Updated to include step by step instructions
Now that the Game Studio Express has released I intend to be playing around quite a bit with it. Since I am not a game programmer and the software I typically work on is server based my preferred development platform is Windows 2003, this poses a problem because the XBOX 360 Controller for windows driver refuses to install if the target platform is not Windows XP with the following message.
However, I found that all the required driver files have been extracted at this point and can be installed on Windows 2003 and so far (touch wood) with no ill-effect.
The driver files are extracted to a folder on the root of the drive you ran the installation from, the folder has a randomly generated name which looks something like the following
D:\f37260c804717b0288154486
The associated driver files can be located at
D:\f37260c804717b0288154486\xbox360\setup\files.
Now all you need to do is plug in the XBOX 360 Controller into a free USB port and point the hardware installation wizard to the folder that contains the driver files. Once the installation is complete you should be able to use the controller on Windows 2003.
Example Installation
1. Run Xbox360_32Eng.exe installation program. If you get the Open File - Security Warning dialog, click the Run button. Take note which drive you run the installation on.
2. On Windows 2003 you will be prompted with the message 'Setup cannot install this software because your computer does not meet the system requirements. To install this software, you must have a computer running Microsoft Windows XP SP1 or greater.'.
DO NOT DISMISS/CLOSE THIS MESSAGE BOX
3. While the message box is still on the screen, use explorer to browser the root directory of the drive you ran the installation on. In my case it was the 'D' drive. On the root of this drive you will find a folder with a randomly generated name, in my case the folder is named 'f7267e57e15594f2f5a62054b463fb0e', note your folder name will differ.
4. Once you have noted the folder name, you can proceed to plug in the XBOX 360 controller. Windows should detect the device and prompt you with the 'Found New Hardware Wizard'.
5. Select the 'Install from a list or specific location(Advanced)' radio button and click 'Next'.
6. Ensure that the 'Searc for the best driver in these locations.' radio button is selected and check the 'Include this location in the search' checkbox, nothing else needs to be checked.
7. Enter the path to the driver, this path is relative to the temporary folder created by the installation program, in my case the path is.
D:\f7267e57e15594f2f5a62054b463fb0e\xbox360\setup\files. Click 'Next'. Windows should proceed to install the driver, do not be concerned, this can take a few moments.
8. Now all that is left to be done is to click on 'Finish' and you can use your controller for your XNA development. Oh and before I forget, you can dismiss that message box now :) You know the one that did not want you to install the driver on Windows 2003.
Enjoy!!