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Marcelo NS Author

Level 1

45 points

Full Bluetooth functionality in Bootcamp (audio, A2DP, FTP, OBEX)

When runing Windows 7 in a native bootcamp partition you may have experienced issues when trying to pair android devices, audio sinks, headsets, etc. For earlier Mac models (2010 and earlier) the workaround consisted in using the broadcom drivers released by Acer or HP. However, the later 2011 models including MBA mid 2011, Macbook Pro and iMac will not allow you to install those drivers. Neither will Broadcom oficial updater recognize your bluetooth built in device.

The good news: after several weeks googling and installing/uninstalling pretty much every available driver on the internet I managed to have all my bluetooth devices wroking on Windows 7 x64 (bootcamp partition) on my MBA MID 2011.

You have at least 3 options

1.- Bluesoleil Stack: Altugh the chip is not offitially supported you can get it "brut force" recognized. This is described here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3690433?answerId=17611577022#17611577022

2.- Toshiba Stack: The version 8.0 works pretty good specially for Audio devices the audio quality is pretty the best you will get. Same as above you need to force the recognition of your chip

The toshiba stack (30 days trial)

http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/bluetooth/pages/disclaimer.php?dt=bts&download=3-64bi t

3.- Thank again to Acer (and not to Apple) we can get also a fully functional profile in a hardware we have paid a lot of money for. BUT WARNING! here you SHOULD NOT install the drivers!. Install only the utility suit instead. Pay carefull attention or you will get a blue screen and you will need to uninstall the drivers in safe mode or even have to do a clean Windows install. Uninstall all your paired BT devices (except for Magic Mouse and or keyboard you can leave them paired)

a.- Download the drivers

http://www.pcdrivershop.com/aspire_4830TG_Bluetooth_Atheros_7.4.0.96_W7x64_A.zip

b.- Unzip the file and explore the following folder

\Bluetooth(4.0)_Atheros_7.4.0.96_W7x64\Bluetooth_Suite_win7. Run Win764.exe or Win732 according to your OS.

Let the software install and restart.

c.- Pair your devices and enjoy!!!.

Options 1 and 2 (Bluesoleil and Toshiba Stack) are good options however they are paid-off softwares but what could be more important for many useres is that they completely override the Microsoft bluetooth stack and therefore Apple devices (like magic mouse) will loose some functionality I wasn't able to get the touch scrolling or the gestures working with those stacks. The 3th option however will not completeley override the Microsoft stack (used by Apple's drivers) and therefore Apple Magic mouse will work perfectly. The Atheros bluetooth suit will only add the requiered protocols and make them interact with the Microsoft stack. The disadvantage of the latest is that the audio quality is not even close as the one you are gonna get with the Toshiba stack and not say about configurability...

I hope I will save some of you some time and many headaches.

Windows 7, Bootcamp bluetooth drivers

Posted on Feb 22, 2012 11:18 AM

Top-ranking reply

Marcelo NS Author

Level 1

45 points

Posted on Feb 22, 2012 11:34 AM

How do I install a Toshiba stack?

This worked on my Mackbook air mid - 2011Windows 7 x64. Be aware that you will loose the "magic scrolling" in case you are using a bluetooth magic mouse. Otherwise all bluetooth devices have been working as a chram with the Toshiba stack.

To make it work, follow this steps:

http://linkopia.blogspot.com/2009/05/a2dp-stereo-bluetooth-on-win-xp-boot.html

But instead of downloading the toshiba stack in the above link, download the x64 stack you will find in the link bellow:

http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/bluetooth/pages/disclaimer.php?dt=bts&download=3-64bi t

once you have "tricked" the stacks restart and run the Toshiba assistant

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117 replies

Marcelo NS Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 18, 2013 1:27 AM in response to Titillator

Titillator wrote:

Thanks guys - appreciate the constructive feedback above!!

But none of the comments really solves my problem with Bluetooth (as this is a post about Bluetooth problems with Bootcamp using Windows 7/8)..

Pratnala - I did use your original Option 3 and downloaded the Atheros driver from Acer but it has made zero difference (other than some additional options for "settings").. why does it not work for me? Also, why did you recommend Atheros rather than Broadcom when the chip in my Mac is Broadcom??

