Bluetooth adaptor doesn't turn on

Question

I have an Inspiron E1505 with a Dell 355 Bluetooth 2.0 antenna. I usually disable my Bluetooth when I don't use it to save battery. Yesterday, after disabling the bluetooth for almost a week, I tried to turn it back on by pressing Fn + F2 but nothing happened. I checked in the Bluetooth controller on the system tray, it said that no device detected and told me to activate it by pressing Fn + F2. Trust me, I pressed the keys a zillion times but nothing happens (of course I waited a little bit in between). It seems as if I don't even have a bluetooth adaptor on my laptop, which I swear I do. I went to the support site and followed the instruction on how to replace the bluetooth card. I took the card out and put it back it, but that still didn't fix the problem. What else can I do? Please, I really need my bluetooth to work. Thank you! Message Edited by kindrich on 03-14-2007 12:54 AM

Phirun · Answer

Hi, I have same problem with my Dell Inspiron 9400/E1705. I have installed Vista, but this didn't work properly, so I have format my disc and reinstall Windows Media Center Edition, but now I can't activate my bluetooth modul over FN F2 but to install the driver I need to activate it over FN F2 (says the dialog box). Can somebody help us? Thanks for all support. (sorry for my bad English, I hope you understand it :) )

xvi · Answer

This has happened to me as well. I installed Vista on a partition (I don't quite remember if I installed the Vista Bluetooth drivers, or if I ever tested Bluetooth under Vista) but I reformatted the Vista partition and now it doesn't work. I can't be positive that this is the cause, but I don't recall having any problems with the Bluetooth before I installed Vista.

I tried uninstalling/reinstalling drivers, turning it on/off through the BIOS, physically reseating the module under the laptop, but to no avail. Reinstalling the driver won't work either since installation requires the Bluetooth to be active in the first place, which I can't achieve anyway. I read somewhere that someone only got it working after they got Dell to replace their module, but I hope not to have to resort to this.

I'm currently in the middle of corresponding emails with a Dell technician, so if I manage to resolve the issue at some point I'll post it up. If anyone else has fixed this problem, do let us know.

I'm running an Inspiron 6400, btw.

Message Edited by xvi on 03-19-2007 09:32 PM

kindrich · Answer

I contacted Dell Support with chat, and the tech guy instructed me to check whether the problem was due to software or hardware. After trying every possible thing in the BIOS, he came to the conclusion that the bluetooth adaptor was malfunctioned. So he went ahead and sent me a new one. I've just received it today, plugged it in => works like magic (that tech guy was the third one I contacted about this bluetooth issue).  I noticed that on the packing slip, the item's name was CRD, WRLES, INT, BLTH, 355, VSTA; and on the card there's written 'A01' instead of 'A00' like my old one. So I wonder if Dell has adjusted something on the bluetooth adaptor to make it work with Vista. I'm gonna check on my friend's computer tonight (he also has an E1505) and see if my old one still works. Anyway, have the tech guys send you guys another one. That's the only one and the easiest way(but not the fastest: you have to go through couples of times talking with the tech guys) to fix this.

xvi · Answer

Yeah I believe I've reached that point as well. After having done a series of recommended steps, the Dell technician I was corresponding with came to the same conclusion. So he told me to expect an engineer to contact me within the next 3 days.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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