TrackIR stops tracking

[Pritzl]

OK, I have the trackIR 3 Pro and only recently purchased the vector expansion. I had an issue before where I would turn on the software and find that it could not track the dot. This was resolved by unplugging and replugging the device. I heard most other users having a similar experience so I did not bother with it. Besides, I could tell right away when turning the software on.

Now, with the vector expansion, it seems to happen more often and, most curiously, after I turn on the device and seems to be related to how long the PC has been on. I start the software, the green light comes on but goes out after a few seconds. I have to shut down the software, unplug and replug the device or reboot the PC to get it to stick.

Is there any way to get around this minor irritation?

[rodom]

Try running the registry fix that is stickied on top of this forum.

[Pritzl]

Hi Rick, I've used the utility and it did seem to 'fix' something or at least said it did. Unfortunately the problem persists. About 50% of the time, when I start up the trackIR software, tracking dies after a short while, varying between 10 and 30 seconds. When this happens, I have to close the software, unplug/replug the device and restart the software. Even then, sometimes only a reboot will rectify the problem.

This is extremely irritating as you can imagine so any advice appreciated.

My specs:
P4C 2.4GHz Northwood
i865PE chipset (Abit IS7)
Windows XP Home SP1
DirectX 9.0c
TrackIR 3 pro + vector expansion

[ January 28, 2006, 09:03 AM: Message edited by: Pritzl ]

[Pritzl]

Anyone?

[rodom]

Run the utillity again and tell me what it says. Sometimes depending on how severe the registry issue is you have to run it more then once. Please tell me exactly what it says and if it generates a file send that to me as well.

rick@naturalpoint.com

[Pritzl]

I've run it several times and apart from the first time (when it said it addressed a trackIR 3 issue) it keeps saying there's nothing to fix. I'll give it one more whirl though.

[Pritzl]

Here's the exact text I get: "No devices detected that needed to be fixed."

I used to get the green screen thing with the version 3 software, and the device would fail to track, but with version 4 software I can't get the tracking window to even show up and all the lights on the device go off. It definitely has some correlation with starting up various software. e.g. starting up FireFox, Teamspeak or my Saitek stick profile will occasionally precipitate the problem. Then again, it often occurs spontaneously.

There was no software correlation with the version 3 green window hangup though, the only commonalities being no tracking and that unplugging/replugging and/or rebooting was necessary to get the device working again.

Here's a description of a typical episode that just happened:

I wanted to fly some so I started the program and loaded my stick profile and within 5 seconds the lights went out. I unplugged/replugged the device as well as the joystick and tried again. No joy. Put on the headset+vector and tried again making sure to load the stick profile first. This time it stuck for longer than 15 seconds so I was hopeful. Didn't last though, it stopped again when I started IL-2. I backed out, restarted the software and this time it stuck and worked for ~45mins as I fooled around in the QMB. I closed the game, and started firefox before shutting down the software. The lights went off almost immediately and it stopped tracking again. Really frustrating because I can't see much rhyme or reason behind it yet.

I'll fire you an email with the details once I've done some more testing.

[ February 01, 2006, 11:57 PM: Message edited by: Pritzl ]

[Snodancer]

I found a fix that is working for me so far. It was in a back issue of Computer Pilot Magazine. Windows XP can shut off USB Devices to conserve energy. The advice was to go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>System> Hardware Tab> Device Manager button. Expand the Universal "USB Root Hub" There may be multiple entries, ( I have 3). Highlight each USB Root Hub entry, right click and click Properties from the list. Go to the Power Management Tab, and untick the check box with the title, " Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Click ok once done, then repeat for any other entries.

My TrackIR3 with Vector expansion would stop tracking, especially if I was flying a fairly complex AC. Then I would have to shut down, and reboot to get everything back up and working again.

Hope this helps. Jay

[Pritzl]

That looks promising. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[Pritzl]

So far so good! Fingers crossed...