Bluetooth disappeared

[Robin0000]

I have a Z2 Mini G3 Base Model computer.  Bluetooth has worked on it for years.  It stopped working recently, and I have no idea why or how to get it back on.  I went to Settings, and the toggle to turn it on and off isn't there.  I checked the Device Manager, and it's not there either.  I ran the Troubleshooter, and it says that Bluetooth is not available on this device.  I went to the HP website and downloaded all the recommended Driver and Software Downloads.  I have restarted multiple times throughout the troubleshooting process, and it's still not working.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

[BeemerBiker]

Occasionally, the BIOS, after an upgrade, defaults to minimum features and the bluetooth may be turned off. Please check bios.

More likely,  a Windows update replaced the correct driver and the correct one is not being put back in

Your system has combo adapter.  In addition, a bios upgrade may be requjired.

Intel 8265 Wireless LAN (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.2 Module

Does that show up in network?  

Verify your bios is May 25, l2021.  If older then download it here

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp113501-114000/sp113993.exe

The WiFi / bluetooth driver you need is Feb 2, 2022 

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp138001-138500/sp138277.exe

I used the following page to find the drivers

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-z2-mini-g3-workstation/12716708

[Robin0000]

Thanks for the reply!  How do I check to see if Intel 8265 Wireless LAN (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.2 Module shows up in network?  I just updated the BIOS last night.  How do I find the Wifi/Bluetooth driver version?

[BeemerBiker]

Bring up the device manager and look under netowrk

For example the highlighted "Killer" includes the Bluetooth chip. If that was not loaded then neither the .top "Bluetooth" nor the one that says personal area network will  show up .  Checking the driver can be misleading as the microsoft one will be listed and one must hunt to find the HP lower level driver.

Did you download and install the HP recommended?

[Robin0000]

Yes - installed all the ones HP recommended.  Here's what I have under Network.  Thank you for your help.

[BeemerBiker]

Some things to try

- Did you check BIOS to see if Bluetooth on/off is an option?

- Was bluetooth working before some application or update was done?

- Bluetooth is actually a "local network" could your Sophos VPN be disabling it?

Bring up windows command prompt and use systeminfo to look at all the networks

(Do not post any serial numbers)

Look for networks such as 

Look in the event viewer under system and applications for anything suspicious related to networks or USB errors.

Many Bluetooth adapters require USB to work. If a problem with USB then Bluetooth may fail. 

PCIe combo WiFi / Bluetooth cards have a cable that connects to motherboard USB riser. You probably have an M.2 type WiFi/Bluetooth (I am guessing) but I suspect it gets access to USB for the BlueTooth to work. Are there any error icons in the device manager?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of trash in the windows 10 event logs  that are called out as errors.  Every time I ask a Microsoft MVP'er I am told they are not applicable and to ignore them.

Errors worth looking at are timeouts and schannel (ssl credentials), windows update errors,  disk, and application hangs

HTH