Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: psychotech on April 29, 2007, 08:18:34 pm

Title: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on April 29, 2007, 08:18:34 pm

Hi!

Just bought an old, unused (Penny&Giles) Traxsys 2" (50mm) PS/2 trackball mouse. Info: http://www.traxsys.com/staticproductlisting.asp?strareano=2001_1

(http://www.telemail.fi/psychotech/big_ugly/129.jpg)

Works nicely in DOS (6.22 & 7.00) with GameLauncher (Marble Madness/Centipede/etc.), and even in DOS edit.. But, with Win98SE & two different XP SP2 machines: Nothing!

The WinDozes won't even recognize a mouse! So, WTF!? How can it work so nicely in various versions of DOS and then with windows, nothing?

Technical details (PDF): http://www.traxsys.com/docGallery/295.PDF

Should not need additional drivers or anything.. and I've tried quite a few Win98/98SE "solutions" - nothing.

The TB is quite a hackable one, but I'd like to be able to use it in Windows too as a mouse ..

What do you think? Ideas, anyone?


Thanks in advance,

Psychotech.

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: leapinlew on April 29, 2007, 09:12:10 pm

Do you know if the serial port works in Windows? no IRQ conflicts or anything? You have any other serial devices you can try?

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on April 29, 2007, 09:26:22 pm

I've tested this on machines with fully working serial & PS/2 ports - the TB is PS/2 - and nothing!

The Bombjack TB is serial. Works. And the BJ spinner is PS/2. Works. Both work in DOS as well as in WIN98SE & XP.

The Traxsys 2"; DOS = Yes, WIN (of any kind) = NO GO!

Solve this mystery...

Sherlock? Anyone :)

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on April 30, 2007, 05:07:17 pm

Oh, well..

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on April 30, 2007, 05:58:50 pm

..

Maybe I'll just do another version of this?

http://arcadecontrols.com/files/Miscellaneous/Mouse_to_Trackball_Instructions.pdf

In essence, bypass the existing mouse PCB and use a generic ps/2 mouse instead ..might even work..

What do you think?

Psychotech, still.

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: ark_ader on May 01, 2007, 02:55:38 pm

Hi,

I have a similar one too but it is PS2 compatible for the PC and the Archimedes.

Mine works great in XP, but it does fight with the existing mouse.

Centipede and Missile Command works great with this.

I cannot understand the issues you are reporting.

What interface are you using?

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on May 01, 2007, 03:04:32 pm

 :banghead:

it's PS2, just like yours.. No version of Windows (XP or 98SE) recognize it  :hissy:

..?!

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 01, 2007, 04:22:33 pm

Neat looking trackball - no idea why it doesn't work . . .

Quote from: psychotech on April 30, 2007, 05:58:50 pm

In essence, bypass the existing mouse PCB and use a generic ps/2 mouse instead ..might even work..
What do you think?

Should work - but then again, it should work the way it is as well. . .

Title: Re: Trackball trouble
Post by: psychotech on May 03, 2007, 08:27:57 pm

Yeah, I know it should  ???

Well, F Me!

Actually managed to get WIN XP to see the trackball with some creative wiring and stuff*.. (With the original PCB, which works.)

Still, as soon as XP had recognized/detected the "mouse" it needed to "restart the machine to reboot to.." Tested it for a few seconds before restarting the machine, worked -> Yeah, right. Restart -> NOTHING! -> WTF!

?!??!?

* "Drain wire connected to shell of plug." (http://www.traxsys.com/docGallery/295.PDF) Seems there really was no actual connection, so I added a jumper wire to connect to the shell on the PC's (female) connector ..worked.. TB recognized on XP, on restart; Again, nothing!

S.H.I.T.E.!

All out of ideas..

Psychotech.