Billionton BT card problems on CF-28sw

I am having problems with a billinton bt card in the hidden slot. I had done the install over 6 months ago and it froze on me (windows xp i.e.) several times. I decided to revisit this issue this weekend and did a fresh install of XP pro on a new HD (320gb partitioned into 3 drives), and it did the same thing after it recognized the card and loaded the windows drivers. I don't remember whether this happened b4 with the billionton drivers or not but I had installed Bluesoleil as well at that time. I am going to do some diagnosis and see what happens. First I am going to install another identical card in one of the A cardbus slots (with the B cardbus disabled of course) and see if it freezes on me again. If it does, I am going to use the billionton drivers next and see what happens. I am using the class 1 ver 2.0 + EDR billionton cards (GCBBTCR41B-BT) and the toughbook is a CF-28SW. I was wondering if anyone had similar issues ?

 

Yes, I had the same thing happen to me with a CF-28 MKIII, funny thing was the card worked fine in my CF-28 MKII. It will work in the A slot but I gave up and put a Bluetooth puck in my rear USB slot. I was going to reinstall the operating system with the BT card in the B slot to see if that had any bearing on the problem, but have not had time yet.

 

I put the identical card in the A cardbus and it works fine. Used it to connect to my Magellan and a Qstarz receiver and even used the gps on Microsoft streets and trips. Shut it off and restarted several times - does not freeze up on me at all. I think I did try the Toshiba stack the last time and am pretty sure it will freeze up on me if I install those this time too. Gonna wait a bit and see if it acts up with the card in the A cardbus slot.

 

Update, I installed it again but this time on another HD with a fresh clean install of XP. Had the cover off so I could connect the card only when prompted to do so while installing the billointon software. It gave me no problems at first but then the Bluetooth manager would not shut down normally on system reboot or shutdown. Did a scan disk and defrag but still does not shutdown properly sometimes. Decided to do a windows update (custom) and installed an update for the card from hardware (not a critical update). It shutdown normally after the update but still hangs like b4 on the “windows is shutting down” screen. I can pull out the card when it does this and it will shut down in a second or so after I do that. I am beginning to wonder if it is better to go with a windows stack instead of the toshiba software. Guess I will have to try that next, unless I find something on the net that addresses this problem - diff software/drivers. Isn’t there a button on the keyboard that switches the B cardbus on and off?

 

Back in my CF-28 days I never had any problem with the Billionton cards using the Bluetooth software that came with the card.
CAP

 

Control then Tab toggles the B slot on and off.

 

Ok, I tried every type of toshiba stack possible and did a fresh install of the card on another HD but this time with XP sp3 without all the updates. I even tried a Widcomm Bluetooth Stack by Toshiba ver5.10.01T, and the latest Toshiba stack version 7.00.16(T), Including older drivers and software from here - Billionton GCBBTCR41B Bluetooth v2.0+EDR Class 1 CardBus Adapter Windows Drivers | Wireless Drivers
With the latest software from Toshiba I seem to have no problems at startup but at shutdown that is not the case. KLonsdale, you mean the the Fn + Tab combination? - That does not work when it is frozen anyway. I am very persistent when it comes to this kind of stuff and have been known to spend hours on end till I solve the problem or learn how to fix, install, get something to work. But now I am beginning to wonder if this is particular to this model as you mentioned earlier. I have a couple of 28s lying around, maybe I should try an install on another type and see. Will let you know what I find, and if anyone would like a copy of the different versions, I would not mind sending it to them.

 

The driver disk which came with the Billionton GCBBTCR41X card which always worked on CF-28s for me is labeled: GUBTCR3/4-BT; Version V4.00.35CAM. I can probably handle a copy if you think it will help.
CAP

 

It may be the computer, I am have an AKE card that works fine in the hidden slot in my CF-28P but not in my CF-28S.

 

My cards are GCBBTCR41B-BT ones and the disk is a GUBTCR3/4-BT
ver: V4.00.35CAM. I thought I had finally got it to work without hanging up at all by installing a particular version of Bluesoleil!! But then it started hanging up on startup after I broke for dinner. It has nothing to do with power cause I installed a CF adapter with an IBM Microdrive in the hidden cardbus and even that worked fine. For some reason this type 3 is fussy about recognising the cards, I have a zoom one I can try instead, pretty sure it will do the same.

 

I may have found a solution but I won't be able to test it until tomorrow. Go to this site:

Intel® Driver Update Utility

Run the detection program, if it tells you that you have OEM drivers and to consult your OEM then uninstall your video drivers and run again. This time it will show you an updated video driver (Which is what I was looking for) and an updated chipset driver. I downloaded both and installed the chipset driver and then the video driver and reboot when instructed.

I will check tomorrow if this makes a difference with the BT card in the hidden slot.

 

Thanks KLonsdale but that is how I install the video and chipset drivers anyway. It does not see the internal card as far as I know. I will try it again in the other cardbus and see. I don't think it has anything to do with the drivers. I think it's the cards and the software - maybe Panasonic just can't stand the competition (Toshiba stack)

 

Its the damn bluetooth manager. I installed one in a CF-48 and now it's doing the same thing on that laptop. BTW, there is an update that is from Darfon for the bluetooth from Microsoft updates. I am going to try that on this stupid Toshiba stack ver 4.00. whatever. If it still does not work properly I will remove the stack and try the latest Toshiba one I have which is a ver. 7 I think. After that I am going to stop working on this problem for a day or so. LOL BTW It looks like Boteq does not sell them anymore. Maybe I will start playing around with the aircards in the hidden slot instead