Make your Bluetooth devices work on Windows 7

Here's what you need to do for both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows 7 systems:

- Download the 'Windows Mobile Device Center' ( current version is 6.1 ) which you can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/device-center-download.mspx ,this works for both Vista and Windows 7. I've tried it on both.

- Install the downloaded software but it may not look like it worked on Windows 7 PCs. Vista automatically configures the settings on the bluetooth devices but for those who have Windows 7, here are the things you should do:

- Go to 'Device Manager' from 'Control Panel' -Or- just right-click on Computer Icon and choose 'Properties' and then click on 'Device Manager'.

- You'll see an 'Unknown Device' named 'Bluetooth Peripheral Device'

- Right-Click it and click on "Update Driver Software" -Or- anyway you find it easy to bring up the Update driver window.

- Click "Browse My Computer for Driver Software" button.

- Click "Let Me Pick from a List of Device Drivers on my computer".

- Select 'Bluetooth Radio' from the list if it asked you to select and then in the next window, it will show a list of drivers with Company Names in one list and Drivers in another. In the Company List choose 'Microsoft Corporation', not only Microsoft.

- From the drivers list there may be one or more drivers with the name "Windows Mobile-Based Device Support" with different driver versions. Select one or the latest.

- Ignore any warnings and keep pressing next and then Finish at last. If all goes well, the last screen will show the message that device driver is successfully installed.

Now, after manually updating the driver for your bluetooth device, in 'Device Manager' when you click on 'Bluetooth Radios', it should display one more item which will say 'Windows Mobile-based device support'.

There are few more things that you want to pay attention to. If you have already added the device in your 'bluetooth device list' that didn't work, then remove the device and add it again. After you add it, you might need to restart the computer if it gave you a connection problem error message.

Every PCs that had Windows 7 and Vista worked after installing this software and I hope it will work for you too.

Rajiv Singh Suwal
This is also available here in detail

Originally Posted by rajivsinghsuwal

Here's what you need to do for both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows 7 systems:

- Download the 'Windows Mobile Device Center' ( current version is 6.1 ) which you can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/microsoft/device-center-download.mspx ,this works for both Vista and Windows 7. I've tried it on both.

- Install the downloaded software but it may not look like it worked on Windows 7 PCs. Vista automatically configures the settings on the bluetooth devices but for those who have Windows 7, here are the things you should do:

- Go to 'Device Manager' from 'Control Panel' -Or- just right-click on Computer Icon and choose 'Properties' and then click on 'Device Manager'.

- You'll see an 'Unknown Device' named 'Bluetooth Peripheral Device'

- Right-Click it and click on \"Update Driver Software\" -Or- anyway you find it easy to bring up the Update driver window.

- Click \"Browse My Computer for Driver Software\" button.

- Click \"Let Me Pick from a List of Device Drivers on my computer\".

- Select 'Bluetooth Radio' from the list if it asked you to select and then in the next window, it will show a list of drivers with Company Names in one list and Drivers in another. In the Company List choose 'Microsoft Corporation', not only Microsoft.

- From the drivers list there may be one or more drivers with the name \"Windows Mobile-Based Device Support\" with different driver versions. Select one or the latest.

- Ignore any warnings and keep pressing next and then Finish at last. If all goes well, the last screen will show the message that device driver is successfully installed.

Now, after manually updating the driver for your bluetooth device, in 'Device Manager' when you click on 'Bluetooth Radios', it should display one more item which will say 'Windows Mobile-based device support'.

There are few more things that you want to pay attention to. If you have already added the device in your 'bluetooth device list' that didn't work, then remove the device and add it again. After you add it, you might need to restart the computer if it gave you a connection problem error message.

Every PCs that had Windows 7 and Vista worked after installing this software and I hope it will work for you too.

Rajiv Singh Suwal
Computer Engineer / Senior Software Architect

I was under the impression that WINDOWS Mobile Device Center was only used for connecting to, and syncing with mobile phones.

If I were to follow the above instructions, would I be able to stream internet radio, via Bluetooth, to a Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Stereo Gateway Adapter? (This is what I had always done in the past.

What happened between Windows VISTA & Windows 7 in regard to Bluetooth audio support?

This is a major issue, that I feel should be discussed with MICROSOFT.

I have "upgraded" both my machines at home from VISTA HOME PREMIUM, to Win 7 HOME PREMIUM. After the upgrades, I lost all Bluetooth audio support. Many searches through numerous forums, had no real answer.

