HOW TO: Picture guide to fixing the Dilong adapter's(& similar) UP+DOWN/R+L problems

[swbluto]

First off, I must definitely thank Fragoon for having created the solution(Which can be found at his original post, http://www.stepmaniawiki.com/forums/...ead.php?t=8887) and Dj Ash 1983 for providing a definite concrete way for using it in a way that definitely works. This whole post is a tribute to Fragoon for providing a way to use the adapter that so many have been suckered into buying and I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone else to effectively use Fragoon's solution. Anyways, on to the important stuff.

On an important note, this configuration that I'm using is the ONLY ONE that I know that absolutely works(However, there might be other usable configurations). The current adapter I'm using is apparently a Dilong Pu203. Now, I don't really know this, but from the pictures provided by Stepmania and the kind of problems I'm having(And the place I obtained it and at what price... cheap) and the solution that happened to work with my particular problem(Among other descriptions), I think it's 99.9% likely I have one. Here's what mine looks like(It actually looks like a much lighter blue in real life: I think the camera's lighting is just a bit dimmed).



I basically found this on eBay when I was trying to find the cheapest adapter that was being sold by a "reputable" seller that claimed it would work with a dance pad on the computer(by pressing select+start+up for 3 seconds). I've tried that trick and nothing happened, nothing would cure the problems it experienced in StepMania with it not being able to handle left and right at the same time nor up and down at the same time. I grew tired of having repeated the seller's instruction for a hundred times only to come to nothing.

Anyways, the other parts of the configuration that I'm using that definitely works:

-I'm using Windows XP. I tried Windows 2000 but to no avail: They might work if you follow the directions herein *exactly*, but I can't guarantee it. However, Windows Vista does work! A single player game on vista, however, requires a different program.
-It has service Pack two installed. May not matter, but it might be important.
-I downloaded and am using the driver from Dilong's website: The particular page is http://www.dilongsz.com/en/driver.asp
-I have DirectX 8 installed; It appears anything as good or better than DirectX 7 will suffice, but I can't guarantee it.

THE STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS:

First off, the configuration I outlined is the only one that I've tested that seems to work. If you find your gaming is not working with your configuration when you follow the following steps *exactly*, you might need to match some parts of my configuration. The most important part, that I can think of, is simply having Windows XP or Windows Vista(I upgraded to XP just to get it to work).

LEAVE YOUR DEVICE UNPLUGGED DURING THESE STEPS UNLESS IT STATES OTHERWISE. This is the most likely way that I know of to get your dancepad to work.

1.Uninstall all previous dancepad drivers and download the Dilong Driver and Install it. My particular adapter came with a mini-cd with a driver installer on it but it just simply did not work.
Go to http://www.dilongsz.com/en/driver.asp and download the driver that appears next to "Pu120T Convertor /Pu203 Convertor/Pu205 USB HUB and Convertor" text. This driver existed as of December 19, 2007, but if it doesn't when you get read this post, I can upload a copy of the one I have.
Installing it shouldn't be too hard, but I can elaborate if needed. Remember, DirectX 7 or higher is apparently needed.

ABRUPT UPDATE: It's now October 1, 2008, and I've been informed that the above link no longer works which is, well, kind of expectable of the constantly changing internet and make-shift chinese companies. So, in the effort of uploading my copy, I've found that my usual file hoster geocities has a 5MB upload limit per file which kind of makes uploading the 23.7MB driver setup file a hassle, at the least. So the new download link is http://www.mediafire.com/?jdynxjzizxj which requires you to go their page and view whatever annoying ad(and popup) for this free service but, hey, it's there! (P.S., if anybody knows of a free file-hosting service that allows ad-free direct linking that doesn't have prehistoric file size upload limits and seems like it'll stick around for some time, send me a PM.)

