I want to try and play this game with xbox  wired controller. But I can't figure it out. I downloaded and installed the drivers from microsoft, but the game doesn't give me the controller option. The controller shows up in device manager and says it is working properly. But it don't show up in control panel.  But after installing the drivers and plugging the controller into my computer it says xbox controller something like plug and play kit is ready.
  any help would be appreciated.  
 
Thanks

Stupid question but did you go into the control options in The Witcher and swap to Gamepad?

Might be an esoteric solution, but have you tried different usb ports? 
 
I have a PS3 arcade stick that I couldn't get to work no matter what I tried. But then I plugged it in to a different port and for some reason it works in that one, drivers or none.

It won't give me the option in game to switch to game pad. Just keyboard.
I just tried using a different port but still won't work

Do you have any other controller type devices plugged into your machine?
I've seen multiple controller types interfere with each other when plugged in at the same time... 
I don't even remember if I had to install anything to get my xbox gamepad to work.
Reboot? (Ya never know!)
 
Also, try it with another game.

no i don't have any other controllers plugged in. and won't work with any game.

Make sure it's plugged in before you start the game.

Make sure it's plugged in before you start the game.

Just to make sure, it is a wired controller and not a wireless with a plug and play wire on it right?    I had tried that once, and it installed things and said it was plugged in, but the games weren't recognizing it, much like what you described

no it is a wireless with a plug and play wire on it. so guess that is the problem. I'll have to look into getting the wireless receiver or the wired controller. Thank you all for all the help

Yeah you need an actual wired pad for it to work properly.

If you have a PS3 there are drivers you can download that allow the PS3 controller to work by just plugging it in with the USB charge cable.
 
Kinda funny how Sony's controller works with just the cable, but you have to buy a $30 adapter for Microsoft's wireless controller to work.

If you have a PS3 there are drivers you can download that allow the PS3 controller to work by just plugging it in with the USB charge cable.  Kinda funny how Sony's controller works with just the cable, but you have to buy a $30 adapter for Microsoft's wireless controller to work.