I have a Microsoft Sidewinder 3DPro joystick which comes up as "Not Connected" under Windows XP. This is a gameport joystick, I plug in the 3DPro into my Creative Live! soundcard gameport, go to game controllers and have it auto-detect my sidewinder product, and it finds it but shows as "not connected". I've played with the one dot/two dot switch on the joystick. I've downloaded the driver file sw3Dpro.vxd and put it in the Windows\System directory. I've tried downloading and running the 3.02 software for sidewinder, but the installation aborts because that software isn't XP compatible. According to Microsoft's Sidewinder support page, the joystick is supported... http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/SWUpdate/default.asp a subpage concerning gameport devices says this: "The SideWinder software (version 3.02) included with these SideWinder game port devices is designed to work with Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98. If you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP, the operating system includes device drivers for these game controllers listed above, so the device will function properly on both Windows 2000 and Windows XP. However, the accompanying SideWinder software (version 3.02 or any previous version) will not function, so you will not be able to create profiles for these devices using the SideWinder software on Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Microsoft is not planning to update the SideWinder software (version 3.02) for game port devices. " If anyone else out there has found a solution that actually WORKS on Windows XP Pro, please let me know. I don't care about the custom profile bit, I just want the thing to work so I can play Combat Flight Simulator... it worked fine on Windows 98, of course. BTW: I also have a Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel, and it works fine with XP. You are welcome to e-mail me at imcampbe@hotmail.com if you have any information. Thanks Ianski

I am having the exact same problem with my Sidewinder 3D Pro "not connected" yet it is and works redefined. I have gone throught the same senario, but as yet a have not found a solution. If you come up with one, please let me know. I'll do the same. Thanks, Bob Coplin coplin@direcpc.com

Same for me. It's frustrating to have everything working in the Control Panel only to have the joystick stop working after just a few minutes. Could it be conflicts with other Windows devices?

Just discovered the same problem using the Sidewinder 3D Pro with the game port under Windows XP. I went to control panel, selected game controllers, and removed the sidewinder autodetect controller. I then selected the 6-button joystick w/POV and throttle controller option and then ran calibration with the tab selector on the front of the joystick base set to dot # 1. Except for button options 5 and 6 it seems to work.

Let me add my voice to the chorus of those who need thos problem solved!

I had the same problem too. i "fixed" it by using 6 button joysick with pod and rudders/pedals instead of sidewinder(automatic recongnition)

Hi Guys I went to Control Panel, game controllers, chose Add, selected Microsoft Sidewinder (Auto Detect) and it detected and installed my 3D Pro just fine - calibration works too on all buttons...