BlueTooth

Information taken from only for backup/archiving intention:

http://www.dev-toast.com/2007/01/05/uncrippling-bluetooth-in-vista-rtm

Step 1 -=- Download Installation Packages

First thing to do is get all of the tools you’re going to need to be able to do this. This includes the WIDCOMM drivers appropriate to your system, the patcher program, and optionally, you can download this guide in PDF format for offline viewing.

You may download the WIDCOMM 5.1.0.1100 drivers along with the patcher from Dev-Hack.Com’s downloads section. The packages will be clearly marked to avoid any confusion.

NOTE: If you know of WIDCOMM already you may be asking, “Well why aren’t we going to use the latest version of the driver?” That’s a good question and with it comes a good answer. After version 5.1.0.1100 the driver stops supporting 3rd party chipsets, that means that you all with your CSR chipsets would be very frustrated after having completed this guide. In addition, the patcher utility isn’t of the latest version however is much easier to use and has been extensively tested and confirmed to function properly with this version of WIDCOMM drivers.

Step 2 -=- Determining Which Bluetooth Device You Have

Once you have downloaded and extracted the drivers, it’s time to minimize your folder and head into your device manager to determine exactly what hardware you have installed. Make sure you have your Bluetooth adapter inserted in your computer(working or not).

• 1. Right click “Computer” on your desktop, and then select Properties
• 2. On the top left click Device Manager.
• 3. Expand your Bluetooth tree to see your Bluetooth radio(if installed) or look at Other Devices to see if it appears there(if not installed).
• 4. Double click your Bluetooth radio device(The name may vary depending upon manufacturer and model). Then click the Details tab.
• 5. Click the drop down box and select Device ID

Now with that window open go back into the extracted drivers folder. We need to check and see if the installer already supports your device.

• 1. In the root folder go into the appropriate folder for your system. i.e. If you’re in 32 bit Vista, enter Win32. For 64 bit, enter Win64.
• 2. Open up btwusb.inf in notepad (should already be the default viewer so you can just double click it.)
• 3. Now look at your hardware ID in the device manager it should be formatted like this:

     USB\VID_XXXX&PID_XXXX where “XXXX” is a 4 digit hexadecimal number(There may be revision information after the basic Hardware ID’s such as: USB\VID_413C&PID_8126&REV_0100).

• 4. Quickly copy or memorize the 4 digit number after VID.
• 5. In notepad hit Ctrl+F to open the find dialog. Enter your VID as VID_XXXX where the XXXX is your four digit number specific to your device. Hit Enter.
• 6. If your device is found, then look again and confirm that your VID and PID numbers match exactly then and only then may you skip to Step 4 -=- Removing Old Drivers Completely
• 7. If you did not find your VID and PID then please continue on to Step 3 -=- Preparing the New Installation.

Step 3 -=- Preparing the New Installation

Since your device wasn’t specifically included in the installer script that doesn’t necessarily mean that the drivers aren’t compatible. There’s a very good chance that they are and should work fine (since most Bluetooth devices are created alike and their functionality is determined by the profiles they support). In this step we need to modify the installer script to include your specific device. You should already have btwusb.inf opened up for your specific platform. Add the following lines

• 1.

     Under [ControlFlags] section add
        1. ExcludeFromSelect=USB\VID_XXXX&PID_XXXX (change the XXXX with the numbers from your device)

• 2.

     This varies for different versions of windows.
        1.
           32bit windows:
              1.
                 Under [WIDCOMM.NTx86.5.1] add
                    1. %****.DeviceDesc%=BTWUSB, USB\VID_XXXX&PID_XXXX ; My BT USB Dongle Where “****” is a string or single word that’s all caps and would be the name of your hardware vendor. EXAMPLE: %DellFangorn.DeviceDesc%=BRSMARTUSB, USB\VID_413C&PID_8126
        2.
           64bit Windows:
              1.
                 Under [WIDCOMM.NTamd64] add
                    1. %****.DeviceDesc%=BTWUSB, USB\VID_XXXX&PID_XXXX ; My BT USB Dongle Where “****” is a string or single word that’s all caps and would be the name of your hardware vendor. EXAMPLE: %DellFangorn.DeviceDesc%=BRSMARTUSB, USB\VID_413C&PID_8126
  3. Save and Close the file.

Step 4 -=- Removing Old Drivers Completely

What we’re going to do here here is effectively remove the installer script files from Windows’ view. So now when the device is found it won’t be able to find a driver. And you should select “Don’t ask Again” when prompted to search for new drivers for your device after you uninstall it.

