messed up by removing the gameport thinking it's not necessary, but now that I find that it's not working with my other computer, I'm guessing it's just damaged or something.

One odd thing I did note that someone had wrote on another message board, sometimes shuting down and disconnecting has to be a little longer than a few minutes to get it to recognize again. I dunno if that has to do with the static or what.. just thought it was strange and wondered if it applied to my situation.

look at the link to Microsoft again, if you do not have another USB port, it says unplug and plugin 6-12 times.

Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

look at the link to Microsoft again, if you do not have another USB port, it says unplug and plugin 6-12 times.

Hope this helps

Yeah, I tried that. I guess this guy was also right about the length of time it takes for it to start recognizing the controller again. I left every driver freshly installed and updated over night, then I tried plugging in the controller to see if it would autodetect it.. and it did! So I'm back to that point that it'll autodetect it, but the directional pad doesn't respond, yet the buttons do. I'm wondering if i should open the controller to see if something is out of place.

Update: Well I think I've gathered the symptoms. *takes a deep breath* If left disconnected for a while, USB will start recognizing my controller. The buttons will work, but the directional pad won't. It'll stay recognized for a limited amount of time then randomly disappear when it feels like it.. maybe in like 5 minutes. If you take it out and put it back in, it'll show up again. Third time wasn't a charm though. When it randomly disconnected again.. it never came back. My guess is that this Aureal gameport driver isn't exactly compatible with my chipset/audio card (since it's not made by Aureal). Another proof of this is that whenever I manually "Add" the gamepad, I always get a Code 10 error (device cannot start). I'm also pretty sure it wasn't the driver I had before I had to reinstall windows. Sadly, the "standard gameport driver" gives me an I/O conflict with motherboard. The gamepad is compatible with my games and OS so that wouldn't be the problem. That's everything I know.

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Yeah, I tried that. I guess this guy was also right about the length of time it takes for it to start recognizing the controller again. I left every driver freshly installed and updated over night, then I tried plugging in the controller to see if it would autodetect it.. and it did! So I'm back to that point that it'll autodetect it, but the directional pad doesn't respond, yet the buttons do. I'm wondering if i should open the controller to see if something is out of place.

Well if your worried that you could mess the settings, just create a System restore Point just in case, and see if there is any any way to configure the settings in the gamepad itself. I,m not very clued up on gamepads. I'd post in the hardware section and see if anyone knows how to correct the fault.Windows seems to be set right now, so the problem must be in the gamepads settings.

Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

Well if your worried that you could mess the settings, just create a System restore Point just in case, and see if there is any any way to configure the settings in the gamepad itself. I,m not very clued up on gamepads. I'd post in the hardware section and see if anyone knows how to correct the fault.Windows seems to be set right now, so the problem must be in the gamepads settings.

Hope this helps

Thanks, I will post this in the case that it could be a hardward issue, but somehow I still have a hunch that it's a gameport driver issue... :-/

Edit: I am forgetting one thing though, it also would act strange on my other computer...grrrr...

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by lphvwbus

Thanks, I will post this in the case that it could be a hardward issue, but somehow I still have a hunch that it's a gameport driver issue... :-/

Been checking, it seems that XP does not have support drivers for the Sidewinder, only 95/98/2000, are supported. Lots of complaints
, take a look at this and read the reviews http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Si...4-2115541.html


Hope this helps

[lphvwbus]

Originally Posted by bookworm

Been checking, it seems that XP does not have support drivers for the Sidewinder, only 95/98/2000, are supported. Lots of complaints
, take a look at this and read the reviews http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Si...4-2115541.html


Hope this helps

LOL.. i've actually seen this before.. this post sums it up..

Microsoft ... Again
24-Mar-2004 08:55:56 PM
Reviewer: Chance

I've had my sidewinder for quite some time now. It worked fine until the wonderful windowsXP got itself corrupted through all the patching and updates, had to re-format my drives, lost all the software that WORKED BEFORE, Imagine my surprise when I Tried to download an updated version for my gamepad, and it tells me it no longer supports XP (thier newest OS, but supports the older OS systems???? Two words sum this up Corperate Greed, Trust me if my favorite stuff worked outside windows, I wouldn't bother putting any more money into gate's pockets.

Did I mention older Microsoft controllers (that are off the market) work on XP fine.. :-/