*now continuing on with the regular service: Step 2*

2. Attach your adapter to the USB port with the dancepad disconnected. Once you plug in the adapter and the computer notices(You might have to cancel all windows that might come up), plug in your dancepad into the adapter. With the device's "dome-shape" pointing upwards, plugging in your dancepad in the right slot should cause it to be in the first-player slot(This is *important*); On my adapter, this caused a bright-pink/reddish light to turn on. If you have a second pad, plugging in the dancepad in the left slot will cause it to be in the second-person slot.

3. Once your adapter and dancepad is connected, goto Start->Control Panel->Game Controllers. Click Properties, and then click the "Settings" tab near the top left of the window and click "Calibrate". For detailed directions for calibrating(A VERY IMPORTANT PART!), follow the directions after the pictures.







DETAILED CALIBRATION INSTRUCTIONS.
a. Open Game Controllers in the Control Panel.
b. Click the first entry"Twin USB Joystick" and click properties. If you press a dancepad button, one of the buttons on the screen should light up. If not, try the other entry.
c.Click the settings tab and click "calibrate".
*starting where I last ended*
d. A "Welcome to Device Calibration Wizard" should show. Click next.
e. Press a button on the controller(I pressed X).
It should go to the next screen with a white box and a cross-hair cursor inside. It says to move the handle in complete circles(In other words, press the direction buttons in a clockwise manner). For me, I just pressed UP then RIGHT then DOWN and then LEFT... at which case, the cursor should center in the center of the box. Click the checkbox "Display raw data", and you should notice it state "X Axis 127" and "Y Axis 127". If you're not pressing anything, GOOD! Now press the right and left arrow button AT THE SAME TIME and hold. It should now say "X axis 128", "Y axis 127". If it does, excellent. Press next.
f. Make sure you're not pressing anything and then press X.
g. Now it starts talking about the "Z axis"; Forget this. Just press the "Next" button.
h. Now it talks about "Z rotation"; Forget this too. Press next.
i. Now it leaves you no other option but "Finish". Click finish and your controller is calibrated.


4. Now that you've installed the Dilong Driver, plugged in the adapter and dancepad and calibrated the dancepad(Or both dancepads), you're off to the next step which involves a program that you're going to have to run at the same time as StepMania.

If you're using TWO dancepads, make sure to download Fragoon's incredibly excellent solution at http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LXVWUECI: If you are using Two Pads, make sure to calibrate both pads first(Using the same directions in the previous calibration instructions) and set W to Up, A to left, D to right and S to down for the second pad inside the StepMania Config menu in Options.

If you are using ONE dancepad, unfortunately, it looks like I don't have the program that I originally posted for one player since Yahoo deleted all geocities' content recently. Sorry. I saved the original part for this paragraph below in quotes for... posterity. :/

download http://www.geocities.com/swbluto4gems/SMvistasingle.zip(I specially created it for playing one-player: The other program just floods the computer with A's and W's which will make playing difficult. Yes, this program will work for Windows XP). Once you have the extracted the program from the zip file you downloaded, have it somewhere ready.

5.Open StepMania and once the program starts, press "alt" and "tab" as the same time to find the desktop. Open the program that you downloaded in the previous step and a little bubble near the bottom-right of the screen in the system tray should announce the presence of controllers. Re-enter Stepmania and you're set! Now, this program just detects the buttons pressed on the dancepad and translates it to keypresses on the keyboard(Hitting the up arrow "presses" the "keyboard's up-key"), so the dance pad is only configured with the arrows. To configure the dancepad's other buttons, you'll have to Config under StepMania's Options.

Anyways, that's it. If you want to do more, like hooking up two different game-pads, you can find some programs that might help you under Fragoon's thread at http://www.stepmaniawiki.com/forums/...ead.php?t=8887. If you're experiencing problems, make sure to follow the steps exactly in the order presented(I'm one of those guys that usually reasons "Well, it doesn't REALLY matter if I do this step before that step", but I found following the steps exactly in this situation is about the only *known* way to make sure everything works, otherwise something silly might happen like the "up button" flooding the computer, or the up button not working when the bottom button is pressed.). If that doesn't work, trying to match my configuration as much possible might help(Especially with using Windows XP). If that doesn't work, well, sorry.

