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Bluetooth: Not Available -- Hardware or software fault?

I have the "Bluetooth: Not Available" problem on my MacBook with BT going in and out like a fiddler's elbow. I have tried all the fixes posted here and none has worked. At first it was only a minor inconvenience as I had no BT devices. I worked around the no sleep when BT unavailable problem by using the Deep Sleep widget, which put my MB to sleep even when BT was unavailable. But a week ago a relative bought me a BT mouse as a gift and I would like to be able to use it.

I have always thought this problem is most likely a software issue, mainly because I have seen the same thing on G5 desktops, and have heard that it happens on PBG4s. However, I now think this is a hardware issue.

I have Windows XP installed on my MB and thought I would try my mouse with that system. I reasoned that if the problem is software-related it should work OK under Windows. Well, the mouse was detected OK and worked for about 30 seconds but then it vanished just like it does under the Mac OS. Nothing I tried would find it again.

My warranty expires in 2 months and I would like to find out for certain whether or not my hardware is at fault.

I do not want to be without my MB if I can help it (I was without it for 2 months late last summer due to RSD) but I would like to have a reliable BT function.

Does anyone out there agree that the fact that this also happens under Windows means it is more likely to be a faulty BT module than a software issue?

For the record my BT has switched between available and unavailable 5 times whilst writing this! It is now stuck at unavailable.

MacBook White 2GHz, 1.25Gb, 60Gb Mac OS X (10.4.9) Titanium PowerBook G4

MacBook White 2GHz, 1.25Gb, 60Gb Mac OS X (10.4.9) Titanium PowerBook G4

Posted on Apr 20, 2007 7:48 AM

Reply
246 replies

Apr 21, 2007 2:21 AM in response to matt23

Not sure why you're asking me this but I suspect you think I may have some BT components missing. I can assure you all necessary components, both hardware and software, are on my MacBook. What happens is that they suddenly vanish and then return (sometimes).

There is no consistency to this behaviour (three times while I type this!) but what I do know is that nothing required for BT to work is missing from my MacBook.

Apr 23, 2007 9:50 PM in response to sfthomas

Hi sf thomas,

did you try to repair permission, reset SMC, PRAM, and run hardware test.

Go to about this mac and click more info and select blue tooth, it should show: Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 1.7.14f14 and several more info, if nothing there it could be hardware problem.

What did the Hardware test result on bluetooth?

I suggest you bring your macbook to apple store before your warranty expired to at least have it check for mostly hardware problem.

Better be apart but have your macbook blue tooth fixed rather than keep it with you but the problem persist.

Good Luck.

Apr 26, 2007 12:53 PM in response to Michael Tirta

Hello all,

there is the same topic in several theads in this forum. Here is my expierience with this problem :

I have brought my mac book for repair and I have waited 3 weeks to get it back. The dealer found no error but prevently he exchanged the bluetooth modul. Now the situation improved but the bluetooth is still once a day not available for 1-2 minutes. But to have some evidence the system log stores all events even the bluetooth is not available. You can search in the system log for the following error:
Feb 24 19:47:19 stephan-kopges-computer kernel[0]: USBF: 188.186 AppleUSBHubPort: Port 1 of Hub at 0x7d000000 reported error 0xe00002ed while doing set feature (resetting port)
Feb 24 19:47:20 stephan-kopges-computer kernel[0]: USBF: 189.273 AppleUSBHubPort: Port 1 of Hub at 0x7d000000 reported error 0xe00002ed while doing set feature (resetting port)
Feb 24 19:47:23 stephan-kopges-computer kernel[0]: USBF: 193.100 AppleUSBHubPort: Port 1 of Hub at 0x7d000000 reported error 0xe00002ed while doing set feature (resetting port)

Now I am looking to bring the MacBook again to the dealer because I don´t want to be blamed after the waranty period.
Hopes that helps you

I´ll keep you informed

Stephan

May 1, 2007 8:04 PM in response to Stephan Koepge

I have recently run into the same problem. I started getting intermittent Bluetooth connections a week or two ago and now I always get the "Bluetooth: Not Available" message.

