Snow Leopard and Bluetooth problem

I'm trying to use Sony VGP-BRMP10 mouse - works on 10.5, but doesn't on 10.6.1. The device initially connects, but will not pair and ultimately disconnects. I tried all the resetting (PRAM, PMU, pList, etc.), with no success. Seems as if there's a 10.6/Bluetooth issue...

I am beginning to think that we should use the new screen capture function in Quicktime X and post a video on youtube showing the problem. That way we can give Apple Care a link where they can actually see the issues that bluetooth on OSX is causing.

While BT doesn't show up in Prefs itself, the Bluetooth.prefPane is still there in the System PreferencePanes folder. I used the control button to view Show Package Contents and everything seemed to be there when I compared it to my neighbour's Bluetooth enabled (and working) iMac. He wouldn't, however, let me open the Bluetooth Unix Executable File in the MacOS subfolder to compare it to mine but for what it's worth, mine says:

*Last login: Wed Sep 22 13:39:54 on ttys000*
*/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Bluetooth.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/Bluetooth ; exit;*
*MacBook:~ OP$ /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Bluetooth.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/Bluetooth ; exit;*
*-bash: /System/Library/PreferencePanes/Bluetooth.prefPane/Contents/MacOS/Bluetooth: cannot execute binary file*
logout

*[Process completed]*

I might try and dig up something on google but, at this point, I'm more inclined to forget I ever had BT and give my Mighty Mouse away.

Something in Snow Leopard is very sensitive with regard to USB communication, especially the bluetooth device seems affected. For me removing & updating Arcana StartupSound helped, the problems disappeared.

Optimus Primacy, could you give the Terminal.app output of `ls /Library/StartupItems/`, `ls /Library/PreferencePanes/` and `kextstat | grep -v apple`? The first just shows stuff that gets loaded at boot time, the second lists preference panels, the last one lists kernel extensions that are not from Apple.

Message was edited by: Henk Poley

I got the bluetooth prefpane back after SMC reset and reinstalling a USB driver for a sound card (M-Audio USB) ... But still it doesn't work. The bluetooth on this generation (1st, I think) Intel MacMini is really broken and never worked. So I have used a D-Link DBT-122 bluetooth dongle, and that worked -- until I installed Snow Leopard ...

So for now I am not able to use my Apple Wireless keyboard (the old plastic version). So somehow Apple seem to have sabotaged the Bluetooth driver(s) in OSX 10.6 ... I hope they fix it soon ... (It's kind of useless having to use my MBP to type via screen sharing ...)

--
flips 8)

Okay, this is getting ridicules. Has anyone tried a clean install of 10.6? If so, did it help?

A clean reinstall doesn't work. Other threads I've seen about the same prob suggested a trip to a Genius Bar was a win. Another advocated pulling your rig apart and screwing around with the BT module wiring/antenna. This prob doesn't seem unique to Snow Leopard. There's lots of stuff on threads about the same issue with Leopard and specific MacBook builds.

I spoke with a friend of mine who's a tech at Apple and she said it's probably a firmware problem (derp) and they're probably working on a patch.

@Hank I actually gave up and went and sat in the sun with a book instead. It was a lot more fun than trying to find BT.

I did, however, just open the Bluetooth Unix File with Console and it had a lot more info including AppleScript commands. I'm folding for the night though; I've wasted too many braincells on this as it is.

Well, that doesn't make any sense. Bluetooth just suddenly starts acting strange for no apparent reason? Mine started acting flaky, when off, disappeared, came back and now won't turn on. Doesn't seem like a firmware issue, but I suppose it could be old hardware (MacBook Pro early 2008)...

Similar problem. I have a D-Link Bluetooth USB device that's worked perfectly under Leopard with my Apple Aluminum wireless keyboard. New batteries, ran the latest update for Snow Leopard.

The BlueTooth facility shows up fine with the System Preferences panel. After checking the Discoverable checkbox and clicking on Set Up New Device, a Bluetooth Setup Assistant (BSA) dialog box shows the keyboard (as I previously named it) and after clicking Continue it presents a newly generated pairing key code, but the Enter button to the right of it is grayed out. The keyboard is then briefly displayed in the Bluetooth dialog box as connected, but then disappears. Both dialogs then just hang, with the a "Connecting to..." message and a spinning circle in the BSA dialog box.

Again, this all work seamlessly under Leopard. Where's the fix Apple?! Please wake up, read this thread on your Support discussion board and let people know when a fix can be expected. Are you aspiring to become another Microsoft, or what?

Having same problem pairing new aluminum keyboard with MacBook Pro 13" with SL 10.6.1 on board. All the described solutions above don't work for me.

Keyboard works fine with 10.5.X on board. This is the first time when I really get disappointed with Apple.

I am happy (or unhappy depending on how you look at it) to report that the problem is indeed with Mac OS 10.6.1. I've restarted my MacBook Pro from an external drive running 10.5 and viola... bluetooth works just as before. Not an hardware issue, not a firmware issue, not a power management problem... just a 10.6.1 bug. I'm going back to 10.5. Thanks Apple.

Message was edited by: LarryDJarvis

I also confirm this, and have taken the same action.

Start of RANT ====>

I'm having the same "No Bluetooth" problem with my A1150 Macbook Pro (15", 2.0 Core 2), Installed the much anticipated Snow Leopard 10.6 and viola! For my 29.95 + shipping I get!!!

NO FREAKING BLUETOOTH!!!, My MightyMouse is now a Hockey Puck. I'm too old a fa *t to be using the track pad for program development! I'm set in my ways and need the mouse (Bluetooth MightyMouse) to work.

As you all are aware this is a problem that appears to be caused by the 10.6 upgrade. Apparently based on my reading, Apple has not even acknowledged that there is a "problem" with The Upgrade. I guess it's because most of us do not use Bluetooth for our mice or whatever.

I am a CONVERT from Windooze which I have gotten very "annoyed" with (High code of software/upgrades and lock of support).

I got a deal on a used Macbook Pro and jumped at it and now I am wondering if I made a mistake going to the Apple Platform!!

I want to work on some applications for the Mac OS X/iPhone platforms but without a mouse it is tedious when doing a bunch of heads down coding and cut-and-paste. Again using the Track Pad is not productive or speedy for me.
<===End of Rant.

Mike

Could you give the Terminal.app output of `ls /Library/StartupItems/`, `ls /Library/PreferencePanes/` and `kextstat | grep -v apple`?

Here:

larry-jarvis-computer:~ larry$ ls /Library/StartupItems/
Cocktail
larry-jarvis-computer:~ larry$ ls /Library/PreferencePanes/
larry-jarvis-computer:~ larry$ kextstat | grep -v apple