FFB2 USB Software XP won't Load

[84cb750sc]

Good Day,
I have had CFS software for years on several different computers. This newest XP Media Edition will accept the Joystick but the Joystick software stalls out on Step 1. The compatibility wizard got me to the stage to correctly load CFS, with the exception of the Disc in Drive to run the game, but no Joy on the Stick software. I have chased numerous sites for details, all in vain. Any secrets to this short of Dual Boot?
Thanks in advance,
Dale M.

[Limy]

Hi,
I've loaded 2 joysticks (saitek & MS Sidewinder )with XP Media Centre Edition, 2002, SP3.
No problems.
Limy

[safn1949]

I had to look to make sure but I never loaded the software,I just let the game recognize the joystick. Give that a try and see if the stick will work.I used microsoft sidewinder sticks for years,I like them but they are a real pain,very buggy.Get a logitech,it will work much better for you.:friday:

[Johnny]

~S~ Limy,

Nice to see you, we have all missed you at the AAC. We are all sorry for your loss. If you need anything, shoot me an e-mail,

Johnny

[Buddha13]

Hi all,
After 12 months of not having CFS1 on my machines with Vista due to the Joystick problem. I came across my old backup DVD.Just copied the dvd back over and started CFS1.It asked me if I wanted to alter my joystick.I said no and it now works fine.

Buddha13

[smilo]

Hi all,
After 12 months of not having CFS1 on my machines with Vista due to the Joystick problem. I came across my old backup DVD.Just copied the dvd back over and started CFS1.It asked me if I wanted to alter my joystick.I said no and it now works fine.

Buddha13

glad to hear it.
now all you have to do is come fly with us on Sunday's.
we presently have 3 pilots from the UK, 1 from
Sweden and a couple/3 Canadians flying with us Yanks.
all in all, 14 pilots today, trying to bust those Rhur Dams.

[safn1949]

And of course I went and tried cfs1 and the joystick wont work,I have vista,the latest vista driver for the Logitech,in settings it sees the stick but it doesn't work when I try to fly.....I kinda wanted to go dambusting.:help:

[Johnny]

~S~ All,

With Vista you have to manually assign your joystick buttons etc.. and never believe the notice that your joystick has changed. Vista lies.

j:friday::ernae:

[safn1949]

~S~ All,

With Vista you have to manually assign your joystick buttons etc.. and never believe the notice that your joystick has changed. Vista lies.

j:friday::ernae:

Here's the problem,when I go to assign my joystick there's nothing there.It shows during configuration ok but there is only the keyboard and mouse shown in the assignment window.I would really like to be able to fly this game again so if anyone has any ideas I'm all ears.

[hubbabubba]

Hullo safn1949

I'm not sure that I can fix your problem, as I am still under W98SE, but I would like to give it a shake.

First, I want you to get in your CFS1 folder and to open your COMBATFS.CFG file with a plain TXT program. Then, I want you to copy n' paste everything you will find under the section entitled
[Controls], title included, on this thread, like this;

[Controls]
LastJoystickName=Logitech Force 3D Pro USB
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=0
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=5130
PAN_RATE=400

This is mine. Now, show me yours.

Then, will go next step...

[safn1949]

[Controls]
LastJoystickName= 
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=1
PAN_RATE=400

here it is

[safn1949]

I went ahead and did a clean install,this is the cfg from it.

[Controls]
LastJoystickName=ø
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=1
PAN_RATE=400

[hubbabubba]

My wife graciously gave me permission to dabble in her Vista laptop, which is no small feat:faint:...

This is the section I get;

[CONTROLS]
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=5130
PAN_RATE=400
LastJoystickName=4˜Äwøò 







First of all, only the "LastJoystickName=" entry seems to cause problem, so let's concentrate on that one.

When my wife let me get close again to her cherished laptop, I will attempt some new experiments. What I found interesting though is that; 1) you can see your joystick in the SETTINGS > Game Controllers section;
2) you can assigned functions to your stick under SETTINGS > Customize Controls section. This way, I was able to get my guns firing with my stick trigger. Unfortunately, there's no way to assign stick movements.

