I'm using ds4windows and i've tried everything in the guide and in the comments that you recommend to get the HID pack to work. no matter what i try everytime i go to customize controller in game i get the green b1-b10 letters. if i press a button on the keyboard (backspace, enter, etc...) the playstation icons will flash until i let the button go. it also does not let me save these settings.
Does Ds4windows map the keyboard inputs to the buttons? If you're still getting B1, B2, etc, it's because the game is seeing the controller as the input option. You can always wait until FFVIII boots and THEN plug in your controller and start DS4windows, but that fix kinda sucks.
If you still see B1-B10, try the non-HID version (regular version).
If this STILL doesn't fix your problem, there's a longer fix for this issue below but I wouldn't do it until you try the other options.
Do this part ONLY if you're mapping keyboard inputs to a controller using a HID mapper.
In a file explorer go to:
\My Documents\Square Enix\FINAL FANTASY VIII Steam
Edit the file called ff8input.cfg
Change the numbers below the Joystick section to all be 0s so that it looks like this
Joystick
1. "Select" 0
2. "Exit" 0
3. "Misc" 0
4. "Menu" 0
5. "Toggle" 0
6. "Trigger" 0
7. "RotLt" 0
8. "RotRt" 0
9. "Start" 0
10. "Select" 0
11. "Up" 0
12. "Down" 0
13. "Left" 0
14. "Right" 0
Save the file and then right click on it and open it's properties. Make the file read only. Now the game won't try to use its own settings for the controller nor show controller buttons (B1-10) in game. Try not to open the Controller settings window after you make this fix or you may have to repeat it.