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How to Troubleshoot a GamePort Joystick

Last reviewed: September 18, 1997
Article ID: Q141854
The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro version 1.0

SUMMARY

This article describes troubleshooting steps you can use if there is no response from your joystick, there is no
Joystick icon 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 Windows 95, 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, perform
the following steps:

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

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

a. Restart the computer. Press the F8 key when you see the "Starting

Windows 95" message.

b. Select Step-By-Step Confirmation and then press ENTER.

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

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

Press N so that these two lines do not load.

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

a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control

Panel.

b. Double-click the System icon and then click the Device Manager

tab.

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

d. Check for a GamePort Joystick. If one exists, Click it and then

click Remove.

e. Click OK.

f. 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 have the Add New Hardware Wizard detect the GamePort Joystick, follow these steps:

a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then Click Control

Panel.

b. Double-click Add New Hardware and follow the instructions on the

screen.

If the joystick is not detected, manually add the GamePort Joystick driver. To manually configure
Windows 95 for the GamePort Joystick, follow these steps:

a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control

Panel.

b. Double-click Add New Hardware.

c. Click No, and then click Next.

d. In the Hardware Types list, click Sound, Video, And Game

Controllers, and then click Next.

e. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Models box, click

GamePort Joystick, and then click Next.

f. Click Next.

g. Click Finish.

h. Click Yes to shut down and restart your computer.

3.Verify that the GamePort Joystick is working at the MS-DOS level. To do so, try to use the joystick in
an MS-DOS-based program. Refer to the program's documentation for information about configuring 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 card is software configurable, you may be able to enable to
disable the game port by running the card's configuration utility.
Consult the card's documentation for additional information.


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

You can verify the number of game ports that you have 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 (0201h). The only way
you can eliminate such a conflict is to disable one of the game ports, usually by changing a jumper setting on one
of the cards, or by removing the conflicting card from the computer. Consult your hardware documentation or
manufacturer for instructions.

Cards that typically have game ports are:

- Sound cards
- Multi-I/O cards
- Video cards
- Dedicated game cards

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

Any other card in the computer using I/O address 0201h will conflict with the game port. To eliminate such a
conflict, change the I/O address of the conflicting card. Card that may conflict include:

- Modems
- Scanner controller cards
- CD-ROM controllers cards

For information about changing a card's I/O address, please consult the card's documentation or manufacturer.

To determine if there is a device inside the computer using an I/O address of 0201h, 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:

a. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control

Panel.

b. Double-click System and then click the Device Manager tab.

c. Click Computer in the device list and then click Properties.

d. Click Input/Output (I/O) and scroll down to the 0201-0201h

setting. 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.

If Windows 95 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.

Please let me know how things worked out for you.

Thanx for the help smeebud....i just can't get this stupid thing to boot up with F8 to start step by step configuration. I never see a "starting windows 95" message. I keep pressing F8 through the whole boot up process and can never get to that point... any thoughts on that?  Again...thanx for the help..but haven't yet figured it out!!!

On some fast computers, the "Starting MS-DOS..." message
may flash on the screen too quickly to allow you to
press the F5 or F8 function key.

If you have problems getting your computer to respond to the F5 and F8 function keys, make sure the following
lines are not in your CONFIG.SYS file:

switches=/f     Skips the 2-second delay after displaying the
"Starting MS-DOS ..." message during startup.

switches=/n     Prevents you from using the F5 or F8 key to bypass
startup commands.

Or you may have to alter your MSDOS.SYS.
----
First, configure your system to boot to DOS: At you Dos Prompt type; ATTRIB -H -S -R -S
MSDOS.SYS, then type Edit MSDOS.SYS.
Add the following lines to the [Options] section of the file, if these lines do not already exist:
BootMulti=1
BootWin=0
5.Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
attrib c:\msdos.sys +s +h +r +a
6.Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.
7.Restart your computer.
When you restart your computer, your previous version of MS-DOS is started by default. To boot
Windows 95, press the F4 or F8 key shortly before you see the "Starting MS-DOS" message.
For A Handy Boot Menu With Options So You have Control Over Your Bootup:
Try it, you'll like it!!
[Options]
BootGUI=0
BootKeys=1
BootMenu=1
LOGO=0
BootDelay=0