MS Precision Steering Wheel- reliability issues?

This is going to sound quite weird. Let me preface by saying first that I probably get a minimum of 3hrs of racing each week. I don't consider myself abuse, rough-handling or reckless in a matter that would damage any game controller. I have two other USB devices, a SW game pad and a TM Afterburner joystick and they're running fine. I bought this wheel from a local Best Buy earlier this month. I can say wholeheartedly that I like this wheel a lot, compared to the beat-up TM Grand Prix I was using before. It is in my mind probably the best non-FF racing controller that can be bought for less than $70.00. But... I am on my *THIRD* wheel. The first two worked fine at first, then stopped working, were no longer detected by Win ME, and just disappeared from my gaming options screen. (GPL and N4 didn't see the wheel either) The first failed within hours, I thought it was a fluke and it went back to the store. The second wheel failed after two weeks. It too went back to Best Buy. They were happy to replace it (again) but I got a couple of questioning looks. Fearing another return attempt would not be met with open arms, I purchased their BS product replacement insurance ( a FIRST for me.) Two years guaranteed replacement cost me only ten bucks, so I should feel more at ease right? I don't. Even though the third and newest replacement wheel is running fine for now. Has anyone who races with this wheel experienced similar problems? I've been through the tech support run-around with MS when I was wrestling with the second wheel, and as I said before, my other USB game controllers work fine. I refuse to believe that it's me.

On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 01:08:23 -0600, Saturn S. Padua <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>This is going to sound quite weird. Let me preface by saying first >that I probably get a minimum of 3hrs of racing each week. I don't >consider myself abuse, rough-handling or reckless in a matter that >would damage any game controller. I have two other USB devices, a SW >game pad and a TM Afterburner joystick and they're running fine. > >I bought this wheel from a local Best Buy earlier this month. I can >say wholeheartedly that I like this wheel a lot, compared to the >beat-up TM Grand Prix I was using before. It is in my mind probably >the best non-FF racing controller that can be bought for less than >$70.00. But... > >I am on my *THIRD* wheel. > >The first two worked fine at first, then stopped working, were no >longer detected by Win ME, and just disappeared from my gaming options >screen. (GPL and N4 didn't see the wheel either) The first failed >within hours, I thought it was a fluke and it went back to the store. > >The second wheel failed after two weeks. It too went back to Best Buy. >They were happy to replace it (again) but I got a couple of >questioning looks. Fearing another return attempt would not be met >with open arms, I purchased their BS product replacement insurance ( a >FIRST for me.) Two years guaranteed replacement cost me only ten >bucks, so I should feel more at ease right? I don't. Even though the >third and newest replacement wheel is running fine for now. > >Has anyone who races with this wheel experienced similar problems? >I've been through the tech support run-around with MS when I was >wrestling with the second wheel, and as I said before, my other USB >game controllers work fine. > >I refuse to believe that it's me.

I've had the same wheel for over a year with no problems. Except the one you describe above happend to me the other day when I installed Collin Mcrae 2.0. Apparently it overwrites the HID.dll and gives the exact same symptom you describe. The fix was to copy the HID.dll from the Win98 cdrom back to the system folder (Idon't have ME). Your problem sounds like a software problem and not the wheel itself.

Same story here as Jagg, no problems until I installed Colin McRae 2, then the wheel suddenly disappeared from the controllers list. In my case I was able to determine the wheel couldn't be faulty by trying it on a second PC, where of course it worked fine. Do you have Colin McRae 2? "Saturn S. Padua" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > This is going to sound quite weird. Let me preface by saying first<snip> > game controllers work fine. > > I refuse to believe that it's me.

On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 12:12:30 GMT, "Simon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote: >Same story here as Jagg, no problems until I installed Colin McRae 2, then >the wheel suddenly disappeared from the controllers list. In my case I was >able to determine the wheel couldn't be faulty by trying it on a second PC, >where of course it worked fine. It's amazing that this slipped through testing. The dweeb I contacted at Codemasters through email denied there was such a problem until I proved it to him.

