Sidewinder Strategic Commander problems

My list of problems just keeps growing and growing. I am trying to install
the controller onto my Vista system & have encountered several problems. The
latest problem is while attempting to install the software, the
"installshield" application stops working almost instantly when it appears to
be completeing installation ... then there are 2 choices I am given, one is
to close the program & the other is to check online for a solution. Needless
to say, the button for checking online yields no results . To address other
problems, previously I was able to install the CD up to the point where it
would check the connection of the device to the USB but didnt recognize it
(USB port is active the working & computer itself recognizes the device &
that it was 'installed' properly) & also at another time I received an error
message that 'critical system files are missing or corrupted' (to try to fix
this based on microsofts suggestion of installing it as an administrator
doesnt work either) . I am at my wits end w/this thing... Can anyone help?

There has been no official support for this device for some while.. you may
have to call time on it.. there are other gaming devices out there that may
or may not get continued support..

Don't panic, just follow the instructions this post I made a couple of weeks
ago and all will work beautifully I promise. Since then I've also used it in
gothic3 and splinter cell double agent.

I cheered when I found the forum and instantly got my SC off the shelf.
Never thought that I would be able to use this tool again.
I've read the whole forum in order not to miss anything. When I finally
wanted to download the software that Bodyprint has written (which I find
absolutely extraordinary not to look for a possibility to just run the
software but to write his own code - THANKS! for this inspiration), I
felt close to heaven.
But like a climber that reaches the overhang and sees the top is still
far away:

I have tried to install the strategic commander on the 64 vista version
with no workable results, a call to microsoft produced no results, they
were suprised it could be installed on the 32bit vista OS. I suspect it
has to do with signed drivers. If any one figures it out Please post how
it can be done

I have the exact error when doing everything that has been suggested (I
have to admit I was a bit hesitant about doing the changes stated as I
had no real idea what I was doing, but the instructions were precise and
very good) and the blasted error of corrupted thingy-ma-bobs comes up

But the instructions say: virual kb and mouse, i do not see the virtual
mouse. I do have the list with:
- ms S C
- ms S C HID drivers
- ms sidewinder Virtual Keyboard

Rotorhead: uninstall the strat comm from “programs and features”, reboot and
start from scratch, following these instructions to the letter. If you then
get an error message, let me know what it is and I will try to help. I now
have four vista machines all a bit different and all have strat comms
attached and working. So i can’t see why yours should not work.

Okay, let’s start from the beginning.
Turn off user account control, and make sure your account has admin
privileges.
Stick disk in cd drive, find and run setup.exe
Follow instruction through, select region and all that stuff, accept the
agreement, and to keep it simple the default location. You will then see the
progress bar zip through installing the program files and then the profiles,
at this point the setup will rudely ask “if you are sure you want to exit
install ?” click yes.
Now for the plugging in. Before you do, open up device manager (control
panel, system, device manager) then click on the plus sign by ”human
interface devices” - just to see what is there-
Now plug in, you may or may not get a message about drivers being installed
at this point, but you should get two new devices under the HID heading,
1. HID-compliant device and
2. Usb human interface device.
Right click on HID-compliant device and choose “ update driver”
Then click “ browse my computer for driver software,
Then “let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”
In the next window you will have a choice of - HID-compliant device
Or - Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander HID drivers,
Click the MS SW drivers, then next. You should then get a message telling
you that “windows has successfully updated driver software” hoorah.
You should now have two new devices under HID
Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander HID drivers and
Microsoft SideWinder virtual keyboard (you may also have Microsoft
SideWinder virtual mouse, but not always?!)
Now repeat the driver update for the “Usb human interface device.”
Once this is complete you may or -not- have to restart your pc. And then
your strat comm should work fine.

I had a bit of a scare :P after turing off UAC......i lost my call off duty
4 profile (thats 55 lvls and 3 golden guns :P) but i got it back hehe
few...... and yes i use my strat com for FPS.... and it rocks...... lucky i
got 5 when i found out MS stopped making them coss they take a beating(on my 2nd now)

when looking for the devices you will want to go for the ones that read
VID_045E&PID_0033 in the details

Has anyone still got the app to upload again as the link is dead sadly

well...i use the MSC for egoshooters like BF2 and BF2142. (Don't
wonder...crazy germans...)

it works very fine under windows XP, but now under vista ultimate x64 i
have problems. i use this awsome software (thanx btw.) in the last
version 1.3, but it will sometimes work under BF2, sometimes not. this
means that the controller is found by the software and i can configure
everything, but when i start the game i have no ingame function. when it
works, everything is fine like under xp. a possible problem is maybe a
conflict, when i join a game over the xfire function. i'm testting on
it.

the bigger problem is that it doesn't works under BF2142!

today I bought this weird looking gray computer accessory at a garage
sale for $5 today and the guy said i'd be able to download the software
as there was no disc. Since then I discovered its hard enough to get a
driver if on an older platform but I have Vista 64 so it looked even
grimmer.
Now, after about 2-3 hrs searching and reading posts I got to this one
and became excited. The posts showed that the Strategic Commander has
quite a hard core fan group and now I couldn't wait to get it working
and see why! I have honestly been dreaming of a controller like this and
have searched the net looking for one and gave up as thought they didn't
exist. I'm rapt that it actually does and hoping it will be good in FPS
games that I play sometimes. I read all 11 pages of this post (yep -
hate to miss anything) and everone has big raps on Bodyprint's new
software.

