[Problem][6550b][6555b] Bluetooth missing under Windows

[miramanee]

Hello friends!

I have the problem on three of my ProBooks that Win7ows can not detect Bluetooth because the BIOS does not pass the hardware info to Windows, or Windows is blocked when accessing this hardware. Does anyone know this blocking?

To the funny copy/paste experts: No, this is not a software problem, you don't have to set anything anywhere in the registry or anything else. It is a Windows external problem!!! And yes, I'm smart enough to set all the settings in the BIOS correctly. I'm not the super expert, but I have sufficient knowledge. Also the sense to search the internet extensively beforehand. The tip from another HP thread with the activation of Bluetooth under Linux had not worked.

The background caught my eye when I once flashed a 6545b because just the Bluetooth module did not work under Windows (in the F1 system info they are displayed in each notebook). I think it was F.50 on it. A short time later F.60 came out. I flashed it, but the Bluetooth remained "dead". I lived with it until after about a year the notebook wouldn't boot. A Youtube video showed how to revive a mainboard by wrapping it in aluminum foil and heating it in the oven at 356°F (180°C) for 30 minutes. In order to eliminate "cold solder joints".

I thought this was a joke, but since the board was failing anyway, I took a chance. And indeed it ran again. However, all system data such as serial number, UUID, etc. were lost/deleted. Here I learned to use NBDMIFIT to re-enter the data. This was possible 20x. With this I want to say, there was a countdown at each start, which indicated that one still has so long time to enter the data. I assume that there was a 'bypass' open, which closes again after 20 restarts. I managed to reprogram everything beforehand.

When I restarted the 6545b, Windows suddenly recognized the Bluetooth. So by "baking" with the erased system data, it also cleared this 'lock'. In my opinion there must be a program to remove this lock. Does anyone know this or another trick?

I found a tool that can normally remove a forgotten BIOS password by removing all system data. I used that after I set up a BIOS password. Also backed up the system info with NBDMIFX before to be on the safe side. I applied the tool. It removed the BIOS password and all system info. I restored them with NBDMIFIX and rebooted. Unfortunately this did not work, the 'bluetooth lock' remained.

Maybe someone knows the problem and can help me. Can be that I make everything much too complicated. Maybe it is a simple trick.

Greetings.

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P.S. If my English is a bit bumpy, please excuse this. I'm German and my English is a bit rusty because of my age ;o)

[banhien]

@miramanee 

What is the wifi adapter of your machine ? Not ALL old 655x machines have Bluetooth.

Regards.

[miramanee]

Hello Banhien!

Thanx for your answer! 🐵

I had already written that the Bluetooth modules are correctly displayed in the system info (F1 at boot). I do not know of any "ProBook" (or EliteBook) so far that delivered without Bluetooth. After all, these are business notebooks and everything has always been included except for the HSDPA 😉

I did some research on the net because of the tip elsewhere on the HP forum where it can be enabled on Linux. I had tried Ubuntu Live, with it does not work. I was now recommended to use an older 'Debian Live'. Am just looking and loading, among other things with unetbootin. Let's see if this works. If so, that would be more than stupid of Microsoft, if one cannot switch it on just as simply hardware-sided.

Greetings.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @miramanee 

If you are running W7 on your notebooks. the only suggestion I can offer would be to see if you can turn on the Bluetooth with the HP connection manager software.

Driver - HP ProBook 6550b Notebook PC | HP® Customer Support

Install the software, restart the PC and use the software controls to turn on the Bluetooth.

[miramanee]

Hello again, Banhien!

I have some new data already. Previously I wrote that with Linux could not activate the Bluetooth module. I had started Linux on one of the 6555b. However, I also had problems with the linunx distribution because it was very confusing. I downloaded some, but were no better. I found "manjaro", there everything is very clear. However, Bluetooth still could not be activated. I restarted the computer briefly under Windows to see if maybe something had happened. Unfortunately not.

In the meantime I started the 6550b under "manjaro". I used the automatic BT activation there and it searched for devices after a few seconds. So Windows restarted and lo and behold, it was recognized and set up. Why with the two 6555b it still does not work, I do not recognize yet.

For info: All my ProBooks have the BT module "QDS-BRCM 1043" included. I had nevertheless exchanged the one from the 6550b with the one from the 6555b. It could have been. It had no effect on the 6555b, the 6550b works as usual. So it is not a module problem.

