Installing and Configuring Game Controllers

The first step in preparing Windows XP for game playing is to plug in and set up all your favorite game controllers. Whether you use a joystick or a button controller or a steering wheel and foot pedals, getting everything connected is a relatively easy task.

USB Controllers

The easiest types of controllers to connect are those that connect via a USB port. All you have to do is plug in the controller, and Windows should recognize the new device and install the proper drivers automatically.

That's Plug and Play at work for you.

If XP doesn't recognize the new controller, then you can install the controller manually via the Add Hardware Wizard. See Chapter 6, "Adding New Hardware," for more information.

Game Port and Serial Port Controllers

Many game controllers are designed to hook up to your PC's dedicated game port, or into a spare serial port. This type of connection is a little less automatic than a USB connection, but still not a show stopper.

Just follow these steps:

1.	From the Control Panel, click the Game Controllers icon.
2.	When the Game Controllers utility opens, click the Add button.
3.	When the Add Game Controller dialog box appears (see Figure 19.1), select the type of device that you're installing. (If the device isn't listed here, click the Custom button and custom-configure Windows XP for your new device.) Figure 19.1. Installing a new game controller, manually.
4.	Now pull down the Port list and select the port to which the controller is connected.
5.	Click OK when done.

Test a Controller

After you've installed a new game controller, you can test it by following these steps:

1.	From the Game Controllers utility, select the controller you want to test.
2.	Click the Properties button, and then select the Test tab.
3.	Follow the onscreen instructions to move or press each control, including all the pads and buttons.

If your controller doesn't check out 100%, you may need to calibrate it, which I'll discuss next.

Calibrate a Controller

To calibrate a game controller, follow these steps:

1.	From the Game Controllers utility, select the controller you want to calibrate.
2.	Click the Properties button, then select the Settings tab.
3.	Click the Calibrate button.
4.	Follow the onscreen instructions to calibrate that particular device.

This shouldn't take more than a minute or so time well spent, IMHO.