Sidewinder Module does not detect with power

[stealthbanana]

Binary package hint: linux-image-2.6.24-16-generic

Using a Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick. The item is not detected if powered.

$ modprobe sidewinder
$dmesg | grep sidewinder
[ 1123.879220] sidewinder.c: unknown joystick device detected on pci0000:00:0b.1/gameport0, contact <email address hidden>
[ 1123.879232] sidewinder.c: ID packet, 42 bits. [01000000000]
[ 1123.879239] sidewinder.c: Data packet, 16 bits. [09af]

Without power attached
$ modprobe sidewinder
$dmesg | grep sidewinder
[ 610.916110] input: Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:0b.1/gameport0/input/input8

hardware involved.
$ lsmod | grep sidewinder
sidewinder 13568 0
gameport 16008 3 sidewinder,emu10k1_gp

Using Hardy dist-upgraded from gutsy. Problem occurred in gutsy as well.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi,

Care to attach both entire dmesg outputs when it is powered but not detected and when it isn't powered but is detected. Thanks.

[Sebastien Salmon (sebastien-salmon)]

hello,

I have a sidewinder FFP on a creative Sb live.
I 've managed to make it work by changing some lines in sidewinder.c :

line 694 :
there is
        if (j == 14) { /* ID length 14*3 -> FFP */
and it should be
        if (j == 16) { /* ID length 16*3 -> FFP */

because the length of the ID given by the FFP is 48

line 361 :
there is
                        input_report_abs(dev, ABS_RZ, GB(36, 6));
                        input_report_abs(dev, ABS_THROTTLE, GB(29, 7));
and it should be
input_report_abs(dev, ABS_THROTTLE, GB(36, 6));
                        input_report_abs(dev, ABS_RZ, GB(29, 7));

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

[minitchoup (minitchoup)]

I managed to run my joystick (sidewinder ffp on gameport)

For this, I edit sidewinder.c like this :

line 693-694 :
                                 case 48: /* Ambiguous */
                                         if (j == 14) { /* ID length 14*3 -> FFP */

become :

                                case 16:
                                  sw->bits = 3;
                                case 48: /* Ambiguous */
                                         if (j == 14) { /* ID length 14*3 -> FFP */

when the power is turned off, mode = 3 and length = 16 => case 48
when the power is turned on, mode = 1 and length = 16 => case 16

[Bryan Pederson (haykeye13)]

Where do you find sidewinder.c to be able to patch it? Could use some help with this.

[Olivier Godart (olivier-godart-gmail)]

No reason to mark this as "invalid". The bug is real, affects people, and a valid patch was proposed (which is trivial).
Please include the patched module in futures versions the the kernel, otherwise we need to recompile the whole thing every time.

[Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew)]

Closing this bug with Won't fix as this kernel / release is no longer supported.
Please feel free to open a new bug report if you're still experiencing this on a newer release (Bionic 18.04.3 / Disco 19.04)
Thanks!