I'll get back to you. If you have some more pro tips, I'm very receptive. 😛

Greetings.

[miramanee]

Hello Paul!

Thanks for your reply and the link. Which I immediately called and installed the program. Which I find very useful. Surprised that I had not noticed it until now. Anyway, it says for Bluetooth: "Disabled by Device Manager". But there is no BT module in the device manager. I also once displayed all "hidden devices", nowhere a Bluetooth.

It is that the BT has not been detected since installation. I buy these notebooks used (ProBook is my favorite model) and always reinstall. Before that I check in the system info (F1 at boot) if all devices were detected. Then I set it up completely new. And on two of the 6555b Bluetooth can not detect by Windows, although they are present and working (tests in other ProBooks).

Greetings.

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BTW: What bothers me with the HP program, as with almost all of HP's, once again, is that they keep wanting to access the Internet during installation. Sure, it could be that there are current versions. But if I have learned anything from HP, then with certainty there are no current versions. The "HP Protection Tools" regularly ask for two updates, but HP doesn't care if the system works. They made their money and the rest doesn't bother them. Of course, this is not unique to HP.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Sorry that program didn't work for you.

The purpose of that program is to turn on the Bluetooth if it is not showing up in the device manager.

It works the same way for the Wi-Fi adapter.

So, if the BT module is showing up in the BIOS settings and it is enabled in the BIOS but not showing up in the device manager, that program should have turned it on.

Why it did not in your situation, unfortunately, that I do not know.

[miramanee · Accepted solution]

Hello again, Paul!

I've solved it! 🐵

First of all, thanks for your words. The program will probably work in normal case too. Just not with these two ProBooks. You have to understand that I buy them as 'defective'. Although they are this in the rarest cases. Something happens and they don't work normally anymore. Because most people are not knowledgeable about them, they buy a new one and flog the old one. The most common mistake is dirt. No kidding! Dust collects in the notebook. Not so much at 'clean' people, but with sloppy ones. It spreads slowly but steadily on the contacts, especially the memory. Then the notebook doesn't start anymore. But there is no error message for the memory (blink codes), because it usually still sends the required data in POST. But since perhaps only a crucial contact to the chips is interrupted, it does not start. Remedy is a 'single-use damp cloth for eyeglass' (don't know what it's called in English ^^), with which you clean the contacts carefully.

Many also misinterpret the blink codes. 5x flashing means a board error. So it should blink 5x and this 5x (so 25 times in total). Normally it blinks 1x and that 5x, which indicates a CPU problem. But it does not have to be defective. It only doesn't start the computer because the POST only reports nonsense ^^. So you have to start with the contacts in the computer and clean them. If that does not succeed, I try other ways. Until it works or I resign and give up for a while.

The solution to the problem you can pass on as an expert in the future: A Linux is required in any case. The mentioned "Manjaro" is super for Windows users, because it was created like Windows in the surface. The Bluetooth can be activated there with two clicks, if one has removed the "strange lock". Before that, however, you have to delete all system data with the program from HP: "HPBR". This program also includes a tool to save the system information beforehand. Since the 6555b is not listed there, one can select a function "SHOTGUN". Thereby all existing reset versions are tested and "shot" at the BIOS, CMOS or TPM. This worked. I restored the board data and started "Manjaro". And there, it could the Bluetooth be activated. In Windows it was then also recognized.

Since I had perhaps with cannons on sparrows shot, I tried with the second 6555b first of all a reset of all BIOS settings. That didn't work, Manjaro couldn't find and activate it. So I saved the data again, loaded the "SHOTGUN" and shot to the mainboard ^^. Then restored data again. This time I first started Windows to see if Bluetooth was recognized. Unfortunately not. Also with your program it did not work. So again Linux started and lo and behold, it could be switched on. Under Windows it was then also recognized.

Honestly, this has all been strange. I tinker already longer, but only here in the Community it worked. Not really because of your tips, but because of the concentrated brain power that is gathered here. It's like listening to thousands of discussions silently. I think the 'mystical' abilities of us humans helped me here. Otherwise I can not explain why it finally worked after a long time. 🐵

Greetings and all the best!

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Sorry again if my English was too strange in this thread. 😛

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That's great news!

Glad you got the Bluetooth adapters to work.