Now, if you still have your device manager window open and you already have the Windows or manufacturer driver installed, please uninstall ANYTHING Bluetooth related. (HINT: If you remove the Bluetooth Radio device first, it will take everything else with it.) You can uninstall devices simply by Right clicking them and selecting Uninstall.

Step 5 -=- Disabling Microsoft Bluetooth Stack Completely

Now that the installation is prepared we have to make sure that Microsoft’s automatic and crippled Bluetooth driver doesn’t just jump in the way and automatically install itself when you’re trying to install the new driver. We have to disable Microsoft’s installer script for Bluetooth devices.

• 1. Navigate to C:\Windows\inf\
• 2. Rename bth.inf to bth.inf.old;
• 3. Rename bth.pnf to bth.pnf.old

Once everything is uninstalled, close all files and dialogs and restart your machine.

NOTE: This is important! If you are running Windows Vista x64, you absolutely HAVE to press F8 on boot. Right after your BIOS post, pound F8 until you’re presented with a menu. You MUST select “Disable Driver Signing Enforcment” or you will not be able to install this driver. As of yet, there is no other way to disable this other than attaching a debugger to the kernel which isn’t practical.

Step 6 -=- Installing WIDCOMM Drivers

And now is the time you’ve all been waiting for. Time to run the installer for the WIDCOMM Drivers.(Please see the bright red note above if you’re running Windows Vista RTM x64). Make sure your Bluetooth Device is unplugged from your machine.

• 1. Browse to where you have the drivers unpacked.
• 2. Browse directly into your platform folder(i.e. Win32 or Win64)
• 3. Do not run Setup.exe, instead run Inst.exe.
• 4. Go through the installer, when it comes up and says that no Bluetooth device detected, click CANCEL to continue the installation without installing a device first. It will always say this even if your device is internal or still connected.
• 5. Windows will bitch at you for not installing signed drivers about 11 times so go ahead and make sure you’re clicking away at “Install Anyway“
• 6. The WIDCOMM drivers will install the following virtual devices and profiles:
  • 1. Bluetooth Communications ports(COM 4 and 5)
  • 2. Bluetooth LAN Access Server Driver
  • 3. Bluetooth Virtual HID Mouse
  • 4. Bluetooth Virtual HID Keyboard
  • 5. Hands-Free Audio
  • 6. Stereo Audio(also known in xp as High Quality Bluetooth Audio or A2DP)
• 7. Once Vista is done installing the various devices then click Finish in the installer to close it.

You’ll now notice You’ll have the Bluetooth icon down in the task bar which should be red and a My Bluetooth Places icon on your desktop. Do not click either of them yet. We’re almost done.

Step 7 -=- Patching Your WIDCOMM Installation

Before we restart, you should make sure you have available the WIDCOMM patcher that you downloaded and optionally this guide in PDF form that you can download from Dev-Hack.Com.

The next portion is very simple.

• 1. Restart your machine in safe-mode by mashing F8 right after the bios post and selecting Safe Mode with Networking.
• 2. Once in safe mode, browse to where you have downloaded and extracted the patcher.
• 3. Run the patcher by double clicking the executable.
• 4. This is where it gets slightly tricky. In the drop down box, you have to find your Bluetooth device. If you added your device to the installer script for the drivers, then you should already be able to recognize it. Look for the beginning of the device description. Once you’re sure you’ve found your device, select it and click save.
• 5. Restart your machine.(x64 users, remember you have to disable Driver Signing Enforcement at EVERY boot, sorry)

Step 8 -=- Installing Your Device

Once you’re back into windows, do the following.

• 1. Plug your Bluetooth adapter in(if it is external)
• 2. If your adapter is internal, then open up the Device Manager and click Action>Scan for Hardware Changes to initiate the installation process.
• 3. When it asks you to search for drivers, select to Browse for the location yourself.
• 4. Browse to the following: C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\bin
• 5. Then click ok and the installer will find the drivers assuming you correctly edited the installer script.
• 6. Once the device is installed(if successful) You’re ready to rock.

Step 9 -=- Enjoying Your Bluetooth Experience

Once everything is installed and patched you should be able to right click the Bluetooth icon down in the task bar, select Begin Using Bluetooth. With any luck, you’ll start the Bluetooth Wizard and be able to choose which profiles your computer will provide to devices. If you get a license error, then something went wrong with the patching or you didn’t choose the right device in the patcher. If you get a device not found, then I recommend completely uninstalling the device and starting from Step 6.

Should you need to Uninstall and return to your default driver(no idea why you’d want to.) then you need to open up Device Manager then, through the control panel, remove the WIDCOMM Drivers(Add/Remove Programs). The drivers will prompt you to remove your device. You can do that or just right click your Bluetooth radio in the Device Manager and click Uninstall, the driver uninstallation will resume automatically.