Hi,
Thanks to William (and others) for his suggestion, but the file, "ESS_Dos_config.zip" he suggested I download, did not "recognize" the ES1788 in my laptop. It "applies" to a later version like the ES1869.
However, I found "1678DOS.EXE" (self extracting zip file) on the web. Sorry, I lost the location. This solved my problem. I simply launch "ESSCFG.EXE" and select "6" (menu) and then "enable" the joystick. Note: This "ESSCFG.EXE" also "recognized" ES1788.
Thanks again to everyone who responded to my post.
Brad
Hi!
>
>I've never heard of BIOS support for a joystick/game port.
>
>Windows provides a virtual joystick (vjoyd, IIRC) driver that probably
>initializes the port and gets it to the point of working before you attempt
>to use it.
>
>The gameport is usually implemented by way of the sound card/sound chip.
>Chances are you need a DOS enabler to get the sound chip up and running so
>you can use the game port.
>
>Most likely you need this:
>ftp://ftp.esstech.com/pub/audio-modem/Win311_DOS/ISA/DOS/ESS_DOS_config.zip
>
>(quoting the readme: "ESSCFG.EXE allows the user to configure the ESS sound
>chip with a base address, a DMA channel, an IRQ channel, and an address for
>the MPU-401 port, if a wavetable is supported by the sound card.")
>
>to get the card/chip running and initialized before you can use the
>joystick.
>
>Chances are that the ESS1788 is an ISA PnP device and must be initialized
>somehow before anything can see or use it. The older computer is more likely
>to have used a chipset that's always enabled and/or has its resources
>assigned in some "hardwired" method, such as jumpers, switches or possibly
>even BIOS settings.
>
>William
>
>>Hi,
>>
>> I have a Compaq Presario 1060 laptop (WIN95), bought around 1997. It has a
>>game port connector. I have two analog joysticks (Kraft and Quick Shot,
>>QS201) which I am unable to use in Dos mode (Windows shut down). I can use
>>them at the Dos "Prompt". I couldn't find a Dos mode driver for either
>>joystick, but there is a handler in BIOS for a joystick so I really don't need
>>a Dos driver.
>>
>> I used a Dos based "JOYREAD" tool which uses two modes (the joystick
>>handler in BIOS or software loop) to read the joystick port (0201h). Both
>>modes work fine at the Dos "Prompt", but neither works in Dos mode. Simple
>>button/s pressing can't be detected in Dos mode, but detected just fine at Dos
>>Prompt!!!
>>
>> Note: I have a Dos mode Commodore 64 emulator that will not "run"
>>at the Dos prompt. I have many C64 games that work best with a
>>joystick. Also note, I have a Compaq Presario CDS774 desktop
>>computer I bought in late 1995. These same joysticks work just
>>fine in Dos mode (without Windows) using the BIOS joystick handler.
>>
>> Is there a direct connection with the sound system (ES1788 from
>>ESS Technology) and this port?
>>
>> What "enables" this port when Windows is launched, even though
>>there is a BIOS (rom) handler for this port?
>>
>> Thanks in advance, Brad
>>
>> Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
>> be sure there is no active key logger (spyware) in your PC.