If anyone wants any pictures for anything, I'll try to provide it at your request.

[jcpaz]

Hey guys if you guys have the same adapter as mention above and are having the same problems, follow this INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE THEY DO WORK!!!! It's easy to follow and if you guys are having any difficulties just contact swbluto or me. I'm sure we will be able to help you with what u need, BUT ONLY REGARDING TO WHAT'S POSTED ABOVE. (that's just me tough)

[demoniavbh]

Oh yes, I've just recieved the adapter and I thought I wouldn't be able to play with this either, but not now :)

Thanks thanks thanks

Works perfectly

[Atalan]

Assuming the drivers you're recommending we download are the same as are linked in this post - http://www.stepmaniawiki.com/forums/...ighlight=pu203 - which they seem to be, as they have the same 'setup.EXE' filename - can you confirm whether or not the file installs warez on the system? I'm not willing to risk messing up my computer.

edit: ... just for the record, I have not downloaded the drivers from the website, but when I run the program you've written for a single mat it works fine. I also don't have to minimize Stepmania to start it- I can just run it and then load Stepmania and it works. :)

[swbluto]

Originally Posted by Atalan

Assuming the drivers you're recommending we download are the same as are linked in this post - http://www.stepmaniawiki.com/forums/...ighlight=pu203 - which they seem to be, as they have the same 'setup.EXE' filename - can you confirm whether or not the file installs warez on the system? I'm not willing to risk messing up my computer.

edit: ... just for the record, I have not downloaded the drivers from the website, but when I run the program you've written for a single mat it works fine. I also don't have to minimize Stepmania to start it- I can just run it and then load Stepmania and it works. :)

I don't believe it comes bundled with warez. I really haven't been noticing any strange behavior, and my ultra-awesome AVG anti-spyware, anti-virus, anti-"unwanted programs" program hasn't picked up anything unusual.

That's good to hear about the different arrangement of steps. I knew there were other workable configurations, I just didn't want to go through the rounds of experimentation(And I didn't really feel confident enough to entrust my reasoning on other peoples' computers, as that only opens the possibility for complications.) to confirm possible solutions(Imagine what software testing groups have to go through!), so I felt like erring on the safe side by trying to over-emphasize "This is the only way that I know that it works, follow it step-by-step" concept. So, it's good you've found another possibly more convenient way! Thanks for reporting it! I'm sure some will find it helpful.

[cbr1100xx]

How do I delete my drivers? I found the folder in the program files section but there are only 2 files there and no uninstall.

Edit: I got it working, there is a glitch though if your foot is on the left you can hit right and it works but not the other way, same with up and down works but if your foot is on down you cant hit up

edit mkII: ok I got it working on my box (Win XP PRO SP2) I needed to run your program before running step mania and its doing great now

[the syntax]

I have a metal pad from DDR Game and when I try this out my arrows are very unresponsive, registering a response in the driver calibration menu sporadically and infrequently. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Fragoon]

@swbluto

Thanks for making this great guide, hope it will help with all script problems that peoples found, becouse I really don't have time to play with SM and fix all issues.
Thanks Again :D

[chansherly212]

hey, i was wondering, i'm thinking of getting this adapter here on ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com.my/Dual-PSX-PS-P...QQcmdZViewItem

is it a dilong adapter?? can't tell who's the manufacturer, wonder if i'll need to go through these steps for this one...

[chansherly212]

has anyone else tried this method?? wonder how often it works, anyone can recommend usb adapters that actually work without complicated solution steps, but with a price below $ 10.. (where i'm from, everything in USD is three times the price, so i;m trying to find a relatively cheap one that doesn't have axes problems)