Ah, yes! I've picked up one of these from my father. I was playing with mouse so far, and to be honest, after what I've been trough to try set up the thing, I'll probably go back to it.
Here's the thing, I have the wheel, it's in very good condition, nothing is broke, pedals and wheel aren't squeaking, physically it's perfect. So I install it on my desk, plug the pedals into the wheel the wheel itself into the computer via a USB port. I turn on the computer, it detects the new hardware, successfully "installs" it, says it's ready for use, no problem so far. At that point (I discovered that later), I could have just left it like this, pop up LFS and play, the only problem being that the brake and throttle are on the same axis, hardly what you'd call playable in LFS.
Anyway, I didn't do that, I just tried to install the MS Sidewinder drivers 4.0! First thing, you have to find the thing, which takes a good 15 minutes of searching trough the sub forum of the most sub forums of the net! After downloading these, I install the thing; problem : can't access the window that would have permitted me to separate the axis.
After a while, I discovered that the wheel being a no FF, I had to download another zip file, that even if it looks the same, doesn't have the same effect at all. So I install this other driver, access separate axis function, checks it, go into LFS only to find that it created another problem. At that point, the axis were indeed separated, but they pedals didn't react as pedals anymore, just as keyboard keys (full or nothing). The wheel itself was also IMPOSSIBLE to calibrate.
And that's how far I go, I have two "working options":
1. No drivers installed, the wheel is calibrated perfectly, but the brake and throttle are on the same axis.
2. Those drivers that allow me to separate the axis, but screw up the calibration and ability to gauge power on brake and throttle axis.
This obviously doesn't happen for no reason: windows discontinued the wheel in 2003 and haven't bothered making drivers that would make it compatible with XP (and subsequently Vista). The other problem I encounter is that it seems all "work arounds" only work with the FF version of the wheel. To be honest, I think I've reach the bottom of the tank, but I'd still like to ask it here (I've been tempted to post something here all day, in fact); does anybody know anything I don't? And does anybody own a Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel (no FF) that is currently fully working with LFS?
Thanks
P.S. I have indeed used the search function, and I know that there are already a couple of subject on this matter, but I just feel like they're either not answering anything, or only concerning the non FF version of the wheel.
Here's the thing, I have the wheel, it's in very good condition, nothing is broke, pedals and wheel aren't squeaking, physically it's perfect. So I install it on my desk, plug the pedals into the wheel the wheel itself into the computer via a USB port. I turn on the computer, it detects the new hardware, successfully "installs" it, says it's ready for use, no problem so far. At that point (I discovered that later), I could have just left it like this, pop up LFS and play, the only problem being that the brake and throttle are on the same axis, hardly what you'd call playable in LFS.
Anyway, I didn't do that, I just tried to install the MS Sidewinder drivers 4.0! First thing, you have to find the thing, which takes a good 15 minutes of searching trough the sub forum of the most sub forums of the net! After downloading these, I install the thing; problem : can't access the window that would have permitted me to separate the axis.
After a while, I discovered that the wheel being a no FF, I had to download another zip file, that even if it looks the same, doesn't have the same effect at all. So I install this other driver, access separate axis function, checks it, go into LFS only to find that it created another problem. At that point, the axis were indeed separated, but they pedals didn't react as pedals anymore, just as keyboard keys (full or nothing). The wheel itself was also IMPOSSIBLE to calibrate.
And that's how far I go, I have two "working options":
1. No drivers installed, the wheel is calibrated perfectly, but the brake and throttle are on the same axis.
2. Those drivers that allow me to separate the axis, but screw up the calibration and ability to gauge power on brake and throttle axis.
This obviously doesn't happen for no reason: windows discontinued the wheel in 2003 and haven't bothered making drivers that would make it compatible with XP (and subsequently Vista). The other problem I encounter is that it seems all "work arounds" only work with the FF version of the wheel. To be honest, I think I've reach the bottom of the tank, but I'd still like to ask it here (I've been tempted to post something here all day, in fact); does anybody know anything I don't? And does anybody own a Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel (no FF) that is currently fully working with LFS?
Thanks
P.S. I have indeed used the search function, and I know that there are already a couple of subject on this matter, but I just feel like they're either not answering anything, or only concerning the non FF version of the wheel.