The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[Flak]

I already have this installed to charge an iPad when the system is on standby. My anecdotal evidence tells me this fixes nothing. The system still hangs on boot if xHCI is enabled and the joystick is connected (to any port) and if the joystick is connected after startup then the configuration utility will hang, and Windows itself will lock up on shutdown.

I have an ASUS x87 mobo, running Win7 x64.

I originally installed the Saitek drivers that came on the CD, and as soon as I did I had no end of problems. Couldn't shutdown, couldn't boot properly without a couple of 60 second delays during the process.

I then decided to install the latest version 7.x drivers from the Saitek web site. These looked a lot newer, so much be better right? Wrong! After installing those, I still had the issues, only slightly different.

After 2 whole evenings of installing/uninstalling and cleaning the registry, file system etc. without any luck, I sent Saitek a mail. They sent me an email with a different set of drivers (version 6.x). After installing these, the joystick started to work! I could even shutdown Windows without having to kill it.

I think the version 6.x drivers are the ones you get from Windows Update, but why would Saitek have drivers on their site that clearly didn't work? Maybe they work on other OSes, but on Win7 x64, they caused a lot of grief (at least for me).

The only problem I had after installing the 6.x drivers, was that I still got a 60 second 'pause' while booting into Windows. I toyed with re-installing Windows, but that's a huge hassle.

Some time last week, I installed a new vNidia driver with GeForce Experience, and my 60 second delay went! Strange as it was the installation of the Saitek drivers that started it all :S

 

[Asp Explorer]

That is one horrible amp, owned one of these when I first started, but in practice it can't compete with a drum kit, which makes it pointless other than for in your bedroom.

Errr not that we are going off topic or anything, ahem..

Oh I completely agree! Why else do you think I'd be running full-range PC sounds out of it I do classify it as a controller though - so still on topic. Sit on it, hit the boost, enjoy the jiggle

 

[Jack Schitt]

I think the version 6.x drivers are the ones you get from Windows Update, but why would Saitek have drivers on their site that clearly didn't work? Maybe they work on other OSes, but on Win7 x64, they caused a lot of grief (at least for me).

Not meaning to gloat at another's misfortune but I'm glad you had a similar experience I was beginning to think it was just me and the guys on the other forums who'd done something daft. Interestingly yours is not the first post to suggest v6 drivers as a possible solution. I might give that a try and see what happens because the xHCI workaround, painless though it is for my current setup, doesn't seem like a viable long-term solution.

Some time last week, I installed a new vNidia driver with GeForce Experience, and my 60 second delay went! Strange as it was the installation of the Saitek drivers that started it all :S

Hmm... nVidia GeForce here too, and used by many people in the other forums too I'd wager. I wonder if that's a common factor in at least some of the symptoms?

 

[n0ahg]

I have USB 3 external hard drives and USB 2 audio interfaces which are now fully working under Windows 8! The USB 3 external hard drivers were always flaky and only worked in USB 3 mode occasionally under Windows 7.

 

[SlinkyJim]

Just like to add my findings, Built my PC last month, my X52 Pro Joystick is about 6 years old but still in excellent condition.

My Motherboard is an Asus Z87 Pro Running Win7 x64bit when i ran the install CD that came with the MB i installed the Intel USB 3 drivers (didint realise i'd done it till i checked the hardware profiles).

After reading up regarding the issues, I have no USB 3 hub drivers installed at all now (check in your hardware section) I have since removed those (Add/Remove program section only) and am currently using the latest drivers from Saitek 7.0.27.13.x64 without any issues at all.

note i've also set the usb ports to never allow to be powered down.

when i had the USB 3 drivers installed i had the following issues:-

Saitek driver install hang & computer lockup
wouldnt boot cleanly or shutdown
Joystick buttons would light up but thrust section buttons would not be lit (LCD screens would be on though)

after removing the registy key VA06 i believe it was, unistalling the USB3 hub stuff from the add remove program section i rebooted the PC and installed the drivers direct from saitek.

Installation went without a hitch, all buttons lit up and it hasnt failed yet.

Setup:-
Asus Z87 Pro (1707 Bios)
i7 4770K (standard clock at the moment)
16Gb Memory Kingston X Series
Sapphire R9 280X Toxic 3GB
250Gb Samsung Evo SSD latest firmware installed
Win7 Pro 64bit (OEM) latest updates installed

 

[SnowGhost]

SlinkyJim : question for you. Did (Do?) you have it plugged into a UB2 or a USB 3 port?

 

[SlinkyJim]

@ Snowghost, I was plugged into the USB ports on the front of my case so USB 2.0/1.1. The USB 3 header has nothing plugged into it at the moment however while the the USB 3 hub drivers were installed i could not use the X52.

 

[Flak]

Just like to add my findings, Built my PC last month, my X52 Pro Joystick is about 6 years old but still in excellent condition.

My Motherboard is an Asus Z87 Pro Running Win7 x64bit when i ran the install CD that came with the MB i installed the Intel USB 3 drivers (didint realise i'd done it till i checked the hardware profiles).

After reading up regarding the issues, I have no USB 3 hub drivers installed at all now (check in your hardware section) I have since removed those (Add/Remove program section only) and am currently using the latest drivers from Saitek 7.0.27.13.x64 without any issues at all.

note i've also set the usb ports to never allow to be powered down.

when i had the USB 3 drivers installed i had the following issues:-

Saitek driver install hang & computer lockup
wouldnt boot cleanly or shutdown
Joystick buttons would light up but thrust section buttons would not be lit (LCD screens would be on though)

after removing the registy key VA06 i believe it was, unistalling the USB3 hub stuff from the add remove program section i rebooted the PC and installed the drivers direct from saitek.

