Joystick problems

[frigatebird1]

Dear Wizards,

My Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 is playing up.

It either dosn't force feedback at all or it goes to that sitting on a pyramid mode.
I've tried to uninstall and reinstall numerous times and even restored my computer to it's original as new settings. Incidently, I just use it for FS2002.
Any ideas, or is it a case of taking it back to the shop?

[Andrew Cant]

frigatebird1,

This can be 3 things:
1. The MIDI port drivers for your sound card are not correctly installed (this is the port the joystick plugs into);
2. The drivers for your joystick are not installed/configured correctly;
3. Your joystick has developed a fault.

Hope this helps.

[Slasher]

I had exactley the same problem when I went to the same bloodey joy-stick. It froze a lot enabling 109s to blow me out of the sky. Threw it in the rubbish-bin a long frustrating week later, and reinstaled my old faithful Saitek. Japs and crouts havent been safe since! :)

[tony draper]

Hang your head in shame Mr S,being offed by a 109.
Tried every joystick there is over the years, got the Suncom Talon and split throttle now, good stuff.
Joysticks tend to have a finite lifetime due to all the mechanical stress, more to go wrong with those force feedback things, besides they always look like they belong on a starship rather that a Spit.
The Saitex stuff was ok, he throttle was fine but again the joystick looked like it was something found in the desert near Roswell. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">