How to troubleshoot Bluetooth detection and connectivity problems in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (883258)

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What can I do if my Bluetooth devices do not function?

If your Bluetooth device functioned correctly in Windows XP SP1, some Bluetooth drivers may not have updated correctly.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
   
   
   
2. Type regedit, and then click OK.
   
   
   
   
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{e0cbf06c-cd8b-4647-bb8a-263b43f0f974}

   
   
   
   
   
4. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
   
   
   
   
5. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
   
   
   
   
6. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
   
   
   
7. Type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
   
   
   
   
8. Locate and then click the Bluetooth radio device.
   
   
   
   
9. On the Action menu, click Uninstall to remove the Bluetooth device.
   
   
   
   
10. After the Bluetooth device has been removed, click Scan for hardware changes on the Action menu.
    
    
    
    
11. After the Bluetooth device has been correctly detected, Windows XP SP2 Bluetooth drivers are installed. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Device Manager.
    
    
    
    

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What can I do if a Bluetooth device is not detected when I add the device?

This issue may occur because of a lack of power for the device, a corrupted installation of the Bluetooth device software, defective hardware, or hardware that is not supported.

To resolve these issues, follow these steps:

1. Verify that you have Windows XP SP2 installed. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
      
      
      
      
   2. In the Open box, type winver.exe, and then click OK.
      
      
      
      
   3. In the About Windows dialog box, verify that Windows XP SP2 is installed.
      
      
      
      
2. Make sure that the Bluetooth device is installed. To do this, click Start, click Run, type bthprops.cpl, and then click OK. This command shows Bluetooth device properties.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Make sure that the Allow Bluetooth devices to connect to this computer option is selected in the Bluetooth device properties.
   
   
   
   
4. Check your device specifications to make sure that the Bluetooth device is within the correct operating range specifications.
5. Verify that the Bluetooth device is powered on and that it is enabled.
6. Verify that the Bluetooth device is discoverable. For the Bluetooth device to be discoverable, you must turn on the Bluetooth discovery option in Windows XP SP2. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Right-click the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, and then click Open Bluetooth Settings.
      
      
      
      If the Bluetooth icon is not in the notification area, click Start, click Run, type bthprops.cpl, and then click OK.
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   2. On the Options tab, click to select the Turn discovery on check box, and then click Apply.
      
      
      
      
   3. To let other Bluetooth devices connect to your computer, click to select the Allow Bluetooth devices to connect to this computer check box, and then click OK.
      
      
      
      
7. Has the connection been interrupted by something in the area? Wireless technology is susceptible to interference from the environment. Try to connect to your Bluetooth device again.
8. Is one of the devices too busy? Does it have too many connections? For example, a printer may have other connections that prevent your connection.
9. In Device Manager, locate Bluetooth Radios, and then verify that the radio is listed. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
      
      
      
      
   2. Type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
      
      
      
      
   3. Locate and then click the Bluetooth radio device.
      
      
      
      
10. Determine what other USB devices are currently connected. The Bluetooth device may not have enough power. If there are no entries in Device Manager or in Control Panel, the transceiver is not getting enough power for detection. Try unplugging other USB devices.
11. If Device Manager and Control Panel entries exist for a device, but the device is not detected or it is not connecting correctly, the device may not have been authenticated through the software.
    
    For additional information about how to resolve this issue, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    811797 Bluetooth device stops working and is no longer detected

    811800 Bluetooth desktop devices not detected

Notes

• When the transceiver is unplugged, Windows will remove the Bluetooth Radios category in Device Manager, but the Bluetooth Devices icon will remain in Control Panel.
• Bluetooth devices typically require 500 milliamps (mA). Determine what other USB devices are connected. You may have to add a self-powered hub to support additional devices on the USB port.
• If the device does not authenticate during the detection process, remove the device, and then add it again without a passkey.
• If previous steps do not resolve the issue, try the device on another computer. If the device does not work on another computer, the issue is in Windows.

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What can I do if I experience a slow connection with the Bluetooth device or the device is disconnecting?

If your Bluetooth devices are slow or are disconnecting, determine the following:

• Are the devices the correct distance apart? The devices could be at the edge of their range. Move the devices closer together. Alternatively, the devices may be too close to each other. Move the devices farther apart. Also, see the manufacturer's documentation for the transmission range of the device.
• Is one of the devices too busy? For example, a printer may have other connections that prevent your connection. To prevent too many connections, set your devices so they are not discoverable. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, and then click Open Bluetooth Settings.
     
     
     
     If the Bluetooth icon is not in the notification area, click Start, click Run, type bthprops.cpl, and then click OK.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  2. On the Options tab, click to clear the Turn discovery on check box, click Apply, and then click OK.
     
