I followed a Google link & found this on a Rise of Flight forum...
"Is a thing of luck and settings. Sometimes work sometimes not. I have utilised this one with FS2004 and FSX three months; then a day was not more detected by Windows 7.
Actually by Microsoft is listed as NOT COMPATIBLE:
http://www.microsoft...llers&os=64-bit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">
http://www.microsoft.../windows/compat … &os=64-bit
That I have finded in a specialised forum:
Despite Microsoft's own misleading claims on their website, the MS SideWinder 2, Precison Pro and Force Feedback controllers are NOT compatable with Windows 7 (32/64 bit).
For while the stick will work "as is" and "out of the box" when plugged into any USB port (as it will in any Win OS)……
- Win7 refuses to recogonize the stick in the Device Mananger.
- As there are no drivers for the SideWinder you cannot force an "update to install" a SideWinder from within the Device Manager.
- Likewise you cannot force an istall of a SideWinder through the use of the Add Hardware utility/feature.
- The SideWinder software (versions 3-4) itself will install in Win7, but the installation setup will always fails at the testing portion, asking you to then exit or continue.
- The Sidewinder System Tray icon will show in the taskbar and the SW Control Panel will actually open and run. The SideWinder will even be correctly listed in the Control Panel, but as soon as you click on Properties to modify the stick settings or create/test an existing/new profile, the listing of the SideWinder in the Control Panel will disapear.
- The SideWinder calibration software (from earlier versions of the software) will install and run, but without being able to modify and customize the stick is otherwise useless.
- The SideWinder settings may be able to be modified/customized from within and while in/running certain games, but the success rate of the settings working and being saved is near Zero.
- Neither the use of compatability mode or installing/running as an adminstrator will correct the problems.
- Nor will the installation of a ready made/saved stick profile into the SW folder.
Conclusion:
Buy a new stick for Win7 after first checking with others that it will actually work and can be customized in Win7 (and is not simply listed as being compatabile the way the SideWinder is)."