I'm stumped... advice please???

[DonaldT]

I have run into a strange problem with my controller. So far I have hesitated to send it back for service because I think my problems might be the result of especially vicious mal-ware targeted at G4.

The problem is this... My elevator is unresponsive on the proper axis. However, when I move the ailerons, my elevator moves up or down depending if I move right or left. Naturally it is unflyable, and it happens with all aircraft and helis; default or addon. Calibration... no go. All channels are programmed properly... no switched or joinedaxis by software.

A friend of mine who knows electonics does not believe the Interlink is the problem. If elevator totally didn't work it would be more likely, but how did the wire for elevator suddenly attatch itself to the aileron pot?

Could it really be the Interlink controller? Has this happened to anyone else?

Another one of the reasons I think it might be malware is that it started the first time I flew after April Fool's Day.

Also, would it void the warranty if my friend has a look inside before I send it back? There is no way Knife Edge will have my Interlink back in time for my family to use it Easter.

Best Regards, Donald T

[jeffpn]

Did you try resetting the defaults in the Launcher? Other than that, tech support is your only hope.

[DonaldT]

Forgot to mention it, but yes I did...

Donald T.

[jeffpn]

Well, if it's malware, you could always type format c:. I've never calibrated the Interlink in Windows, but if you have, have the axes changed there, too?

[phrank]

Use the window game controller(not the realflight) one.
Is the behavior the same there too?

Other than gremlins sneaking inside the interlink on april fools, not sure what your bff might find visually.

Have you tried scanning for worms, etc...?

Edit: dang it Jeff, you're fast.

[DonaldT]

Yes I have had positive results on malware, don;t know about worms.

Exact same results with Windows calibration...

Donald T

[Orion]

Positive results on Malware means you have malware? Removed malware?...

I doubt there's much if any malware aimed at an RC sim but some of it is badly written and breaks stuff accidentally.

[DonaldT]

I never had a problem with malware till a few months ago. At first my computer still tested clean when it started. Then I got a few viruses each time I scanned. Since the viruses keep coming back, I am of the impression that there is some "master" program not yet seen that is having "babies". I have been clean for two days now though; at least according to both my antivirus programs.

It has also affected FSX. My texture and addon scenery folders just up and disapeared; and without textures the sim will not run. The guy I contracted with to optimise my rig for simming said he knows of a spyware program that affects FSX like that. Maybe RealFlight too? The last time FSX was affected was just a few days ago also.

Thanx for your time...

Donald Traill

[phrank]

My wife and kids manage to infect the family PC about every 2 weeks.
MalwareBytes always has done the job that the other retail packages fail to do.
Highly recommend that one.

Never heard of any malware affecting a game controller, when you find the culprit, let us know.

[wjkssmd]

The odds of someone writing a piece of malware targeting Real Flight is slim to none. The program is not widely used and rather new.

Your problem most likely is the Interlink Controller hardware. It does not void the warranty to look inside (there is no seal), but you will not see anything you can fix. The stick pots are wired completely separately and connect to an IC board. Not much a user can tinker with.

The problem could be with your USB ports... make sure the plug and receptacle are clean of debris. You should try unplugging the controller, shutting down, restarting and replugging the controller. The USB driver could also be corrupted. You might try deleting the driver and letting the system reinstall it. Be sure you have the disks that came with the computer available. If possible, you should try another Interlink box to see if the same problems exist.

The sooner you send it in, the sooner it will be back.

[Spareparts]

Regardless of what is wrong with RF, it sounds like your PC needs a major cleanup. If I believed I had any kind of virus, I would reformat the entire drive and re-install the OS. The last virus I had was some form of rootkit that didn't show up on my virus scanner. I knew it was there because I turned off the PC during while the virus was installing and saw it in its incomplete state (it had installed a SQL server and created two new user acconts). I then found evidence of the same rootkit on a second machine in the house. On the second machine the install completed, and although SQL server had been cleaned up (hidden or removed), I could still see activity on some partially hidden user accounts.

Long story short - both PC's were reformatted and re-imaged. The upside is that both PC's performance was noticably improved. Now I only run in user mode (not as admin), and am hoping that this will make web surfing a little safer. The only time I need to enter the admin password for RealFlight is when I select the updates option on the launcher.

The April 1st thing sounds like that Conficker worm though. Have you tried going to www.microsoft.com? If you can't get there, that is supposedly (from what I've read) the easiest way to know you have it.

[opjose]

Open the device manager.

Set the view to show devices by connection.

Find the "root hub" which the interlink is connected to.

Make sure that NO OTHER DEVICES are plugged into that same root hub.

DELETE the ROOT HUB device altogether.

Shut down the computer completely.

UNPLUG it from ANY power sources, e.g. the wall, or UPS.

Press the ON switch for 2 seconds to discharge current from on board capacitors.

Wait 5 seconds.

Plug the power back into the PC.

Turn on the computer, and wait until Windows redetects the root hub and the interlink.

Give it a minute after that.

Start G4.5 and recalibrate the controller.


Is the problem now gone?

[DonaldT]

Thank you all for the replies. But I have decided to bite the bullet and send my Interlink back.

Donald T.

[jeffpn]

Originally Posted by Donald T

So far I have hesitated to send it back for service because I think my problems might be the result of especially vicious mal-ware

Originally Posted by Donald T

A friend of mine who knows electonics does not believe the Interlink is the problem.

Originally Posted by Donald T

Another one of the reasons I think it might be malware is that it started the first time I flew after April Fool's Day.

I hope you tried what opjose suggested. Otherwise, even by your own suspicions, you could have the same problem with the new Interlink. Do you have a second computer you could install RF on to test it there? I hope you're not setting yourself up for disappointment by getting a replacement, if that's not going to solve your problem.