bluetooth missing

[SMehta]

I bought HP Sleekbook 14-B104AU (C9M37PA) a few days ago. The bluetooth icon in the wireless area is missing so that i can't switch on/off bluetooth anymore. It was working fine till a day ago but suddenly the icon disappeared when i was trying to switch it on. 

What to do?

[Dragon-Fur]

Welcome to the forum.

• Try / Consider the following Options

First, you can try a Power Reset, which does NOT affect your data on the disk.  The Power / Hard Reset may help if the issue is in the driver instructions that are stored in the computer memory and persist from boot to boot.

Forced Power Reset

Performing a Hard Reset or Forced Reset

The Power Reset cannot tell the difference between drivers - it does not analyze a driver before applying it.  It assumes all the drivers on your computer belong there.

EXAMPLE:

• If the driver on disk is the wrong driver before the Reset, it is still the wrong driver after the Reset.
• If the driver INSTRUCTIONS are tangled, messed up, or there are bits missing from those instructions, then the Reset may fix the problem.

Why a Power Reset works to fix some issues: 

The Power Reset does not install anything on your computer, it does not remove programs from your computer, and the Reset does not change the settings on your computer.  Your data and programs remain as they were before the reset was applied.  The Reset drains out the old program instructions from the memory and forces the computer go to the on disk Operating System to get new instructions.

Why a Power Reset might Not Work:

If the issue is more than just entanglement, if the "good instructions" on the computer are not good enough -- that is, you need an update, a new driver, or there is a problem that cannot be "untangled", then the Reset will not work.

If there is a hardware problem the Power Reset will not work.

==============================================================================

Reinstall the Bluetooth Driver

Windows key + X > M (opens the Device Manager)  > Bluetooth >

Right-Click your Bluetooth Adapter > Properties > Uninstall (do NOT delete) >

OK

Reboot / Restart the computer and log in – the driver will reinstall itself

===============================================================================

Tell the computer it is not allowed to turn off your Bluetooth driver

Windows key + X > M (opens the Device Manager)  > Bluetooth >

Right-Click your Bluetooth Adapter > Properties > Power Management >

Select as appropriate:

UNCHECK “Allow computer to turn off this device…”
OK

===============================================================================

Hope this helps.

[SMehta]

The Device Manager window is not showing Bluetooth/ Bluetooth Adapter.

[Kyle_W]

Is device manager showing any unknown devices?

[SMehta]

No it's not.

[Kyle_W]

Have you tried doing a Windows restore to a restore point before it disappeared? I would recommend that you try that and see if it shows back up. 

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

SMehta,

Kyle has a good idea -- if you can get System Restore to "go back in time", then the issue may resolve itself.

System Restore frequently works better if you first drop the system into Safe Mode.

HP PCs - Windows 8 Safe Mode

Bluetooth Support Service

Unusual in a new computer, but possible; the Bluetooth Radio may not show up in the Device Monitor if the Bluetooth Support service is not started.  This is more unusual after a Power Reset has been applied;  nonetheless, something may be causing the service application to fail to start or to stop after it is running.

• Windows 8 Start Screen > type anywhere on the screen "services.msc" >
• When you see the Box named Services, Click on that box to open Services >
  
• When "Services" opens, Click on the "Name" column to sort the applications into Alphabetical Order >
  
• Scroll Down and find Bluetooth Support Services
  

• Highlight Bluetooth Support Service > look in the Status Column to assure the service is "Running"
• If the service is not running or shows blank, then Click "Start" or "Restart" to get it running again.
  

• Next, Double-Click on Bluetooth Support Service line to bring up the service options >
  
• Next to Startup type > Select "Automatic" from the little drop down menu >
• then OK to "set the option into place"

• If the Service is stubborn and keeps stopping, you can set it to Restart after a Failure:
  
• Double-Click Bluetooth Support Service > Open tab "Recovery" > Under First failure, make sure it is set to "Restart".  You can do the same for subseqent failures, if desired.
  

======================================================================================