Help with Minipac USB

[mclaught]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered, search function used, but it's not the best.

I have a minipac with a Ultimarc trackball, 2 joysticks. Hooked up via USB to my computer with Windows XP, it recognized it and all worked perfect. The computer in my cab has Windows 98. Plugged it into that via USB and I got nothing. The green light comes on the minipac, but no trackball or keyboard controls. I unplug the USB, just use PS/2 cables to the keyboard ps/2 on the computer, joystick controls work, trackball obviously doesn't. I tried 3 different computers, all with Windows 98, none of them would recognize the minipac when it was connected via USB. Tried searching for new hardware, downloaded and installed all the ultimarc drivers I could find (as good as their products are, their support documentation is terrible) and I still can't get it to work. If it was just one computer, I'd say bad USB port. However, since it's happening on all computers, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any idea what dumbass thing I'm doing or overlooking? Many thanks.

[2600]

Win98 or Win98SE?
What's the motherboard chipset?  Are all the PC's the same?

Do other USB devices work? What are they?

Win98 USB support is craptastic.
Win98SE USB support is better, but still immature.

Most likely an enumeration problem, but that's a guess just the usual Win98 USB problem.  Problem is either caused by Win98's USB stack, the minipac's device descriptor, or some other Win98 oddity.

There are loads of patches for problems in Win98's USB stack and other problems.  Your options are find and install all the patches, SP's and unauthorized SP's, ask Andy to help support you and troubleshoot your setup, which could be something simple or you could spend weeks troubleshooting only to find out that it won't work, or use XP.

I'd vote XP, but Andy has an excellent support record and should be told of the problem.


Anyone else ever use a minipac under any flavor of win98?

[DreamArcades]

We use the mini-pac with windows98se all the time. I've never tried it with plain Windows 98.

When we plug in the min-pac is asks up to load drivers, which it will do automatically if you have the cab files installed. It goes through this for 3-4 different drives and then sometimes ask for a reboot (which isn't really required).

If you are running Windows98 I'd re comend upgrading to Windows98se.
-Mike

[2600]

That's good to hear.  I didn't think it was the minipac's problem.

Also, did you try plugging it in after the OS is loaded directly into the PC?

[mclaught]

Based on the replies, I think I'm just going to upgrade the computer in the cab to XP. It's sort of a PITA because it's a cab I've built for a friend, and I don't really have a whole lot of time or opportunities to troubleshoot. I suspected it was the WIN98, and no, it's not SE. I do have the upgrade pack for that, maybe I'll just try that first, then if that doesn't work, I'll go to XP. I know the minipac works, just doesn't work with the machines I'm using. Thanks for the replies, I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[wintermute]

I'm pretty sure that straight windows 98 does not support USB, that's the problem.  I think that SE, and possibly whatever the latest service pack to straight windows 98 is has included USB support.

[Acids]

I'm pretty sure that straight windows 98 does not support USB, that's the problem.