Get Bluetooth to work on laptop

4743hudsonj

OK Happy new year first of all.

I posted a few days ago after windows crashed and wouldn't boot after trying to install an official Sony Bluetooth driver (because it wasn't working). I got my system image to boot at last so I'm back, but the Bluetooth is still refusing to work.

Its a Sony VAIO VPC-F12M0E/B. The Bluetooth did work before but just suddenly,well disappeared..... I can see in the taskbar that its turned 'on' but theres not software whatsoever to actually transfer anything. Usually you can just type Blue..... into the start bar and the options all appear. Now all that appear is "Bluetooth File Transfer". But selecting this does absolutely nothing.

Reinstalling the driver through the Vaio Care suite makes no difference. Also looking in Device manager Theres nothing relating to Bluetooth in there (although I'm not sure if there should be? I would have though so). Routing through the control panel also finds nothing. As said its almost as if it doesn't have Bluetooth.....

So short of fully re-installing windows, what can i do to get this working again?

Sorry for the lengthy post, but better to give all the info now than having to answer it later.

bikerchris

Hi there,

Sounds silly, but is there a hardware button to enable the bluetooth? Alternatively it might be a key combination. Try that first, otherwise it could be something relating to the 'bluetooth stack' (a sub-system to make it work on some laptops).

4743hudsonj

bikerchris wrote: »

Hi there,

Sounds silly, but is there a hardware button to enable the bluetooth? Alternatively it might be a key combination. Try that first, otherwise it could be something relating to the 'bluetooth stack' (a sub-system to make it work on some laptops).

Yes VAIO's have a single switch for the WiFi and Bluetooth (which is on) and then a small software application in the taskbar to turn them on/off via software (also on).

This software also has a "Bluetooth device settings" option which also does nothing now....

bikerchris

Right, I was just checking :-)

So, you had a working Windows OS (Probably Vista or 7), the bluetooth was working and you chose to update it. The OS then crashed and you had to use a disc image (probably from a hidden partition), since then you've not had bluetooth operation and the system cannot see it (from Device Manager).

If I were in your position, I would firstly un-install everything relating to Bluetooth. I would then install the version previous to the current version (that caused the problem), you should be able to find this on the sony website.

It would be easy to say, "the bluetooth chipset is busted", but software doesn't generally fail just because of a software change.

Sounds like you are missing software, I would double check the website to ensure you have it all (sorry, really don't mean to treat you like an idiot).

Good luck

bikerchris

As an additional, when you visit the website and once you've located the files for your specific laptop, I would recommend going to the "originally installed" tab and downloading the bluetooth software.

For reference, usually it's only best to update drivers if something isn't working, or if it relates to increasing security.

Good luck!

4743hudsonj

bikerchris wrote: »

Right, I was just checking :-)

So, you had a working Windows OS (Probably Vista or 7), the bluetooth was working and you chose to update it. The OS then crashed and you had to use a disc image (probably from a hidden partition), since then you've not had bluetooth operation and the system cannot see it (from Device Manager).

If I were in your position, I would firstly un-install everything relating to Bluetooth. I would then install the version previous to the current version (that caused the problem), you should be able to find this on the sony website.

It would be easy to say, "the bluetooth chipset is busted", but software doesn't generally fail just because of a software change.

Sounds like you are missing software, I would double check the website to ensure you have it all (sorry, really don't mean to treat you like an idiot).

Good luck

Not quite....

Working Bluetooth (Win 7 HP) > All of a sudden No bluetooth (literally had used it last time it was on, booted and it had 'gone' > Tried restoring through VAIO Care, no good > Go so Sony support web page, see slightly updated driver, download it > Uninstall old driver, reboot > Try to install new driver, fails due to some permission error 'winds back install > All program icons lead to nothing, all documents gone, windows unresponsive > Try to reboot, windows stuck at "starting windows" and does nothing for hours > Use my own recovery disc and saved image on external HDD to restore > still have issues booting > But some fiddling gets it working > Back to where i was at the beginning, working OS but missing bluetooth.

Theres no older version on the sony site, its new or nothing. Oddly Vaio Care insists on the slightly older version.

bikerchris

Thanks for clarifying. I have located the original files here as suggested previously: http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VPCF12M0E_B

They are 64-bit though, so I hope that's the version of Windows 7 that you have?

I think I would have personally re-installed the original drivers to be sure, as they might have become conflicted.

Also, you can't entirely trust a disc image, I don't like to say it, but later on you might want to try a clean install (with a windows 7 disc from an online auction site).

Bluetooth has always been awkward on laptops, as it's normally provided by another company (like broadcom) both in hardware and software terms.

I hope that helps.

4743hudsonj

bikerchris wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying. I have located the original files here as suggested previously: http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/preinstalled/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VPCF12M0E_B

They are 64-bit though, so I hope that's the version of Windows 7 that you have?

I think I would have personally re-installed the original drivers to be sure, as they might have become conflicted.

Also, you can't entirely trust a disc image, I don't like to say it, but later on you might want to try a clean install (with a windows 7 disc from an online auction site).

Bluetooth has always been awkward on laptops, as it's normally provided by another company (like broadcom) both in hardware and software terms.

I hope that helps.

Yes i have 64-Bit and yes thats the driver that caused the issues. As already stated, i cant find the Bluetooth driver version I'm on anywhere but through VAIO care which reinstalls it but it changes nothing.

And the image is fine..... its working perfectly (despite this issue which was present when i actually took the image)

Not being funny but im fairly handy with stuff like this, so stating these basics isn't too much help as its already been triple checked. Thats why im asking for advice as im stumped as to how a driver can just disappear when its clearly installed.

bikerchris

4743hudsonj wrote: »

Yes i have 64-Bit and yes thats the driver that caused the issues. As already stated, i cant find the Bluetooth driver version I'm on anywhere but through VAIO care which reinstalls it but it changes nothing.

And the image is fine..... its working perfectly (despite this issue which was present when i actually took the image)

Not being funny but im fairly handy with stuff like this, so stating these basics isn't too much help as its already been triple checked. Thats why im asking for advice as im stumped as to how a driver can just disappear when its clearly installed.

Oh, sorry to make you suck eggs mate, not intended, you just don't know how much experience a person has on a forum like this. If you were local, I would resolve it (at cost, 15 years experience), but I can't really go any further like this. I noticed that no one else had answered this post and thought I'd be helpful, I'm very sorry for wasting both yours and my time.

Good luck.

4743hudsonj

bikerchris wrote: »

Oh, sorry to make you suck eggs mate, not intended, you just don't know how much experience a person has on a forum like this. If you were local, I would resolve it (at cost, 15 years experience), but I can't really go any further like this. I noticed that no one else had answered this post and thought I'd be helpful, I'm very sorry for wasting both yours and my time.

Good luck.

No no worries i appreciate you taking time to answer and give it a go, like i said i dont want to seem rude, it just ive covered most if not all basics. It just saves both our time in going through things like reinstalling drivers etc.

Any other ideas anyone?

bikerchris

4743hudsonj wrote: »

No no worries i appreciate you taking time to answer and give it a go, like i said i dont want to seem rude, it just ive covered most if not all basics. It just saves both our time in going through things like reinstalling drivers etc.

Any other ideas anyone?

I totally understand - I've just had experience of forums where a person doesn't know the basics, I'm sure you've been a similar position!

A last ditch, The Sony Vaio forum, sometimes real Sony people help out