Mode Switch fix for Saitek controllers

For anyone using the Saitek/Logitech Pro Flight Yoke, the X52 HOTAS, or the X52 Pro HOTAS, you've most likely encountered difficulties with using the Mode Switch with anything other than the Saitek Smart Technology profile editor. Using Windows Game Controllers (joy.cpl) will show the Mode Switch as functioning, yet your game or third-party programming software (like LINDA or FSUIPC) will not recognize any input from the Mode Switch. You'll see virtually everything else, just not the Mode Switch.

There is a reason for that, and a solution as well. 

The Mode Switch was intended to triple the amount of keybindings/controls that you could program, by using "profiles". Saitek decided to let Windows hide the Mode Switch function so that their software had unique access.

One solution is to select the applicable Saitek/Logitech peripheral (Yoke or HOTAS) in the Game Controllers window, and then select "Properties". As long as the properties window is open and active, the Mode Switch will now function. This requires remembering to do this each and every time you start up your flight sim. However, their is a more elegant--and permanent--solution.

For each of the three controllers, Saitek has an associated programming driver. They  should be located in C:\Windows\System32, and are as follows:

Saitek/Logitech Pro Flight Yoke: SaiD0BAC.pr0
X52 HOTAS: SaiD0255.pr0
X52 Pro HOTAS: SaiD0762.pr0

Make a backup copy for safety, and then rename the applicable file. For instance, I've renamed SaiD0BAC.pr0 as SaiD0BAC.pr0.bak.

That's it! Simply reboot your system and now you'll be able to use the Mode Switch outside of the SST profile editor software.