Modding my PS3 has been frustrating

Managed to clean up and restore my PS3 and decided I would go ahead and mod it, but damn roadblock after roadblock. First my model PS3 is too new to install CFW, so im stuck with HFW, no big deal I just want to boot up roms and stuff on it so thats fine, but for whatever reason I cant install the HFW with the usb flash I have??? And the recovery mode that I have to be in to even install the HFW REQUIRES a real honest to god PS3 controller, now I have been using a third party control for my PS3 cause the real things are built like shit, so I dug up my old PS3 controller covered in dust, only to find that the directional buttons DONT work, so I have been smacking my PS3 controller against my leg to move the selection down to "System Update" ONLY to find as I mentioned the usb DOES NOT READ AS A MBR. I don't know what to do.....I can't even go pick up a new PS3 controller cause I fucked up my foot ughhh