I have my system set so that it always starts up in verbose mode and have noticed that the loss of bluetooth connectivity coincides with the AppleUsbHubPort port 1 error.

At first I thought it may have something to do with the recent battery update, but I think this problem started before I installed that update.

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)

May 3, 2007 7:16 PM in response to ezcheese

I have recently run into the same problem. I started
getting intermittent Bluetooth connections a week or
two ago and now I always get the "Bluetooth: Not
Available" message.

I have my system set so that it always starts up in
verbose mode and have noticed that the loss of
bluetooth connectivity coincides with the
AppleUsbHubPort port 1 error.

At first I thought it may have something to do with
the recent battery update, but I think this problem
started before I installed that update.

MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)


I have this problem starting today. I came home to find my mightymouse not working and "Bluetooth: Not Available".
I had not yet installed the battery update. After installing the update, I still have the problem. However, unlike others that have posted, it is not intermittent.
I'm about to run the hardware test.
I'm thinking that it was a good idea that I bought the Applecare program.
:-o


Macbook, G4 Cube, Ti Powerbook, iBook G3 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

May 4, 2007 6:24 AM in response to sfthomas

I have the same problem. Bluetooth intermittently disappears. I think it's a hardware related problem. Whenever it happens I loose the ability to go to sleep as well. I'll put the computer to sleep and it will wake up about 15 seconds later.

My theory is that a wire/wires are being shorted out. It feels suspiciously like the random shutdown problem but for bluetooth/sleep. I have been trying to find a reliable way of reproducing the problem. I've tried holding the macbook in different ways as well as throttling the processor.

May 4, 2007 1:29 PM in response to neojava

I'm pretty sure it's hardware too after trying everything under the sun to fix this. I am going to take my MacBook in for repair in a few days time and hope for the best, although I suspect no one is really sure what is happening.

If Apple find there is a hardware defect with these machines I hope they will recall all MacBooks affected, even those out of warranty by that time.

Will let you know how I get on with the repair.

May 5, 2007 3:32 AM in response to neojava

This problem is, for me at least, intermittent and random. Therefore it is impossible to assess what factors influence its occurrence, and therefore to reproduce it at will.

It happens whether the MB is running cool and under no load or hot and under load; whether any or no peripherals are attached; whether running on battery or mains.

In the last ten minutes I have watched it cycle from available to unavailable and back again more than a dozen times. Sometimes it runs through numerous cycles without interruption and on other occasions it will work for an hour or two then disappear for the rest of the day.

As I noted originally, I have had similar problems under Windows XP on the same MB, which leads me to believe this is a hardware issue.

It seems that more and more people ar experiencing this fault and, as a person who experienced the RSD issue last year, I hope that Apple are taking this matter seriously and resolve it ASAP.

May 10, 2007 7:51 AM in response to sfthomas

Hey guys, I recently sent my Macbook CD back to Apple for the same problem! BT would show "unavailable" back and forth, then booting into Windows would show the same thing.

I called Apple Tuesday, they had a box at my door Wednesday, shipped it back wednesday, and received it Monday. Fixed.

They said they replaced the BT module and cable. I would call and reference the apple discussions. The guy i talked to said he didn't hear about this problem, but I told him that it's on their forum.

Hope this helps!

May 11, 2007 3:28 AM in response to LawClerk

Hey guys, I recently sent my Macbook CD back to
Apple for the same problem! BT would show
"unavailable" back and forth, then booting into
Windows would show the same thing.

I called Apple Tuesday, they had a box at my door
Wednesday, shipped it back wednesday, and received it
Monday. Fixed.

They said they replaced the BT module and cable. I
would call and reference the apple discussions. The
guy i talked to said he didn't hear about this
problem, but I told him that it's on their forum.

Hope this helps!


Thanks LawClerk.

I took my MB into my nearest Apple Authorised Service Centre yesterday. Told them I thought it was the BT module and/or its USB connection.

Keeping my fingers crossed that they make the same repair as yours.

Will keep all you all informed.

Bluetooth: Not Available -- Hardware or software fault?

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