Multiple USB Devices help needed

[reko19]

I have a regular mouse, a spinner, a trackball,  and light gun 1&2 for a total of five devices that register as Mouse under Windows XP.  I also have two dance pads that I occasionally plug into the USB as well.  Everything works 100%. The only problem I have is that device assignment is not permanent. I.e. depending on when I plug in dance pads (before or after I boot up) light gun 1 could register as mice 1 or 2, or 3, etc.  So I have to go under the TAB menu in MAME and reassign the controls. Same for spinner, trackball, etc.  Is there any way to make sure that, for example, lightgun 1 is mouse 2 regardless of what other devices I have plugged into the USB.  Thank you for your help.

[fatfingers]

Unfortunately, I think you're sunk.  Check out this thread.

[reko19]

looks like it, thanks for the link

[reko19]

what if I wait for it to boot up and only then plug in the dance pads? I'll try it tonight but I think it could work.

[fatfingers]

I was wondering the same thing.

[Howard_Casto]

Unfortunately this issue is all too common.  When the multiple mice code was introduced I complained that this very thing would happen and that the traditional method of doing mice needed to be kept as well.  I was basically "told where to go" but the fact remains that this is an issue. 

[Cananas]

I have a regular mouse, a spinner, a trackball,  and light gun 1&2 for a total of five devices that register as Mouse under Windows XP.  I also have two dance pads that I occasionally plug into the USB as well.  Everything works 100%. The only problem I have is that device assignment is not permanent. I.e. depending on when I plug in dance pads (before or after I boot up) light gun 1 could register as mice 1 or 2, or 3, etc.  So I have to go under the TAB menu in MAME and reassign the controls. Same for spinner, trackball, etc.  Is there any way to make sure that, for example, lightgun 1 is mouse 2 regardless of what other devices I have plugged into the USB.  Thank you for your help.

I think you're wrong in one thing. The connection of the dance pads (a Joystick, in fact) does not disturb to the assignment of the mouse devices.

In case you are saying that you need to detach a mouse device to connect the dance pads, the only solution is that you connect the dance pads where you have attached the two last mouse devices.

The order of the mouse devices is like this: first device connected, first device, second connected, second device, etc... Be careful this is for the very first time you connect a device. After the first connection, the order will always be the same if the device attached are the same.

[Minwah]

The order of the mouse devices is like this: first device connected, first device, second connected, second device, etc... Be careful this is for the very first time you connect a device. After the first connection, the order will always be the same if the device attached are the same.

I guess it is more of a problem if the devices are not always the same...swappable control panels springs to mind.

[reko19]

I am pretty sure you are correct. I did some additional plugging / unplugging with / without reboot and it looks that for the devices that are always plugged in the assignment doesn't change when you plug / unplug additional stuff.  This is perfectly fine for what I am trying to accomplish.