Showing posts with label Bluetooth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bluetooth. Show all posts

8.5.11

Adding a device

When you add a Bluetooth device to your computer, address information is exchanged. Sometimes, access keys are also exchanged. This process is known as pairing or bonding the two devices. When you add a device, one of the devices must be discoverable. Some devices let you turn discovery on and off, and others are always discoverable. For example, some mouse devices are always discoverable.

When you use Bluetooth to connect two computers, the computer that is added as a device must have discovery turned on. You can turn on discovery by using the Options tab in Bluetooth Devices.

Steps to take on the computer
To add a device, follow these steps on your computer:

Click Start, click Run, type bthprops.cpl, and then click OK.
In Bluetooth Settings, click Add.
In the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard, click to select the My device is set up and ready to be found check box, and then click Next.

Note You cannot click Next until you click to select the My device is set up and ready to be found box. A device that has discovery turned off cannot be detected during a search.

When you click Next, your computer searches for any discoverable devices that are in range. When the search is complete, the devices appear in the wizard.
Select a device to add, and then click Next.

After you select the device to add, you can enter a passkey for the device. A passkey is a code that is used to control access to a device. Using a passkey may help improve the security of your connection. However, the device that you add may not require a passkey.

When you enter the passkey, your computer tries to connect to the device to verify the passkey. When you connect to another computer, you receive a message that the computers are trying to connect.

Steps to take on the device
When you have completed the steps on your computer, enter the passkey on the Bluetooth device. If the device is another computer, this computer displays a message that indicates that you are requesting a connection. Follow these steps on the computer that you are adding as a Bluetooth device:

Click in the message that indicates that you are requesting a connection.

The Add Bluetooth Device Wizard starts and provides a field for entering the passkey.
Enter the passkey. You may also choose to have a passkey generated for you.

When the passkey is verified, the connection is complete. The device is now visible on your computer. If the device is another computer, its computer name is visible on the first computer.

On the last page of the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard, you can turn discovery off on the computer that you add as a device. By default, the option to turn discovery off is selected so that the computer does not remain discoverable at all times.

After a device is added
After a device is added, it appears in Bluetooth Devices. You can view the device properties to examine the services provided, to change the name of the device, or to gather other information. You can also establish connections.

Install a Bluetooth device

To install a Bluetooth device, you only have to connect it. Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) includes drivers for many Bluetooth devices. If Windows does not recognize a Bluetooth device, you can still use it by using the generic software support that Windows includes, or you can use the driver that the device manufacturer provides. To add a Bluetooth device to your computer, you can use the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard. To configure a Bluetooth connection, you use the Bluetooth Devices item in Control Panel.

You can join an ad hoc network between Bluetooth devices by using Personal Area Networking (PAN). When you use PAN, your computer and other Bluetooth devices use TCP/IP networking to communicate. If you have a Bluetooth device that supports dial-up networking, you can use it as a modem. You can use the Add Printer Wizard to use a Bluetooth printer wirelessly. Finally, you can transfer files between Bluetooth-ready computers or devices by using Bluetooth. This article includes step-by-step procedures for these tasks.

Connectivity problems in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Basic troubleshooting
This section of the article contains basic troubleshooting methods to resolve Bluetooth issues that may occur after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2.

The troubleshooting steps in this section are appropriate for beginning to intermediate users. If the troubleshooting steps in this section do not resolve your issue, you may want to try the steps in the "Advanced troubleshooting" section later in this article.

This section of the article discusses the following topics:

Steps to try first
Steps to try if your Bluetooth device is not detected when you add the device

Steps to try first
Try the following basic troubleshooting steps first. They may quickly resolve your issue.

If your Bluetooth device uses batteries, make sure that your batteries are charged.
If your Bluetooth device uses a transceiver that connects to your computer through a USB port, try connecting the transceiver to another USB port on your computer.
If there are multiple Bluetooth devices connected to your computer, temporarily remove the devices that you are not troubleshooting. If there are additional USB devices, try removing any USB devices that you do not have to have installed during the troubleshooting process. If you have multiple devices that are connected by using USB, this can interfere with a Bluetooth transceiver.
Verify that the Bluetooth device that you are troubleshooting is powered on and that it is enabled.

