Xbox 360 Controller for the trash can

[DrinkOrDie]

Anyone out there have a USB Xbox 360 controller for Windows? If you're even thinking about getting one, forget about it. Like many things these days, they don't ship with a software disk. The controller is useless without software.

So instead of a disk, they direct you to www.windowsgaming.com to download the software necessary to use the controller. I bought my controller for playing games on the PC, so I don't have to use a mouse or keyboard. I like how they assume you have an ISP. What if I just had a PC at home offline for playing games? What then? You're screwed.

Luckily, I do happen to have a great high speed ISP. So, I go to the website as directed, to download the software. Guess what? I'm still screwed. Said website does not respond.

Perfect.

[DrinkOrDie]

Here's an update. Even though the website provided by the instructions doesn't exist, the software is freeware and is hosted by other websites. It is digitally signed by Microsuck and so I removed the device from "other devices" in device manager, installed the software, plugged it in. It still doesn't work. Windows cannot find the software to run the device. What a piece of junk.

[admin]

I have the wireless adapter thingy that allows my wireless controller to work in Windows and it does without any problems. It came with a install CD (and so should the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows - note that there are two Xbox 360 controller packages, one for Windows and one for the Xbox 360 - the controller is identical, but the "for Windows" package comes with Windows drivers on a CD).

In any case, I downloaded my drivers from:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/download.mspx

With these type of USB devices, you have to be careful how you install the drivers. You must install the drivers before you plug in the controller or the wireless hub, since when you do plug it in, plug-n-pray will scan and install drivers and if the right drivers are not installed already, it can install any old generic driver which won't work.

There is also something called the "XInput" drivers which you may need to download to enable certain functions, which is separate to the actual USB drivers for the controller.

[DrinkOrDie]

I am aware of how the plug-n-play thing works. If you plug it in before you install the drivers, it shows up in device manager as "other devices" when it cannot find a driver, or it may install the wrong driver. Deleting the thing from device manager sets things back as if you never plugged it in.

I've also already been to the site you provided in your link. The only thing I find for the controller in there is called "Xbox 360 Accessories Software 1.1 32-bit for Windows XP"
I've already tried that. Besides, it's not what I need. And even when I did try it just for the heck of it, it still doesn't work. Windows cannot find a driver for the device. So I uninstalled that software.

The software I supposedly need, according to the directions is called something else which I cannot recall right at the moment, but it's version 6.something. It is supposed to be at the website I mentioned, which doesn't exist. I did find it at another website and installed it. Windows still cannot find the driver even after installing the software, then plugging it in.

Then I find out that most people who did manage to get it working, found out that it won't work with most of their games anyway.

I just think the product is garbage. Might be fine if have an Xbox, but when you can't get it to work by following the instructions to the letter, it's garbage. Especially when the instructions direct you to install software from a website that doesn't exist.

I'm finished with it. It's going back to the store.

[admin]

From what I've read, the wireless controller works better with the wireless hub device that you can buy (this is what I have). I installed it and used it some of the games I had without any problems, although there was no rumble. I still prefer my current (very old) Logitech Wingman controller ... it doesn't have all the buttons, but it's a good shape.

I also managed to get the PS3 controller working (now that took quite a while!), but the button assignments and a lot of other things means it's not really very useful in windows.

[brakeonthroo]

i jsut use secondary controllers for my games
Matt

[DrinkOrDie]

Huh?

[drfsupercenter]

I have a Logitech USB controller that very closely resembles that of a PS2. That controller is great for almost any game, and it only costs $20, totally plug-and-play too.

[DrinkOrDie]

I have a Logitech USB controller that very closely resembles that of a PS2. That controller is great for almost any game, and it only costs $20, totally plug-and-play too.

Cool. I see if I can find one and give that a try. TKS.

[dazuk1972]

Anyone out there have a USB Xbox 360 controller for Windows? If you're even thinking about getting one, forget about it. Like many things these days, they don't ship with a software disk. The controller is useless without software.

So instead of a disk, they direct you to www.windowsgaming.com to download the software necessary to use the controller. I bought my controller for playing games on the PC, so I don't have to use a mouse or keyboard. I like how they assume you have an ISP. What if I just had a PC at home offline for playing games? What then? You're screwed.

Luckily, I do happen to have a great high speed ISP. So, I go to the website as directed, to download the software. Guess what? I'm still screwed. Said website does not respond.

Perfect.

Thanks for the tip. I was aware of the disc needed to install but I wasn't aware of lack of responding. When I was playing GTA III, GTA: VC and GTA: SA in my PC, I bought the Logitech Rumblepad 2. I installed the software to that controller properly and tested it in the test mode and all was OK. With those GTA games it failed to work even though I went through the settings in the games and I tried some GTA: SA software for the controller and it never worked properly and it kept reseting my defaults. I asked about and I asked Microsoft in the XBox department and they told me I can use my XBox 360 controller and I was close to buying the software to install it and then I gave it a miss for a bit because of me playing GTA 4. I was close to buying that disc because I wanted to finish GTA: VC and GTA: SA as the PC versions. Luckily you told us what is behind the scenes. By the way, that Logitech Rumblepad 2 works for other PC games. It seems it hates the GTA games.

[admin]

The wired version of the Xbox 360 controller only needs a driver download (obtainable freely from Microsft) to work on PCs, although some games doesn't support it, and I guess others may find problems with Windows recognising it like DrinkOrDie.

I'm using the wireless controller with the wireless USB dongle that Microsoft sells, and it works a treat. I'm using it for everything now (well, mainly PES 2008). No rumble though, but there is rumble under Vista I think (I think even Minesweeper has rumble or something). I also have the Guitar Hero III wireless guitar, and it works on the PC too, although there's not much point because the PC version of the game comes with the guitar and you can't buy the game separately.

[ipodfansmail]

reply2

Cool post,I like your information