Bluetooth Problems

[MarkTV88]

Ok so when I bought my laptop (ASUS G1 Gaming Laptop) I think they got it barebone and then installed the OS (Vista Ultimate 32bit) and other associated programs themselves. It has a bluetooth antenna in it, there is some form of software here, but I simply cannot get it to transfer. In fact, my phone (which I've used a million times before with other bluetooth things) can't even find it, even when its set to visible.

My question is this, can I fix it?

Is there a good program out there that might be better to use than the standard thing I've got on here? Or is there maybe a way to fix the existing program and make it work? I'd really rather do it all myself rather than take it back, despite it being under warranty still.

Thanks in advance!

[peterb]

Who are "They"?

Some laptops have a switch to enable/disable bluetooth.

[directhex]

boot loonicks \o/

[MarkTV88]

"They" are the peeps I bought it off. And I have the switch turned on.

Anyone have any serious suggestions?

[directhex]

"They" are the peeps I bought it off. And I have the switch turned on.

Anyone have any serious suggestions?

testing another OS to isolate whether or not it's a hardware or software problem isn't serious?

you're the boss

[peterb]

"They" are the peeps I bought it off. And I have the switch turned on.

Anyone have any serious suggestions?

Checking to see if the hardware is switched on is a perfectly serious suggestion.

You haven't said what the bluetooth program or drivers you have, what any of the sysmptoms are (other than "doesn't connect") or any error messages. You haven't said what steps you have taken to diagnose the problem - does the bluetooth system appaer in device manager/hardware browser?

You might start by (re)-installing the bluetooth driver from the Asus website or the Vista system/recovery disk.

Or you may be better off taking back to "them" as it is still under warranty and "they" have sold you a system that isn't working as you expected it to.

[MarkTV88]

testing another OS to isolate whether or not it's a hardware or software problem isn't serious?

you're the boss

I was referring to the point about the switch. I'm not real good with linux which is why I've avoided it so far, but it may be the only way to be sure.

As for 'symptoms'. There aren't any. I'm using the standard Vista bluetooth software, pre-installed. When I search through the hardware browser it shows my bluetooth device. So, assuming the switch is on, when I set bluetooth to 'visible', technically it should be visible right? Well it ain't. Furthermore, it can't find any other bluetooth devices (which I know are working and set to visible by using other bluetooth devices). I was kind of hoping that its a vista issue (which is certainly not out of the question) and that I might be able to get around it by using some other software.

If all else fails I'll take it back, but that's gonna be seriously annoying.

[peterb]

Have you looked to see if there are any Vista specific bluetooth drivers for the laptop? Try the Asus website. A Linux live CD may help you determine if the hardware is working correctly - no installation required - just boot and go - however it will only prove that it is working, it won't (easily) prove that it isn't. Knoppix has very good hardware support.

[Softix]

There is a hotfix for this..under Bluetooth radio switch heading.
R159805.EXE Utility to enable the BT Radio after a downgrade from Vista to XP or Vista to Vista if radio is software disabled before the downgrade.

Run this utility before installing the XP Bluetooth software drivers or on the Vista OS installed.


Network: Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module (Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR), Patch/Upgrade, Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows XP, Multi Language, Multi System, v.BTW Radio ON, A00
Release Date: 20/07/2007
Criticality: Recommended
Description: Utility to enable Bluetooth radio after downgrade from Vista to XP or Vista to Vista if the radio is software disabled on Vista.


Dell - Support

[peterb]

Except it isn't a Dell laptop...

[MarkTV88]

peterb,

there is a Bluetooth driver on the asus website for my laptop, however it is only for XP. Is it worth a try?

[peterb]

Ppossibly (sorry 0 that isn't very definite!) - you can always remove it if it doesn't work - However you may have to change some of the settings on Vista if the driver isn't signed. (But I'm not a Vista user so I don't speak from first hand experience) However in the absense of a specific driver for Vista on that laptop, I don't think you have much choice. (Unless you can determine who the bluetooth chipset vendor is, and try their site for an OEM driver - but I would think that if that is available, it would be available from the Asus site - have you tried a support tag with Asus? - not sure how good they are at responding, but maybe worth a try)

I'd still be tempted to follow Directhex's suggestion and use a linux live CD to see if the hardware works with that. If it doesn't, it doesn't prove that it is faulty, but if it does, it will indicate that it is a driver problem.