Steps to try if your Bluetooth device is not detected when you add the device
Method 1: Make sure that Windows XP Service Pack 2 is installed
Verify that you have Windows XP SP2 installed. To do this, follow these steps:

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type winver.exe, and then click OK.
In the About Windows dialog box, verify that Windows XP SP2 is installed.

About Windows dialog box

If Windows XP Service Pack 2 is listed, try Method 2. If If Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not listed, install the service pack again. To install Windows XP Service Pack 2, follow these steps:
In Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://update.microsoft.com/
If any important updates are available for your computer, install them. To do this, click Install updates. If you are prompted to restart your computer after all the updates are installed, restart your computer.

Important You might have to restart your computer after you install certain updates. When you restart your computer, the content that you are now viewing will no longer be displayed. So, before you continue, you might find it helpful to create a shortcut to this Web page on your desktop so that you can easily return to this page by double-clicking the shortcut. To create a shortcut to this Web page on your desktop, follow these steps:

Right-click this page, and then click Create Shortcut.
In the Internet Explorer dialog box, click Yes to create a shortcut on your desktop.

Method 2: Make sure that your Bluetooth device is discoverable and that your computer is set to enable Bluetooth devices to connect to your computer

Right-click the Bluetooth icon in the notification area, and then click Open Bluetooth Settings.

Bluetooth icon

Note If the Bluetooth icon is not in the notification area, click Start, click Run, type bthprops.cpl, and then click OK. To use the bthprops.cpl command, make sure that Windows XP SP2 supports your Bluetooth adapter and the Bluetooth adapter has been successfully installed on your Windows XP SP2-based computer. For more information about how to install the Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth devices in Windows XP Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
883259 How to install and configure Bluetooth devices in Windows XP Service Pack 2
On the Options tab, click to select the Turn discovery on check box, and then click Apply.

Bluetooth Devices dialog box

To enable Bluetooth devices to connect to your computer, click to select the Allow Bluetooth devices to connect to this computer check box, and then click OK.

Bluetooth Devices dialog box

Advanced troubleshooting steps
This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/

