How to Troubleshoot a Gameport Joystick

ID: q141854

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article describes troubleshooting steps you can use if there is no response from your joystick, there is no Joystick tool in Control Panel, or Device Manager reports the following status:

The device is not present, not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed.

Code 10


MORE INFORMATION

If the Gameport Joystick is not detected by Microsoft Windows, or Device Manager reports that the device is not present, not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed, or there is no response from the joystick, follow these steps:

  1. Start the computer without the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files as real-mode device drivers may conflict with the Windows 95/98 drivers and may disable the port.

    To start the computer without the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files, follow these steps:

    1. Use the appropriate method below for your version of Windows.

      Microsoft Windows 95

      Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Step-By-Step Confirmation from the Startup menu.

      Microsoft Windows 98

      Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Step-By-Step Confirmation from the Startup menu.


    2. Press ENTER.


    3. Press Y to confirm loading everything EXCEPT the following:

      • Process your startup device file (Config.sys)
      • Process your startup configuration file (Autoexec.bat)


    4. Press N so that these two lines do not load.




  2. Remove the Gameport Joystick from Device Manager and then add it.

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


    2. Double-click System, and then click the Device Manager tab.


    3. Double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers.


    4. Check for a Gameport Joystick. If one exists, click it, and then click Remove.


    5. Click OK.


    6. Click Close.


    To add the Gameport Joystick, or if there is no Gameport Joystick entry, run the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. If the Gameport Joystick device is not detected automatically, you can add it manually.

    To use the Add New Hardware Wizard detect the Gameport Joystick, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


    2. Double-click Add New Hardware, and then follow the instructions on the screen.



    If the joystick is not detected, manually add the Gameport Joystick driver. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


    2. Double-click Add New Hardware.


    3. Click No, and then click Next.


    4. In the Hardware Types list, click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, and then click Next.


    5. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Models box, click Gameport Joystick, and then click Next.


    6. Click Next.


    7. Click Finish.


    8. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.




  3. Make sure the Gameport Joystick is working at the MS-DOS level. To do this, attempt to use the joystick in an MS-DOS-based program. Refer to the program's documentation for information about how to configure the joystick.



  4. Refer to the sound or game card's documentation to verify that the jumpers on the card are set correctly. The game port may be disabled if the jumpers are set incorrectly.

    Game ports are often enabled or disabled by setting jumpers on the card. You may need to open the computer and verify the jumper settings on the card to make sure the game port is enabled. Consult the card's documentation for the correct settings.

    If the sound or game card is software configurable, you may be able to enable or disable the game port by running the card's configuration utility. Consult the card's documentation for additional information.



  5. Verify that only one game port or game card is enabled in the computer at one time.

    You can verify the number of game ports that are installed in your computer by taking note of the number of 15-pin female connectors at the back of your computer.

    There can be only one game port enabled in a computer at one time. Two or more game ports enabled in a computer conflict with each other because all game ports reside at the same I/O address (0201).

    The only way you can eliminate such a conflict is to disable one of the game ports, typically by changing a jumper setting on one of the cards, or by removing the conflicting card from the computer. Refer to your hardware documentation or manufacturer for instructions.

    Cards that typically have game ports are:




  6. Verify that there are no devices inside the computer other than the game port that use an I/O address of 0201.

    Any other card in the computer using this I/O address conflicts with the game port. To eliminate such a conflict, change the I/O address of the conflicting card. Cards that may conflict include:

    For information about how to change a card's I/O address, please refer to the card's documentation or manufacturer.

    To determine if there is a device inside the computer using an I/O address of 0201, view the resources used in the computer with Device Manager, and verify the settings of the hardware devices inside the computer.

    To view the resources used in the computer with Device Manger, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


    2. Double-click System, and then click the Device Manager tab.


    3. Click Computer in the device list, and then click Properties.


    4. Click Input/Output (I/O), and then scroll down to the 0201-0201 entry. Take note of the device using this I/O address.


    If a device is using this setting, you must change the I/O address used by the device or remove the device from the computer.

    To verify the settings of devices inside your computer, you must either open the computer and verify the jumper settings, or run the configuration utility for devices that are software configurable.



  7. If Windows still does not detect the game port, or Device Manager displays an error status for the Gameport Joystick, there may be a problem with the hardware itself. You may need to contact the manufacturer of the card for assistance.



REFERENCES

For more information about solving problems related to SideWinder Game Controllers, use the SideWinder Game Controllers Troubleshooter located at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/hardware/sidewinder/swtshoot/

Additional query words: side winder tshoot 


Keywords          : kbenv kbhw sidewinder kbimu 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 30, 1999