If you're running Windows XP (either Home or Pro), adapting a game port
device to USB is iffy at best, and probably won't give positive results.
Game port controllers are not fully supported in XP, and that's just a fact
of life as the industry moves to USB devices. Windows XP will recognize
game port controllers, but installs only minimal native drivers to recognize
the device and you won't be able to install the drives which originally came
with it. All manipulations must come from within the game itself either in
Options or by editing certain files like a playername.ini or core.ini. Game
port devices require a *.vxd format on the driver files, and that's the part
no longer supported.
If you're running a separate sound card instead of on-board, and if it is a
Creative Labs card, try turning down the hardware accleration in Control
Panel/Sounds and Audio Devices/Speakers settings/Advanced tab/Performance
tab. Usually a notch or two to the left will suffice.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft MVP - Windows XP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Thrustmaster 360 modena non-FF wheel, will not install via USB in my
> PC running WinME, when plugged into the gameport (ac'97) I lose 50%
> frame rate drop and corrupted crackly sound.
> Using DirectX8.1, new drivers for the AC'97, still no difference. The
> thrustmaster drivers CD is a joke - I have tried custom instal, just
> installing the gameport driver, but no difference. I have just tried
> installing the USB driver, but the wheel, although recognised by
> windows as soon as it is lugged in, hdoes not feature in the game
> controller interface. I have tried just the thrustmapper software,
> but that mankes no difference.
> I have tried installing from safe-mode, closing everything down, but
> nothing - surely others must have had this problem - what should I do
> next? I have found several otehr people have asked this question but
> there seems no solution. Is the sound card responsible for my woes?
> If so, how can't my machine find the USB driver software for the
> wheel when it is plugged in?
> Sorry, it's a lot of questions but I've exhausted myself trying to
> make sense of it - maybe one of you folks can come to my rescue?
> Rick
