UPDATE: Analog Joystick Mystery

Hi,

Thanks to William (and others) for his suggestion, but the file,
"ESS_Dos_config.zip" he suggested I download, did not
"recognize" the ES1788 in my laptop. It "applies" to a later
version like the ES1869.

However, I found "1678DOS.EXE" (self extracting zip file) on the web.
Sorry, I lost the location. This solved my problem. I simply launch
"ESSCFG.EXE" and select "6" (menu) and then "enable" the joystick.
Note: This "ESSCFG.EXE" also "recognized" ES1788.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to my post.

Brad

On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:36:09 GMT, you wrote:

Hi!

I've never heard of BIOS support for a joystick/game port.

Windows provides a virtual joystick (vjoyd, IIRC) driver that probably
initializes the port and gets it to the point of working before you attempt
to use it.

The gameport is usually implemented by way of the sound card/sound chip.
Chances are you need a DOS enabler to get the sound chip up and running so
you can use the game port.

Most likely you need this:
ftp://ftp.esstech.com/pub/audio-modem/Win311_DOS/ISA/DOS/ESS_DOS_config.zip

(quoting the readme: "ESSCFG.EXE allows the user to configure the ESS sound
chip with a base address, a DMA channel, an IRQ channel, and an address for
the MPU-401 port, if a wavetable is supported by the sound card.")

to get the card/chip running and initialized before you can use the
joystick.

Chances are that the ESS1788 is an ISA PnP device and must be initialized
somehow before anything can see or use it. The older computer is more likely
to have used a chipset that's always enabled and/or has its resources
assigned in some "hardwired" method, such as jumpers, switches or possibly
even BIOS settings.

William

On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 17:49:31 GMT, bpetria@xxxxxxxxxxx (Brad) wrote:

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario 1060 laptop (WIN95), bought around 1997. It has a
game port connector. I have two analog joysticks (Kraft and Quick Shot,
QS201) which I am unable to use in Dos mode (Windows shut down). I can use
them at the Dos "Prompt". I couldn't find a Dos mode driver for either
joystick, but there is a handler in BIOS for a joystick so I really don't need
a Dos driver.

I used a Dos based "JOYREAD" tool which uses two modes (the joystick
handler in BIOS or software loop) to read the joystick port (0201h). Both
modes work fine at the Dos "Prompt", but neither works in Dos mode. Simple
button/s pressing can't be detected in Dos mode, but detected just fine at Dos
Prompt!!!

Note: I have a Dos mode Commodore 64 emulator that will not "run"
at the Dos prompt. I have many C64 games that work best with a
joystick. Also note, I have a Compaq Presario CDS774 desktop
computer I bought in late 1995. These same joysticks work just
fine in Dos mode (without Windows) using the BIOS joystick handler.

Is there a direct connection with the sound system (ES1788 from
ESS Technology) and this port?

What "enables" this port when Windows is launched, even though
there is a BIOS (rom) handler for this port?

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active key logger (spyware) in your PC.

.