Modifying a Microsoft Wheel Mouse
Having got fed up with a series of rodents that didn't do the job, I gave in and bought a Microsoft optical wheel mouse.
When I plugged it in, it reminded me why I disposed of the last one!
1. There's a silly bright red LED shining out of the rear of the thing (not the one that watches the desktop - a second, purely cosmetic one.
2. The wheel is very "clunky" - it moves with very firm clicks. Again, this is not functional: it's purely "style".
I decided to "operate" to see if I could fix those two "features" on the basis the mouse was only going into the bottom drawer otherwise. Success was achieved on both counts.
If anyone wants to do the same, here's the process (no guarantees to the less-deft operator!).
You need a sharp knife and a small Philips head screwdriver.
Prise off the two pads on the underneath at the head of the mouse (ie furthest away from the tail). Remove the two screws underneath.
Lift the head away from the body, and slide the top of the mouse gently back until the two locating pins at the back of the underneath release it.
The top will then lift off.
The red "style" LED is on a separate little PCB, held in place by two mounting pins and a latch. Release the latch, lift the PCB up, turn it over, and tuck it under the board where it connects. (It may be possible to remove it entirely, but I didn't check if the LED is part of the rest of the circuitry).
Lift the right hand bearing of the wheel out of the slot it sits in, then slide the wheel out. That will reveal the "clicker" (up against the left-hand bearing) - a springy "U"-shaped thin piece of black placcy, with a blip in the bottom of the U. Remove the blip with your trusty knife.
Replace the wheel. Slide the top of the mouse carefully back onto the underneath - make sure the buttons and clips line up (they should, if you didn't break 'em dismantling it). Replace the screws, stick the pads back on. Job done.