Spaceball - 3D Device Not Found

I had this same spaceball and the same problem. I've found that wiggling the ball as windows starts up allows the driver to see the device. This is not a software problem as it is the driver that reports that it can't see a 3D device. I hope this helps,

Jesper
I have the same setup as yours and had the same problem. I set it up so the drivers would not install on Windows startup. Windows will try to intall a "new device". Just cancel the install each time you startup. Put a shortcut to the driver so you can start the Spaceball after you start Solidworks. A pain but beats restarting the computer.
Paul Miller

IMHO, it is in the driver. I have 2 SM XT models on 2 different computers and I get this same thing on both. More on the Win2K box at home and not on XP @ work. I started getting this on a driver upgrade a couple of versions back when I upgraded devices (went from 2002's to SpaceMouse XT+'s)
Have you tried the following: 1. Set the driver to _NOT_ start with windows. 2. Start the driver after you boot the computer and leave it run. 3. You may get this nag once, but then till next reboot you should be fine.
Also: 1. Modems suk, be sure you are not getting some serial conflict. Had to disable the modem in BIOS on this HP I have. 2. If you have not done so yet you may want the latest drivers. A. 3.6.4 build for main driver B. 2.4.2 for SolidWorks 3. Your unit is no longer going to be driver supported, 3D is going "legacy" on 2002's, 3003's, etc. They will make a good deal on a newer device. I don't want to say exactly what they did for me but, when I found out my 2002's were getting phased out of driver support I called and complained. They made it _very_ worth my while to deal with them and _not_ ebay.
Or there is always ebay...
FWIW, the newer USB models are _VERY_ nice. Lots of support for things other than CAD with a USB model.
Regards,
Sean

Starting the driver manualy works fine so far for me, thanks.

Sorry, just had the same bug again when starting the driver manualy.

Hi Jesper
This helped me. Hope I get the words translated OK (my windows is in Danish).
RMB on "this computer" ? "settings" ? "hardware" ? "device manager" ? "mouse" and then disable Microsoft Serial Ballpoint.
Kind regards
Klaus

Did you upgrade the driver version? If not I would try that.
Regards,
Sean

I'm using 3DxWare v3.5.15 and 3DxSolidWorks v2.4.0. Don't know if it is the lates drivers, if any one have something more recent don't hesitate to mail them to me.
Jesper

Check the cables & plugs. Check them inside the computer as well.
Assure that it's looking at the correct COM port. It *might* work part of the time if looking at the wrong one .. I don't know.

3DxSolidWorks 2.4.2 and 3DxWare 3.6.4 are the latest for Win 2K/XP. Download from: For what it's worth, the latest drivers sometimes give the "not found" error on one of my machines with the 3003FLX. I've given up wondering why -- a reboot is faster!
Art W

Jesper, Go to
Then download the drivers for the Solidworks addin and the core driver. Then install them, then test them, then let us know what happens. The drivers you want are listed in my first post in this thread.
You are _not_ using the most recent driver. This may not be the solution, however have up to date drivers is never a bad idea IMHO.
Regards,
Sean