What you will need:
1. A PS3 Sixaxis or Dualshock 3 controller (You probably also have a PS3)
2. A USB cable with a Mini-B end (The charge cable for the controller)
3. A PC with Windows 2000, XP, or Vista (No Mac or Linux)
4. This .RAR package: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=46VPK13C
5. XPadder: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M04TVQYK
6. This Picture: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=EP5N239B
Now the Tutorial:
I'm assuming you have Winrar. If not search and download it. It's a must have for this site... and most online sites.
Step 1: Download and Extract the above files (except XPadder) to a new folder of your choice.
Step 2: Open libusb-win32-filter-bin-0.1.10.1.exe. Install it. Close the test window that appears at the end of the installation. Then copy libusb0.dll to C:\Windows\System 32. Overwrite a previous one if there is one.
Step 3: Plug the Mini-B end of the Charging cable into the PS3 Controller. Plug the USB end into a USB port on your computer. Windows should install a driver or something. Just go with the flow.
Step 4: Open ps3sixaxis_en.exe. A black box should pop up then close almost instantly. This is normal. Your PS3 controller should now work in games that support Gamepads. NOTE: Everytime you turn off or restart your computer, to use the PS3 controller you will need to open this program again. You may want to send a shortcut, or the file itself to the desktop.
Step 6: Open Control Panel. Go to Game Controllers or Hardware and Sound (On XP and Vista respectibly. Note: If on Vista, you have Control Panel set to classic view, it will be Game Controllers.) Then if you went to Hardware and Sound click on Game Controllers. Your PS3 controller should be there. Click it and go to Properties. You should then be able to move the + sign in the box with the analog stick. If so it's working if not, your controller is not connected. It should be though.
Alright. Now the main process is done. From here, your controller's red LEDs should be blinking. Your controller should now work in Games that support it. For games that don't support controllers, we're going to have use some third party software. From here on is completely optional.
Getting the Controller to Work With Games that Don't Support It
For the second part of the Guide, I'm going to show you how to use XPadder, a good piece of software
for mapping buttons to a controller.
Step 1: I'm assuming you have followed the above steps and your PS3 controller is showing up and working on your computer. Now, open Xpadder.exe the file you dowloaded from the link above.A window should pop up. Answer Start, Program location, and Associate for the windows that pop up. NOTE: You may want to create a shortcut or put the actual program on the desktop for easy use later.
Step 2: A New window should pop up. Click the controller in the right corner. Select New.
Step 3: Another window will pop up. Click the "Image" tab, and click open. Navigate to the extracted image (Sony_PlayStation_Black.bmp) you downloaded from the link above. A Sony Playstation controller should then pop up in the pink box.
Step 4: Click on the "Sticks" tab. Check the enabled box. A new window will pop up asking you to press up, then left on the left analog stick. Do so, then drag the circle for the analog stick that popped up over the left analog stick. Next click Stick 2. Repeat the steps for Stick 2, then drag it over again.
Step 5: Now click the "DPad" Tab. Check enabled, then follow the same steps as above.
Step 6: Click the "Buttons" tab. Press any single button on the PS3 controller to make it pop up on the pink screen. Drag it to where that button is on the image. Then name it in the Details box. Repeat for every button onthe controller, including pressing it the Left and Right Analog sticks. Don't mess with the "Triggers" option. Click the "Finish" tab and then close. After this, the PS controller will have clear squares and circles, etc all over it. Now click the Controller image again and go to Save as... and name it PS3 controller or something to that effect. Mine was prenamed so I didn't have to name it.
Step 7: Now, you have buttons all over the PS controller image. Click on any button, and a keyboard will pop up. Depending on the game you are playing, the controls will be different. Click a keyboard button that corresponds to where that button would be on a controller, to add that action to the button on the controller you clicked. Generally, the right stick will be the mouse so I would pick Up on the analog stick and set it as Up on the mouse, etc. Repeat these steps until the controller is set up for your game.
Step 8: When you are done assigning buttons to buttons, click the script image in the middle of the page. Click save as and name the profile the name of the game you'll be playing with that profile.