My machines had been set up to stream Pandora Radio from the computer to a Bluetooth receiver attached to my home stereo. This was a beautiful thing. All I had to do, was right click the speaker Icon, and select Bluetooth Audio as the default source, and I was good to go.

This is a major disappointment to me, that I feel requires a fix.

Sorry, but I also forgot to ask:

After following this procedure, will Bluetooth Advanced Audio appear as one of the options, under sound, in "Playback Devices"

That sound option was lost in Windows 7.

Thank you for any help that you may be able to provide.

Lloyd

Thanks, Rajiv. After following the instruction, I was able to use my headset with my laptop. Before it paired with the laptop but the driver was missing for the headset service.

If you have used ActiveSync in the past, you would certainly love this package. Actually 'Windows Mobile Device Center' is the successor to ActiveSync. It is designed to synchronize various content including music, video, contacts, calendar events, web browser favorites, and other files between Mobile devices and the Windows operating system.

I'd like to point out something here in case you have tried some trial version of bluetooth software that you can get from online. Some of these trial software ( ie. Bluesoleil ) disable your 'Bluetooth Support Service' ( a core service that is essential to run your bluetooth device in Windows ) when the trial period expires. I have also seen people jumping into conclusion after using trial version that without paying for it their bluetooth device would never work. So make sure 'Bluetooth Support Service' is running and set to 'Automatic'. You can find that service by going to -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services (select it from the list).

For your second question, I have some screen shots for you. In these pictures, Jabra BT350 is my bluetooth headset, which I use with Skype. You can also use two different audio devices at the same time by making your pc speaker a default device and setting up your bluetooth device as your selected Skype audio device in Skype. It actually streams any sound that's playing in my pc to my bluetooth headset when it's set as a default device.

Hello Rajiv
I followed your instructions and downloaded, and installed Windows Mobile Device Center. (I am familiar with that program, since I already use it to sync my smartphone with my laptop.

First I would like to thank you for taking your time to answer my questions in such detail.

After installing the program, I went to Device Manager. There was no "Unknown Device" listed.
I do have:
Bluetooth Radios
CSR Bluetooth Radio
Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator

It also shows:
Network Adapters
Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI)
Intel(R) 82566DC Gigabit Network connection

Since there was no "Unknown Device" there, I couldn't go much farther.

Also, the computer does recognize my Motorola DC800 under Devices and Printers, however, the icon for it is grayed out. It is there, but it is not usable.

When I open Playback Devices, it still only lists:
Speakers / Headphones
Digital Output Device (S/PDIF)

I am getting a bit frustrated with Win 7, (sorry about that)

Lloyd

Thank you again Rajiv, for the time you spent with me on this.

After 2 weeks, I got the bluetooth stack installed in WINDOWS 7. For about $15, I bought a Cirago Bluetooth USB adapter, (BTA-3210 V2.1)

It came with a disk that had the bluetooth stack software, (Toshiba software)

I'm now completely interfaced with my Motorola DC800 Tx/Rx device. It appears in devices and printers, and the bluetooth device now appears in playback devices.

Thanks again for all your help.

Lloyd

Mr. Suwal,

I'm having a similar problem with an HP Photosmart Premium C309 I bought today. The printer seems to work over Bluetooth, but I want to make sure I have all the drivers I need (or should I stop?)

I have gotten to step #8 in your instructions - "- Select 'Bluetooth Radio' from the list if it asked you to select and then in the next window, it will show a list of drivers with Company Names in one list and Drivers in another. In the Company List choose 'Microsoft Corporation', not only Microsoft."

I can find no "Microsoft Corporation" listing, only "Microsoft."



Any suggestions on how to proceed? Should I use the HP entry instead?

I would suggest to do nothing if everything is working. The solution I suggested above was for those who couldn't make their bluetooth device sync (connect) with their PCs. There are hundreds of bluetooth adapters ( dongles ) available and some may not work with bluetooth devices / headsets even though PCs are able to connect to those devices. In that case the above solution might help sync with the devices.
( If you can't see 'Microsoft Corporation' under company list, please check your control panel whether you have successfully installed the software. If you're trying to install drivers other than 'bluetooth radio', Microsoft Corporation may not appear in the list. )

Rajiv,

I've tried to do what you have suggested to no avail. My Bluetooth headsets are still not listed in neither the playback nor recording devices list. It was working fine before I upgraded to Win7 professional from Vista professional. Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Henry