Laptop + console controller

[fallenangle]

Just been given a laptop running WinXP. Total newbie to any PC stuff so on a learning curve here.

It has, on paper, enough grunt to play some older games and getting them (or trying to get them) running seems to be as good a way of learning PC stuff as anything. But the prospect of doing this with a touchpad or mouse/keyboard for some games does not thrill me.

I have several spare original XBox Controller 'S' (with USB adapter), wired XB360 joypads and PS/PS2 Dualshocks (with USB adapter too). I know they can be used for this purpose but with WinXP it seems to be a little more complicated than just plugging them in and having the laptop recognise them.

Any advice on using and/all of these for this purpose appreciated.

[Solar]

The PS/2 USB adapters are generic so they shouldn't be a problem, and Windows and GFWL fully support the 360 pads.
So you should just be able to plug them all in and let Windows automatically search Microsoft update for the drivers. That is if it's connected to the net and auto updates are enabled.

[fallenangle]

So Windows XP will automatically look for all(?) the drivers.

I can understand that for the XB360 controller which is designed to be Windows friendly but what about the old Xbox ones? MS doesn't support the original Xbox and it wasn't designed for USB connection anyway, even though the controller/ports were just redesigned USB. So will WinXP try to find the drivers for that if I just hook it up?

[Solar]

As far as I'm aware Microsoft never released official drivers for the original pad, but there are plenty unofficial ones around though http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbcd.html#download

But, why would you even hook up an original xbox pad when you have a much better 360 one anyway?
And like I said, the PS USB adapters are just generic so Windows should find a standard USB input device driver.

[fallenangle]

I wouldn't describe the XB360 controller as being "much" better than the original Xbox one. The two shoulder/bumper buttons as opposed to the often badly mapped white and black ones on the original are really its only advantage. Where that isn't an issue it is at least as good and bad (ie. the d-pad).

I'm playing CoD2 on the XB360 at the moment and the number of times I've been killed by accidentally thrown grenades because of the positioning of the bumper buttons isn't funny. Never had a problem like that with any FPSs on the original Xbox.

But I take your point about the XB360 controller - it's designed for use with a PC and has a specific MS driver so it's probably the one I'll use.

Thanks for the help and info.