Razer tartarus v2 as controller.... help!

Not having much luck. With my logitech yoke dying after 2 days use and now this…

So my razer tartarus v2 has been used with msfs2020 for ages now, always worked fine and always recognised in the sim.

Because of the issue with the yoke, I decided to try and freshen up my usb drivers before the new yoke arrives, but I must have uninstalled something else at the same time by mistake… because the tartarus is no longer detected as a controller both in msfs AND in the windows gamepad control panel.

Anyone got any clue how to make it show up as a gamepad again?

I tried reinstalling synapse, and tried rebooting a few times, checked windows update etc etc.

The keypad is working in synapse, lets me set lighting and customise button layout etc, so I’ve set everything as analogue joypad buttons as before… but it’s just not being recognised as a controller anywhere anymore.

Fyi in case anyone else has this issue…I can find literally no way to fix it without a total windows reinstall.

I had to completely reset windows using the “remove everything” option and just install everything from scratch.

I have no idea why nothing else worked. Even tried the desperate measure of using a software to completely uninstall all usb devices so that when I plugged things in, it would start again as a fresh device… still didn’t fix it.

Resetting/ reinstalling winstead windows has now restored the game controller functions for both my tartarus v2 and tartarus pro.

Pretty annoying solution, but at least it worked.

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did you manage to fix it?

Only, as i said, by totally nuking my windows install and starting again.

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I found a way, If anyone else finds this topic.

I have Razer tartarus v2 Pro.
Problem: Razer hiding or taking over other non-razer devices. ie Controller, joysticks, keyboards
Reason: bad writing in razers drivers and IDs. Using Class name and generic names. Lazy devs and programmers (windows 10, razer, other controllers, take your pick). Assuming you have no other game controller or joystick on your computer. Razer not willing to acknowledge there is even a problem.
Solutions:

  1. Return it with an angry letter in box and find something else.
  2. Realize other options are limited or too expressive so try to reinstall all devices while plugging and unplugging till it works (until there is a update that breaks it again). Block Synapse from Incoming and outbound internet access with windows firewall and hope it never finds a way.
  3. Fix the dev mistake with workaround (Technical support level 2. Can mess up drives if done wrong):
    • Look up “How To Rename Devices In Device Manager For Windows 10/8/7” regedit is needed. Permissions to use it needed.
    • Identify the USB drivers that are being hidden. (This is for your non-razer device. Doing it to the razer may have problems with Synapse.)
    • Find their registry line. In “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum”
    • Change/Add a “FriendlyName” or change serial number (numbers in LocationInformation “00:00”) if Xbox controller.
    • Reboot. (You may need to unplug and plug after reboot)
  4. Razer support suggest disabling the troubled device driver. So you don’t have full access to the thing you paid for to use another thing you paid for.
    Optional Resources
    • USBDeview by nirsoft. List all USBs connected allowing enable/disable/uninstalling on PC
    • Joystick ID# Swapper by pjpoirier. Lets you change joystick ID order (It’s out there, keep looking)
    • DevManView by nirsoft. Alternative to the standard Device Manager
    • HidHide by nefarius. Lets hide controllers and joysticks without having to unplug anything.

On point 4, are you saying there’s a way to still have the tartus connected, but without its driver running, but still have it function as a basic keypad, without any custom keys or lighting?

Or did you mean disable the other devices that are getting kicked off?

ok, so i did a quick test earlier, it seems like if i disable the tartarus devices in the device manager, and uninstall any drivers, then reboot…they do still operate as a keypad, but without any customer keys defined, and with all the keys lit up the same.

however, with these plugged in, I still get other devices disconnecting, so I’m guessing it’s the OTHER devices that I need to do something with to get these keypads working.

shame, because before I started using a bunch of other stuff, these little keypads were great…and yet it’s clearly these keypads which are the issue, as with them disconnected completely, every other device I use works flawlessly.

so I think it’s time for option 5, get rid of both razer keypads and operate things with the other keyboards/mice.

bit disappointing, but you’re right, it’s clearly just a bit of laziness on razer’s part. These keypads are definitely causing the conflicts with other devices.

Pretty amazing though, that I have several usb devices from MUCH smaller companies (a gear falcon trim wheel from a guy on etsy, 2 “knobsters”, for example) and they manage to work perfectly fine without causing any issues for other devices…yet a large company like razer can’t get it right, or even acknowledge that their devices/drivers are causing issues lol.

:: edit::

Just to add that i did just try renaming other devices using regedit, they are all showing my custom names in device manager now. Unfortunately, it made no difference to the problem. As soon as i plug in the tartus v2, the logitech throttle gets booted off.

It is a shame. It took over my vkb stick and xbox controller at first. On step 3 completely deleted all traces of the non razer drivers after installing the razer software. I kept everything plugged in and rebooted, then changed reg keys. Checking in joystick ID# swapper or JoyToKey to change the order of the sticks to make sure they didnt overlap.

I have seen gear falcon and blackhog. Both look like better options at this point. It was a nightmare of hours to get this razer to work, and still not 100% it will stay working.

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HidHide by nefarius worked for me, thank you @AshwinIronowl
I don’t play Flight Simulator, but had my Razer Tartarus show up as a playstation controller in Heave Ho. Not any more!

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