Bluetooth SOS!

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Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 3764 30-Mar-2005 22:26

Hello, I would like to ask for some help to get Bluetooth working on my computer. I have an Acer laptop with built in Bluetooth. Before Windows XP service pack 2, I used the provided Bluetooth drivers and everything worked fine.

I know there are several problem with Service pack 2 and Bluetooth. I have looked through the Microsoft knowledge base and tried a few of their "fixes" but nothing seems to work.

I have a built in Widcomm Bluetooth radio. I uninstalled the drivers and removed them from the Device Manager. Then I installed the drivers provided by Acer and rebooted. Now I have the nice little blue and red Bluetooth incon on the lower right. If I double click on it nothing happens. If I double click on "My Bluetooth Places" on the desktop nothing happens. I also have no Bluetooth in Device Manager. Also when I double click on Bluetooth Configuration in the Control panel I get a "BtWizard" message that says "Bluetooth device not found. Please verify that your Bluetooth device is properly connected and turned on." It seem seriously busted to me.

I would really apreciate some help with this. I know some of you could point me in the right direction in just a few minutes, while it might take me days to find the solution on my own.

Thanks in advance.

freitasm

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Reply # 13880 30-Mar-2005 22:33

You say there's no Bluetooth listed in the Device Manager - this is strange. Have you checked this thread yet?

Also, the Microsoft Bluetoot stack is for USB devices only, but you say this is a built-in device. Perhaps you have to check the BIOS configuration to see if it is enabled?

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13917 2-Apr-2005 02:31

Yes I have checked that thread. I have tried the instruction for intalling the drivers. They are the same drivers provided by Acer, the Widcomm drivers.

Basically installing Bluetooth with the drivers only adds the incon in the lower left and the shortcut on the desktop and both dont seem to work at all. The device manager is also not updated properly to show the device.

I didnt know the Microsoft stack was only for USB devices. This means that I need to install the drivers and that there is no way that it will work just with Service pack 2 drivers.

I also checked the bios and bluetooth is enabled.

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13918 2-Apr-2005 02:37

Clarification, I checked the bios and there is nothing in the Bios about bluetooth.

freitasm

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Reply # 13924 2-Apr-2005 11:27

A suggestion that used to work with older versions before the SP2:

Create a new user with admin rights, logon as the new user, remove the drivers, reboot, logon as the new user again, reinstall the drivers and see if it works.

It's more complicated with built-in Bluetooth than external ones.

Any special reason why you needed to upgrade the driver? Anything you really needed? If not, you might have to simply reinstall the original discs so you have Bluetooth working again.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

Pakcik

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13970 4-Apr-2005 16:46

Hi There,

I too have Acer (Travelmate) with built in Bluetooth. I have same problem as no Bluetooth shows up in Device Manager. I tried to get support from Acer over the phone but not much help. They just said reinstall Widcomm program that came with computer. Tried this but ofcourse did not work. Without Bluetooth in Dev Man. I'm sure none of the other inventive ways to get 'hands-free' will work!

I will try to go to Acer centre this afternoon - any news I'll pass it on.

Any other ideas??

Thanks for all your help in this forum

Pakcik

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13986 5-Apr-2005 12:22

Hi again!

I just returned from Acer service dept. They told me that my laptop does not contain built in Bluetooth :( and for my model cannot be fitted - even though the salesman said it was all included! I am angry they did not tell me over the phone two weeks ago when I first enquired about my problem - -so much time wasted and a wasted trip to service centre. Ah well that's life - now I have to buy a dongle! So itsback to the internet forumpages to find out which one.

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13996 5-Apr-2005 20:07

Hey Pakcik, what model Acer Travelmate do you have? Pretty much all the Acer Travelmate models released in the last year have built in bluetooth. I have and Acer Aspire 1681.

If you have built in Bluetooth you should have two rectangular buttons in front of the laptop that light up blue and orange. The left blue one is for Bluetooth and the right orange one is for Wifi.

freitasm: The reason why I tried to install the new Widcomm drivers is because I like to have the most up to date driver. Usually if they are well made they are backwards compatible. I don't know why Windows is so complicated with Bluetooth when this should all just be plus and play. Mac OS X seem to treat me much better when it comes to Bluetooth.

