goddamn i hate ds4windows i hate that it just fucking breaks things
so my ps4 controller worked just fine with everything on steam, but the moment I had to use a controller with anything outside of steam, I was SOL.
DS4windows makes a ps4 pad work like an xinput pad. theoretically. and yes, it does work.
the problem BEING that, even when it isn't running, it HAS installed a bunch of "game controllers" as far as windows is concerned.
which meant Windows suddenly stopped recognising my ds4.
oh it knew it had a ds4 controller connected. but it couldn't/wouldn't connect to it. because as far as it was concerned, EVEN when DS4Windows was RUNNING at that point, it didn't exist.
I had to manually go into device manager, figureo ut which "HID-device whateverthefuckjargonhere" was the keyboard and mouse, then uninstall them all, then tell it to check for hardware changes. suddenly the pad works again.
I am glad I did order a replacement pad for my Rpi3b, since the old 360 wired pad I use is kinda showing its age. If worst comes to worst, I can just plug it into my pc instead of my ds4 if needs be then.
(I got the SN30 because eh fuck it it's a nice looking pad with cute colours and I can probably work around the old SNES pad form factor)