Marcelo - any other suggestions? I did try downloading your Broadcom driver but my Mac wouldn't open any of the files (even if I unzipped them).. and Pratnala says that the Windows 8 driver doesn't work for him..

Awaiting your kind response

ps: I DID download all the drivers from Apple onto a disc at the Bootcamp installation phase and then ran this disc on Windows - so all drivers should be properly installed!

Hi there let me try to clarify:

A) First of all make sure that Apple Bluetooth drivers works properly before any change. If they dont work (i.e. your magic mouse does not work). Try the following

1.-Uninstall all the bluetooth drivers/software you have tried to install from Control Panel>Uninstall program.

2.- Go to Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Device manager>

Navigate there to bluetooth devices. Uninstall any bluetooth driver you see (right click- Uninstall driver)

3.- Reboot

4.- Run bootcamp from the WindowsSupport folder you used for the installation. When it prompts choose "Repair".

5.- Reboot when asked for

6.- Check if your magic mouse is now working properly.

B) Once you have the Apples bluetooth stack working you can try adding missing profiles installing Acer's drivers as described in the OP. Make sure that you download the drivers for the proper OS (windows 7, windows 8, windows 8 pro....)

Note: The broadcom drivers only works in Windows 8 and macs with the BMC27071A hardware (MBA2011, MBA2012, MBP non retina, iMac 2011). Otherwise Acer stack should add the missing protocols just fine.

pratnala

Level 1

5 points

Jan 18, 2013 8:52 AM in response to Marcelo NS

What hardware does the Mid 2012 15 inch MBP have?

Marcelo NS Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 18, 2013 10:09 AM in response to pratnala

Hi Pratnala,

The MBP mid 2012 has updated the hardware to BCM20702

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Teard own/9462/2

Apparently the Broadcom software provided by Acer is not updated jet for that card. It is a shame because in my opinion the Broadcom package gives a better user experience and the hardware is indeed a broadcom hardware and not Atheros.

pratnala

Level 1

5 points

Jan 22, 2013 1:33 AM in response to Marcelo NS

So I should get the Atheros driver for that?

Marcelo NS wrote:

Hi Pratnala,

The MBP mid 2012 has updated the hardware to BCM20702

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Teard own/9462/2

Apparently the Broadcom software provided by Acer is not updated jet for that card. It is a shame because in my opinion the Broadcom package gives a better user experience and the hardware is indeed a broadcom hardware and not Atheros.

Jan 28, 2013 9:30 PM in response to Marcelo NS

So I managed to get a tech pro to try to help me but he deleted ALL the Bluetooth drivers/network adaptors (including MS Enumerator) and now there is no Bluetooth anything on my Apple MB Pro (late 2012)...

Effectively, I now have to download the drivers again. So, I guess that I will have to burn a DVD with the Apple drivers from Mac OS and then reinstall this onto Windows again. Let's hope this reloads the proper (workable) Bluetooth drivers again.. suggestions please??

Also, if I reload the Apple drivers for Windows 7, will this bring back my Microsoft Enumerator and missing Bluetooth Network Adaptors (Bluetooth Device Personal Area Network & Bluetooth Device RF Comm Protocol TDI)?? Do I even need them???

Help....

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Jan 28, 2013 9:33 PM in response to Titillator

Titillator wrote:

So I managed to get a tech pro to try to help me but he deleted ALL the Bluetooth drivers/network adaptors (including MS Enumerator) and now there is no Bluetooth anything on my Apple MB Pro (late 2012)...

I hope you didn't pay for that work!

Don't forget that you can use System Restore to get back to where you were before the 'Tech' got involved.

Marcelo NS Author

Level 1

45 points

Jan 29, 2013 12:14 AM in response to Titillator

Titillator wrote:

So I managed to get a tech pro to try to help me but he deleted ALL the Bluetooth drivers/network adaptors (including MS Enumerator) and now there is no Bluetooth anything on my Apple MB Pro (late 2012)...

Effectively, I now have to download the drivers again. So, I guess that I will have to burn a DVD with the Apple drivers from Mac OS and then reinstall this onto Windows again. Let's hope this reloads the proper (workable) Bluetooth drivers again.. suggestions please??

Also, if I reload the Apple drivers for Windows 7, will this bring back my Microsoft Enumerator and missing Bluetooth Network Adaptors (Bluetooth Device Personal Area Network & Bluetooth Device RF Comm Protocol TDI)?? Do I even need them???

