Bluetooth Keyboard Won't Work

Question

I have had my Dimension E521 for a week with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse with no problems at all. Have been able to use it just fine. I generally leave the computer on all the time, and when I remember I turn off the mouse and keyboard to save the batteries - but last night I left them on. This morning the keyboard wouldn't work, so I replaced the batteries, actually I have tried THREE sets of fresh batteries. The computer won't recognize the keyboard! I tried restarting the computer twice, and I have followed the instructions that came with the computer for the bluetooth devices 3 times as well. Of course I can't sign in with my password to try some of the suggestions that are given. I am using my laptop to write this, and do not have access to a wired keyboard and mouse to try some of the other suggestions. I could get those things, but it will take a couple days to borrow from friends. What else do I need to try? I have plugged and unplugged the USB bluetooth receiver, turned off and on the devices, basically EVERYTHING that the documentation that came with the computer has been tried 3 times and I am rather frustrated. I just got a call from my partner who told me that when they were sitting down at my computer yesterday logging on, it made a whole line of 'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii' when typing. Maybe the whole unit is defective. Guess I'll call Dell...

PSmithe · Answer

Yeah, all 3 of mine are the same.  Seems its the Logitech bluetooth systems are just unreliable.   I scrapped the Dell provided ones, and bought Microsoft ones instead. Problem solved

Rysma · Answer

try unplugging ALL USB devices from your computer, shutdown and unplug from wall socket.  Leave for 15 to 30 mins. On reboot your USB should all be nicely restacked. Try plugging in your USB. Hopefully all should work.  If not try a second time but reboot TWICE.    If it works right click my computer, then properties, the choose hardware tab and click on device manager. Once in device manager expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Right click USB root hub then properties then choose power management tab. Uncheck 'allow ccomputer to turn off this device to save power'   See how you go on above first:smileywink:

PSmithe · Answer

Tried disabling power management, still unreliable. Frequently no keyboard and mouse first thing in morning, with no option but to power down etc and try again.   Strangely, in subsequent testing (as said, bought new MS wireless keyboard and mouse, as these PCs are my Tills in shop - http://www.retail-epos.co.uk is the software I use - I demand reliability), the Dell bluetooth stuff seems more reliable without setpoint installed.

PSmithe · Answer

Moving the USB dongle to another port did sometimes help, but no always, and never for more than a few days. Dell tech sup couldn't really help, though did let slip I was not alone.  A quick google showed the Logitech bluetooth keyboards (which is what Dell's are) are problematic, so because I rely on them, just replaced with the MS stuff (which has been faultless). Systems were E520 (3 of them, all same issue)   As said earlier, I have tried the (now unused) Dell bluetooth stuff on other, less important systems, and so far seems pretty reliable, though I haven't installed Setpoint. System is 5100.   No suggesting anyone removes setpoint, just stating what I have found.  I guess without setpoint, you are losing your ability to attach to other bluetooth devices such as phones and headphones etc. I do not need these devices, so not an issue to me.   Hopefully, if it is just setpoint, it can be resolved quickly with an update from Dell (who are obviously reliant on Logitech fixing the software).   HTH

Rysma · Answer

are you plugging and unplugging the usb adapter often? or were you?    was it working fine? are the problems recent?

bobevan · Answer

I am really fed up with losing the bluetooth mouse and keyboard connection whenever my 5150C PC goes into power-save mode. I did not find the Dell support suggestion to put the receiver into another usb port each time it happened relieved my frustration much. You would think a solution was not too difficult to supply. So much for technological advances. I was happier with pieces of wire between the devices!

bobevan · Answer

Waiting for an update from Dell. Your hard drive will probably pack up first! I've decided this is my third and last Dell PC.

