Free Bluetooth stack/programm for Windows

[Templar]

I've made a gift to my wife by purchasing her an Acer 5738ZG laptop. Although it has a Bluetooth button on it, it seems that it's missing the hardware part of it. Just only the button.

Okay, I said. I'll need a USB Bluetooth stick I suppose to get it to work. And yes, I purchased a bluetooth dongle (Keysonic KSR-10 BT). Everything seems to be in right order after the installation, even the BT button works (on laptop).

But the program it has is an evaluation copy, so I have to pay (again??!?) to be fully enabled.

So I'm asking. Is there any free bluetooth program around?

 

[rkauer]

Bluetooth stack is free built-in in Windows XP/Vista/7 PRO versions.

 

[Templar]

Oh well, and where is that?

 

[jvdbossc]

some more information

some more information

Rkauer did give a correct answer phantom, a little short, but absolutely correct, compare it with tcp/ip stack it's build in in xp and not in amiga os.

The short answer I would offer is it is under the network connections in xp, but probably this link will get you up to speed:

http://www.vista4beginners.com/How-to-setup-a-Bluetooth-connection

In basic, if you have a driver for the bluetooth device or windows has it by default supported, it works.

What you probably did is install a driver and a program wich is charging money, while you probably do not need it.

Next time look at uninstalled drivers and get the driver from the cd and do not run the install program..

It was the same ****** with wireless back then.

 

[Templar]

As far as I know, the cheap laptops have only the button and missing the hardware part of it, apart of expensive models which they have built-in bluetooth. Also I searched the matter for my Acer model and everyone has the same problem. Where is the bluetooth? There is only the button. You have to buy extra hardware (USB BT) in order to enable it.

 

[jvdbossc]

device manager

device manager

If it is not in the device manager and no ? (uninstalled driver) exists it is not there I am afraid. You should learn to live with it, or buy good hardware. Could be disabled in the bios as well!

If you don't know to find the device manager list, this link works from xp and upwards to see them:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/support/driver.mspx

 

[Templar]

Forgot to mention that the laptop has Win7 installed.

 

[rkauer]

Starter Edition ( = Millennium RC2) or PRO?

 

[Templar]

I think it's Home Edition.

 

[meega]

Microsoft have been accused of playing silly buggers

Microsoft have been accused of playing silly buggers

No surprise there.

http://www.gearlog.com/2009/05/did_microsoft_cripple_bluetoot.php

I wonder if it's true.

 

[rkauer]

I think it's Home Edition.

I'll pray for your soul, then.

 

[Templar]

I think it's Home Edition.

I'll pray for your soul, then.

Thanks m8. :dry:

 

[xc8]

As far as I know, the cheap laptops have only the button and missing the hardware part of it, apart of expensive models which they have built-in bluetooth. Also I searched the matter for my Acer model and everyone has the same problem. Where is the bluetooth? There is only the button. You have to buy extra hardware (USB BT) in order to enable it.

I think your BT dongle has a commercial (trial) bt stack (from bluesoleil ?).
I will search my stuff here, I have a kensington and one noname BT dongle..
Never used their software (running Mandriva)... Maybe the kensington has a better bt stack (as the dongle was expensive..)
Will PM you ...

Chris

 

[jvdbossc]

uh

uh

Against my principles, took my yes ACER ASPIRE ONE a 400 eu device, decent build quality, it is robust, you can press the screen etc..

I started the "small" windows 7 partition left on it. After a logon and waiting a couple of minutes

I pressed the bluetooth button and it lighted waiting it to come available is about the boot time of 5 amiga's I just pressed start and then typed: bluetooth

All relevant options voilà were there to config, don't ask how long it took to find my cellphone.. But hey it works

In ubuntu it was about 3 seconds to have my cellphone Sure windows 7 will offer more features.. But not digging in into this (not interested)

 

[Templar]

As far as I know, the cheap laptops have only the button and missing the hardware part of it, apart of expensive models which they have built-in bluetooth. Also I searched the matter for my Acer model and everyone has the same problem. Where is the bluetooth? There is only the button. You have to buy extra hardware (USB BT) in order to enable it.

I think your BT dongle has a commercial (trial) bt stack (from bluesoleil ?).
I will search my stuff here, I have a kensington and one noname BT dongle..
Never used their software (running Mandriva)... Maybe the kensington has a better bt stack (as the dongle was expensive..)
Will PM you ...

Chris

I have the dongle from Keysonic. And yes, the BT stack is from BlueSoleil. (PMed you back)

 

[desiv]

Not that it relates to what you have, but coincidentally, I just (20 minutes ago) got the mail and my $2 (USD) USB Bluetooth dongle arrived (along with a PCMCIA CF adapter and a CF-IDE 40 pin adapter).

I plugged it into my laptop which is running XP Media Center Edition (I know, it should be Linux, but my wife hasn't gotten there quite yet)..

It recognized it and automagically loaded XPs Bluetooth drivers.

Paired to my phone right away.

I was able to send pics to my phone right away.

Once I found out about the fsquirt.exe app, I was able to receive files as well...
(Weird that I can send by right clicking, but receiving requires my loading an app, but it works.)

desiv

p.s. I was glad it worked, because the CF-IDE 40 pin adapter goes in a PC that isn't at this house, and I left my CF card by it. So I can't use the others... :-( At least I can play with one of my toys..

Hey, I just realized, I don't yet have an MA401 PCMCIA wireless card (its on the list) but I do have somewhere the Netgear CF version. I wonder if I plug it in with the adapter, if it's essentially a MA401.. Hmmm... (That's with the CF card and the other computer too tho..)