Bluetooth headset + Windows XP = Problems

[Alexoid]

It's odd that something as useful as using a Bluetooth headset on a PC is so badly documented as it is so blatantly useful... I've been struggling getting this to work for days now and looked just about everywhere, here's my story:

I have a Micronet SP935A USB Bluetooth dongle and a Trust BT210 headset. When I first plugged in the dongle into my Win XP SP2 machine it immediatly recognised it and installed the relevant software. Better still it recognised the headset, yay! But that's where the relationship ended: no services where available. Scouring the net I found out that you could bypass the original XP Bluetooth drivers and install the ones that came with the dongle by renaming a file in the Windows install dir. It worked and I installed the software that I downloaded the (apparently) popular WIDCOMM software from the Micronet site.

Now, I got the profile setup and the headset is detected as an audio device. All good? No as the headset audio quality is beyond poor and there seems to be an infinite loop when I test the mic out with the wizards in numerous communication apps.

The volume settings window greys out "Playback" and only shows "Recording" and "Other" with Analog Connector selected. I can't change the volume...

The good news is, the range is pretty good.

I would love to know how to fix this, I'm pretty computer literate but this is completely baffling and like I said, I'm surprised by how little info is out there on this. Hope you can help.

[orion]

hello, Alexoid

i'm about to buy the equipment to set-up bluetooth headset+mic for windows XP with USB plug.

did you solve the problem?

do you have any recommendations for me about the USB/headset manufacturer .

TIA!!!

[willy]

guys,
renaming the file in the wndir folder is not enough. try this and your problems porbably will be solved.

I update Windows XP with SP2 (Service Pack 2) and the Bluetooth do not work anymore.

A:

my bluetooth will not work on Windows XP with SP2 (Service Pack 2) because on SP2
Windows has added its own free Bluetooth utility which is not compatible and
will conflict with my bleutooth utility.

WORKAROUND
To work around this issue and to successfully install the Bluetooth driver/utility that come with the adapter, Try this:
If you already have the Utility installed form the CD, you need to remove it now from the Windows Add and Remove Program
Unplug the bluetooth device from the computer.
Create new folder name Bluetooth on your desktop.
Click Start, click Run, type %windir%\inf in the Open box, and then click OK.
Move all files which has a name: Bth -- to the Bluetooth folder you created on the desktop.
Right click on My Computer and bring up Manage.
Click on the plus sign next to Services and Applications.
Click on Services.
On the right hand pane, right click on Bluetooth Support Service and click Stop
Run the installation CD.
When the "No Bluetooth device detected..." error message windows pop up, plug the bluetooth device into the working USB port.
(keep re-plugging on different ports if necessary) untill the "Found New Hardware Wizard" will pop up, and then keep click "Next" to finish up the installation.
click "OK" on the "No Bluetooth device detected..." error message windows.
The "WIDCOM Bluetooth software - Installation Shield Wizard" will continue to complete the installation.
If the Windows' Bluetooth-utility is not running, there should be only one Bluetooth icon you see in the task bar; right click on it and select "Start using Bluetooth Device".
The "B" sign inside the Bluetooth icon should turn to white color.
Now if you look at the services there should two Bluetooth services:
1. Bluetooth Service
2. Bluetooth Support Service
Double click the "Bluetooth Support Service"(2) and change the "Startup type" to "Manual" and click "Apply".

Goodluck