Help....

Hi Titilator:

You dont need a DVD or CD an usb stick (1gb or more) will do the job. Follow the following steps and you will get all the bluetooth drivers back.

1.- Boot your computer on OSX (not in windows)

2.- Go to Applications > Utilities > and run Bootcamp Utilities

3.- U will see this

click on continue

4.- Now the following window will appear:

Make sure that ONLY the dwonload windows support software is checked.

5.- Follow the instructions and save the drivers to a clean USB stick.

6.- Reboot on Windows and run the program you will find in you USB stick under > Windows Support

7.- When the program prompt what you wanna do choose repair:

If you follow the steps, after reboot you should get the original bluetooth drivers back. Next step will be to check if some apple device (like magic mouse) work properly.

Feb 7, 2013 10:08 PM in response to Yucleto

Option three worked for me. Only update the link is out of date, but I was able to find exactly what you discussed buy searching for the name.

Thanks! Paired my bt apple keyboard first time.

Feb 8, 2013 1:10 AM in response to Marcelo NS

Thanks Marcelo - your solution worked!!

Now my Bluetooth is working fine!! 🙂

So, to everyone, please download the Apple drivers for Windows onto a DVD or USB stick, and then start Bootcamp in Windows and click repair.

If your Bluetooth wasn't working then it was probably cos the Apple drivers for Windows weren't installed properly.

If this doesn't work then remove/delete your Bluetooth devices (Apple and Microsoft Enumerator) in Device Manager in Windows, and then follow Marcelo's steps again!

Thanks everyone for your help!!

JC955

Level 1

0 points

Feb 18, 2013 11:22 AM in response to Marcelo NS

I have 1 mac that's mid 2011. windows 7 pro.

i have followed the steps in option 3. the bluetooth mouse and keyboard works fine. however, i am trying to pair a creative WP-350 headset device, it did pair as i can see it in windows "devices and printers". the issue is when i try to connect to it, the windows screen just keep saying 'connecting" and eventually it'll give up.

any suggestions will be appreciated. thanks!!

guids

Level 1

8 points

Mar 2, 2013 5:46 AM in response to Marcelo NS

Hi guys,

I have not been able to get things to work. I use:

Retina macbook 15 inch 2012

Windows 8 in bootcamp

I tried solution three without anyluck. This link i used: http://support.asus.com/download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=P9X79%20PRO&p=1&s=42&os=30& hashedid=ITjeO1wq0nRUPfej

Only installed bluetooth suite in the win8 folder.

Now in settings>change pc settings> wireless a bluetooth slider appears, but not selectable. I have read Marcelo's solution a couple of posts back, but what is "Acer Stack". In OP i could only find toshiba and bluesoleil. Thanks in advance

Mar 4, 2013 1:32 AM in response to guids

Hi Guids,

I am not sure if Bootcamp has been updated to work properly with Windows 8.. when I asked the Apple Expert at Regent St London he wasn't sure.. that's why I bought Windows 7!

So, your lack of Bluetooth functionality could be related to this problem. You should call Apple (ask for Level 2 support) and pose the question..

At the very least I suggest you do what I did, which is to burn a DVD with Bootcamp again in in Mac OS and then to load this on when Windows is on. Click on Bootcamp and hit the repair button. This should reload the Bluetooth software and it should work thereafter. If not, then you should call Apple to see if Bootcamp is ready for Windows 8 and if not whethere there are updates.

Best of luck!

pratnala

Level 1

5 points

Mar 9, 2013 5:25 AM in response to guids

I'm using Windows 8 on MBP. Read this (from this very same discussion) https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3755904?answerId=20679660022#20679660022

majom

Level 1

0 points

Mar 16, 2013 8:32 PM in response to Marcelo NS

Hi,

I installed the Atheros Suite on my Macbook Air 2012. Bluetooth worked perfectly. However, I get blue screens most of the time I restart Windows. Meanwhile I have already uninstall the Atheros Suite, but the blue screens still remain. Can you tell me I have to delete in addition to that?

Thanks!

majom

Level 1

0 points

Apr 15, 2013 7:04 AM in response to Marcelo NS

Nobody?

Full Bluetooth functionality in Bootcamp (audio, A2DP, FTP, OBEX)