Need some help with MALA & U360

[Extreme8]

I've had this config running for the longest time, but just recently I blew it up somehow and can't get Mala to recognize the U360.
The problems started when I attached a Logitech USB steering wheel and ran a Windows based game (first time I've tried it since the U360's). When I restarted Mala (with wheel still connected) it started scrolling through my emulator lists. I couldn't get it to stop so I powered down the cab, disconnected the wheel, and now Mala won't see the sticks.
The windows control panel sees them and calibrates them, Mame sees them and runs games with 'em, but Mala - not so much.
I've uninstalled & reinstalled them through device manager with no success.
I set Mala to work with a mouse (trackball) as a bandaid, but if anyone has any Ideas about an actual fix I'd appreciate it.

[gatordad]

Did you disconnect the wheel completely (unplug the usb connection from your puter and try again)
Windows seems to assign game pad device numbers in its own way.
The U360's need to be device 1 and 2 in order for the plugin to work.
I had a similar issue when I used 2 wireless xbox controllers, even though the controller were off, if the wireless reciever was attached my 360 still would not work. unplugged the usb receiver and they work again.

[Extreme8]

Yes, the wheel is disconnected.
The U360's are the only devices showing in the game controller applet.
Mame still works with the joysticks so I'm assuming they are being reported correctly as device 1 & 2.

[NOP]

ok, just to get the dumb questions out of the way:

are the controller tab->joystick tab->"use joystick" and "use 2nd joystick" checkboxes checked?  How about your controller mapping settings?  Can mala see the sticks under the joystick tab, check tab?

you could make a backup of your ini file and then delete it and let mala re-configure everything, just to make sure it isn't something as simple as an ini setting gone wrong...

[Extreme8]

Joystick checkboxes are checked, I tried without 2nd joystick just for testing but it's back on now.
Controller mappings are fine.
The joystick/check tab doesn't recognize the U360 in any way, shape or form. It's like the sticks disappear once Mala gets started.

I think letting Mala create a new ini is going to have to be the next step in this troubleshooting.

[squirrellydw]

kinda of the same problem I have.  I connected my stella adapter for atari, couldn't get that to work to well so when I disconnected it only one u360 works in mala.  I use to be able to use two of them to scroll through the games now I can only use one.  No idea how to fix it.

thats is why I have requested a plugin for mala that lets you choose what joystick to use.  I think it would be great if mala showed every joystick, or at least every USB joystick, trackball and spinner connected so you could choose what one to use.

[gatordad]

Just thinking.....
did you load any drivers for the wheel from logitech that could be removed?
Did you have a backup of mala after it was running good to restore?
Try plugging the u360's into 2 different usb ports and try again.
Do you still see the plugin listed in mala?

[Extreme8]

Thanks for thinking - I'll take whatever thoughts you want to provide.

No drivers loaded for the wheel, at least recently. I loaded the wheel's software when I installed it (2 years ago?), but there was never a conflict.

No backups - who needs 'em... well I guess I should rethink that particular theory.

I haven't tried moving the u360s to other usb ports. Worth a shot.

The plugin is still listed, but I don't think that is evidence of anything. It's not the autoprogramming of the u360 modes I'm having issues with.
The sticks are already programmed to appear as 4-ways (thats how windows sees them) but the Joystick/Check tab of Mala doesn't see them at all.

[Extreme8]

This has got me totally stumped.
I still can't get Mala to recognize these U360's to use for navigation in the FE. The really odd thing is that the plugin is reprogramming them normally.

Windows acts as you would expect when I disconnect the U360s. They disappear from the device manager and the game controller control panel. When I reconnect they reappear with the correct description & they respond to testing within Windows.

I've removed the mala.ini file and recreated it, still no luck.
I've installed Mala to a new folder, no change.

The joysticks work great in Windows and Mame. Mala programs them fine, but I can't get them to show in the Mala joystick check or use them for navigation.

Any other suggestions?
 

[loadman]

This has got me totally stumped.
I still can't get Mala to recognize these U360's to use for navigation in the FE. The really odd thing is that the plugin is reprogramming them normally.

Windows acts as you would expect when I disconnect the U360s. They disappear from the device manager and the game controller control panel. When I reconnect they reappear with the correct description & they respond to testing within Windows.

I've removed the mala.ini file and recreated it, still no luck.
I've installed Mala to a new folder, no change.

