Logitech Freedom 2.4Ghz Joystick problem

So I got this joystick because it looked cool and was wireless, which is nice since I'm pressed for space in my dorm room. Well I hadn't used it for a good while, and now when I try using it, the little usb reciever doesn't recognize it. The light on it is supposed to go solid green then turn off when it see's the joystick, but I can set the thing ontop of the receiver and it doesn't see it. I've changed out the batteries on the joystick, reinstalled the drivers and it doesn't work. I'm wondering if something changed within Windows XP. When I went back to reinstall it, it gave me the error that the drivers could possibly make my system unstable. Has anyone else with this joystick had this problem? I've got Windows XP Pro with all the latest updates.