I tried the compatibility trick, but no joy.

You would think that M$ being the owner of CFS1 and Vista, they would have found a solution and posted it in their "knowledge base" by now....

I guess there's not enough profit in doing so...

One final observation for now; it looks like Vista is treating USB connexions differently than W98SE. I was not asked to install drivers when I plugged my stick in it and the mention "USB" does not appear after "Logitech Force 3D Pro" in the window. Strange...:typing:... let's see...

[safn1949]

I went into the compatability wizard and set the program back to 98/ME and ran it,it is rewriting the cfg file.
[Controls]
LastJoystickName=T
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=5130
PAN_RATE=400

and you will notice that the setting in red has changed and force feedback is enabled,however the stick is not a forcefeedback stick.

[safn1949]

[Controls]
LastJoystickName=ø
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=1
PAN_RATE=400


This is the vista cfg,I moved it down for comparison.Ok,it only rewrites if you try to apply any compatability settings,like XP of 98,see below

[Controls]
LastJoystickName=p0kLï
force_master_gain=10000
force_master_enabled=1
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
force_machinegun_enabled=1
force_bulletdamage_enabled=1
force_rocket_enabled=1
force_bomb_enabled=1
force_flak_enabled=5130
PAN_RATE=400

[hubbabubba]

Don't bother too much about "force something" entries, as they only apply to force-feedback sticks like mine. The evil lies in "LastJoystickName" entry:angryfir:.

It constantly changes and, I think, it is the source from wich COMBATFS.exe takes its info.

[safn1949]

I tried a bunch of times to get it to change and it seems like it will only change when you change compatibility settings.I even said yes when it asked me if I wanted to change my settings in the game and the cfg file stayed the same for me.Thru all of this the stick never showed up in the customize control window.It's very strange,the stick also doesn't show up under game controllers in control panel, device manager,sound,video and game controllers.I guess that's just Vista.Perhaps we could make the cfg file read only if we can get the stick to work,I don't know.I would guess the game writes to the cfg file when you do different things in the game so read only wouldn't work.

[hubbabubba]

Perhaps we could make the cfg file read only if we can get the stick to work,

This is exactly the experiment I had in mind.

Result= :faint:

The game was asking me to change the game controller, that was correctly spelled for once, but was still unable to recognize it in game.

I'm giving up...:isadizzy:

One thing is certain; I will not buy a Vista system when times come. What a piece of !!!

Johnny, your turn:argue:

[safn1949]

Honestly this is the only problem with Vista I have had,thanks for your help,if we can get this solved a lot of people will get happy.:friday:

[IndianaHarvey]

What about CFS 2 or 3, does Vista recognize the joystick? Seems like CFS 1 and Vista just doesn't work, at least not for me.

[safn1949]

Works fine in cfs2 and 3 and IL46,it's just cfs1

[safn1949]

Johnny,I didn't understand your post so I went looking and yahoo,you do have to manually enter every joystick assignment.The hard ones are the view assignments,but it works!

[smilo]

if I am reading this right, the problem has been solved. yes?
if so, may I ask that you take the time to write a step by step in the simplest of terms so that others will be able to follow.


well done!!! :woot:

[safn1949]

The trick is go to settings,customize controls,assignments.
You have to enter all of your rudder axis',throttle axis,elevator axis,views,etc manually.
You have to click on device and assign for each one and hit the button on your joystick that you want to assign for each one.
Elevator up...hit assign and pull the stick back to set it and so on.
It will not set anything by itself and when you have it set the way you want,and you are exiting out,it will say the stick has changed and do you want to reset,SAY NO or you will have to do it all over again.
It will ask that a lot,just say no and ignore it.

Any questions feel free to email me or ask me here.A big thanks to all who tried to get this going.:friday:

[Deadmeat1971]

I've just gotten done figured this out for my new gamepad anyway. Although, I can't take the full credit for this trick. Someone from here did had an old post about taking the original configuration from an XP installed and placed under the Vista installed to make it work.

