Blue Tooth Not Working

Charles,

Welcome to the forum,

You did not mention what model Latitude you have, the D600's apparently have a unique problem with a
Bluetooth device that is fastened directly to the motherboard in a fashion that is prone to failure.

Further, Bluetooth is usually an option on Dell Portables and has to be included in the purchase
for it to exist. Last year's Dells used a different Bluetooth & Driver than this years, don't mix
them.

I was recently troubled by the exact message that you are seeing so read on:)

Following a recent BIOS Flash, all hardware devices wanted to have Windows go through the "Found New
Hardware" and reinstall the Drivers (fifty or so) and I let each one do the "let Windows find the best..."

This changed my Bluetooth (a TM300 on a D800) Stack/Drivers from the Dell supplied Widcomm to the Windows
supplied MS Bluetooth Stack.

Although my Bluetooth Printer Driver installed easily and worked very well, I soon discovered that even
though MS Bluetooth *said* that GPS was installed, it would not work.

Upon then attempting to install the Dell Supplied Widcomm Stack/Drivers, install would look fine
until it wanted Fn-F2 for Bluetooth (that was now *owned* by the MS Stack) and that would be the message
shown, even though the 'Blue Icon' (light by hinge) was shining and Bluetooth was running printer without
problem, the Bluetooth Icon on the TaskBar had a Red Center.

This was the site that clued me to the problem:
Jon's Guides: Bluetooth Help Guide
Jon wants to be sure that you start at the page link above,
Here is the page from Jon's Guide that led me to the spot in Device Manager, but unlike the 'fix' there
(or on the MS Site below) I did not need to remove any Drivers, just selected "UpDate Driver,
Let me choose; have disk" and sent it to the location where the Dell Drivers were already installed,
this was quick and final:) Bluetooth has been behaving now for over three weeks, with no interference
from the MS Stack.

Some more Links to helpful Bluetooth information:
Notebook Forums (Bluetooth Drivers)
GSM-Forum - Bluetooth Software
Microsoft on "how to remove MS BT Stack"

Art

I'd say that you don't have a bluetooth adaptor (the blue light means that it's enabled, but it does not not mean there's actualy one in there)
Like said above, if you did not order it as an option, it's very unlikely that your Dell notebook came with a BT adaptor.

try to run belac advisor utility : it will tell you if there's a BT adaptor in your system

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

If you need BT for what ever reason, you can get an internal adaptor from Dell. Go for the 350 version (BlueTooth 2.0) : the 300 is only a bluetooth 1.2 and you would therefore miss compatibility with the latest of BT technology.

One of the most exiting gadgets working with BT 2.0 is the new MX1000 mouse (expected within 2 months)

Would the 'MX1000' be the Bluetooth Laser mouse that I had given up on waiting for?

The latest Microsoft Intelli-Mouse that I finally got last month was an easy 'plug-n-play'
install to this 1.2 TM300 (Widcomm Stack) D800 and is working great using all the features
provided by the ALPS Drivers. My only regret was to have waited too long. I gave away
the 2.0 Microsoft Bluetooth USB 'dongle' that came with it.

I had read in here that there had been problems trying to install it to the newer Dell's
equipped with the 2.0 TM350 (Toshiba Stack) but I would think that the Windows XP(sp2)
included Bluetooth Stack should do a fine job with it through the TM350.

The best way to determine if your unit should have been equipped with Bluetooth, would be
to enter your Service Tag on the Dell Product Support, "as shipped" web site. This way,
even a completely dead Bluetooth would be reported.

The good news on buying your Dell Bluetooth (TM300 or TM350) from Dell Spare Parts
(1-800-449-3355) would be that the cost is less than half of Dell's charge to install
Bluetooth on a new order unit. The bad news is that this difference *probably* is to pay
the people that write the software to make it work. To be honest, you could buy the hardware
and then operate it with the Microsoft Supplied Software, (that other TM350 users prefer anyway).

(Just from complaints on the 'net') a D600 would be limited to the TM300 with a problematic
connection to its Motherboard and a third-party PCMCIA type Bluetooth would be preferable.
USB sticks a hard 'dongle' out that would be prone to damage or could cause damage
unless a USB extender cable were used.

As far as I know, other Dell Portables that had originally shipped with TM300's can also
fit TM350's. Beyond the hardware difference of 1.2 vs newer 2.0 is a software compatibility
difference of the "Preferred" Widcomm Stack/Drivers for the TM300 or Toshiba for the TM350,
the Windows XP (sp2) Stack/Drivers will do either, but check with your CellPhone, HandHeld
or other Device's Maker/Marketer to see what Stack/Driver would be compatible (partial or full)
with that particular Device.

A Google search on Bluetooth will reveal a nightmare of copyright/license issues between
software (Stack/Drivers) and the various devices made to use Bluetooth. One would think
that the software providers would recognize this as a market and offer solutions for sale
(to the public) to fill this market, as it is they will only work with OEM's.

Art

>>>>>
I had read in here that there had been problems trying to install it to the newer Dell's equipped with the 2.0 TM350 (Toshiba Stack) but I would think that the Windows XP(sp2)included Bluetooth Stack should do a fine job with it through the TM350.
>>>>

I have not used it much so far, only for testing sake with a T610 cell phone : plug & play , no worries.


>>>>>>
Would the 'MX1000' be the Bluetooth Laser mouse that I had given up on waiting for?
>>>>>

well, I guess it's the one i'm still waiting for ;)
I've kept a wired mx310 mouse so far...

bay the way, how much use do you actualy get from a set of batteries with the MS mouse ?
does it have an on/off switch and some auto sleep mode ?

Still on Energizers that were included. Saw an instore Microsoft display that claimed "SIX MONTHS"
I will report when they go.

Really love the feel and action, so I play it a lot, I would guess six weeks may be closer for me.

I also have about twenty Ni-MH 'AA' cells and two chargers from Radio Shack which is more than
I need to supply a GPS and a Camera, so I will try those next.

No off switch, if it is left alone, for a while, it has stages of sleep and any button is instant on,
or a movement will wake it in about a second.

I fashoned a "Travel Case" using some of its packaging, some foam sheet and velcro that holds it tight
and should keep it asleep for traveling.

Don't know if they make a 'leftie' but it has a thumbrest that makes it extra nice for a 'rightie'
to use.

I'm feeling completely at a loss here... maybe one of you can give me a hand. I have a NextLink Bluespoon AX headset that I would like to use with my D600 (with included internal bluetooth). I can get the Dell to recognize and pair with the headset without any problems, but there are no services available for it in the advanced details of the headset after it's paired! As such, I can't set it up as an audio device. Any suggestions?

All I can suggest to look into is this;

my D800's computer Information, Hardware it lists two soundcards:

SigmaTel C-Major Audio, Driver stac97.sys as well as

Widcomm Bluetooth Audio Device, Driver btaudio.sys

I have never used Bluetooth for any audio service, so I can't offer more than that.

Possibly your starting thread on this subject on the Audio Board might be seen by
users who do more with audio. It looks like you have your Bluetooth under control
but not your audio soundcards. ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On another subject, I had said above that I would report on the battery life
of my new IntelliMouse.

The included Energizer AA's went for forty-seven days of heavy use.