     
     
     
• Are other devices operating in the same frequency range as the Bluetooth devices? The Bluetooth radio frequency is 2.4 gigahertz (GHz). Other devices may include the following:
  • Cordless telephones that use the 2.4 GHz range.
  • Microwave ovens.
  • X10 devices, such as those that control automatic lighting and universal remote controls.
  • Networks that use the 802.11 wireless protocol. (These networks are also known as Wi-Fi networks.)
  Note Water and walls can affect Bluetooth radio transmissions.

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What can I do if some of the Bluetooth device features no longer function?

This issue may occur because the Bluetooth drivers that are provided by Microsoft support a different set of profiles than the drivers that are provided by some third-party vendors. The Microsoft-provided drivers are also signed and will therefore be installed instead of a third-party driver for supported Bluetooth adapters. The Windows XP SP2 Setup program will try to detect if a third-party driver is present. If the third-party driver is installed, the Microsoft-provided Bluetooth drivers will not install. This action makes sure that an existing configuration is not modified. If both provided drivers were installed, and the Bluetooth Radio were connected to the computer, the Microsoft-provided driver would load because it is signed.

If the missing functionality is critical, you may restore the third-party support. To do this, follow these steps.

Note The following steps assume that the third-party software is installed. If it is not, install the software according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then follow these steps from the point in the installation process where the adapter is connected to the computer.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
   
   
   
2. Type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
   
   
   
   
3. Locate and then expand Bluetooth Radios.
   
   
   
   
4. Right-click the Bluetooth adapter, and then click Properties.
   
   
   
   
5. On the Driver tab, click Update Driver.
   
   
   
   
6. Install the updated driver manually by using the Have disk option in the wizard. Locate the manufacturer's installation files, and then find the .inf file that is required to install the driver.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Complete the manufacturer's software installation steps.

At this point, the third-party provided drivers should work. If at any point you re-enumerate the Bluetooth adapter, the Microsoft driver will be reinstalled, and you must repeat the procedure. This issue will occur only if the third-party driver is removed or if another model adapter installed.

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What are some things to consider if I have problems with my Personal Area Network (PAN) connections?

Consider the following points:

• The device may be out of range. When this issue occurs, you will receive the following error message:
  Windows was unable to connect with your Bluetooth-enabled network device. It may be turned off, out of range, or it may not be configured to accept connections. Consult your device's documentation for information on how configure it to accept connections.
• The device may require re-authentication. When this issue occurs, you will receive the error message:
  The Bluetooth-enabled network device requires re-authentication. Do you wish to proceed with this step?
  
  Press "Yes" to re-authenticate with the device.
  
  Press "No" to return to the Bluetooth Network Devices dialog.
• For other issues, you may receive the following error message:
  The connection with the Bluetooth-enabled network device failed. Please consult your device's documentation for more information on how to resolve this.

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What are some things to consider if a Bluetooth device cannot find its associated services?

If you cannot set up a service for your device, determine the following:

• Is the Bluetooth device filtering correctly? After you install and authenticate a Bluetooth device, the device may provide a number of services that are not specific to the device type. These services enable a variety of actions between the computer and the device. For example, the device may provide dial-up networking. Another device, such as your computer, may also provide dial-up networking. In this case, you must filter out other dial-up devices to prevent them from connecting for dial-up purposes.
  
  If you install a Bluetooth printer by using the Add Printer Wizard, filtering is not available. If you cannot find the device that you are looking for, try to install the printer by using Wireless Link in Control Panel.
• Is the service not available? Does the device not offer the service you are looking for? Bluetooth devices come with different services. The services may be different depending on the device, and not all devices will have the same services. For example, there are multiple printing profiles that may be available. However, Windows XP supports only the hardcopy cable replacement profile for printing to a Bluetooth printer.
• Are other services available? Are there any valid services that you can use? Your Bluetooth device may not have any services. The device may be filtering for a service that the device supports, but that your computer does not. If the device cannot find the service, contact the manufacturer for help getting this device to work. You may require additional software.
  
  The device may require authentication before you can select services. For example, if you want to connect to the Internet from your Bluetooth cellular phone, the dial-up networking service must be enabled. The cellular phone must be installed and authenticated before you can select the dial-up networking service. In this case, install the device from Wireless Link in Control Panel.

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What can I do if my Bluetooth device loses its connection?

This issue may occur when the Bluetooth device does not recognize the pairing with your Windows XP-based computer. Sometimes, pairing information about a device may be lost, either because a device was reset or because of other problems.

If your Bluetooth devices cannot connect to your Windows XP-based computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Bluetooth Devices in Control Panel, and then make sure that the device is listed. If the device is listed, Windows XP has not lost the pairing information.
   
   
   
   
2. Determine if the device has lost the pairing information.
   • If the pairing information is present on the device, see "What can I do if I experience a slow connection with the Bluetooth device or the device is disconnecting."
   • If the pairing information has been lost from the device, follow these steps:
     1. Remove the device by using the Bluetooth Devices tool in Control Panel.
        
        
     2. Add the device again.
        
        

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