Ok I give up, how do you get the joystick to work?

[SEE]

I had problems assigning my X52 main axis and throttle. Does each axis change from the default one shown in the box when you try to assign them? Mine would not change and the bar graphs showed no movement. I left the mouse cursor on the 'clear' box and kept the mouse button depressed and at the same time moved the corresponding stick axis - it suddenly recognised the axis and then repeated for the others. Been fine since but I saved the profile just in case.