Missing game port in Win XP

[geejay]

On several occcassions, control panel listed my Microsoft sidewinder joystick as being "not connected" when in fact it was. On rebooting, the problem cleared up. Not this time though - system info shows the device to be working properly, but the game port has disappeared. I tried a game pad and an older joystick and they too show as being "not connected". How does a game port get and and quit like that?

 

[herbage11]

I would reinstall the drivers and software...I had one do that and it was the controller i think.I reinstalled everthing and it cleared up..Curious to see what is up w/ this. Sorry i cannot be more help. GL w/ it

 

[geejay]

Thanks for your prompt reply. I've done that a dozen times. Driver for the stick is in XP and there are no updates. Isn't the fact that NOTHING works in the port symptomatic that it's not the device itself. So my question again is - what can cause a port to fail suddenly?

 

[passign]

i had a sidewinder that did that...

i ended up bying a new 1.. a wingman... works great.. cause i know my sound card pluggy thing is ******


my guess is the sound cards more for sound... and not sure why they do joystick stuff... try a gameport to usb connceter....... and plug it in the usb port...