On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 08:54:29 GMT, Jagg <[email hidden]> wrote: >I've had the same wheel for over a year with no problems. Except the >one you describe above happend to me the other day when I installed >Collin Mcrae 2.0. Apparently it overwrites the HID.dll and gives the >exact same symptom you describe. The fix was to copy the HID.dll from >the Win98 cdrom back to the system folder (Idon't have ME). Your >problem sounds like a software problem and not the wheel itself. That's what I thought at first as well, but I've been through a very prolonged dance with MS tech support. They had me not only unistall the sidewinder software, we removed all HID-devices, deleted all USB hubs and controllers, got rid of all USB, HID and joystick references from the system registry. All done within the confines of safe-mode. Upon restart, everything reinstalled and all my game controllers were re-detected except for the Precision Wheel. Besides, if it truly was a software/driver issue and the controller hardware was not faulty...shouldn't I still have the same problems with the third wheel as I did with it's predecessors? Maybe I will. I honestly hope not.

**** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com **** Personally, I find the Best Buy 2 year replacement policy @ $10 to be an automatic purchase for controllers. I've bought it, and used it enough to make it pay for itself. The lead-times for repairs from some of these manufacturers is reason enough, not to mention the $10 is about, or less than, the shipping cost to send it out to the MFR one time. I think it's a good deal. The odds are, a controller will break at least once within 2 years if played hard. -Larry "Jagg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 01:08:23 -0600, Saturn S. Padua > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >This is going to sound quite weird. Let me preface by saying first > >that I probably get a minimum of 3hrs of racing each week. I don't > >consider myself abuse, rough-handling or reckless in a matter that > >would damage any game controller. I have two other USB devices, a SW > >game pad and a TM Afterburner joystick and they're running fine. > > > >I bought this wheel from a local Best Buy earlier this month. I can > >say wholeheartedly that I like this wheel a lot, compared to the > >beat-up TM Grand Prix I was using before. It is in my mind probably > >the best non-FF racing controller that can be bought for less than > >$70.00. But... > > > >I am on my *THIRD* wheel. > > > >The first two worked fine at first, then stopped working, were no > >longer detected by Win ME, and just disappeared from my gaming options > >screen. (GPL and N4 didn't see the wheel either) The first failed > >within hours, I thought it was a fluke and it went back to the store. > > > >The second wheel failed after two weeks. It too went back to Best Buy. > >They were happy to replace it (again) but I got a couple of > >questioning looks. Fearing another return attempt would not be met > >with open arms, I purchased their BS product replacement insurance ( a > >FIRST for me.) Two years guaranteed replacement cost me only ten > >bucks, so I should feel more at ease right? I don't. Even though the > >third and newest replacement wheel is running fine for now. > > > >Has anyone who races with this wheel experienced similar problems? > >I've been through the tech support run-around with MS when I was > >wrestling with the second wheel, and as I said before, my other USB > >game controllers work fine. > > > >I refuse to believe that it's me. > > I've had the same wheel for over a year with no problems. Except the > one you describe above happend to me the other day when I installed > Collin Mcrae 2.0. Apparently it overwrites the HID.dll and gives the > exact same symptom you describe. The fix was to copy the HID.dll from > the Win98 cdrom back to the system folder (Idon't have ME). Your > problem sounds like a software problem and not the wheel itself.

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Un-install and re-install Colin McRae 2 and see what happens. "Saturn S. Padua" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 08:54:29 GMT, Jagg <[email hidden]> wrote: > > That's what I thought at first as well, but I've been through a very > prolonged dance with MS tech support. They had me not only unistall > the sidewinder software, we removed all HID-devices, deleted all USB > hubs and controllers, got rid of all USB, HID and joystick references > from the system registry. All done within the confines of safe-mode. > Upon restart, everything reinstalled and all my game controllers were > re-detected except for the Precision Wheel. > > Besides, if it truly was a software/driver issue and the controller > hardware was not faulty...shouldn't I still have the same problems > with the third wheel as I did with it's predecessors? > > Maybe I will. I honestly hope not.

On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 11:45:40 -0600, Saturn S. Padua <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>That's what I thought at first as well, but I've been through a very >prolonged dance with MS tech support. They had me not only unistall >the sidewinder software, we removed all HID-devices, deleted all USB >hubs and controllers, got rid of all USB, HID and joystick references >from the system registry. All done within the confines of safe-mode. >Upon restart, everything reinstalled and all my game controllers were >re-detected except for the Precision Wheel.

