Bluetooth: How2 create a 'virtual serial port' w XPpro SP2?

[palmTE]

Q1: How can I create and use the "virtual serial port" required for use by Bluetooth?
Q2: How can I change the Bluetooth passkey? It would not accept the 9 digit passkey I wanted.

I'm feeling dumb, this is undoubtably documented in 1000 places, but they're not what Google returned. This is my 1st attempt to use BT.
What I did:
1. On Palm TX: Turn on BT. Choose "discoverable", then 'setup devices', BT Hotsynch. The TX found "YOUR-XXXXXXX". (How do I change the name?). I selected that and chose OK. It prompts me to create a 'virtual serial port' on the PC, advising that I do that by reading "the documentation for your computer"

The doc for my computer offers
"For these devices, follow these steps:

To set the COM port, read the documentation for the program.
Set the COM port to the port number specified on the last page of the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard.
For Bluetooth devices that use a COM port, you must install a special program on your Windows XP computer. The program either comes with the Bluetooth device or can be obtained from the manufacturer. To set up your program to use a COM port, read the program documentation."
Shades of Dogbert's no help line!

2. On notebook: Turn on BT radio on notebook (ibm thinkpad). Start bluetooth service, set to automatic, apply.
Later, I entered a temporary passkey after it would not accept my long, secure original choice. I want to change the BT device passkey and don't see an option for that.

thanks

[dump71]

If you have the original cd, you can install the necessary drivers to create the virtual serial port. If not, you might be able to download the drivers from the manufacturers website---I just had to do this today for my bluetooth adapter at work. These drivers are necessary. As for the password, I don't know. I'd probably just delete the profile and start over with a new passkey :)

[toymaker]

At work I just used the Microsoft generic bluetooth drivers that automatically install when you pop your USB dongle in. If all you want is hotsync ability, the generic setup should be fine. Open the bluetooth settings in the control panel, under the Com port tab select an incoming port and match it with your hotsync port. Then go to the device tab and hit add, just make sure your palm is in discovery mode and pair away. follow your palm's hotsync wizard and enjoy. No extra software needed. As far as password I just use 4 digits.

[palmTE]

Tx for the tips, but I'm not there yet...
" you might be able to download the drivers from the manufacturers website---I just had to do this today for my bluetooth adapter at work."
By mfr do you mean Palm? I don't have the CD at hand, couldn't find the sw on Palm's site.
"Microsoft generic bluetooth drivers that automatically install when you pop your USB dongle in."
Ahh... the notebook has built-in BT, but no special software.
"Open the bluetooth settings in the control panel, under the Com port tab select an incoming port and match it with your hotsync port. "
Strange -- when I open BT config from Control Panel it complains that 'BT device not found" -- despite that they discovered and registered last night. "BT Devices" in control panel does work and knows the TX1 exists, but there are no 'bluetooth com ports' available.
Huh.. BT was supposed to be a no-configuration technology! And COM ports are an antique relic of the original 8-bit PC with DOS.

[dump71]

I meant the manufacturer of the BT adapter itself. In my case it was IOGEAR. With the model number (located on the adapter), I was able to find the drivers on their website and download for free. I tried using the generic Microsoft drivers but couldn't get it to work--no way I could find to make the virtual serial port. Good luck!

[palmTE]

Solved TX BT with Thinkpad issue:
Simple fix: D/L and e-install latest BT drivers from ibm/Lenovo NOT MS, then follow the install procedure *exactly*. There's a non-intuitive install needed to convice XP to use the useful driver rather than the useless MS generic BT sw. The required virtual com port is created by default by the ibm sw.