Optipac/Trackball question

[Brian21157]

I can't seem to get my computer to recognize my optipac. When I plug it in I hear the usual USB sound like it sees the optipac but nothing else. No box saying "found new hardware" or anything like that. I get nothing from the trackball (or spinner) in windows or Mame. I've tried 2 diff. optipacs with same result. Also, so I don't have to ask any other stupid questions when I get the optipac to work, do I only need to check "enable mouse input" in order for the trackball and spinner to work in Mame or are there other steps I need to take? Thanks alot.

[telengard]

I was having the same issue.  Contact Andy @ Ultimarc.  He is very responsive and helpful and I'm sure he'll figure it out.

[RayB]

I had the same problem the first time, and for some reason after a while it just started working. Try going into your device list (in XP it's CONTROL PANEL -> SYSTEM -> HARDWARE -> Device Manager )

Choose to scan for new hardware. Roll your ball around at the same time, so that there's "input" being sent to Windows.

Also try a couple reboots with the device plugged in and you rolling it around.

~Ray B.

[krick]

Make sure that you try plugging it into a port that is directly on the motherboard vs a front case port or USB hub.  It might be a voltage issue.

[Rendour]

Windows probably installed it's own driver for the device when you plugged it in the first time. You pretty much always want to install the correct driver for any USB device before you plug it in. You'll have to remove the device in device manager, install the right driver, and plug it back in to get it to work.

[Brian21157]

Thanks for the suggestions, still doesn't work though. It's  not even showing up in the device manager for some reason. It only lists 1 mouse which is the usb mouse that I use to navigate. I'll keep trying diff. things and see if I can get it to recognize the optipac. If all else fails I'll email Andy at Ultimarc although I really hate to do that, I'm sure he gets a millions emails already. It's probably something minor that I'm just not thinking of. Thanks again for the responses.

[RayB]

Try unplugging your regular mouse first...

[krick]

What version of windows are you using?

[Tokey]

windows doesn't support 2 mice.  You need to unplug your regular mouse first, then when no mice are hooked up, hook up your optipac which windows thinks in a mouse...

[Victoly]

windows doesn't support 2 mice.

[Matt Berry]

I would agree that 2 mice are not a problem under winxp. I have a mouse and the opti pac hooked up with no problems. Make sure you have the jumpers set correctly and the wires in the correct spot for your trackball. You won't always get a new hardware found dialog, if you here the sound it recognizes it. There isn't really a need to install drivers for it under xp. Try the trackball and see if it works.

[Com[Plex]]

Okay, this is my first post. I have a pretty cool cabinet I will be posting pics of later, but right now I wanted to offer some help with this optipac and stuff.
first thing I would do is test the controller in another machine. windows device manager will show the optipac connected as TWO "HID-compliant mouse" items in the mouse section.

[u_rebelscum]

Sorry, a little off topic, but to clear some statements/questions in this thread:

All six statements below are true:

- Windows supports multiple (physical) mouse (devices). (XP/ME/98/2000)
- Windows does not support mupltiple mice (cursors) (in normal applications).  (XP/ME/98/2000)
- Windows supports multiple (USB) mice in directInput. (ME/98)
- Windows does not support multiple mice in directInput. (XP/2000)
- Windows supports multiple mice in RAWINPUT. (XP)
- Windows does not support multiple mice in RAWINPUT (ME, 98, 2000), and crashes instead if RAWINPUT is used. (ME, 98)


Pet peeve: "mouse" is a word with multiple, related meanings; each of those meanings incompass different things; People think these different meanings are the same thing. 

def: mouse:

a: "a hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around on a pad;" (dictionary.com)  aka "mouse" or "physical mouse"

b: the cursor on the screen that is controlled by the physical mouse device.  aka "pointer" aka "cursor" aka "mouse pointer" aka "mouse cursor".

c: any physical device that controls the cursor, such as trackballs or lightguns.  aka "mouse device"

d: the data used to move the cursor.  aka "virtual mouse" aka "system mouse" in directX directInput

e: all of the above


All these are related, but "windows only supports one mouse" refers only to meaning b, and partially to d.  WinXP, ME, and 98 all can have multiple mice and mouse devices connected to the same computer no problem. 

It really should say "windows only supports one cursor", but that leaves out "windows makes it very hard to see the mouse data of each individual mouse seperately."

Here's a fill in the blank with all choices correct:

Windows _______ support multiple mice.
a) does
b) does not
c) mostly does
d) makes it hard for applications to
d) makes it impossible for normal applications to
d) XP makes applications to be specially coded if they want to see mouse devices seperately
e) does but does not

(choice letter matches definition letter, above)


I know I've said windows doesn't, but I'm talking b & d, not number of physical devices.


Hold on, I'm not sure if I said this so far, so I'll say it now:
You can connect more than one mouse on any windows (98/2000/ME/XP), yet none of them directly support applications using them as seperate devices.


Okay, back to the original poster's question: 

Windows should be reconizing optipac, as long as it (and the devices connected to it) are receiving enough power.  As Com[Plex], suggested, try connection the optipac without anything connected: if it works, it's a power or wiring problem.

[Com[Plex]]

[APPLAUSE]
well said Rebelscum, where did you get that information?
not that it is really important, just curious.
I hope this guy gets his optipac running.
I have an opti, a i-pac4, and a ultimac trackball all running smooth.. I love em!

the only thing I dont like is the delay between spinner vs trackB. Im working on a solution for that right now.