I don't know. I tried the Microsoft method that I found in the knowledge base and it didn't fix it for me either. Reinstalling the older HID.dll from the Win98 cd did. Try that and see if it works. You need to put your copy of Win98/ME in the cdrom drive, then go to run and type "msconfig", go to accessories\system tools on your start menu, start Microsoft System Information applet, click tools then system file checker, select "extract one file from disk, make sure it points to your cdrom drive and Windows folder on the cdrom (where the cab files are), then type "HID.DLL". Skip the backup (unless you are paranoid) and then have it resore the file. Reboot and see if your wheel works now.

FWIW, I use a Thrustmaster 360 modena pro wheel. It has worked like a dream. .......until I recently installed the Colin McRae 2 demo. I went back to my usual racing sims and pfffttt! Wheel no longer recognised by the system despite reinstalling it several times. Ended up removing all old traces of USB and thrustmaster devices and reloading Win98 to overcome the problem. Removed CM2 and no problems again since. Go figure..... Menders On Mon, 26 Feb 2001 12:12:30 GMT, "Simon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Same story here as Jagg, no problems until I installed Colin McRae 2, then >the wheel suddenly disappeared from the controllers list. In my case I was >able to determine the wheel couldn't be faulty by trying it on a second PC, >where of course it worked fine. > >Do you have Colin McRae 2? > >"Saturn S. Padua" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> This is going to sound quite weird. Let me preface by saying first ><snip> >> game controllers work fine. >> >> I refuse to believe that it's me. >

I think I have the answer to your Microsoft Precision Steering Wheel problem. I too had problems with the controller disappearing from the control panel. After the same problem on 2 different wheels I called Microsoft. Surprisingly, I got through rather quickly! I was told to unplug the controller from the USB port and to insert a metal object like a paper clip into the end of the cable connector and move it around. I thought that the tech was nuts - but it worked! Every now and then, I will loose the controller in the control panel and this trick works every time. Other than this peculiarity, I love the wheel. Try it... bmw

What settings are people using with their MSFF wheel in GPL? I'm Torque 750 Damping 600 latency 0.005 regards Mikey ""Tyler Wester"" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:000f01c0a06b$a4299fb0$0301a9c0@wwclient2... I think I have the answer to your Microsoft Precision Steering Wheel problem. I too had problems with the controller disappearing from the control panel. After the same problem on 2 different wheels I called Microsoft. Surprisingly, I got through rather quickly! I was told to unplug the controller from the USB port and to insert a metal object like a paper clip into the end of the cable connector and move it around. I thought that the tech was nuts - but it worked! Every now and then, I will loose the controller in the control panel and this trick works every time. Other than this peculiarity, I love the wheel. Try it... bmw

On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 11:28:52 -0000, ""Tyler Wester"" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

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>news:000f01c0a06b$a4299fb0$0301a9c0@wwclient2... >I think I have the answer to your Microsoft Precision Steering Wheel >problem. I too had problems with the controller disappearing from the >control panel. After the same problem on 2 different wheels I called >Microsoft. Surprisingly, I got through rather quickly! I was told to >unplug the controller from the USB port and to insert a metal object like a >paper clip into the end of the cable connector and move it around. I >thought that the tech was nuts - but it worked! Every now and then, I will >loose the controller in the control panel and this trick works every time. > >Other than this peculiarity, I love the wheel.

A paper clip fix? I can't think of a stranger solution- and I'm surprised the MS support dude I was swappin' email with for over a week never suggested that. Could it be that a huge batch of these wheels shipped with shotty USB plugs? Seems unlikely... But I'll take your word for it. Thanks for the heads-up. <goes looking for a paper clip to tape to his wheel>

Don't leave the paper clip attached to the connector on the cable - just use it to de-staticize? the controller, then plug the controller cable back into the USB port. I unplug the controller cable from the computer USB port, then use a metal object like a paper clip and insert it into the cable connector and move it around. Then plug the cable back into the USB port. Strange, but works. bmw

<shakes fist at his post-dropping news server> Thanks again to all that responded regarding my SW Precision peculiarities... After a week of heavy use, it's still working properly. Although I now have to explain why there's a readied paper clip taped on the side of my wheel. :-)