SIXAXIS
Driver and instructions - http://dl.qj.net/playstation-3/tools-and-utilities/sixaxis-driver-for-pc.html

DualShock 3
1. Download the PS3 DualShock3 Controller Driver file from http://dl.qj.net/dl.php?fid=25580 to your desktop.

2. Unpack the file.

3. Connect your PS3 controller to the computer using the USB cable. The lights on the controller should begin blinking.

4. Go to the Control Panel from the Windows Start menu and click on "Systems."

5. Click on the Hardware tab in the window that pops up, and then click on "Device Manager."

6. Click "Human Interface Devices" in the Device Manager screen. Underneath will appear the option "USB Human Interface Device." Right-click on this and Select "Update Driver."

7. Click on "Install" from a list or specific location in the pop-up window. Select the "Don't search I will choose..." option on the next screen. Click "Next."

8. Click "Have disk" on the next screen and then choose "Browse" and Select "Desktop." From there, click "ds3 drivers" and choose "ds3drv1.02." Click through until you get to the file beginning "Dual shock." Open this and install the file.

9. Go back to the control panel and click on "Game Controllers." Select "PlayStation 3 Controller" and go to Properties. Press the Home button in the middle of the PlayStation controller. You should then see the cursor in the box to the left of the window respond to your joystick when you move it.

64 Bit Windows Driver
http://www.motioninjoy.com/wiki/en/install

wow thanks I couldnt use mine before this so thanks for making a thread about this

The one issue for me, is that I have a dualshock 3, and I followed the instructions. At least I think I did, and it keeps telling me that it's not able to be installed. Which sort of irritates me.

legacyme3 : I think that driver might only be for 32 bit windows. I'm on XP 32 bit so I can't test otherwise. Maybe the MotionInJoy driver would work instead? Check this link for a homepage and download the latest driver I suppose since it's signed, or if not you'll need to disable the Driver Signature Enforcement with F8 at every boot.
http://www.motioninjoy.com/wiki/en/install

As far as I know it will work like this:

1. Download and unzip 32 Bit http://www.xinputer.com/download/MotioninJoy_060003_x86_signed.zip or 64 Bit Windows Drivers http://www.xinputer.com/download/MotioninJoy_060003_amd64_signed.zip PS3.
2. Run MotionInJoy exe, follow the instructions to install the software.
3. Put your PS3 controller via USB port on your PC.
4. Click on the shortcut DS3 Tool to start the program, then navigate to the Driver Manager Tab.
5. (1) Check the list of Driver (2) Click the Load driver
6. Remove and reinsert your PS3 controller, and then click the Home button. If all goes well, you should have already detected the PS3 Controller.
7. You can select the mode you want to use and click enable to enable it.

that should work then. >.> I was stupid, I have 64 bit, and most times the 32 bit stuff won't work on this... oh well, I was hoping it'd be easier lol

tRIUNE : for some reason this is not working right for me

Geoff20 : I only know of MotioninJoy, I might have omitted an instruction or listed something incorrect, I don't know, but just in case here are some links that might help:

This one is for 32-bit computers.

This is for 64bit computers

Instructions for both versions

God bless you tRUINE!

Wow! Thank you so much!  I have been sharing a USB Xbox controller with someone else for a while now.  I have tried a PS3 controller before but it didn't work.  Now it does.  Thanks again!

Thanks man. This makes playing PS1 games much better.

vizwiz123 : Since your post totals 3 people saying this works, I'll just go ahead and close this.

Also to note, I didn't Sticky this thread but another staff did; glad it helped.

This thread is dated and motioninjoy is probably not the best option anymore.
There will be a new one up soon.