Windows 7 Bluetooth Cannot Find Any Devices

[Digitalbanana]

I have a problem recently on a laptop whereby Windows 7 Bluetooth Add A Device tab displays searching for devices and never finds any. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Bluetooth radio drivers and system says all drivers up to date.

The devices are fine and the Bluetooth radio in laptop is OK, as if I swap out the Windows 7hard disc for another factory default o/s boot disc the problem goes away.

Any idea what I can do with Windows 7 to find devices besides doing a hard disc factory reinstall of everything?

[Platinum Star]

Hi there, for security reasons, most phones they have a discoverable period of time (120 seconds in most phones). In order for your computer to detect the bluetooth device, you will have to enable the discovery mode in your cell phone first before any form of communication between computer and device can take place.

If you are using Andriod based cell phones, go to settings -- bluetooth settings -- bluetooth (check the box) -- discoverable (check the box). Now try to find the bluetooth device with your computer again.

[Chicog]

Hi there, for security reasons, most phones they have a discoverable period of time (120 seconds in most phones). In order for your computer to detect the bluetooth device, you will have to enable the discovery mode in your cell phone first before any form of communication between computer and device can take place.

If you are using Andriod based cell phones, go to settings -- bluetooth settings -- bluetooth (check the box) -- discoverable (check the box). Now try to find the bluetooth device with your computer again.

But he said "I swap out the Windows 7hard disc for another factory default o/s boot disc the problem goes away", so I'm assuming he knows that bit.

I would install Unknown Device Identifier, see exactly what Bluetooth hardware is installed and try and find a vendor supplied driver instead of the MS default ones.

[Digitalbanana]

Thanks for replies guys. The bluetooth devices are simple things like a mouse, so nothing complicated like an Android phone. I will likely do a computer system factory ready o/s reinstall and start over, its been almost a year. Time to dust the cobwebs of the o/s I guess!

[Gregory Morozov]

There might be software Bluetooth radio on/off switch and you might need to install an utility to manipulate it.

[bendejo]

i had an HP/CPQ laptop, used an HP utility to turn off Bluetooth. I thought it was to turn it off in Windows. Then I couldn't use Bluetooth at all. After some experimenting, like booting into a non-Windows OS, I realized the utility shut it down at the hardware level. Is there some sort of diag by the computer maker or Bluetooth maker you can run?

[Digitalbanana]

This is an HP laptop. I am pretty sure it was operating system related, since after reinstalling Windows the Bluetooth worked as normal again. I still do not know why it stopped in the previous install of Windows. I have now tried both Windows 7 and Windows 8 re installations and Bluetooth is working again.