RedOctane pad on Windows 8/8.1?

I haven't played Stepmania in a while, and just decided to get back into it. I have two RedOctane pads (model# PXUIGP) that worked great the last time I used them on a Windows 7 machine. Since the last time I played, I've gotten a new computer, which runs Windows 8.1, and I can't get the pads to work. If I recall correctly, they used to work fine without any drivers or anything. On my new computer, they come up in Device Manager as "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Failed)". The Device Status says, "Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43). A request for the USB device descriptor failed."

Help!

-Joe

this is a problem in the windows 8 USB-driver, my friend has the same issue.
The redOctane DDR is just a regular HID device (NOT vendor-specific configuration, so should work without any driver!!) with an IN endpoint at 0x81, you could possible create a program using libusb or winusb to bypass the windows 8 bug and map it to the joysticks yourself, but that requires advance programming skills...
I usually just run stepmania on linux and it will work fine...

I have same problem and can't find any solution. I'm thinking of buying a PS2 to USB adapter and try, but i've read that with those adapters you can't press 2 arrows at the same time :S