XBox 360 controller doesn't work when connected, and prevents shutdown

[jadaml]

TL;DR version: XBox 360 controller, when connected makes sound, but doesn't function, and further connection/disconnection doesn't makes system sound, and also prevents shutting down. How can I solve this. In the mean time, I will uninstall the driver the best I can.

Long winded version
When I tried to install dual boot a Linux, (that I wasn't doing the first time) I accidentally deleted my Windows 7 partition (instead of partition the free space left) and needed to restart the whole installation of my Windows from scratch. (The irony is that I was able to install everything I needed during one weekend the way I wanted id, but since I've wiped my Windows partition last month, I still didn't quite installed everything back the way I wanted it. One plus side is that NVidia Geforce Experience is not telling me that it has run out of drive space anymore. )

I have in this Desktop PC two drives, one SSD with 200GB partition for Windows, and a 2TB HDD with 1TB for Windows data. After Windows installed, I went in to Audit mode, and configured the Users and ProgramData folders to be on the 1TB HDD, and later made Symlinks to these folders on the C: partition, so even programs, that can't comprehend the ProgramData and Users folders being on a different partition can work as I would like them to. (I do not wish to debate whether it is a correct way of using Windows or not.)

With great care this time, I was able to install Windows to my liking, and fairly stable, with one exception, I don't know where to go next with. I have an XBox 360 Wired Controller, that I could use receantly, with the only limitation, that my controller should have been plugged in before I logged in, or else Windows tried to install the controller, and afterward it could not shut down either. Connecting the controller made the device connected sound, but neither disconnecting and reconnecting made any system sound, in the same session, not even to different USB port. It is still possible to connect other devices in this state. In the same session that I've connected the controller, if I try to shut down or restart Windows, it never goes beyond the point of the "Shutdown" message, and always have to shut it down by force.

In an attempt to fix this issue, I've tried to go in to safe mode, and uninstall the driver, then install it again, but I was only able to make things worse, that the controller doesn't work in any condition, and prevents it from shutting down, if it was connected.

Thinking of what could cause the problem, I've installed few other programs, that I've installed just before the problem occurred. Unified Remote is one known source of issue regarding game controller, however I didn't installed it's gaming driver on purpose, because they even tell you about its flaw in the installer. I've already uninstalled that, but as of writing this post I see, that a driver related to it still there.
The other one that I've installed before the problem occurred is VirtualBox and BOINC manager. I have trouble see how BOINC manager it self could cause trouble with the game controller, but I can see how VirtualBox could be the culprit. I don't remember any other software I've installed at the time.

I do not wish to yet again reinstall Windows, as it is really a tedious work, and don't have the time, energy and motivation to do so, and also saved it from a potential crash. (Though I would not facing this problem if I did not wipe my Windows partition in the first place. :banghead

The game controller otherwise work. Can you help me? I'll try a few things that I can think of, but none of them I'm too sure about would work. I'll look up the event log, but for now, probably I'll try to remove the XBox controller driver.

 

[matts6887]

I would uninstall the device and the driver and check to see if there is a updated version of the driver for that device. Give that shot and see what happens.

 

[Boozad]

Is it hardwired controller? Is it a genuine Microsoft controller?

 

[jadaml]

Is it hardwired controller? Is it a genuine Microsoft controller?

I bought this controller in a more popular electronic store, that gives me no reason to doubt it's genuineness. It was in it's well recognizable box, and it had a holographic sticker on its backside (but now it has fallen off).
Is there a site by Microsoft guiding how to recognize a Genuine XBox 360 controller? I know there is one for software.

I would uninstall the device and the driver and check to see if there is a updated version of the driver for that device. Give that shot and see what happens.

Well I can't uninstall it while I'm running my system normally, so the only way I can uninstall it is if I plug my controller in, since the driver is not visible even in the hidden drivers, so I have to go in safe mode.

The only way I can uninstall it is if I open up "Computer management" (is that what it's called?) and then right click on the device in the devices section and select uninstall. (I can't trust that even, if it has a checkbox for removing the drivers from the machine.) Is that the way you're referring?

I've just saw an update option for XBox 360 controller driver in the windows update and tried to install it, but it failed because I did not have my controller connected. I'm afraid to do this because I cannot make sure if it is really removed, but I connect my controller and do the update again. At least, I know I can get back to this state again.

I found a Microsoft Fix-It tool for driver issues (<- link) and running that fixed two issues, but did not resolved my problem, but then again I did not had the controller plugged in. I try this again in safe mode, with my controller plugged in, but I don't give much chance to it.

Edit: I've plugged in the controller, it tried to install something, but failed. The Windows update entry for XBox 360 controller isn't there anymore. In device manager, I can see the XBox 360 controller in it's proper place, but it also stated that there is no driver installed (I don't quite get that though--I thought this is the list of installed & in-use drivers).

Edit2: I tried the Microsoft Fix-It tool in safe mode, and now my controller works, if it was connected while turning on my PC, just as before. This is not satisfying, since it still doesn't work, if I plug it in, while I'm logged in.

 

[jadaml]

Is there a tool to fix possible driver issues that doesn't looks like I've downloaded a malware, adware or other potential threat or annoyance?