I will try to install the original driver, and if that doesn't work, I will try to get do the new administrator user dance.

Thanks for the tips.

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 13997 5-Apr-2005 20:16

Well, I tried to install the original drivers and I get the same problem as with the new ones. I still can't open My Bluetooth places or see Bluetooth in the device manager.

My question is, if I don't have a phone or a bluetooth device nearby, should I still be able to open my Bluetooth places? Or should it not open any Window? I try with my friend bluetooth cellphone nearby the other day and this still didn't work.

Whenever I get anoying problems like this, I just feel like formatting the whole computer and reinstalling Windows :) That might actually take less time than all this goofing around.

freitasm

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Reply # 13998 5-Apr-2005 20:22

Alloy: My question is, if I don't have a phone or a bluetooth device nearby, should I still be able to open my Bluetooth places? Or should it not open any Window? I try with my friend bluetooth cellphone nearby the other day and this still didn't work.

Whenever I get anoying problems like this, I just feel like formatting the whole computer and reinstalling Windows :) That might actually take less time than all this goofing around.

You should be able to open the My Bluetoot Places regardless of having any other device in range.

Sometimes reinstalling Windows is the best option. Could it be that the registry on this computer is corrupted and installation fails for some reason?

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 14001 5-Apr-2005 20:55

I tried what you said, using a new administrator user but it gives the same result. The thing is, it goes through the hole installation process just fine. Everything seems normal until I realize that the installation just put some nice non working icons in the control panel, desktop, etc.

So if I reinstall windows, what should I do? I'm thinking:

1) Format the hard drive and partition
2) Istall Windows and patch to service pack 2
3) Istall the most recent Acer Aspire drivers from their website (not from the CD I got with the computer 6 months ago)

Then do you think Bluetooth should work? Or should I just install the orld drivers to play it safe.

It really is a hasle reinstalling Windows and all my software, but if that is what it takes I will do it.

Also, Once I install Windows and all, is there a way to backup my installation on a seperate hard drive so that next time something like this happens I can just copy over an old installation? I'm pretty sure I heard of this but I never tried.

Thanks for the help freitasm, and the quick replies :)

freitasm

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Reply # 14002 5-Apr-2005 21:01

I would download the new Bluetooth drivers and put on a CD. Then reinstall Windows and install the new drivers. Only then install Service Pack 2 - remember SP2 will have its own Bluetooth and if you install it first it will be another work to change drivers.

Make sure you have a copy of the drivers and SP2 before you reinstall Windows - you don't want to connect to the Internet to download these files, unless you have other protection on your network.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 14004 5-Apr-2005 21:59

Perfect, I will try that. Install the Bluetooth drivers first then update to Service Pack 2. But Why is it a big deal to use the software update built into windows? I will download service pack 2 seperatly but I don't see why this should be an issue.

freitasm

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Reply # 14005 5-Apr-2005 22:05

Because unless you have a protection - like a firewall on your router, a firewall and antivirus on your computer and no infected computer on your network, then it would be easy to catch a malicious program while downloading the update.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)

Alloy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 14006 5-Apr-2005 22:12

I guess, but isn't that a little paranoid? Since I would be downloading the update directly through windows update it's unlikely to contain a virus.

How can I get a seperate download file? Microsoft only provides Windows update or order a CD of Service pack 2.

freitasm

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Reply # 14007 5-Apr-2005 22:22

Well, what if you have IIS on? Or if you installation by default enables SMTP or FTP services? Or if you have File and Printer Sharing? Hundreds of worms use exploits that can take over a machine and install remote control programs by simply connecting into these resources.

No, not paranoid. There are programs out there that can silently install malicious code, like spam robots and you don't even know that you computer is sending out spam or being part of a remote controlled network of bots on a dDOS.

You can download the full Service Pack 2 from this page.

Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure)