Using a 3rd Party XBox 360 Controller for PC Gaming

Dr. Flamingo

So last night I purchased a Mini Pro EX wired controller for XBox 360.

After several hours of messy google searching, I found the XBCD program and downloaded the 0.2.7 version. The program lists my controller brand as compatible. I managed to make my controller recognize it as a driver, and the controller buttons light up and I can calibrate it on the PC and whatnot. So I go to test it in a few games on Steam, specifically Aquaria and Skyrim. Aquaria has a key config set up by default for controller, and Skyrim has an "XBox Controller" option listed in its controls menu that is checked. So I try out my controller.

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

I press buttons uselessly and the games don't respond to the controller at all. The lights are still flashing, so the controller didn't turn off or anything. I can still configure the controller both with the XBCD setup and the joy.cpl calibration tool. So where did I go wrong? Is there a crucial step I missed and didn't list here? Do I need to configure something in Steam, or the individual games themselves? Is there a different program any of you use that might work better?

Noisymunk

Are you running Windows 8?

Dr. Flamingo

I knew I would forget something. Im running Windows 7.

DevoutlyApathetic

If you have the option at all I'd recommend returning the off brand one and buying one of the real Microsoft one. I only say this because I've used it on a large number of PC games and have never had to screw around with anything on it. It just works. You plug it in and that's it.

Dr. Flamingo

But it was cheaper! Orrrr so I thought. I just found one for $3 cheaper in like 30 seconds. Still, I don't think I can quite return this one, and one day I'll upgrade to a fancy XBox One controller (say what you want about the system, there was a lot of research into the controller).

Anyway, until that magical day comes, I want to figure out how to make this one work.

Lawndart

Yeah, the best advice would be to get the official Microsoft version, which isn't that much more expensive.

But since the packaging on your off-brand controller says it's officially licensed and compatible with the 360, I'm wondering if you should just download the Win7 controller driver from Microsoft and see if that works. It might not be an issue with the controller so much as an issue with the third-party program you're using.

LuvTheMonkey

I can assist here, as I use a (different) 3rd party controller on Windows 7 as well, and they all use the same interface protocol to talk to the 360/PC (hence the officially licensed stuff).

Dump the XBCD thing, unplug the pad, and install Microsoft's drivers as Lawndart suggests. This may or may not be enough to get the pad working straight away when you plug it in again. If not you can do the following:

Open the Device Manager and find the entry for your gamepad. Open its properties and it will tell you that the driver is not loaded. Click the Update Driver Software button, and in the resulting window click Search my Computer or whatever the exact text is. After that, it will give you the option to select the driver from a list, do that instead of trying to point it at a specific directory. The next window will look familiar to anyone who has fought with drivers in older versions of Windows. In the left box of categories you will find an entry named Windows Common Controller Class. Selecting that will give you multiple options, select the Xbox 360 controller option and hit OK through everything. You should have a functioning controller now.

Dr. Flamingo

LuvTheMonkey wrote: »

Open the Device Manager and find the entry for your gamepad. Open its properties and it will tell you that the driver is not loaded. Click the Update Driver Software button, and in the resulting window click Search my Computer or whatever the exact text is. After that, it will give you the option to select the driver from a list, do that instead of trying to point it at a specific directory. The next window will look familiar to anyone who has fought with drivers in older versions of Windows. In the left box of categories you will find an entry named Windows Common Controller Class. Selecting that will give you multiple options, select the Xbox 360 controller option and hit OK through everything. You should have a functioning controller now.

On the list the "Windows Common Controller Class" option doesn't come up. The closest thing it has is HID-compliant controller, which doesn't seem to work when I select it.

Dr. Flamingo

Okay, after more searching I seem to have found an XBox 360 controller Driver. The calibration process seems less off than it had been.

But unfortunately it's still not working in-game.

Dr. Flamingo

I SPOKE TOO SOON! THE CONTROLLER IS OFFICIALLY WORKING! ...For Skyrim, anyway. I don't know what Aquaria's deal is, but mouse is probably better for that anyway. I thank you all and look forward to enjoying a wider variety of games. Looks like this issue is resolved.

EDIT: Gah, now it's gonna bother me, what was Aquaria's deal?

Xangia

So I have browsed forums for 3 hours now to find the problem on my own. I have yet to find the correct answer to the problem ANYWHERE. You can't plug the damn thing into USB 3.0. I swapped it to USB 2.0 port and it works fine.