First, I'll repeat an email I sent to Trust (the manufacturers of the wheel):

On April 20th, I recieved a Compact Vibration Feedback Steering Wheel
GM-3200. It was bought to replace my old PS2-only wheel. I was really
pleased with it when I first took it out of the box, and even more
pleased when I plugged it into my computer! A little popup appeared on
the screen of my Windows XP home edition, saying: "Your hardware is
installed and ready to use." And it was - everything worked fine!

But now for the problem. A month or so later, my computer crashed, and
wouldn't start up again. I managed to replace the the 'Windows' folder
only, so I didn't lose any programs or files, except for those in the
Windows folder. Yay! But when I started my computer again, and plugged
in my steering wheel, the steering wheel didn't work. The light comes on
for a second or two when I turn the computer on, but then it turns off.
Windows does not recognise the wheel at all. I did lose quite a few
drivers when I replaced my Windows folder, so I am wondering whether
that is the problem. There doesn't seem to be a driver available to
download for this wheel, though. What shall I do?!

Regards,
Tim


Their reply:


Dear Customer,

Thanks for your E-Mail.
We regret to inform that for this product, no special Trust driver is
needed.
When your Operating system can't find the generic/ standard driver
Specify the location of this driver:C :\Windows\System32\Drivers"

Please contact Microsoft with this problem.

Kind regards,

******* ****** (Confidential!)
Trust Customer Care

The wheel is not in the game controllers section, nor is it in the device manager area.

Firstly, could someone translate the response
Secondly, what shall I do?! Tell me if you need more info.

Thanks!

Basically. Go to My computer -> Then to C: (C DRIVE) -> Then to Windows -> Then to SYSTEM 32. And then look for a folder called "Drivers". If its there then i dont know the problem


I would suggest backing up the files you want the most (NOT THE WHOLE OF YOUR PC) And formatting it. Then re-installing windows. that might sort your problem as you might have missed a file when copying the windows folders across.

I re-installed my windows folder, so I can't have missed anything, but I may have lost some drivers. The Trust person said to find my generic/standard driver. How can I tell which driver it is?

You said you managed to replace the windows folder. Now to me, thats somehow copying a windows folder and putting it back on your pc somehow?


Ide backup the data you need.

Format the whole of your pc WITH the windows XP/Vista/2000 disk so that it installs windows fully and installs all the drivers necessary.

To me it sounds like there was an error "replacing" the drivers.

If you didnt format it, do it. Backup the files you need the most, NOT your windows folder.

Sorry - I should have explaned it better. I'm not a computer genius, so I'm repeating stuff that is said by my computer, if you know what I mean! I am looking for a solution that does not involve formatting, as I have a lot of files, and I cannot find my windows xp disk! Now that I really think about it, I am not sure what happened with my windows folder :worried: . I think that I have a 'fresh' windows folder - like I had just installed windows.

Can we leave out the windows folder for now? (I'm tired and embarrased!) After all, that may not be the problem.

There is no driver specifically for the wheel. I have an mp3 player that plugs into the same (usb) port as the wheel that has a specific driver, and it works fine.

Thank you for the help!

I have no other explanation of it. Replacing folders doesnt always work. Sorry mate.

Okay. Thanks anyway.

Hmzz Trust, a brand you should avoid at any time

Really? I didn't realise - are they a bit of a Symantec?
Although I don't think its the wheel that's at fault this time!