Sidewinder FFB2 recognised as XBOX 360?

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

Hi all,

So, after having spent many hours getting MSFS2020 to install, it now works except for one problem. I bought a Sidewinder 2 with Force Feedback to get just that - force feedback. I also installed XPforce due to reviews stating it worked etc. and forum members stating as such.

However, when I plugged my sidewinder in, Windows 10 I believe has installed XBOX 360 drivers for it. So when I go to controllers within MSFS2020, it literally says XBOX 360.

YET - I can get the joystick to work by configuring and mapping things to it. Fine. It flies. But the FFB (if at all) is very strange with xpforce and I suspect it is because xpforce is also thinking it is an xbox 360 controller. In fact I believe I saw it somewhere in the xpforce settings somewhere that it also thought it was a 360 controller.

However, as I can see from screen shots here, that there are members who have a SWFF2 recognised definitely recognised by MSFS2020 as just that, HOW did you do that? How did you get Windows 10 or MSFS2020 to see it as that and not as an xbox 360 controller?

I have the original discs that came with the sw2 (x2 discs) which is an install disc and software update disc. However this does not override the drivers because when I try to install with disc one - it initially installs - then suddenly just exits the install. The second disc just says update not required.

Going to device manager, I uninstalled the “game controller” to try to remove drivers, ran the install disc for the SW2 and still no joy.

I tried to manually search for drivers, pointing the search to the E drive (my dvd drive with the disc in) no joy.

I get a windows message that the current drivers are ones most uptodate.

I would be very grateful if anyone could assist so that I can get that FFB I have spent so many weeks and ÂŁÂŁÂŁ trying to get to work!

I think if I can get Windows to recognise the controller for what it is, it will helpfully work.

Len

2

I just plug mine in and it comes up as “SideWinder Force Fedback 2 Joystick”
No drivers necessary, they’re built into windows.

3

You are so lucky! Did you try it with xpforce? Any joy?

4

No, I didn’t add anything. Just plug ‘n’ play. I also have an Xbox controller connected wirelessly (for other games).

I’d try uninstalling anything you’ve added wrt the drivers, then go into device manager and remove the device, and select the delete driver options (making sure the Sidewinder is not connected) then restart. After the restart, just plug it back in and see what happens.

5

Thx for this - I tried something to that effect, it stubbornly came back as an xbox 360 but will try again.

When you say built in to Windows 10 - you mean it has drivers for the SW2 even if the computer wasnt connected to the internet?

What I need is to manually install the drivers that must be somewhere on the disc, but Windows will not let me at any rate. It’s infuriating!

6

All my computers are connected to the internet so I couldn’t say for sure.
I can say the drivers that came on the disc weren’t even designed for windows 8 let alone windows 10, so I wouldn’t put them on.

7

Well. After all that I found putting it in a different USB port helped massively. It stated installing sidewinder 2 forcefeedback but then in MSFS2020 it still says XBOX 360 controller. But
 it works fine. Rumble effect with XPForce and all. Set up is good now

8

I use XPForce and mine shows up as the MSFFB2. I use USBDeview. It’s a free utility that will display all of the UBS devices that are, or have been, plugged into your machine. Sort by the “connected” column and highlight the ones that say “No”. Right click and uninstall the devices. Then plug your joystick back in.
Each devices VID/PID is unique unto itself So your joystick shouldn’t show up as a 360 controller, unless you’ve done something in the past to try making a 360 controller work for something.
View any installed/connected USB device on your system (nirsoft.net) The download button’s near the bottom of the page.

9

Glad you’re sorted. I do recall now having some issues with USB ports on my old PC. It was very selective about which ports would work properly depending how many devices were plugged in. Hopefully it will keep working well :+1:

10

Interesting thx for this will try. However as I say I can configure the joystick and works well will xpforce.

It really is confusing why it states it is an Xbox 360 controller though, I have never put anything 360 near it ever?!

11

Thx, yes working so that’s the main thing :+1:

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