how to get Bluetooth working in windows 7

Here's what I did when bluetooth on Windows 7 PCs that I had, didn't work with my iPhone and other bluetooths:

- Download the 'Windows Mobile Device Center' ( current version is 6.1 ) which you can download it from www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/device-center-download.mspx this works for both Vista and Windows 7. I've tried it on both.

- Install the downloaded software but it may not look like it worked on Windows 7 PCs. Vista automatically configures the settings on the bluetooth devices but for those who have Windows 7, here are the things you should do:

- Go to 'Device Manager' from 'Control Panel' -Or- just right-click on Computer Icon and choose 'Properties' and then click on 'Device Manager'.

- You'll see an 'Unknown Device' named 'Bluetooth Peripheral Device'

- Right-Click it and click on "Update Driver Software" -Or- anyway you find it easy to bring up the Update driver window.

- Click "Browse My Computer for Driver Software" button.

- Click "Let Me Pick from a List of Device Drivers on my computer".

- Select 'Bluetooth Radio' from the list if it asked you to select and then in the next window, it will show a list of drivers with Company Names in one list and Drivers in another. In the Company List choose 'Microsoft Corporation', not only Microsoft.

- From the drivers list there may be one or more drivers with the name "Windows Mobile-Based Device Support" with different driver versions. Select one or the latest.

- Ignore any warnings and keep pressing next and then Finish at last. If all goes well, the last screen will show the message that device driver is successfully installed.

Now, after manually updating the driver for your bluetooth device, in 'Device Manager' when you click on 'Bluetooth Radios', it should display one more item which will say 'Windows Mobile-based device support'.

There are few more things that you want to pay attention to. If you have already added the device in your 'bluetooth device list' that didn't work, then remove the device and add it again. After you add it, you might need to restart the computer if it gave you a connection problem error message.

Every PCs that had Windows 7 and Vista worked after installing this software and I hope it will work for you too.

So what is 'Windows Mobile Device Center' ?
If you have used ActiveSync in the past, you would certainly love this package. Actually 'Windows Mobile Device Center' is the successor to ActiveSync. It is designed to synchronize various content including music, video, contacts, calendar events, web browser favorites, and other files between Mobile devices and the Windows operating system.

I'd like to point out something here in case you have tried some trial version of bluetooth software that you can get from online. Some of these trial software ( ie. Bluesoleil ) disable your 'Bluetooth Support Service' ( a core service that is essential to run your bluetooth device in Windows ) when the trial period expires. I have also seen people jumping into conclusion after using trial version that without paying for it their bluetooth device would never work. So make sure 'Bluetooth Support Service' is running and set to 'Automatic'. You can find that service by going to -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services (select it from the list)


Rajiv Singh Suwal