AnnaKGreen · Answer

Well, it did start working the next day and has been fine ever since.  I decided to not try turning off the mouse and keyboard to save the batteries and everything that been fine since.  The batteries haven't gone dead yet, so I guess the things shut themselves down when they aren't used for a while.  However, the tech person on the phone wasn't any help, and what help I got via e-mail from Dell wasn't any help.  But it did start working the next day and has been fine ever since.  I'll knock on wood...

bobevan · Answer

You are so lucky! I never switch off the mouse or keyboards and never a day goes by without removing and reinserting the receiver 3 or 4 times. I guess Dell expect everybody to ditch their Dell keyboard/mouse in frustration and buy another product. Well if I get to that stage I will be ditching my Dell computers too!

bobevan · Answer

Thanks. I have exited Setpoint and will see how things go.

PSmithe · Answer

As I suggested earlier - try it with Setpoint uninstalled...   I have been using mine for about a month (not daily), and the only issue I have had in that time was flat batteries.   Got to be worth trying?  (Obviously other bluetooth devices won't work, only keyboard/mouse)

Rysma · Answer

Hey Bob, are u using xp?

Firstly, keep in mind that the problems with USB items are not necessarily a DELL problem. They are universal and happen on all brands of computers. There is no 'cure all' what works for one doesn't always work for another. What I have found on my on searches is that it usually comes down to a windows issue.

Every time a USB gadget of any kind is plugged into and then removed it leaves a ghost of itself behind and this confuses mr windows. It seems to have trouble recognising which is real and which isnt. You need to remove all the ghosts so it only has the one choice.

If you are using xp try the following. (I cant speak for vista as I dont have it)

Right click my comp then properties then choose advanced tab.

Click on ‘environment variables’ down at the bottom of the page.

Choose new in the SYSTEM variables box. (if you choose User box the changes are only made to that particular user)._

A new Box will open..

In Variable name type: DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES

In Variable value type: 1

Then click ok, ok and ok..

Now open up device manager. Right click my comp,properties,hardware,device manager. Click view and show hidden devices.

This will now show the usual hidden devices and the Ghosted ones. The Ghosted ones are recognisable as they are shadowed/greyed out. Expand your USB controllers, there should be quite a few ghosts showing, uninstall each of these are they are NOTpresent on the computer. Check if you now have an entry (a ghosted one) of/in other devices too. Uninstall all those ghosts too. In my case I went through every item in device manager and got rid of all my ghosts. Check each item, any ghosted entry to to with your bluetooth can be uninstalled. MAKE SURE YOU ONLY UNINSTALL GHOSTED ENTRIES ESPECIALLY IF YOU DONT HAVE A WIRED MOUSE OR KEYBOARD TO USE) Now unplug ALL usb devices and reboot twice. Have a nice clean stack of USB’s available.

Once rebooted all usb’s will or should be recognised again.

bobevan · Answer

Well I tried exiting Setpoint first. Result was PC still would not come out of power saving mode followed by the inevitable switch off at the wall. So I went ghost USB hunting. Result - found lots of them!Followed Rysma's instructions. Got rid of them! Repeated the procedure. End result. The PC would not come out of power saving mode but at least I could wake it up by pulling the Receiver out of the USB and replacing it it. I don't much care whose fault this is, whether it's Microsoft, Logitech or Dell but the keyboard and mouse have Dell emblazoned on them and they don't work properly. It should say , well something that rhymes with 'Well', and in future I'm not paying for more of it!

PSmithe · Answer

I doubt its Microsoft's fault, as I replaced all mine with MS wireless keyboard/mice. Not an issue since.   So that leaves Logitech or Dell.  Internet forums are full of issues with Logitech bluetooth. BUT, and its a very big but, Dell supplied it, so they have to fix it.  When I spoke to them, there was no known issue, which I find difficult to believe - I have 3 that didn't work.   As said, however, I have tried the bluetooth set on another PC - Dimension 5100, using XP with Dell bloat, nor Setpoint installed, and it seems to work fine.   So, my recommendation is to UNINSTALL (not just exit, as the drivers will still be using SetPoint) SetPoint and see what happens.   Hope that helps.

bobevan · Answer

Eureka! Uninstalling Setpoint seems to have done the trick and I don't seem to missing any of the 'Advanced Features'! I wonder what they were. Please don't anyone tell me. Thank you to the kind people that tried to help me find a solution.

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Bluetooth Keyboard Won't Work

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