How do I reinstall the "HID Compliant Driver"?

Question

System Specifications:
Operating System: Windows 7, Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
Problem: Driver-related

Problem: I have a wired Afterglow Gamepad Controller for XBox 360 and there seem to be no drivers for the device at all! Upon checking Device Manager, I received an Error 28 (which is what I just stated above). I tried googling and searching for drivers on my system/the device itself and there seem to be no driver. I've tried installing the generic drivers (found here _{[microsoft.com]}) and they (of course) do not work.

Another thing I've also found is that I'm missing a HID Compliant Driver (as it's so called), and of course: It can't be found anywhere through googling as it's usually a different driver for each type of device (ie. Mouse, Keyboard, Game Controller etc.).

Question: How do I install the "HID Compliant Driver" so that Windows can detect my device?
From what I've found out so far of the problem, it seems like the device proper driver is find/usable, it's just that the complementary driver ('HID Compliant Controller' driver or whatever it's called) is missing as the same problem is happening with my Wiimote (except over Bluetooth).

Edit 1: If you haven't already figured out, I'm trying to use my xbox controller on my PC.
Edit 2: The drivers were working last year, until I reformatted my laptop (clean wipe of everything).
Edit 3: I've been experimenting with all sorts of drivers (and the 'no driver at all'), but the thing I seem to always notice happening is that when I insert the controller, the lights blink (on the controller) and Windows plays two low-pitched sounds, instead of a low pitched followed by a high pitched note (which means a device has been plugged in and is ready to use). Yes, I've tried it in nearly all ports.
Edit 4: It's not in Device Manager, the driver simply does not exist on my system at all!

Answer 1

Likely, your system somehow "misplaced" its C:\Windows\System32\drivers\*hid*.sys files. A normally functioning system can be expected to have the following files:

• hidclass.sys
• hidparse.sys
• hidusb.sys
• kbdhid.sys
• hidbth.sys
• hidir.sys
• mouhid.sys
• hidbatt.sys
• VMBusHID.sys

There are two options for restoring any of these missing files.

• Copy the file from C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository (they will be in sub-directories under this structure)
• Expand the file from your windows 7 dvd
  • Open D:\sources\install.wim with a utility like 7-zip
  • Browse to the drivers folder (\1\Windows\System32\drivers)
  • Extract the driver files you need

Note You may need to get the inf files as well. In that case follow the instructions on this article.

Likely, all you are missing is hidusb.sys but I would check for all of them. This should address your missing HID driver issue. As to the gamepad itself, I would highly recommend uninstalling its drivers before attempting this fix, then re-installing.