Windows 7: Sidewinder x8 tracking issues

Well, I suppose I'll introduce myself first. Name's Adam.
I have a huge problem: I recently bought a Sidewinder x8 and the damn thing keeps having tracking problems [ie the cursor jumps around...a lot...so much in fact it makes it nearly impossible to play games.] I've been told by people that it might be the polling rate of the usb port, MS told me it might just be a bad mouse [it's not, im on the third replacement].
so that has led me to believe it is most likely 7. would anyone care to enlighten me as to why the HELL it's doing this? [and yes I've googled and found only that it 'hates' cloth mousepads, im on a wooden desk now.
Help?



Edit: I've also searched the forum

My mouse is doing that aswell, how do you get microsoft to replace it. The only thing different is that it was fine for about 24 hours, then went jerky. It is 3 days old and it is IMPOSSIBLE to play and games at all.