The joysticks work great in Windows and Mame. Mala programs them fine, but I can't get them to show in the Mala joystick check or use them for navigation.

Any other suggestions?
 

I need to look at this. I don't have U360's (I wish but the wife won't letme...yet).
 If anyone wants to lend me one (just the usb bit will do I guess) I can investigate. 

In any case I will look at the code but it's a bit of guess work without some sticks.. Bugger

[headkaze]

I need to look at this. I don't have U360's (I wish but the wife won't letme...yet).
 If anyone wants to lend me one (just the usb bit will do I guess) I can investigate. 

In any case I will look at the code but it's a bit of guess work without some sticks.. Bugger

I think MaLa is using joyGetPosEx() to detect joysticks. AFAIK using the API functions wont work with USB joysticks, so unless MaLa is using DirectInput that would probably explain why it can't access them.

I have U360's here loadman, so if you need any help let me know, but first thing you need to do is find out exactly how MaLa is detecting and reading the joysticks. If it's using joyGetPosEx() that would explain the problem with the U360's.

Extreme8: FatFingers plugin has no relation to the joystick code in MaLa so the fact it works okay in the plugin has no baring on what's happening in MaLa.

[Extreme8]

Headkaze, thanks for explaining the relationship between the plugin and the FE.

Loadman, I'd be happy to loan you my player 2 U360 for testing if you think it might be of help. I don't know if you could recreate the problem though - everything has been working perfectly for a year or so - right up until I plugged in that @#(*% Logitech wheel.
I'm also more than happy to do whatever you might need on my end to diagnose this (if you have any ideas)

Thanks for your help.

[headkaze]

Sorry my bad, it seems you did have the U360's working in MaLa at one point correct? I didn't read the whole thread and I probably should have, getting a bit lazy these days.

Here is a possible solution, since plugging in your wheel it can no longer detect the U360's. This is a totally wild guess but worth a try I guess. I was thinking perhaps there is an issue with the joystick Id's.

Check out this program called JoyId Utility which allows you to change the Id's of joysticks for programs that require them to have certain Id's. Anyway give it a try and see if it helps.

[Extreme8]

WhooHoo!
Headkaze I owe you one - if I wasn't a happily married man I'd... Well, never mind.

It seems that the Logitech wheel had moved my U360 player one to ID3. Player 2 was still at ID2, but I could never get that to work anyway (even before my current problem)
A couple of quick mouseclicks using the utility you linked to fixed the issue.

I guess this is one for the Wiki.

Loadman, the offer to loan you a stick still stands if you'd like to see how they behave with the FE.

Thanks guys.

[loadman]

WhooHoo!
Headkaze I owe you one - if I wasn't a happily married man I'd... Well, never mind.

It seems that the Logitech wheel had moved my U360 player one to ID3. Player 2 was still at ID2, but I could never get that to work anyway (even before my current problem)
A couple of quick mouseclicks using the utility you linked to fixed the issue.

I guess this is one for the Wiki.

Loadman, the offer to loan you a stick still stands if you'd like to see how they behave with the FE.

Thanks guys.

Feel free to add it to the Wiki. You just use this forums username and password   

HeadKaze is the man 

I will look at the MaLa code now with a better understanding 

[headkaze]

It was a wild guess but I had a feeling it might work

Glad it did

[squirrellydw]

if I change the IDs with this program, does this also change which joysticks is used in the games?  I would hate to reconfigure each game to use the correct joystick again

[squirrellydw]

OK I took the chance and did it, IT WORKED and didn't change anything, thanks headkaze.  I still wish you could pick your joysticks in mala though like I metioned in another thread but I can't complain now.

[loadman]

OK I took the chance and did it, IT WORKED and didn't change anything, thanks headkaze.  I still wish you could pick your joysticks in mala though like I metioned in another thread but I can't complain now.

I could look at that

[squirrellydw]

that would be great, like I said before I think it would be nice if mala showed every USB controller, like joystick, trackball and spinner and then you could set what one or ones you want to use to control scrolling.  Just an idea

[loadman]

that would be great, like I said before I think it would be nice if mala showed every USB controller, like joystick, trackball and spinner and then you could set what one or ones you want to use to control scrolling.  Just an idea

Well....possibly. At least MaLa might be able to indicate what it thinks is connected so if you know if you need to use a 3rd part tool to fix it

[squirrellydw]

anything would help, thanks