How to remove Bluetooth wireless device support in Windows XP Service Pack 2

**Player_One** · 05-24-2005, 03:28 AM

Take a look at this Microsoft KB article. I know how frustrating it can be when Microsoft's BT stack picks up the device instead of a better (WIDCOMM) bluetooth driver. I thought this would help people on this forum.

How to remove Bluetooth wireless device support in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;889814

To remove Bluetooth wireless device support, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK. (Go to System Properties in other words)
2. Click the Hardware tab.
3. Click Device Manager.
4. Expand Bluetooth Radios.
5. Right-click each device listed under Bluetooth Radios, click Uninstall, and then click OK.
6. Close Device Manager, and then click OK.
7. In Windows Explorer, open the C:\Windows\Inf folder.
8. Rename the Bth.inf file to Bth.inf.old.
9. Rename the Bth.pnf file to Bth.pnf.old.
10. Restart Windows XP SP2.

I think you can do steps 8, 9 and 10 first if you've never installed a BT device on your machine. I believe these steps render the driver inert.

**organasised** · 05-24-2005, 03:46 PM

alternatively if you don`t wanna lose the microsoft drivers (some programs use it as default and can be hassle getting windcomm to work easily if uneperienced like me) just install your bT device- win xp sp2 will make the microsoft default.

Now go to device manager and choose update driver- pick the last option which will be grayed out saying something like "let me choose myself", point to your install cd/where widcom drivers are and it should be fine.

worked with my d-link BT usb las week

**Player_One** · 05-24-2005, 07:11 PM

Yep. That works too.

But whenever I go and plug my bluetooth dongle in a different USB port, it hassles me with the New Hardware Found and automatically reactivates the Microsoft Bluetooth service I disabled previously. And I have to go and clean that up which I really dislike...

**TimTang** · 05-28-2006, 12:54 AM

What do you do when the device refuses to be uninstalled? This is what's happening to me.

I get the following messages from Windows:

Windows could not load the installer for Bluetooth. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance.

Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be repuired to boot up the computer.

Now I'm stuck! I cannot update the driver. I cannot reinstall the device and I cannot uninstall the device.

My Bluetooth device is now useless.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Thanks for any assistance.

**Jahntassa** · 05-28-2006, 02:51 AM

Try doing it in safe mode.

**TimTang** · 05-28-2006, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Actually I already tried that and it didn't work.

The good news is I took the drastic measure of uninstalling SP2, then reinstalled it, and it worked. I have my Bluetooth back.

It took all day but it was worth it. Now I have 2 years of updates from Microsoft to catch up on...again.

Cheers