Bluetooth on Studio 1557

The 1397 is a b/g 802.11 wireless card - it isn't a bluetooth adapter.  If that's what you've got, you do not have bluetooth (it is not standard on this model - you would have had to choose the option at purchase).

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Wireless_WiFi/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=430-3126

I know it is a wireless card but in device properties one option is "activate bluetooth" so I thought it might have that feature too.

I don't remember having the option to choose or not choose bluetooth while buying it.

I was experiencing the exact same problem with my Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth AFTER I reimaged my laptop with Windows 7, applying all the updates, etc. 
What worked for me was to:

1.  Reimage/Reinstall Windows 7 again, but do not download any updates from Microsoft (turn off internet connection)
2.  Do not apply any updates, just whatever is on the Windows 7 CD (This is IMPORTANT)
3.  Once Windows 7 is installed, insert the "Resource CD" that came with  your laptop and install it.
4.  Install the drivers for the Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth device FIRST, it should then find the bluetooth device and install it correctly.

I believe that after you install Windows 7, (and before you install the bluetooth) Windows wants to download and apply updates from Microsoft, which then installs "generic" drivers for the bluetooth device.  As a result, the Dell Wireless 365 drivers won't install/work. 

Good luck!

EM

Dell Studio 1557
Core i7 720
4GB ram 1333
512MB video
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth
Windows 7 64-bit
etc...

Hi EM,

Any idea on which Microsoft update causes the problem? I'm having the same issues - I did the dutiful thing by installing all updates right after a clean install of Win7. I'm wondering if I can uninstall the Microsoft update, install the Bluetooth driver, and then reinstall the MS update.

I really don't want to reformat, I've been tweaking for a while now and would hate to go back to square one. :(

Doug

I just gave up on it - I was told bluetooth was an extra but I don't remember the option to choose it while buying. I thought it was a standard. Bios says bluetooth is activated but it doesn't necesarily mean I do have a bluetooth device installed, I guess. Windows 7 won't recognize any bt device and when I install the drivers it keeps asking me to turn on wireless switch. So I guess I simply don't have bt :P not sure though.

I definitely paid for it! Unfortunately I didn't think to check for it with the machine arrived, I just reformatted. Sigh. I'm wondering if I just install a new Win7 to a USB hard drive, just to see if I can get it working, and then go forward with another reformat.

Doug,

I'm not a PC technician (I'm an I/S Project Manager), but I believe it has to do with the date/timestamp on the drivers.  When you download and install a driver via Windows Update (generic BT driver), and then try to overwrite it with a driver with an older date/timestamp, the older driver fails to install correctly....and you get the "turn on the wireless switch..." message.

This is why I turned off Windows Update during my OS install, then installed the bluetooth drivers from the Dell CD before I ran Windows Update. 

You will have to reinstall the OS again, this time with Windows Update turned off (you are asked this late in the installation process).  After the OS has installed (w/out downloading any updates from Microsoft), put your Dell Driver CD in the CD player and install the correct drivers.  I also believe there is an order installing the device drivers.  I did not install the Intel drivers, as I think they collided with the Bluetooth drivers, causing my BT mouse to work sporadically.  I installed my Bluetooth driver LAST, before turning on and running Windows Update.  Check the Device Manager to make sure all devices are setup and installed correctly. 

Only after you have installed the correct drivers from your Dell CD should you turn on and run Windows Update to download any updates from microsoft. 

Hope this helps you and anyone else how encounters this problem.  - Eric M

Well, I'm now doubting that Dell installed the BT module! I definitely ordered it, as it's in the confirmation email. But when I look at the invoice and packing slip, no BT module is listed. I emailed them to find out what's going on.

When I got the machine, I made a full backup to my Windows Home Server. I looked through the files today, and saw no Widcomm directory, which I believe is where the BT software is installed. So that lends to my suspicion that they didn't install the module. I guess we'll see..

Thanks for your input, I'll post back with the results. 

Doug

Hi, I know this is a very old topic, but I have a Dell Studio 1557. One day suddenly the bluetooth disappeared, the only way yo turn it on/of it's with software, but one day, software was installed and the device not. After many attempts and no solution (including reinstall OS several times). One Day I decided to try again but I when the square of "turn bluetooth on with wireless switch" I turned on the wi-Fi card, and instantly recognized the deiveced and installed with no problems. "So the secret was turn on the Wi-Fi". I hope this will be helpful to someone.