I think the joystick problem has been solved by replacing (of all things) the PC power supply.
Attempts to overclock my Intel e6400 (2.13 ghz.) CPU with an Asus P5n sli motherboard and a 420 watt powersupply failed miserably.
I spent a couple hundred bucks and bought an XFX 680i motherboard and a 700 watt powersupply and now have the e6400 cpu to 3.23 ghz.
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/images/...icon_smile.gif
I think the old 420 watt powersupply was cooked and not coping with the usb MSsidewinderFF. This in spite of the fact the the FF stick is pluged directly (no transformer) into a 110v wall socket.
Thanks for all the JS info.