SideWinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick Repairs?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.games (More info?)

I bought a MS SideWinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick several years ago and
about 1 year into owning it (and after having played no more than 20 games
with it) I came home to find the thing hot to the touch and unresponsive. I
unplugged it from the wall to let it cool down, but when I tried to plug it
in again--nothing. Not even when I plug it into the USB port does it light
up. I spent many many dollars on the joystick and it worked great... for a
while. So my question is,
does anybody know of how I can go about getting my joystick fixed? I tried
to email Microsoft about it but apparently they no longer support Sidewinder
Joysticks?? I'm not sure that I'd trust a local repair shop to go prying the
thing open just to find that replacement parts are unavailable so... does
anybody have suggestions?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.games (More info?)

Hi T R S,

You should try this link and see if they will help you.
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] -us;326246 I don't know
what the status of that support avenue is anymore since that has been around
for some time, but the page says last review was Oct 15, 2004 so I would
think you still have a good chance. I have used it in the past to report
mice that had stopped functioning and they just sent me a new mouse.

Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft
-----

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

"Jimmy S." <nosp@m.pls> wrote in message
news:q0x5e.3321$1j4.3031@news.cpqcorp.net...
> Hi,
>
> What is the cost of a new rumble/feedback stick?
> If it's no longer under warrenty, wouldn't it be a
> lot easier and less expensive to replace it instead?
>
> P.S.: If you're not already doing so, make sure
> to use a power spike/surge protector or a UPS
> since it seems you leave your PC on all day. :-)
>
> --
> Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
> Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>
> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
> Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
> MS Assisted Support:
> http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
> rights.
> _________________________________________________________
>
> "T R S" <T R S@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2C879E9C-A7DC-4BE0-B7C6-66C196C38959@microsoft.com...
> |I bought a MS SideWinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick several years ago and
> | about 1 year into owning it (and after having played no more than 20
> games
> | with it) I came home to find the thing hot to the touch and
> unresponsive. I
> | unplugged it from the wall to let it cool down, but when I tried to plug
> it
> | in again--nothing. Not even when I plug it into the USB port does it
> light
> | up. I spent many many dollars on the joystick and it worked great...
> for a
> | while. So my question is,
> | does anybody know of how I can go about getting my joystick fixed? I
> tried
> | to email Microsoft about it but apparently they no longer support
> Sidewinder
> | Joysticks?? I'm not sure that I'd trust a local repair shop to go
> prying the
> | thing open just to find that replacement parts are unavailable so...
> does
> | anybody have suggestions?
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.games (More info?)

T R S,

Excellent to hear that. The SW FF2 is a great stick.I am glad you'll be
in business again soon.

Take care,
Joshua Smith
OpenGL Test Lab
Microsoft
-----

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

"T R S" <TRS@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4788728A-D126-4E6F-8AA9-0231AFE279FA@microsoft.com...
> Hey Joshua,
>
> OMG You're a saint. I followed the link, gave the phone number a call and
> was able to get ahold of a Customer Service Rep w/in 3 minutes. The lady
> simply asked for me to photocopy the bottom of the joystick, send it in
> along
> with a RN# and that they'd get to work on replacing it! I'd almost given
> up
> on ever having my Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 ever again but thanks to you
> (and Microsoft of course) it would appear that I'll be able to enjoy the
> bone
> rattling force feedback action once again.
>
> Thanks a ton!
> T R S
>
> "Joshua Smith [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Hi T R S,
>>
>> You should try this link and see if they will help you.
>> http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] -us;326246 I don't
>> know
>> what the status of that support avenue is anymore since that has been
>> around
>> for some time, but the page says last review was Oct 15, 2004 so I would
>> think you still have a good chance. I have used it in the past to report
>> mice that had stopped functioning and they just sent me a new mouse.
>>
>> Joshua Smith
>> OpenGL Test Lab
>> Microsoft
>> -----
>>
>> Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights
>>
>> "Jimmy S." <nosp@m.pls> wrote in message
>> news:q0x5e.3321$1j4.3031@news.cpqcorp.net...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > What is the cost of a new rumble/feedback stick?
>> > If it's no longer under warrenty, wouldn't it be a
>> > lot easier and less expensive to replace it instead?
>> >
>> > P.S.: If you're not already doing so, make sure
>> > to use a power spike/surge protector or a UPS
>> > since it seems you leave your PC on all day. :-)
>> >
>> > --
>> > Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
>> > Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>> >
>> > Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
>> > Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site:
>> > http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
>> > MS Assisted Support:
>> > http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
>> > My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
>> > rights.
>> > _________________________________________________________
>> >
>> > "T R S" <T R S@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:2C879E9C-A7DC-4BE0-B7C6-66C196C38959@microsoft.com...
>> > |I bought a MS SideWinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick several years ago
>> > and
>> > | about 1 year into owning it (and after having played no more than 20
>> > games
>> > | with it) I came home to find the thing hot to the touch and
>> > unresponsive. I
>> > | unplugged it from the wall to let it cool down, but when I tried to
>> > plug
>> > it
>> > | in again--nothing. Not even when I plug it into the USB port does it
>> > light
>> > | up. I spent many many dollars on the joystick and it worked great...
>> > for a
>> > | while. So my question is,
>> > | does anybody know of how I can go about getting my joystick fixed? I
>> > tried
>> > | to email Microsoft about it but apparently they no longer support
>> > Sidewinder
>> > | Joysticks?? I'm not sure that I'd trust a local repair shop to go
>> > prying the
>> > | thing open just to find that replacement parts are unavailable so...
>> > does
>> > | anybody have suggestions?
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>