Windows XP
Here’s the first method that I understand to work best in Windows XP, because it did not work on my Windows Vista system. I got my computer to recognize the controller, but it would not respond to any of the buttons.
- Download the Sixaxis drivers from download.qj.net and extract the contents of the archive to any folder, such as C:\PS3.
- Install the USB filter driver (libusb-win32-filter-bin-0.1.10.1.exe) and wait a minute. All of your USB devices will disconnect and reconnect. If there is a problem, be sure to uninstall this software.
- Plug in the PS3 Sixaxis controller using the USB cable that came with it.
- Run ps3sixaxis_en.exe. A black DOS window should appear and disappear very quickly.
- Reboot the PC.
- Go into Control Panel – Game Controllers and see if it works. Good luck!
Windows Vista
This is the method that worked for me on my Windows Vista system. I followed the simple instructions and was able to use the controller to play a game. This only works on 32-bit operating systems, which is what most people currently have.
- Download the Sixaxis drivers @ http://www.hardcoreware.net/files/sixaxisdriver.rar and extract the contents of sixaxisdriver.rar to any folder, such as C:\PS3.
- Plug in the PS3 Sixaxis controller using the USB cable that came with it.
- Run sixaxisdriver.exe and follow the on-screen instructions to load the driver.
- Reboot your computer.
That’s it! To make sure it worked, go into Control Panel – Game Controllers and you should see the PLAYSTATION(R)3 Controller listed with a Status of OK. Click on Properties and you should be able to test it by hitting the buttons or moving the thumb sticks around. It worked just fine for me on my HP desktop computer running Windows Vista Home.
Links not working?
Should the links in this article stop working, just Google ‘PS3 Sixaxis drivers’ and the results should point you in the right direction. I hope that eventually Sony will release some official software for making the controllers work on a PC, because it would be an excellent selling point for the Sixaxis controller.
Image Credits
PC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/viagallery/2571533563/
Sony PS3 Sixaxis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nnova/2698911583/