Weird conflict with Steam and Logitech Gaming Software

[cunningmunki]

I recently bought a Logitech F710 to allow me to customise my controls in games. I set up a profile that assigned WASD to the left analogue stick and the mouse X/Y axis to the right analogue stick.
I noticed, however, that when I used either of the sticks there was a weird 'echo' effect with the inputs, which results in multiple instances of inputs which continue after I've stopped moving the sticks. It's noticeable if you open a text input (such as a Notepad doc) and rotate the left stick. So you'd see "wwwwwwwwddddddddsssssssaaaaaawwwwwwwdddddddsssssssaaaaaa" instead of just "wdsawdsa". The effect on the mouse pointer is that if veers erratically around the screen when you push the right stick.

Here's the weird bit. After several days of tearing my hair out and a lot of toing and froing with Logitech customer support, I decided to just shut down each program I had running to see if there was a conflict of some kind. There was. The offending application? Steam.

If I exit Steam, the issue goes away. As soon as I start up Steam, the issue returns. It's utterly inexplicable. Why on earth would Steam affect the controller's inputs?!

But it gets better. If I uninstall the Logitech Gaming Software (5.10.127), and reinstall it whilst Steam is still running it behaves perfectly. No echo. This is the only way I seem to be able to get both the Logitech Gaming Software AND Steam running at the same time. However, If I put my PC (Windows 8) to sleep, once it wakes up, the issue returns. If I close Steam and reopen it, the issue returns. If I close the Gaming Software and reopen it, the issue returns.
Also, if I'm really unlucky, when I put the PC to sleep, wake it up and press the "Logitech" button on the controller to start it up, I get a BSOD with the message "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (WmXlCore.sys)".

So why would the conflict not occur when I install the Gaming Software whilst Steam is running? And why does the issue reappear when I put the PC to sleep? This would seem to suggest that the conflict occurs when the Steam service starts up, either by opening Steam or waking up the PC. And is the BSOD an unrelated issue, or a clue to the problem?

Whatever this problem is, it has a keen sense of irony, because obviously I can't play any of my games with my controller without Steam running!

[cunningmunki]

I've just heard back from Logitech. I quote:

"Your case was escalated to higher department. The described issue was replicated in our labs and occured at some systems but not all. This is issue is forwarded to software developers and we will have to wait for an update of Logitech Gaming Software or update from Steam."

Considering the LGS hasn't been updated since 2010, I won't hold my breath, but maybe they can get Steam to release a fix. I still haven't actually heard back from Steam Support.

Interesting that they said it happened on some, but not all of their systems. I'd love to know if there's a (proper) workaround.

[Kickin' Chicken]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cunningmunki:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

I've never used the profiler software, so I installed it and assigned the keys as you requested, but when I open Notepad (or WordPad, email, etc.) I don't get any output at all. I tried running the "default" game (COD 4) and minimizing it before opening NotePad, but I still get no results. Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

Also, is it possible that Steam only supports XInput input mode, as that is the one XBOX 360 controllers use?

Try these guides:

http://logitech-en-emea.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21356
http://logitech-en-emea.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21358

Yeah, I saw those guides from a previous post, but my problem is that after I do all of that I get no output. (Setting it up was pretty intuitive and only took 5 minutes.)

Also, what did you think about my assertion that maybe Steam only supports XInput?

[🅻🅴🅾🅽🆄🆇🅿🅰]

...

[cunningmunki]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

Yeah, I saw those guides from a previous post, but my problem is that after I do all of that I get no output. (Setting it up was pretty intuitive and only took 5 minutes.)

Also, what did you think about my assertion that maybe Steam only supports XInput?

Have you set the profile to "persistent"? Options > Global Profiler Settings > 'Apply persistent profile'

Once you click out of the profiler you should be able to push your mouse pointer around with the right stick (if you've mapped it to the mouse).

You can set the .exe launcher to whatever you want, by the way. I don't know why it forces you to have an association, since other software allows for a 'default' profile, but there you go. It's an ancient piece of software.

About Xinput, yes I believe Big Picture is specifically designed for Xinput controllers, but it's also designed for Keyboard and Mouse input, so mapping Dinput signals to k&m inputs shouldn't cause problems.

Thanks for your help, by the way.

[Kickin' Chicken]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cunningmunki:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

Yeah, I saw those guides from a previous post, but my problem is that after I do all of that I get no output. (Setting it up was pretty intuitive and only took 5 minutes.)

Also, what did you think about my assertion that maybe Steam only supports XInput?

Have you set the profile to "persistent"? Options > Global Profiler Settings > 'Apply persistent profile'

Once you click out of the profiler you should be able to push your mouse pointer around with the right stick (if you've mapped it to the mouse).

You can set the .exe launcher to whatever you want, by the way. I don't know why it forces you to have an association, since other software allows for a 'default' profile, but there you go. It's an ancient piece of software.

About Xinput, yes I believe Big Picture is specifically designed for Xinput controllers, but it's also designed for Keyboard and Mouse input, so mapping Dinput signals to k&m inputs shouldn't cause problems.

