$50 reward for this fix - Bluetooth, Stereo headset

Okay, I'm turning to my much smarter friends to help on this one.

I have an HP DV2600...Vista...no bluetooth built-in, using a dongle (Broadcomm/Widcomm), 2.0+EDR. (Kensington 33348).

Bluetooth works great; my mouse works fine, sync with PDA (using WMDC) works fine. Eveything is wonderful.

Then I get some Bluetooth Stereo headphones (2.0+EDR). Installed the Widcomm update to 6.x to get A2DP support.

Pair my headset. Make sure all the profile are there. Go to contol panel to make BT Stereo headset the default (Note there are 4 options; BT handsfree, BT Stereo, Conexent Audio, and SPDIF).

So I connect - works awesome...really, really sweet. All day it works.

Then laptop suspends (or reboots)...comes back...BT Stereo no longer works.

Device is still paired, and can connect to handsfree and do mono sound.
Trying to connect BT Stereo, but tries a quick connect and then disconnects.

In Control Panel, Sounds, BT Stereo options is gone! only handsfree, Conexent, and SPDIF (all these work okay). This seems to be the crux of the issue.

So I tried everything - reboot, delete device and pair again, etc. No luck.
If I do a complete uninstall, and re-install of the stack, I can make it work okay again, but again, after suspend or shutdown, BT Stereo is gone.

I could've sworn there were two BT services listed in service.msc - Bluetooth Support Services, and something else...but now I only have one.

I'm also sure it is not the dongle, but rather Vista and or the Widcomm stack.

After a couple days on this, I admit I am no match for the Bluetooth Stereo monster. I'm sure there is some registry hack to fix this, but I cannot find it.

So I am offering cash money of $50 to the person who can provide me a permanent fix (or easy workaround).

To give you a head start, I've already tried other BT dongles that are compatible - and the results are the same.

Please help if you can, and get yourself a Grant as well.

 

It seems like Suspend gets in the way of the bluetooth process. Have you tried all new drivers for the dongle? Sometimes, what happens is that your USB ports are de-powered when you go into suspend. When you resume, then it should power up. Are your other ports powered when you resume from Standby?

 

Yes, all new driver for dongle.

Suspend isn't the only culprit - this happens on reboot too.

The USB ports seems to come back fine; the bluetooth mouse and PDA connection work fine, as does the handfree portion of the headset.

 

At least you actually got to hear something from your headset. Most people already have problems trying to get sound out of their BT headsets.

Call HP if you have spare time, just dont mention that you have a USB bluetooth dongle, say it is built in.

 

Good suggestion, but I already tried it. After many hours, they just gave up.

Still searching...

 

not too sure on this answer but I read somewhere that hp laptops themselves don't support bluetooth audio headsets

 

Well he got it to work fine till he reboots, so it must be supported.

Im guessing its one of the bluetooth services not launching, causing it not to show up. Similar to like how lightscribe services. Updating the drivers or software would be my best advice. Try checking for thirdparty programs if there is any

Go the services console see which service you said might be missing. This could lead you to the answer

 

This is an USB dongle; it supports it, and I have had it working.

It is not HP specific, althought I posted here because I figured someone else migth have run into it.

 

The service is "Bluetooth Service"; the widcomm service. (C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe)

This is in addition to the "Bluetooth Support Services" (Microsoft stack; C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k bthsvcs)

I have it working now, but I am afraid to reboot or suspend lest I lose the service That is the reall bugger in this.

I can tell you I can turn the headpones on and off, reconnect, and the Stereo works fine.

If this worked, I would go for a Class 1 adapter - the increase in range would sweet. (Although I can't complain with the current range; moves around the room just fine.)

 

Well, I may be paying myself...Went into hibernate, came back, and bluetooth stereo still worked!

We will see if it holds.

The answer is to use the Widcomm stack (6.x) out on IO Gear's site. I did NOT run the update that is out on Broadcom's site (I think that goes to 6.1?). Better to leave the working config alone.

I am a cautiously happy camper.

 

Great news then, hope it holds up. Dont update software unless something is not working or very neccesary

 

Well, it lasted for a while...but upon suspend/reboot, it doesn't come back.

The two services are there, but cannot connect. Same as before.

Argh...I am upping the bounty.

 

mikec,

What i have found is that you have to kill the process, (Use Taskmanager) and than start the Bluetooth Service over again by going into your programs, startup folder and hit the bluetooth shortcut

 

Did not work.

 

I'll give it a shot.

First let me verify that this is the Kensington bluetooth adapter you have: http://us.kensington.com/html/9403.html

If that's the case, keep reading. Uninstall the Broadcom/Widcomm dongle software and remove the dongle from the laptop. btw who came up with the word dongle?

