i run Vista too and use xbox 360 controller for mvp. it wasn't easy finding the solution but here's what happened
i downloaded xbcd driver (not 64 bit) installerfrom the xbcd site probably and it installed the files in a folder, probably in program files or on desktop
next are the three methods you can go through to install driver for controller, in order of priority (which one you should use or hope works.
1. After plugging in the controller, head over to Device Manager and I believe the controller will be under "Microsoft Common...(etc)." right click on the controller, go "Update Driver Software." on window that pops up click "browse manually," then click "pick from list." If it is on the list it will be called "XBCD XBox 360 Gamepad."
2. If not, click "Have Disk..." in that same window with the list, and then type in the director where the the xbcd driver files were installed on your computer by the installer. For me it was C:PROGRAM FILESXBCD 360SOURCE CODEDRIVER, but don't count on that.
3. And if that doesn't work either, try right-clicking on controller again, "update driver software", "browse manually", but then, try typing in that directory we talked about in the last paragraph with drivers in it, and click NEXT.
Hopefully, one of those these three ways will get it installed. The second way worked for me. If it worked, the controller won't be under "Microsoft Common..." in the Device Manager, but rather under: "Human Interface Drivers"
Go to start menu, XBCD, Setup Utility. (that will have been there before you update the driver software, but after you have installed XBCD in paragraph 2) Select the device ("Gamepad 1" for me, and the buttons will appear). That is when you click Open.., and select the configuration you want. This will be a .xgi file, which you must download, and I suggest you download from mvpmods or something because this .xgi will fit the control perfectly for the game. When opened, you can click apply and i guess...you're ready to play. As a matter of fact, when choosing which controller to play with within the game, it says XBCD Xbox 360 Controller (or something like that) instead of XBox 360 Controller. Good luck! Btw, you can switch off vibration in the Setup Utility because it seemed to vibrate too much for me.
pretty simple hopefully, although not originally for me
also this has been the main walkthrough for a while, but its not vista
http://www.eamods.com/ForumsPro/viewtopic/t=442/start=0.html
I realize i posted this in a controller.cfg thread, but the point is that xbcd works and works well, and cfg always seems to need edits. Do what you like
Mets are about to whoop some subway series ***