Search the Community

Hey, I am very apprecitative of Pete Dowson's FSUIPC, as it is the lifesaver for many things in FSX/Prepar3d. I only used it for the Joystick support as it helped me (and so many countless fsx/p3d users) to avoid the dreadful joystick disconnects. While I was in the process of updating my P3D optimization doc (old version is on the Prepar3d section), I decided to take a one more look at the joystick issue, and I may have found a very elegant solution. Windows 8 is super fast in desktop mode (with classic shell as start button) and I do like the SSD optimization by default in it. There are some quirks in it, but for the most part everything works great in desktop mode. Anyway long story short - I have not had a Joystick disconnect in P3D (with Orbx/Rex/Opusfsx/Mytraffic 5.4C) for 3 hours (running in full screen windowed triple screen mode). I also decided to install clean FSX for testing. My FSX is running in windowed mode minimized, while I type this post and it was running in full screen mode for 3 hours with zero joystick disconnect earlier on. I am still testing so please stay tuned for further updates, I do not want to raise hopes and expectations. It is still in testing and if everything is successful on my end, I will post instructions with pictures etc on my website (Estimated time: after stock market closes at 4pm EST). My question to you all is - do you want me to install Windows 8.1 and confirm on it too? I am just suprised that Microsoft released it few days early for MSDN/Technet subscribers. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed. Skywolf

Hey everyone, I believe I have solved the joystick woes with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. I have done 2 days of stress testing FSX and P3D with multiple installs of the program and OS, and I haven't had a disconnect yet. Before I go further - I want to give my thanks to certain individuals who have helped me and inspired me to solve this joystick annoyance. 1) Word Not Allowed for having his awesome guides 2) AVSIM's staff/team for creating the amazing Hardware/Software Guide to FSX/P3D 3) Peter Dowson's FSUIPC utility (it got me through the periods when no joystick fix was avialable) 4) Orbx Team - Thank you Global and your Tips and Tricks Forum section 5) NickN's - FSX Computer System Guide 6) Ranak Jones of "Rogue's Guide to Acquisition: Principles of Final Frontier" for sending me a spare XFX 6970 for my system and pointing me to Windows 8 Registry to search for USB Device GUIDs potential errors 7) Microsoft MSDN for having Windows 8.1 Pro for testing/evaluation purposes only. 8) LM Prepar3d Developer Network Testing: 1) FullScreen FSX in Eyefinity Mode (5760x1200) for 3 hours+ 2) Windowed FSX in triple screen mode and 1920x1200 for 4 hours+ 3) Multiple active windows on top of FSX Windowed in background for 4 hours+ 4) Testing was done with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports FSX testing was in Win 8.1 and 8, and P3D 1.4 was in Win 8. My System Cpu: i5-750 (intel 1156 cpu) overclocked to 4.1Ghz Memory: 8GB DDR3 Storage: 1xSamsung 830 SSD at Sata III (Main drive), Intel 80GB SSD at Sata II speeds, 1 TB hitachi mechanical HDD at sata II <- all connected to PCIEx4 Sata III controller) Motherboard: MSI Fuzion p55A - has native usb 2.0 and Renesas USB 3.0 controller Video: New XFX 6970 2GB with latest ATI drivers OS - Windows 8 Pro Clean install / Windows 8.1 Clean Install Joystick: Thurstmaster Hotas X Windows 8 Solution - (FSX / Prepar3d 1.4) 1) Make sure power management features are off or set to high 2) Most important setting is USB Selective Suspend Setting is Disabled (we all knew this) Honestly, that setting does not disable USB selective suspend in Windows 8 (this is for Windows 8 only), like it promises. The power management on USB devices is set to Selective Suspend Please see your HID Devices, USB Input Device and USB Root Hub Devices - They are STILL set to Suspend. You have to turn OFF the manual power savings one by one to all USB Devices/Compositive Devices and the all the USB Root Hubs (this is v.important). If it says "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and is checked then please UNCHECK it For example like this This was discovered when I was searching for Joystick UID's in Windows 8 based on Ranak's suggestion. This is where stuff gets weird for both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. I am no registry expert, but GUID's for my joystick is half correct and half backwards as compared to one listed in FSUIPC's ini file See Pic - Windows Registry And my Joystick GUID in FSUIPC So for some reason half of the GUID is backwards in Registry - I do not know if that is normal or not but that led me to search all the usb devices/ports in Device Manager. Here I found all the power saving features were somehow enabled when Windows Power Management is explicitly set to disable. Recap So for Windows 8 Pro ONLY - Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and make sure Windows Power management also has Selective Suspend set to Disabled. Prepar3d 1.4 - Please have JOYSTICKS=1 in [CONTROLS] in P3D.cfg (more on this later) Windows 8.1 Pro (RTM Version) - FSX TEST No joystick disconnects with 1 Setting change Only - Joystick works in Windows 8.1 Pro I am seeing that all devices still have the USB Power Management check in windows 8.1 but in FSX with PNW, and Bowerman addon, Carenado B200 - Joystick did not disconnect. The only crash I got was from latest FSUIPC 4.92. If in Windows 8.1 you have joystick disconnects, then just turn off all those power management features as listed in for Windows 8. Miscellaneous Info FSUIPC I have it installed but it Zero Joystick Configuration in all tests. I hope this helps everyone - as Windows 8.1 Pro definitely works fantastic with no joysticks issues so far. And Windows 8 works with all power management features individually turned off in all those sections listed. Have a great day, Skywolf