Linksys BT killed XP

[jon_faust]

I just got a Linksys USBBT100. Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong after installing it, and I'd like to know if this is something I should troubleshoot or if I need to just go try a different dongle. Aren't these supposed to be hot-pluggable? Anyone one else have a problem with this dongle? Beuller? Beuller?

Drivers installed fine, configuration went as planned and I couldn't get a connection going with ICS on XP. Pulled the dongle, and the Bluetooth system tray icon went red. Attached the included USB extension cable to put some distance between the antenna and the PC for better signal, and when I hotplugged the dongle into the end of the cable, my PC suddenly rebooted. The POST screen couldn't find the harddrives. Shut down. Waited 30 seconds. Cold booted. It came back up again, booted to the XP desktop loaded the startup services and rebooted itself again. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Thankfully I still keep Win98 on this thing for games and it seems to be working, so at least I can (so far) rule out hardware damage and hit the internet for some help and answers...

[matrix42]

Yikes, and I just ordered one of the little suckers, as the 3com BT card I have has issues with a BT GPS gizmo.

Will check it out and see what happens when I get it...

-Scott

[jschan]

sometimes usb hardware can effect the bootup process. make sure you unplug that dongle before you boot up. as far as making it work once you're in xp, i'm clueless...

[Eric H.]

I have a USBBT100. I use it all the time and love it. I get about 30 meters (100 ft.) range with my T|T3. I have had it for about 2 weeks. I carry it back and forth to the office every day and have never had any problems hot plugging/unplugging it on my XP Pro machines as well as on my W2K laptop.

In terms of getting ICS to work, open "My Bluetooth Places" from the desktop, select "View My Bluetooth Services", select Properties from the "Network Access" Icon. In the field entitled

"Select the type of service to select remote devices" pick "Allow other devices to access the Internet/Lan via this computer". Now click on the "Configure connection sharing" button near the bottom of the screen.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by jon_faust
I just got a Linksys USBBT100. Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong after installing it, and I'd like to know if this is something I should troubleshoot or if I need to just go try a different dongle. Aren't these supposed to be hot-pluggable? Anyone one else have a problem with this dongle? Beuller? Beuller?

Drivers installed fine, configuration went as planned and I couldn't get a connection going with ICS on XP. Pulled the dongle, and the Bluetooth system tray icon went red. Attached the included USB extension cable to put some distance between the antenna and the PC for better signal, and when I hotplugged the dongle into the end of the cable, my PC suddenly rebooted. The POST screen couldn't find the harddrives. Shut down. Waited 30 seconds. Cold booted. It came back up again, booted to the XP desktop loaded the startup services and rebooted itself again. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Thankfully I still keep Win98 on this thing for games and it seems to be working, so at least I can (so far) rule out hardware damage and hit the internet for some help and answers...
Something got hosed up during the installation. Never plugin a USB device until the software is installed first!

You may have to remove the USB hubs in device manager and then let windows rebuild itself. Have any driver disks handy, just in case. There is an option that will automatically reboot Win XP on error. It can be disabled in device manager under the advanced tab. Look for startup and recovery, uncheck automatic restart. I had disabled mine 1 1/2 years ago without any ill effects. Usually, it's only then do you get a clue as to what the error really is.

I use the Widcomm BT software and the USB Bluegear dongle from PalmOne.

Many things can go wrong with USB. Below is a good link to start for USB troubleshooting:

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=bpy01268

[matrix42]

Well I got and installed the LinkSys BT gadget, and after checking around this site ( great setup info in the How to Section!!! )got it all configured and everything works fine i.e. BT Sync, BT Network Sync, BT Lan connection with my T3, as well as access to my t68i for sync'n , file transfer etc, and GPS with MS Streets and Trips, I am happy camper....

Only problem is that occasionally the Linksys just drops and becomes an "unknown device" and only thing that fixes that is a reboot, bizzare but then again it is Windows and it's only 2004

:-)

[Eric H.]

I have also had a positive Bluetooth experience with the LinkSYS USBBT100. My only complaint is that under Windows XP and W2k at least, if you log out and then log back in the USBBT100 is disabled, even though it shows up as enabled in the system tray. You have to manually go to the icon in the system tray and disable and then enable the USBBT100. I have tried to talk to LinkSys tech support about this, but they hardly know what Bluetooth is. It took me 5 minutes to convince one of their staff that the USBBT100 was a LinkSys device. If anyone here has a solution to this problem, I would be keen to hear it.

[matrix42]

Well I think I found the problem with my Linksys BT dropping out every now and then and forcing me to reboot in order for it to be recognized again.

I had it plugged into a USB HUB, since yesterday this time I have had it plugged directly into the PC and no problems...

Go figure...

-Scott