Can't install serial gamepad controller in Windows 7

[kaiten]

I want to use a Serpent Virtual RC game port adapter and radio control transmitted in Windows 7 as a joystick for Dirt 2. It works fine as a joystick in driving games in Windows XP.

It connects to the PC a 15 pin serial port. http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i318/ozite/SerpentVirtualRC_2.jpg

The following link suggests that since it isn't USB,"Controllers that use connections other than USB ports aren't supported in Windows 7."
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Install-a-game-controller

The Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L doesn't have a 15 pin com (game) port, but I have a Creative Labs CT4740 sound card that has a 15 pin serial port, however it wasn't fully recognized in Windows 7 when I installed it.

Any suggestions or workaround to get this serial based controller to work in Windows 7?

Would Windows XP mode within Windows 7 allow me to use the controller? Should I install XP as a separate OS to boot to XP?

 

[sivart]

New controller?

Dedicated serial port PCI card that is supported by Windows 7?

I'd try one of those first if you didn't want another OS install for a (couple of) game(s)

 

[Soundmanred]

You may have to dual boot. I couldn't get the controller port working in W7 either (SBLive!) and never found a workaround.

 

[kaiten]

Thanks for the responses.

I can't seem to find any Win 7 compatible PCI cards with a serial/game port.

I found these USB to gameport http://www.citrusmicro.com/168199-Manhattan-USB-Game-Port-Adapter-DB15-to-USB-p/168199.htm, http://www.trianglecables.com/usbtojoydbad.html, or http://www.usbmax.com/ijoy1_USB_to_Game_Port_Adapter_by_RockFire.cfm, but no indication if any would work in Win7 64 bit.

Anyone have a guess as to what my chances would be to get one of those to work?

 

[theevilsharpie]

Anyone have a guess as to what my chances would be to get one of those to work?

The following link suggests that since it isn't USB,"Controllers that use connections other than USB ports aren't supported in Windows 7."
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Install-a-game-controller

It seems that you answered your own question.

 

[kaiten]

It seems that you answered your own question.

With the Gameport-USB adapter, wouldn't it appear to be a USB connection to Windows?

However, I have my doubts that any of these adapters would work in Win7-64 bit and was hoping someone else had tried one of these and could confirm it works.

 

[theevilsharpie]

With the Gameport-USB adapter, wouldn't it appear to be a USB connection to Windows?

The adapter itself will appear as a USB device, but all it does is add a serial game port. You're then still stuck dealing with the fact that Windows doesn't support serial game controllers.

 

[mindless1]

The adapter itself will appear as a USB device, but all it does is add a serial game port. You're then still stuck dealing with the fact that Windows doesn't support serial game controllers.

At the risk of necroing such an old topic, the topic and this quoted post in particular has bad info, and is still relevant in that i was just looking into this myself after I had found an old CH Gamestick (serial DB15 connected analog joystick) buried in a pile of stuff I was clearing out.

I happened to also have one of those Rockport aka Manhattan RM-203 USB to DB15 adapters, so I researched it a bit, and tried it out, and no, you are not "still stuck" at all. It does not matter that Windows (7, 64bit in this case) doesn't support serial game controllers.

All you have to do is plug the analog controller into the USB adapter, plug the USB adapter into the system, then it is detected, then you just load up joy.cpl to calibrate the game controller. In the case of the Rockport/Manhattan USB adapter that kaiten linked, it also has a switch on it to select 4 emulation modes so you try each to make sure that all your controller functions are supported, for example if your controller has more than 2 axis and 2-3 buttons, otherwise any of the emulation modes will likely cover them all and it doesn't matter if any emulation modes have features the game controller does not support as those can just be ignored.. Specifically the 4 mode switch settings are meant to emulate:

Mode 1: ThrustMaster FCS
Mode 2: CH Flighstick Pro
Mode 3: 2-to-4 axis, 4-button joystick
Mode 4: 2-axis, 8-button joystick

The whole process is much easier than I expected it to be, especially since the post (win2k or xp?) versions of windows don't need a driver added for the USB adapter, as it's already built in.