Bodyprint,...sounds like you have done really well and I'd like to also
donate in appreciation of your time in developing this. Please post (or
send me) a link.

No problem,
The software is functional (ta BP) and I got my SC working ok.
Nb - The forum where I found the link said that Bodyprint had to
relocate to another server. Also said on hols and updates via the
software will be temporarily unavailable.
The link is to V 1.3 but i think he was up to 1.5 so keep checking
updates!

Unfortunately the SC is not as good as I thought for FPS, too many
quick movements req. Does anyone else use it for FPS games?....or only
RP like WOW etc.

The Setup1.3 is working great for my FPS. My problem is... When I
enter Warhammer Online the MSC doesnt work at all but when I exit WAR or
alt+tab out while the game is running it works fine. Any ideas?

Also if anyone has the newest version Setup1.5, I would love to get my
hands on it :D
Just to let you know, but it appears to be working under Windows 7 as
well.

Installed and loaded the engine.... and glorious orange appeared on the
SC - a sight I have not seen for years.

Confirmed that it works under Windows 7 perfectly.

In case you have not sorted it, you will need to run MSC as an
Administrator for it to work with WAR - just like any other application
you want to use simulatiously (like WinAmp etc)

I have a solution for getting it to work in Vista Home Premium
64bit (including the lights!)

- I plugged in the device and it said installed but didn't do
anything
- when I checked the device manager I had one device not recognised.
I right clicked and selected update drivers
- then selected look on internet for recommended driver.
- Weirdly, it found a driver and installed it. the driver is *ATK0110
ACPI Utility* that was installed and it now shows in the System
Devices.
- I then installed the bodyprint software
- Worked and installed like a charm
All the lights work too :)

I Finally found a copy so others can
download it. I'm putting it on my website. Oh and if the author of you
software wants me too take it down don't hesitate to shoot me an email
picturemon.com/Downloads/StrategicSetupv1.3.zip

I seem to be having the same problem others are having. I got this
wonderfull software for my strategic commander working on vista 64, but
it does not work when I play World of Warcraft. Any ideas? This seems
to be a common problem with 3rd person type games.

OK, I fixed my own problem. It is built right into the software. You
just have to press start engine to make it work! Thanks again for great
software!!

Sadly I'm still having issues with getting the Commander
inputs to register inside of my game app. I'm playing Champions Online
on Windows 7 64-bit (RC v. 7100)... the Strategic Engine App loads and
registers the device, and I can execute the key commands into native
apps like wordpad, but it is not registering within the game.

I don't have any particular drivers installed for the device, but I
can't quite tell if they are needed... any suggestions?

And a super shout out to Philip for setting this up; so glad to have
found others who still think the Commander is still the best gaming
device out there!

Is it be possible to use the "+" and "-" buttons on the strategic
commander as "7" and "8"?

Would be very usefull in Warcraft3, Company of Heroes and other
Strategy games

direct link
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5...ategiccomm.jpg

where did you get this software.. can you send me the link for the software..
by the way does anyone have the drivers/software for SC for win xp 32bit..
care to share?

I too have problems running under Windows 7 x64, I can load the driver
OK and it all works but if I reboot the PC I get a runtime error 5. From
there I can reload the driver again and off I go.

Is there a way to not assign buttons and have the relevant backlight not
illuminated ??

I wonder how many other SWC Users are left handed, probably the sort of
thing to run a poll on...

Thanks heaps for creating the driver to keep these alive under the new
OS`s

Ok, I have a solution for getting it to work in Vista Home Premium 64bit
(including the lights!:cool:)

- I plugged in the device and it said installed but didn't do anything
- when I checked the device manager I had one device not recognised. I
right clicked and selected update drivers
- then selected look on internet for recommended driver.
- Weirdly, it found a driver and installed it. the driver is *ATK0110
ACPI Utility* that was installed and it now shows in the System
Devices.
- I then installed the bodyprint software
bodyphatt.com/cold-incision/SE%20WEB/Installers/StrategicSetupv1.3.exe
- Worked and installed like a charm
All the lights work too

Thanks for the link to bodyphatt for the MS stratiegic commander, it now
work on my windows 7 -64 bit.