Crash to desktop with error in directinput8.dll (and workaround)

DCS Black Shark, gui as well as sim was crashing frequently to desktop with the crashlog to Microsoft showing an error in directinput8.dll

Here's the system:

processor C2D 8500

4 GB ram

windows XP SP3

ATI 4870

CH fighterstick, throttle, and rudders

USB audio for voice comms

usb mouse/keyboard connected via a KVM switch

Microsoft Sidewinder USB gaming Mouse

And here's a work around:

Changing connected USB devices, say using the CH manager for the joysticks or by disconnecting the USB audio decreased/increased crashes - reducing the number of devices always seemed to help.

Disconnecting the Sidewinder mouse from the system has so far eliminated all crashes.

Perhaps this is one for the devs to investigate as this has only ever happened for me in DCS (not lomac or flaming cliffs).

Same problem here and guess what mouse I have :D

Have to test without Sidewinder mouse..

...and tadaaa, works with logitech...

I suspect, there is USB power problem. Could you connect some of devices via external USB hub with external power supply?

What about the Microsoft SideWinder mouse problem? Because I have that mouse also and Black Shark crashes on my computer too if I have that mouse connected. I tried with a Logitech mouse yesterday and the game ran without any problems.

The faulting module is dinput8.dll.

No other game have so far caused that kind of a crash with SideWinder mouse.

Yeah, Sidewinder mouse here also, out of 4 crashes so far, 3 has been because of dinput8.dll.

I also have MsFFB joystick though. I think I've gotten less problems after flipping the force axis though. Not sure.

DCS-20081212-213101.crash.txt

DCS-20081211-232406.crash.txt

Yep, it's about mouse. I took a look into NewInputStart after craft with:

26B7480 7C3AC1D1 0001:00006480 C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\Ka-50\bin\stable\NewInput.dll ??4ForceFeedback@@QAEAAV0@ABV0@@Z()+3240

Here is the last lines:

2008.12.14 23:13:12:828 
Joyctick: try to createConstantForceEffect
2008.12.14 23:13:12:828 
Joyctick: try to createPeriodicEffect
2008.12.14 23:13:12:843 
Joyctick: try to setBufferSize: 1024
2008.12.14 23:13:12:843 
Joystick created[Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 {C07C5BD0-A87F-11db-8001-444553540000}].
2008.12.14 23:13:12:843 
Try to create device. Device type is: 65553. Device name is: SideWinder™ Mouse

That was the last line, normally it goes through keyboard etc after this.

I noticed that removing intellipoint software lessens the amount of crashes though, but does not remove them completely.

What is nasty, is that while in campaign, if you crash, mission is failure and may cause complete failure of campaign

I have the same problem with the sidewinder mouse in both XP and Vista (running a dual boot system) Tried my old microsoft mouse this morning doing several training mission load as thats when i usually have the problem and not one crash and Rik that is the sidewinder mouse.

I have the same problem with the sidewinder mouse in both XP and Vista (running a dual boot system) Tried my old microsoft mouse this morning doing several training mission load as thats when i usually have the problem and not one crash and Rik that is the sidewinder mouse.

Please post an exact link to this mouse model so we will be able to get it for tests.

My mouse is this:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/productdetails.aspx?pid=100

So the game thinks the SideWinder mouse is SideWinder Force Feedback 2 joystick?

EDIT: Btw. Microsoft product code for the SideWinder mouse is HKA-00003 (retail) and K7A-00006 (OEM). I have the OEM version, but

I'm quite sure the hardware itself is the same, it's just that the OEM version isn't boxed.

Please, confirm - is it that http://www.everythingusb.com/microsoft_sidewinder_gaming_mouse_13199.html mouse? (If not - please, provide me a link to your device)

Yes, thats the mouse.

I had exactly the same problem.

I could enter the launch interface but when trying to load a mission the game crashed 70% of the time.

When the mission was running it didn't crash anymore, but sometimes it was taking 5 or 6 starts to make it load.

I found this post, removed my microsoft mouse (the same model you are talking about), disabled the ipoint.exe (mouse software) and now BS is running perfectly.

Everytime I start a mission it loads fine. I didn't load it more than 5 times but they all worked, which it a record for me.

I would never imagine the mouse would be the problem. Everything else I have here always worked fine with it (Arma, IL-2, FPS games, etc...)

Anyway, thx for the help. I can spend more times learning to use the systems than hoping that the game would start.

I have the same problem. BS never crashed untill i installed the MS Sidewinder X5 mouse a few days ago. Same error: dinput8.dll.

Gonna uninstall the mouse and reinstall my Razer Habu.

I also installed the Sidewinder X6 keyboard, hopefully this one is not a problem.

Any progress with the sidewinder/intellipoint problem?

I'm doing hardware testing for Microsoft and i'm testing the Sidewinder X8 mouse and it is the same problem.

It's Microsoft problem in DirectInput, not BS problem, and we cannot fix it.

It's Microsoft problem in DirectInput, not BS problem, and we cannot fix it.

Ok, but you are working with MS on the problem i hope?

Ok, but you are working with MS on the problem i hope?

Yes.

Yes.

Sweet, that's good to hear. Thanks for answering :)