How do i stop a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick making
a high pitch scretch when active (ie gripping the handle)??

THis makes it very difficult to work with, and has been like this ever
since i had it.
One day i plugged it in and it was completely quiet, and was a
compleate joy to use. But then i adjusted the throtle and it came
back!!!

It also continusoussly makes a clicking sound which I can just about
live with, this was also quite on that magical day!

I would love to find out why it is making this noise and any tips on
stoping it.

I am not interested in any solutions involving opening or changeing
the device as it is still fairly new and under garentee

It is a Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 USB joystick

Many thanks,

Hello,
   I have found quite a few other people complaning about the noise
from these things,
and I have found a link about the Force Feedback Pro that says noises
from that unit orignate from the cooling fans. The link also says:

"There are reports of (FFB Pro) units shipping from Microsoft without
fans to address the complaint and some people have gone as far as
disabling the fans (this is not recommended and it voids the
warranty)"

http://www.joy-stick.net/reviews/joysticks/ffpro.htm

Here are some reviews of the stick, and they say that it makes noise,
but that it is within acceptable limits:
http://www.pcgamereview.com/reviews/controllers/product_1400.asp

My advise is to try and exchange it for another one, at the place you
purchased it, Microsoft hardware products also have a 30 day money
back guarantee, which you may also consider if you purchased the FFB2
within the last 30 days.

Beyond that I can't seem to find any other option that would not void
the warranty.
Hope this helps, 
--- jld

---

Clarification of Answer by jeanluis-ga on 22 May 2002 20:23 PDT

By the way I failed to mention that this product (as you already know)
has a 3 year limited warranty, the details of that warranty are not
available on the web (that I could find) however you may be able to
take advantage of the warranty to either get a replacement, or get
(free) service to fix the noise problem.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by spaarky-ga on 23 May 2002 08:56 PDT

Can you provide links to more of the 'quite a few other people' that
have seen this problem as I would like to read more...

Otherwise quite a consise (if short) answer.

---

Clarification of Answer by jeanluis-ga on 23 May 2002 10:40 PDT

Interesting, while looking for other links of user reviews reporting
the noise problem I found this article:
http://www.activewin.com/reviews/hardware/joysticks/microsoft/ff2/index.shtml

"If you carefully watch the new Force Feedback 2 device you'll realize
that the built-in fan of the previous model has been removed, which is
good since it makes the device more silent!" Which leads me to believe
that a exchange may be the best option.

Anyways here are other reviews:
The last review on this page (entitled "rock on!") mentions that the
stick is noisy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004Y6GA/202-2987699-3009432
But that is the only other site I could find where mention of noise is
made.
It occurs to me that most of the noise complaints were in fact for the
FFBPro, AND I have found many more very positive reviews where no
mention of noise is made, such as:
http://www.stratosgroup.com/reviews/hardware.php?selected=0101msff
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/electronics/B00005NIMB/customer-reviews/ref=pd_sbs_e_3/ref=cm_rev_all_2/104-9522442-0013535
http://www.rpcug.org/rvSidewinder.htm
The above reviews are the best ones I could find but to see more
reviews google search for:
Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 review

I think that this just strengthens the argument that you should use
the warranty for either service, or replacement.
Hope this works out for you.

Thanks for the extra information, Yes the place of purchase have
aggred to exchange it for a new one (which will hopefully be quieter,
I wait it till it arrives ;-)
The orginal answer was very prompt, (even the Clarification was
prompt!!), overall a very good service.

Thank you very much