You may want to clean up the registry a little with CCleaner.

Now that you only have the Kensington bluetooth adapter and no trace of the B/W dongle or its software, go to this page: http://us.kensington.com/html/1492.html

Download the first file, it should be called ToshibaBTStack 5 10 08.zip (I'm guessing there are under scores in the filename, but you can't see them because the software is underlined. The file is listed under the Kensington Bluetooth USB Micro Adapter Toshiba Bluetooth Stack (Version v5.10.08) section.

Now follow the instructions on the page. I'll also paste them here:

1. Right click on the link and select the “Save Target As …”: specify the directory on your HDD where you want to save the file.
2. Right click on the ZIP file and select "Extract All...". Follow the given instructions to specify where you wish to extract and save the setup files to.
3. Go in the directory you specified in step 2. and launch the setup application by double clicking on the "Setup.exe" file.
4. Follow onscreen instructions and restart computer when prompted to complete installation.

Well try that and see how it goes.

 

Yes, you had the correct dongle.

The word dongle dates back to the 70's related to computer; originator unknown. My guess is that since they "dangle" out the back of the computer, someone (nerd) said "Dangle your Dongle", and the name stuck.

I tried using the Toshiba stack - no luck. It hangs upon install. No luck getting BT Stereo to work. Uninstall removed it but left orphaned registry enties (which were removed.)

Back to Widcomm stack. Works until a suspend or reboot.

 

Do you know why the install hangs? Did you remember to plug in the dongle before you started? Does it give any kind of message or does it just keep installing, but never getting anywhere? Just to make sure, you're running XP SP1 or SP2 or Vista and you followed the instructions to the point? Were there any CDs that came with your laptop, if so have you run them? What happens when you run the CD?

 

Check this:

Go to your Run box and type in msconfig.exe . Now go into the services TAB this will have the settings for which services are enabled, im guessing its for startup too. Carefully look for the bluetooth ones and make sure they are enabled

 

Don't know why it hangs.

Yes, I plugged in thedongle before I started.

No messages, other than pluggin in the dongle starts the plug and play in install of the Microsoft BT stack. Then, after that is done, when I install the Toshiba, it gets about 1/2 way through the install (progress bar) and hangs.

Yes, Vista 32 bit, following instructions to the letter.

The CDs that came with the laptop? I assume you mean that came with the dongle? That install works (and the patch on top of it), but again, the BT Stereo won't work after a suspend or reboot.

 

Yep, the Bluetooth services (both Microsoft and Widcomm one) are enables in Services and Startup tabs.

 

Okay...looks like I'm at my last leg.

24 hour offer - $250 cash money for a permanent fix.

After that, I'm done.

 

OH okay you have Vista. Sorry, should have asked that first. I somehow forgot about this dongle. Even though that dongle (I love this word) says it works with Vista, it actually doesn't. I've looked it up and EVERYONE is having the same problems as you. No one has gotten it to work with Vista, though some people have gotten it to work in XP (not well mind you). To put it bluntly, that bluetooth adatper is, fill in curse word I'm sure you said by now. So the solution is this:

1. Call up Kensington and tell them what's happening.
(sue for false advertising? )
2. Get refund from Kensington
3. Get good Bluetooth adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833340002

 

So the real question is this - It I get the Azio adapter you point to, does that solve the problem? A2DP is all software, so maybe the Toshiba stack will help?

But I am willing to try anything...Class 1...getting my extended range on ;-)

 

I think if you just use the software that comes with the dongle I showed you everything will be fine. If you go to the page I linked before, it says under Profiles Supported that it supports A2DP. So yes, it should solve all the problems. The problem you were having had to do with having a bad Bluetooth adapter which doesn't have good software to boot. I'd get this bluetooth adapter and install the software it comes with. Everything should be fine after that. I haven't really read anything bad about this adapter and it has good ratings on newegg with confirmation that it works with Vista from multiple people. If you want, you could always let your frustration out on the bad dongle instead of getting a refund for it Dongle SMASH.

 

Reacted - duplicate post.

 

Well, I guess will give it a shot...

 

Cool. Post back here once you get it so we can know how it went. If it's any comfort, the some of the reviews talk about how A2DP works in Vista. It also supports IVT software which one of the reviewers mentioned is good for A2DP.

 

I've heard about the IVT/BlueSoleil stack as well.

I guess the stack is chip dependent; the chipset in the Azio is supposedly CSR BlueCore 4.

I will see and let people know.

 

Did you try reconnecting it in the bluetooth control panel?

 

Yes, but it did not work.

 

Okay, solution (workaround found).

Not what you might think. Will be posting separate thread.

 

So what is the solution????