360 Controller Blues

I was really excited when I got to borrow a 360 for xmas - at last could I try some XNA coding with the controller - but helas. The official drivers wouldn't install and the unofficial drivers i found wouldn't recognize the device. It is a wireless controller with a USB cable connected and I expect this to be the problem with the unofficial drivers. The cable might only be to recharge the batteries/provide power - but it doesn't change the fact that the official drivers wouldn't install on neither my sister's nor my system!