Game Controller Order in XP

[daweinst]

Hey guys,

This isn't specific to GameEx, but I'm struggling with something and you guys are the best resource I know. I just added a gamepad to my computer running GameEx. In the "game controllers" section of Windows XP, that newer controller on the top of the list of controllers, which means that MAME32 recognizes it as player one. Does anyone know a way to move it to the second position, and return the other controller to the top of the list? In the control panel, there's an option to select a preferred controller, but that doesn't seem to do anything. I also tried a program called JoyIDs that supposedly switched the controller IDs, but this again had no effect.

I think a possible solution is to remove both controllers, then reinstall them in reverse order. The problem is that the first controller I installed is a wireless one, and the receiver is inside my box, and I'd prefer not to take my system apart. So a software solution would be much preferred. Is there any way to change the order in XP? How about anything in MAME32 to switch the order?

Thanks for the help!

Dan

[Brian Hoffman]

Was the program you tried the one from here? On Gameex.com in the other downloads section there is a utility that is supposed to do what your requesting.

[bkenobi]

I've used the JoyID utility and it not only works great manually, it is scriptable! I have 3 usb joysticks that get screwed up very rarely. When this happens, MAME don't work no more. I simply run the script I've set up and everything gets straightened out.

[Brian Hoffman]

  On 9/29/2009 at 5:09 PM, bkenobi said:

I've used the JoyID utility and it not only works great manually, it is scriptable! I have 3 usb joysticks that get screwed up very rarely. When this happens, MAME don't work no more. I simply run the script I've set up and everything gets straightened out.

Ive never used it, but I was thinking about adding some PSX controllers to my cab. I have the PSX to USB adapters, I wanted to build a special mount, I may use this so 1 and 2 player never get swapped, Ill probaby use this in conjuction with a script tahat runs on startup to ensure it is always perfect.

[bkenobi]

The real problem is that this program doesn't give you any idea which controller is which if you have 2 of the same. It's possible that windows could switch the two and you wouldn't be able to fix it because this program isn't capable of knowing which is which AFAIK. One way around this is to use the good old 2 controller method. That is, plug one joystick in each of 2 controllers...or one in a hub and the other somewhere else. It should never switch if it's done that way. Obviously, the best solution is a way to assign an ID to the joystick, but very few have that capability.