Does anyone know how to get an Xbox 360 controller to work with a PC / laptop? I downloaded the software from Microsoft's website, and when I plug the controller in the device manager will say 'Xbox 360 wireless controller via plug n play' or something like that, but I can't get it to work. The controller software doesn't pick it up.

I'm running Windows 8 and the 360 controller software from Microsoft is for Windows 7, but I wouldn't see why it wouldn't work since this basically is Windows 7 and all my other stuff works.

Best Buy,Wal-marts or Game Stop sells these all the time, there's a 360 controller that comes with an usb adaptor that connects to your pc (I guess a laptop would work the same) and it comes with an instalation cd. Once you calibrate the controller to what ever pc game your playing it should work fine.

Yeah, but why buy another when I already have the controller? According to Microsoft an Xbox 360 controller is able to work with a PC.

Does it show up in the device manager?

For me - all I had to do was to obtain the wireless receiver (since I have the wireless xbox controller), plug it in and synchronize it.

Yes, it says Xbox 360 wireless controller via plug n play.

Is there one of those compatability modes for windows 8? Where you can basically run windows 7 on it. Like where you can run windows xp on windows 7.

You could try that.

Edit: And isn't the WIndows 8 thing like a demo?

Are you using the wireless receiver with your controller or are you trying to connect it with the play and charge cord? The cord won't work. You'll need either the wireless receiver or buy a wired controller.

I use a program called Xpadder, works great. works with a standard xbox controller that has a USB head. Works with pretty much every game except ones with a complex interface. there are work arounds though. I play system shock 2 with it so you shouldn't have any problems with Halo

I'll second the recommendation for xpadder, it's simple and works great. The thing about xbox controllers is that they only work with games like skyrim and are microsoft approved or whatever they call it. Xpadder fixes that.

Corded Xbox 360 Controllers works just fine, that I know for sure.

I am planning to do the same thing with Skyrim on the PC cause I am too use to the Xbox 360 Controller right now when I play Skyrim.

Where is said program that is needed for this to work? I do not know.

in windows 7 my controller worked with fallout 3, does the game support controllers? i know some pc games don't, and you'll have to get software (like xpadder) to get them to work. It could also be a windows 8 issue, although i've never used it so i don't know

Just google xpadder

Xbox 360 controllers work in anything that supports controllers. You'd only need xpadder if the game doesn't support a controller at all.

That is my assumption. It has to be the hard-wired controller, or a wireless with the http://www.amazon.ca/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver/dp/B000HZFCT2. (There is a black one out there to.)

W7 and W8 are the exact same as far as the controller is concerned. I use the http://www.amazon.ca/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver/dp/B000HZFCT2 for my wireless controller as well and W7/W8 both see it and have drivers at the ready. Windows Update will offer newer versions from time to time as well.