How to Calibrate an Xbox Controller for Windows Vista

To calibrate your wireless Xbox 360 controller to work with your Microsoft Windows Vista computer, you just need to use a free utility already installed in the operating system. When you calibrate a controller, you assign specific actions to specific buttons on the device. This in turn allows you to use the controller on any PC game that supports controllers in addition to your computer's keyboard.

Instructions

1. Click "Start."

2. Click "Control Panel."

3. Open the "Game Controllers" icon. This is the utility in Windows Vista that allows you to calibrate external game controllers. In the main window, click "XNA Gamepad." This listing represents your Xbox 360 controller. In the "XNA Gamepad" window, click "Properties." This will open a new "Properties" window over top of the existing window on the Vista computer. Click the "Settings" tab in this window, followed by the "Calibrate" button.

4. Follow the directions in the "Game Controller Calibration" wizard that appears on-screen. Click "Next," and follow the prompts. For example, to calibrate the "Up," Down," "Left" and "Right" arrow buttons on your Xbox 360 controller, you will be told by the wizard to press those buttons. Once you do that, click "Next" and press the next set of buttons on the controller.

5. Click "Apply" to finish.

References

• Microsoft: How to Calibrate Xbox 360 Controller for Windows