Fixed.

[fifthdream]

So, a couple of months ago, for no reason i could determine, my joystick stopped working on my PC. A couple of things glitched; sound went out, a program crashed, When i rebooted, no joystick. The Game Controllers control panel wouldn't open. When i tried, either i heard an error sound, or nothing happened at all. Worked on it a little in device manager and such, got the control panel to open, but that's about it. Kinda gave up on it.

Now, besides not being able to use a controller to play games (i have a USB adapter that lets me use my PS2 controller on the computer), i also can't use it how i usually do: as a mouse. I use a program to convert controller input to mouse movement and button presses, and i use it a LOT. Lets me switch windows, check mail, and such without getting up from watching TV, or while i'm playing other games, or lets me change the volume of music or change songs, or whatever, while i'm in bed and such. So a couple of months without that has been, well not terrible, but a little less convenient.

Well, i fixed it today. Got a little ambitions and searched Google again. Found ONE hit relevant to my exact problem. Seemed someone else had the game controller control panel issue, and traced it back to a screwy USB toy he had plugged in to his computer. Well, i had a USB base for a little handheld IM device i don't use much. Unplugged it went back through all the steps i'd been through before. Boom. Works. Tada. So happy. Didn't realize how much i used the controller until i had it working again.

Sucks that Windows Update took three reboots before it finally actually updated anything today, and the start menu kept disappearing/turning black, otherwise i'd be REALY happy about the computer this afternoon. ;P

What else did i do today? Played .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce (love how long that name is, amuses me to type it out every time) so much i got bored and don't feel like i REALLY REALLY want to play it more tonight. Well, maybe a little. Watched Ashe work for a while on an animation that i helped out with a little, and played a little Super Mario Bros. 3 with her. And i had a salad, with ginger dressing for lunch, mmm. And, ummm... that's it, really. I've also been sleeping lately. Amazing.

Gotta check TV listings for tonight. A bunch of my shows are back on now. -.-; Then i'll grab a glass of tea, and maybe play .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce (c&p that time) for an hour before Big Brother comes on.