My goal was to insure for someone, who hasn't have XP or 98SE to begin with, can still enable the necessary function under Vista.. So here it goes:

Important: This was applied for a dual gamepad like a Playstation 2 or XBox style controller. In this case, I was using a GGE909 PC Recoil Pad manufactured by Philips.


If you haven't yet, run Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator once in order to initialize its configuration file with the USB Dual Gamepad attached to the computer. Enter 'Free Flight' and select 'Fly Now' for a moment. Once you see the cockpit, you can now exit Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator.

Browse under you main Combat Flight Simulator (example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Combat Flight Simulator\) to search for COMBATFS (configuration file).

Open this configuration file referred as COMBATFS.cfg and scroll down until you reach this:

[Controls]

If it's there under [Controls], delete all the unusual name or symbols after the 'LastJoystickName=', including the LastJoystickName= as well.


Next, scroll down until you reach the following entries below:

[JOYSTICK_00]
LOCKED=0
TYPE=0
AXIS_FLAGS=0
[JOYSTICK_SLEW_00]
LOCKED=0
TYPE=0
AXIS_FLAGS=0


Replace the above entries with these entries below (by copy-and-paste):

[JOYSTICK_00]
LOCKED=0
TYPE=0
AXIS_FLAGS=15
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_AILERONS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=64
AXIS_NULL_00=36
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_ELEVATOR_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=64
AXIS_NULL_01=36
AXIS_EVENT_02=AXIS_THROTTLE_SET
AXIS_SCALE_02=127
AXIS_NULL_02=1
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_RUDDER_SET
AXIS_SCALE_03=64
AXIS_NULL_03=36
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=FLAPS_INCR
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=FLAPS_DECR
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=FIRE_ROCKET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=FIRE_ALL_GUNS
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_03=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=DROP_BOMB
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=VIEW_MODE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=SELECT_NEXT_TARGET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_08=NUMPAD7
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_09=NUMPAD1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_32=VIEW_FORWARD_UP/PAN_UP
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_32=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_33=VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT/PAN_UP_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_33=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_34=VIEW_RIGHT/PAN_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_34=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_35=VIEW_REAR_RIGHT/PAN_DOWN_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_35=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_36=VIEW_REAR/PAN_DOWN
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_36=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_37=VIEW_REAR_LEFT/PAN_DOWN_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_37=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_38=VIEW_LEFT/PAN_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_38=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_39=VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT/PAN_UP_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_39=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_40=VIEW_RESET
[JOYSTICK_SLEW_00]
LOCKED=0
TYPE=0
AXIS_FLAGS=11
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_SLEW_SIDEWAYS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=64
AXIS_NULL_00=36
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_SLEW_AHEAD_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=64
AXIS_NULL_01=36
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_SLEW_HEADING_SET
AXIS_SCALE_03=64
AXIS_NULL_03=36
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=SLEW_RESET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=PAN_RESET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=SLEW_ALTIT_PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=SLEW_ALTIT_MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=SLEW_PITCH_PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_05=SLEW_PITCH_MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=SLEW_BANK_MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=SLEW_BANK_PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_32=VIEW_FORWARD_UP/PAN_UP
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_32=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_33=VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT/PAN_UP_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_33=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_34=VIEW_RIGHT/PAN_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_34=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_35=VIEW_REAR_RIGHT/PAN_DOWN_RIGHT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_35=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_36=VIEW_REAR/PAN_DOWN
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_36=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_37=VIEW_REAR_LEFT/PAN_DOWN_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_37=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_38=VIEW_LEFT/PAN_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_38=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_39=VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT/PAN_UP_LEFT
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_39=1


That's it for now. Save it. Your gamepad should work (the important parts are the AXIS are enabled). You can change the BUTTON settings or delete the ones you don't have if necessary in the game itself. My advice to you is click 'No' everytime the game ask you 'Would you like reset the control assignments?' everytime it detect the joystick again under 'Settings'.