Another Bluetooth has disappeared from laptop

*At this point I don't remember the exact timeline of events but I'll do the best I can.

Day before yesterday, I had been listening to some music through my bluetooth ear buds. I turned off the music and just put the pc to sleep for a couple of hours. Then when I went back, to turn the music back on, my earbuds would not connect, so after checking a little I realized that not only was the bluetooth not turned on, there was no switch to turn it on. No switch in the notification area, no switch in the Settings>Devices>Bluetooth area. I go to the Device Manager, and there is no bluetooth radio showing.

I do the normal searches, and follow all the recommendations, I ran the troubleshooter it said 1. Reinstalled the driver (successfull)(but it did state the Qualcomm driver which is correct), 2. Restarting the device (unsuccessful), it was the same story all 10 times I tried that. Then there was the command line that didn't work. Then there was a couple other things I tried that I knew from past problems, and searches I did specifically for this. all failed. The only thing I have left is to use the OS installer to do an in place upgrade or whatever. I don't like the idea of that, too big of a chance for something to go sideways.

What else can I do here, I want to say I've had this happen before but I don't remember what I did. What else besides the in place upgrade?

Hi,

1. First thing to try as this happened 'recently' - System Restore.

Do you have a recently created System Restore point available?
This is just the sort of situation this can be useful for.

2. Do you have a recently created disk image? The routine and regular use of disk imaging is strongly recommended here e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + large enough external storage for image files.

If so, restore the image of your O/S partition.

Using disk imaging can mean you
a. sometimes don't need technical help - simply return to a previous good state
b. save time
c. have a full backup
d. can restore your working environment even if your disk fails or PC becomes unbootable- and potentially even to a different PC.
etc.

Please post the URL for your laptop's driver download page- I can't find one. Most people don't think to do this anyway, alas.

Please post a screenshot of your Device Manager.

The forum prompted you thus:

- so we don't have to keep on asking for that. Thanks.

Robby,

Since it is a hardware detection fault, there is no logical reason to do a Repair install. It won't make a blind bit of difference.

I had this problem happen to my Dell Inspiron 7779 once.
The Bluetooth adapter was not shown in Device manager.
The Bluetooth adapter was not detected by Dell's built-in diagnostics either.
So, naturally, Dell support claimed it was a software problem and demanded money to help me. Fat chance.
The next day, the fault disappeared. Bluetooth was back to normal and has remained so ever since.


I suggest you:
- Go to your Dell Drivers & downloads page then look for the Documentation tab so you can download the Service manual for you model.
- Then look up replacing the Bluetooth adapter [which is likely to be a combined WiFi-Bluetooth card].
- Pull the adapter out, clean its contacts & put it back in.


Best of luck,
Denis

If you want to do a check independently of your installed O/S - try booting from a live boot disk, and then see if BT works.

Or clean install Win 10 on a spare disk.

If BT then doesn't work, suspect the hardware.



Or buy a BT dongle.

Morning guys, thanks for the great responses, I"m going to just answer these in order for simplicity.

1 Unfortunately no restore point. This is a fresh install only a couple months old, I know I set up the restore points but apparently I didn't because it was off. I can't believe I forgot tht, it's usually one of the first 5 things I do.

2 Macrium completed successfully last time it was ran last week, but my external HDD died and I just haven't replaced it.

3 Driver download/Device Manager/Windows version #, that was just my bad. I usually post at least the version #, but in my frustration I just didn't read the information yet.

4 Troubleshooter, says the radio does not exist, but it know the brand and the model # of the radio.
4A, The Device Manager has the correct adapter listed, but try to update the driver through device manager, it says the radio is not installed. But you can update driver through just the regular Devices Tab, but it says Bluetooth is off, (with no way of turning on)

5 I'll have to try the live USB, I already have Linux downloaded just need to put it on a USB, that is something I usually think of, don't know why I didn't

6 I already have two dongles, both are combination wifi/bluetooth, but even with the install disk, the pc detects the wifi radio, but not the bluetooth radio. I probably should have stated that to start with.

7. I will go download that service manual and try that now, as soon as I post the stuff I forgot to post. Because I failed to do that, I will get 50 lashes with a wet noodle.



Is this what you wanted? https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...jQT090/drivers


Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 21H2
Installed on ‎8/‎7/‎2022
OS build 19044.2251
Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0

If you double-click on that Device manager entry, it should tell you what the problem is. It might well just say that the device cannot start.

I suggest you install that Bios update [v1.24] listed in the Dell downloads page. There's no telling if it is associated with your problem - I doubt it.
If you look at its full details page, you'll see that there is also a Bios recovery file. It's worth downloading that as well. You do not need it yet so you should just keep it.
What is BIOS and How to Check and Update the System Setup or BIOS on Your Dell System - Dell
How to Recover the BIOS - Dell

To remove-replace ["re-seat"] the combined WiFi-BT card {page 31}, you have to first remove the optical drive {page 17} & take off the base cover {page 21}.

My own Dell Inspiron 7779 is similar to yours.
In my Service manual instructions for lifting off the base cover, they forgot to mention that after removing all the screws there is a plastic latch in the middle of the back.
I get that to click out by working my way in from both sides with soft thin sticks [popsicle sticks] until it just jumps out.

I've downloaded a copy of your Service manual in case you want to ask any detailed questions.



Denis

RobbyK said:

Is this what you wanted? https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...jQT090/drivers


Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 21H2
Installed on ‎8/‎7/‎2022
OS build 19044.2251
Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0

The Device Manager screenshot is very useful... as is the driver download page:



Bottom one

I didn't know this was an Inspiron 3793 before- I was looking at your specs- presumably for a different PC.

dalchina said:

I didn't know this was an Inspiron 3793 before- I was looking at your specs- presumably for a different PC.

If you hadn't said anything I never would have thought about it, but yes I have changed pc's, I need to go change that. I don't come here enough to remember all the details of the site.

On the downloads, I have just updated the BIOS, and BIOS recovery file. I have also downloaded the latest driver for the Qualcom Bluetooth. However that page does not acknowledge that things have been downloaded, at least not for me. I did try to see if the tiemline of updating the BIOS, and the radio quitting, but they were like a week apart so I don't think that is the cause. I will keep it on my list of things to check if nothing else works out. Let me check the live cd, and I'll get back to you.

Thankis to everyone that has responded so far.