5.5.11

Phone to Windows 7 Bluetooth File Transfer

Bluetooth devices are very common nowadays. By using this technology it is so easy to share files between very different devices. If your computer or laptop has a Bluetooth dongle or built-in module, Windows 7 can use it for exchanging files with other Bluetooth enabled devices such as mobile phones, iPods, iPhones, PSP devices, etc. In this guide I will show you how to verify that your dongle or built-in module works, how to connect your computer to another Bluetooth enabled device and how to exchange files between them.
Verify that Bluetooth is Working Correctly
The first thing you should do before starting a Bluetooth connection is to make sure that the Bluetooth dongle or integrated module is inserted in the computer and turned on.
Windows 7 will then install the drivers needed for the Bluetooth device. It has drivers for most Bluetooth dongles and built-in devices but, if it's not able to find any suitable drivers for it, then you should install those which are bundled by the manufacturer of your product via an install disc or on its official website.
Next, you will see a Bluetooth icon in the system tray or notification area which means that Bluetooth is active.
Bluetooth
If it is not active, you'll have to enable Bluetooth on your computer. By default, the wireless and Bluetooth connections are active. If, for some reason, they're not, look for a button on the surface of your laptop that should enable both wireless and Bluetooth connections. If you can't find that button please read the laptop's manual to find it and learn how to turn on Bluetooth.
Now, you need to make sure that the Bluetooth works properly. Type in the Start menu search box the word bluetooth and click on the 'View devices and printers' search result. Another way is to go to 'Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Devices and Printers'.
Bluetooth
In the new window you will see a list with all devices and printers that are connected to your computer. The Bluetooth dongle or integrated module will be on that list as well. If your Bluetooth device has a yellow exclamation point on its icon it means that there is a problem with it. Otherwise it means that the device is working properly.
Bluetooth
If the device has problems, select it and then click on the Troubleshoot button from the top menu. Follow the wizard's instructions and hopefully, Windows will find a solution to the problem.
Bluetooth
NOTE: If the device that you want to connect via Bluetooth to your computer has specific software applications made exactly for this kind of task, I recommend you to use that software. For example, if you have a phone with Bluetooth support it is a good idea to use that phone's "PC Suite" application on your computer.
Connect a Device to Your Computer Using Bluetooth
First you need to make sure that your computer can be seen by the Bluetooth device. In other words, you need to make sure the computer is discoverable via Bluetooth. You can access the Bluetooth settings on your computer by right-clicking the Bluetooth icon in the system tray or notification area, and selecting 'Open Settings'.
Bluetooth
Or you can simply search in the Start Menu's search box for bluetooth and click on the 'Change Bluetooth settings' search result.
Bluetooth
The Bluetooth settings window will now open. In the Options tab, at the Discovery section, check 'Allow Bluetooth devices to find this computer'. This will allow other devices to see your computer. When done, click on OK.
NOTE: Enable this option only if you want the Bluetooth device to find and connect to your computer. The other way around, connecting from the computer to the device, works without having this option enabled.
Bluetooth
Next, you have to activate Bluetooth on your device. Search for discoverable devices, select the computer and pair with it. Then you have to enter a password for this connection. On your computer you will see a system notification about a device that wants to connect with it. Click on that balloon or, if you missed it, double click on the Bluetooth icon from the system tray or notification area.
Bluetooth
In the new 'Add a device' window you have to type the same password as you did in in the device that is connecting to the computer. Then click on Next.
Bluetooth
Now Windows 7 will search for drivers and it will install them for the device that is connecting to your computer. To verify that the device has been properly installed click the Devices and Printers link from the 'Add a device' window.
Bluetooth
There you can also see if the device is working properly or if it requires troubleshooting.
NOTE: If Windows doesn't find suitable drivers for the Bluetooth Peripheral Device, don't worry, you will still be able to send and receive files.
Bluetooth
Now, assuming that there are no problems, let's see how to send a file from the device to the computer through Bluetooth.
Connect the Computer to a Device Using Bluetooth
Turn on the Bluetooth function on the device and make it discoverable so that your computer will find it. Then open up the Bluetooth device window either by double-clicking the Bluetooth icon from the system tray or notification area. Click on the 'Add device' button or simply search in the Start Menu's search box for bluetooth and select the 'Add a Bluetooth device' result.
Bluetooth
Next Windows 7 will search for Bluetooth enabled devices. When it finds your Bluetooth device, select it and click on Next.
Bluetooth
Then Windows 7 will show you a password or PIN that you have to type in the device. After you typed the PIN in your device, click on Next.
Bluetooth
Now you can see the newly added device in the Bluetooth Devices window. There you can also see if the device is working properly or if it requires troubleshooting.
How to Send a File via Bluetooth
In order to send a file either right-click the Bluetooth icon from the system tray/notification area and select the 'Send a file' option or search for bluetooth in the Start Menu's search box and click on 'Bluetooth File Transfer'. Then select the 'Send a file' action.
Bluetooth
Now select the device to which you want to send a file from the computer and click on Next. In the next window, click on Browse to select the file that you want to send and then click on Next.
Bluetooth
Tip: Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key to select multiple files.
You might need to allow the transfer on your device as well, and only then the computer will connect with it and it will send the file. In the next window you will see a summary of the files that were delivered to the device through the Bluetooth connection. Click on Finish to exit the window.
Bluetooth
If you want to send other files, repeat the same steps as above.
How to Receive a File via Bluetooth
In order to receive a file from the device to your computer, you can either right-click the Bluetooth icon from the system tray or notification area and select 'Receive a file' or search for bluetooth in the Start Menu's search box and click on 'Bluetooth File Transfer'. Then select the 'Receive a File' option.
Bluetooth
Windows 7 will wait until you select a file on your device. Select the file to be sent to the computer through the Bluetooth connection, wait until the device finds the computer, select it, and then your computer will receive the file. In the next window you will see the name and the size of the file and you have to possibility to choose where to save it. Click on Browse to choose a different location than the default one and then click on Finish.
Bluetooth
The file is now received and stored in the location you selected.
Conclusion
As you can see, sending or receiving files through a Bluetooth connection is quite easy, even if some problems can happen. The lucky part is that the troubleshooting wizards are definitely better at offering solutions then those from Windows Vista and, when using them, you will get some good solutions to your problems.
The wide range of devices that have support for Bluetooth can be a disadvantage because Microsoft can't collect and deliver driver support for every product that has Bluetooth capabilities. That's why every topic about Bluetooth connections between devices and computers is full of people complaining about problems with the connection, drivers or anything in between.
The best way to eliminate some of the problems is to switch from your old phone to a newer one with more modern capabilities and driver support.
If you have problems, solutions or you know some great tips and tricks about Bluetooth connections don't hesitate to share them with us in a comment.

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