I know that I haven't specifically set my profile to "persistent", so if that's not the default, then that's probably the issue. (I'm not at home right now, but I'll try that when I get home this afternoon and report back.)

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cunningmunki:

Thanks for your help, by the way.

Glad to help! (Just sorry it's taken me so long.)

[cunningmunki]

A very helpful advisor at Logitech support has come up with an ingenious workaround until they fix the issue. You set the Dpad to "FPS style" (effectively reducing its axis to four buttons, north, south, east and west), which you then map to WASD, then you use the 'mode' button on the controller to switch the left analogue stick and the Dpad, giving the you WASD buttons on the stick. Since the stick isn't trying to create an analogue signal the hypersensitivity disappears on the stick, and the Dpad just mimics the analogue stick, but in a non-analogue way!

This doesn't fix the issue with the right stick, of course, but at least I can play FPS games for now and I can maybe use a controller/mouse combo for other games too.

[Rai de Nox]

You can try Xpadder instead of the Logitech software. I'm using it with my F510, works even in xinput mode.

[kato]

:(

[Kickin' Chicken]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cunningmunki:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

Yeah, I saw those guides from a previous post, but my problem is that after I do all of that I get no output. (Setting it up was pretty intuitive and only took 5 minutes.)

Also, what did you think about my assertion that maybe Steam only supports XInput?

Have you set the profile to "persistent"? Options > Global Profiler Settings > 'Apply persistent profile'

Once you click out of the profiler you should be able to push your mouse pointer around with the right stick (if you've mapped it to the mouse).

You can set the .exe launcher to whatever you want, by the way. I don't know why it forces you to have an association, since other software allows for a 'default' profile, but there you go. It's an ancient piece of software.

About Xinput, yes I believe Big Picture is specifically designed for Xinput controllers, but it's also designed for Keyboard and Mouse input, so mapping Dinput signals to k&m inputs shouldn't cause problems.

Thanks for your help, by the way.

I wasn't able to try that last night, but I reinstalled the software this morning and made it persistent. I DID NOT get any unusual repeating of keystrokes whether Steam was running or not. However, I tried reinstalling the software when Steam wasn't running to see if there was any difference, but got a BSOD in the process of doing so. Now, it's complaining about a DLL and I'm unable to either install or uninstall the software! (Why do those things always seem to happen when you can't do anything about them, i.e. late for work?!)

I see you've found a partial workaround; hope that works for you.

[cunningmunki]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Raideoul:

You can try Xpadder instead of the Logitech software. I'm using it with my F510, works even in xinput mode.

See my earlier comment about Xpadder. I wish I could use it for every game, but I can't.

[cunningmunki]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

Why do those things always seem to happen when you can't do anything about them, i.e. late for work?!

Oh man, I feels that. Never mind, thanks for trying, I hope you manage to get it off your system ok. I'd recommend using CCleaner if you don't already have it.

I had a few instances of BSOD too, usually soon after reinstalling the Logitech software.

[Kickin' Chicken]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cunningmunki:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από KickinChicken:

Why do those things always seem to happen when you can't do anything about them, i.e. late for work?!

Oh man, I feels that. Never mind, thanks for trying, I hope you manage to get it off your system ok. I'd recommend using CCleaner if you don't already have it.

I had a few instances of BSOD too, usually soon after reinstalling the Logitech software.

No problem! One more thing: You've probably already thought of this, but if you've got your keyboard character repeat delay set to Short, it could definitely cause that repeating behavior.

P.S. Thanks for the CCleaner idea; I have it, but have never used it for that.

[cunningmunki]

So, three months later and I'm yet to see a fix for this issue. Steam Support are being no help whatsoever and are just posting stock responses into their replies to me instead of actually trying to help or 'support'. Their advice? "...try configuring the controller in Big Picture mode to test the issue". Wow, yeah, thanks for that, because remapping the buttons will make a difference. Logitech have admitted the issue exists, and have been very supportive and helpful, but unfortunately can't do anything about it as it's a Steam issue.

It's incredible, the issue has been acknowledged as a conflict and can be easily reproduced by anyone with an F710 with Steam installed, and yet I've heard nothing about a potential solution being released.

Anyone know if there's a way to make an official complaint to Valve about their support team? I'd heard they were bad, but I've not seen service this bad since O2 in the early 2000s!

[Naughty Pine Furniture]

Slightly off topic- I just had a major issue involving Logitechs gaming software where it disables my usb ports that have my mouse and keyboard plugged in. Their software is really buggy. It looked like a Windows problem or my mouse or keyboard - but when the software is removed - Sanity returns. I downgraded my logitech software- all is well. I will never but another Logitech device again however. I spent 15-20 hours on this problem and its completely unacceptable.

I would recomend getting the XBOX controller and enjoy lower blood preasure , games and have a beer in your now available spare time. You could run your controller over with a car and post it on youtube if you need revenge,

[cunningmunki]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από faster-ed:

I would recomend getting the XBOX controller

I can't use an Xbox controller for the reasons I gave earlier in the thread.