Installation went without a hitch, all buttons lit up and it hasnt failed yet.

Setup:-
Asus Z87 Pro (1707 Bios)
i7 4770K (standard clock at the moment)
16Gb Memory Kingston X Series
Sapphire R9 280X Toxic 3GB
250Gb Samsung Evo SSD latest firmware installed
Win7 Pro 64bit (OEM) latest updates installed

Thanks for that info! At least I know now what the drivers were clashing with :smilie:

But now I have USB 3 working (I use external USB 3 drives just fine) AND my X52 Pro is working well too with the 6.x drivers sent from Saitek.

The issue both you and I had where the throttle LEDs would not light were relating to the Saitek DirectOutput driver. This driver never installed for me before I got the 6.x versions. I it's that driver that controls the LEDs on the throttle, but strangely not on the stick :S

 

[ianw]

Could have done with this thread in May last year or whenever it was! Useful info.

Couldn't get the stick working on my Win7 laptop (which was never inteneded to be the gaming machine) - gave up troubleshooting it in the end as I knew I was getting a new rig..

 

[n0ahg]

Could have done with this thread in May last year or whenever it was! Useful info.

Couldn't get the stick working on my Win7 laptop (which was never inteneded to be the gaming machine) - gave up troubleshooting it in the end as I knew I was getting a new rig..

I went and hunted specifically for a laptop (Chronos 7) with both legacy USB 2 as well as USB 3 for my Audio Interface but as soon as I upgraded it to Windows 8 (and now 8.1) all my USB 3 problems went away

 

[Dirk Braben]

Chronos 7

Sir, you have a good taste.

owner of a tuned NP870Z5E-X04DE here

 

[SlinkyJim]

Thanks for that info! At least I know now what the drivers were clashing with :smilie:

But now I have USB 3 working (I use external USB 3 drives just fine) AND my X52 Pro is working well too with the 6.x drivers sent from Saitek.

The issue both you and I had where the throttle LEDs would not light were relating to the Saitek DirectOutput driver. This driver never installed for me before I got the 6.x versions. I it's that driver that controls the LEDs on the throttle, but strangely not on the stick :S

Thanks Flak, i'll keep that bit of info regarding the DirectOutput driver in mind if it should ever fail in the future, just one more thing to keep an eye on if i do any software updates!.

right now where did i put my TrackIR5 and is this gonna work without any issues?, best get Falcon 4 BMS installed and have a play before the Beta comes out!

 

[rgomez246]

I need some help getting my controller to work. The throttle works fine and every button on it is sticking but the game or any other application wont pick up the stick at all. The LEDs light up but other than that even the drivers test program does not pick up any keys being pressed or when movement from the controller.

My os is Windows 8.1 64bit.

 

[SnowGhost]

What driver version do you have? You can tell by looking in the control panel for the joystick. I find the Windows Update version works best in Windows 7.

 

[Asp Explorer]

I need some help getting my controller to work. The throttle works fine and every button on it is sticking but the game or any other application wont pick up the stick at all. The LEDs light up but other than that even the drivers test program does not pick up any keys being pressed or when movement from the controller.

My os is Windows 8.1 64bit.

Uninstall the drivers you have, unplug the joystick, download the drivers direct from Saitek. Reboot, install drivers, reboot, plug in.

Also check your Device Manager for a issue with Programmable Root Enumerator under Programming Support. You may need to download and install new chipset and USB drivers from your motherboard manufacturer.

 

[jamieboo]

Hello
I have a x52 so I'm not sure if the same things apply.
I'm Windows 7 64bit and USB 2 - so I'm missing a lot of the potential problems that people are mentioning.
But I am wondering if I can try a better driver as the MFD doesn't display info relating to pressed buttons/movements etc.
The driver I'm using is 7.0.27.13 which I got from the Saitek site.
I keep hearing people talk about the Windows Update version but I can't find this anywhere.
Might this solve my MFD problems?
If so could someone send me a download link?

Thanks

 

[rgomez246]

Got it to work In my excitement I seem to have plugged the stick into my computer rather than the back of the throttle

 

[Asp Explorer]

Got it to work In my excitement I seem to have plugged the stick into my computer rather than the back of the throttle

PS2 joystick action! woo!

Glad you got it working!

 

[Asp Explorer]

Hello
I have a x52 so I'm not sure if the same things apply.
I'm Windows 7 64bit and USB 2 - so I'm missing a lot of the potential problems that people are mentioning.
But I am wondering if I can try a better driver as the MFD doesn't display info relating to pressed buttons/movements etc.
The driver I'm using is 7.0.27.13 which I got from the Saitek site.
I keep hearing people talk about the Windows Update version but I can't find this anywhere.
Might this solve my MFD problems?
If so could someone send me a download link?

Thanks

Your MFD won't display any button press info, or do much of anything, until you load a profile. It doesn't matter which one. Once it's loaded, clear it. The screen should say Mode 1, No Profile (or which ever mode you have it switched to). Now, when you press buttons, the MFD will display which one you currently have pressed.

 

[rgomez246]

PS2 joystick action! woo!

Glad you got it working!

Quite funny actually Need to get use to these controls since I am currently better with a mouse and keyboard than with a joystick when it comes to staying on a target.