Gamepad

[sri2000_uk]

My neighbour is running Me on her computer. She has a sidewinder USB joystick installed which works ok.

She has a "Propad 6" gamepad fitted to her Creative 128 gameport, the software is installed but when the joystick ikon is clicked in the control panel, it lists the propad 6 as present but not connected.

Has anyone any idea how to enable this item?

Many thanks

Jack

[Jenni]

Check her device manager under the Sound section and make sure her gameport is properly installed. Also, if the motherboard has onboard sound, either disable the onboard gameport, or hook the joystick up to it instead.

[sri2000_uk]

I have already looked in the device manager, it is not there. the gamepad used to be installed ok, this problem started after a format of the hard drive.
I have tried the "add new hardware" and it does not find it or list it in a list of hardware, yet it is there but not connected when the control panel joystick ikon is clicked. I have re-installed the software to no avail.
I know that there is a way around this but at the moment I am stumped.

Thank you

Jack

[Jenni]

I didn't say look for the joystick in the Device Manager, I said look for the gameport. The gamepad is never gonna work right if the gameport is having problems. The actual physical thing you plug the gamepad into is called a gameport, and it has to be listed under Sound, Video and Game Controllers (that's what Windows 2000 calls it anyway, may be a slightly different name in 98/ME, but the Sound category, whatever it is called). It has to be working ok. You can add joysticks/gamepads all day long, and if the port isn't working right, it will say "not connected".

[sri2000_uk]

Hi Jenni,
I will go down the road and do as you suggest, but it may have to wait until tomorrow, as myself and neighbour are going out today into the mountains of Wales.
Many thanks for your help
I will reply when I have investigated further.

Thanks again
Jack

[sri2000_uk]

I have tried your suggestions (Jenni) and still she has the same problem. I have tried re-installing the soundcard drivers but no improvement.
In system devices, it lists "Hid" devices but no gameport as such.
If I remember corectly, my own computer listed like that when I used to use Me, and my joystick etc had no problems.
I am tempted to suggest formatting the hard drive again, and starting from scratch.

Thanks again

Jack

[Jenni]

The "hid" device is the USB joystick. Windows should find your soundcard's gameport automatically. If it isn't, maybe you have a bad soundcard.

Other than a new soundcard, the easiest, cheapest solution is to buy a USB gamepad. The Gravis Gapmepad Pro USB is a good one.

[sri2000_uk]

Hi Jenni,
Many thanks for the replies. I will explain to my neighbour that it is almost certainly her soundcard which is at fault, and get her to invest in a new one.
To be honest her soundcard isn't brilliant anyway.

Thank you again for your help.

Best wishes

Jack