Trouble using my 360 controller on my PC

[Xorph]

I bought one of the USB chargers for my 360 controller a while back and I'm now trying to use it as a gamepad for my PC. I downloaded the drivers from microsoft and plugged the controller in but I'm having trouble getting it to work. My computer makes the little guitar strum noise when I plug the controller in (like when you put in a flash drive, I'm on Win7 btw) but when i tried to use it in both Halo and my Gamecube emulator it failed to recognize the controller was there.
Is there anything I can do? Thanks for all help in advance

 

[Jamash]

The problem is that the 360 controller is wireless but those USB chargers only supply power to the controller, they don't actually transfer the wireless signal via USB.

Without a wireless receiver there's no way for your PC to pick up the controller's wireless signal, so you'll need either get the Wireless Gaming Receiver, or use a wired controller.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I use one for my PC and it's great using the 360 controller, especially on games that recognise it immediately as a 360 controller and don't require any further set-up.

 

[Chucker]

Do you need any software for the usb cable version?

 

[Alfador_VII]

Do you need any software for the usb cable version?

Most game just support it directly, and Windows knows what it is. You can download drivers from the Windows site if you need more control, or to set it up for games that don't specifically support it.

 

[Zantos]

The problem is that the 360 controller is wireless but those USB chargers only supply power to the controller, they don't actually transfer the wireless signal via USB.

Without a wireless receiver there's no way for your PC to pick up the controller's wireless signal, so you'll need either get the Wireless Gaming Receiver, or use a wired controller.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I use one for my PC and it's great using the 360 controller, especially on games that recognise it immediately as a 360 controller and don't require any further set-up.

Word to this. Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[stuka06]

By the way, you can even use the wireless Guitar controllers with the Receiver, for games like Frets on Fire.

 

[devotedsniper]

As said above those charger cables only charge if you wanna use it on pc you need to either buy the receiver or a wired one.