Where is Bluetooth in Win8?

Hey there.

I`ve just tried to find Bluetooth in my M14xR2. It is enabled in BIOS, it`s shown in "autoruns" but there`s no icon in the taskbar and I cannot connect any BT devices.
Shouldn`t BT be active as soon as WiFi is active?
In Win7 there was a windows popping up after FN-F3 asking to enable WiFi / BT. This is not available in Win8. Might this be the problem?

 

take your mouse cursor to either bottom right or top corner for the charms bar.

then click settings>change PC settings>Wireless> Bluetooth

toggle the switch on/off according to requirement

but make sure you have the BT drivers installed beforehand. I don't think it will work without the drivers.

 

I tried this before but the switch is "read-only"...the switch is grey and I cannot change it.

 

try unistalling the driver and installing this one Bluetooth Software Download | Broadcom

 

Is this one for the Killer card?

 

no this is for the Broadcom Bluetooth 375 module (shows as Dell 375 in device manager)(but I think it is universal for all Broadcom Bluetooth modules). But I have an R1 and just checked in the alienware website and now they have Bluetooth 4.0 (looks integrated with the intel or killer card). But maybe it still is as a separate module. Download that and try it. It will first check for compatible hardware and if there is none it will stop, no harm done.

 

It does not work. No devices found.

 

in win 8 for me fn+f3 works when in desktop mode. check that. btw if you have intel Bluetooth check in their website (I always download drivers from device manufacturers (newer)). You have to enable Bluetooth adapter first than install the drivers. Edit: if you did a clean install of windows 8 and the fn+f3 doesn't show try the resource CD for alien OSD or something like that.

 

What exactly happens if you hit FN+F3? Do you see a window or is just WiFi enabled?

As I have the Killer 1202 card, I don`t have Intel BT. It`s part of the Killer card.
BT was always enabled in BIOS. As well before I started the Clean Win8 Install. I tried OSD Installation, twice. Nothing changed. I still cannot activate BT

 

fn+ f3 in desktip gives me the same old window with wifi,bluetooth,wireless HD....tick boxes. sorry I don't have a killer card but I think you should find a way to enable the hardware (should be in device manager) and than install the drivers. Have you looked at this one (should be newer drivers than the ones in the dell site : Killer Gaming :: Support :: Driver Downloads (just choose killer 1202, windows 8 64bit).

 

I am sure that I had BT enabled when I had W7, but in W8 I can't even see bluetooth listed. Is grayed out and no driver helped me

I have an Intel Wireless 2230 on my R2.

 

Same issue for me an other guys - I asked a Dell technician for assistance. We`ll see if I`ll get an answer.

 

Here`s the solution that works for me and other M14x Owners:
- deactivate WiFi/Bluetooth (FN+F3)
- reboot and start BIOS (F2)
- Press FN+F3 once when you are in the BIOS
- Exit and "save changes"
- Reboot
-> Bluetooth`s back!

Maybe some of you might post their results here.

 

Unfortunatly this didnt work for me. Ive reinstalled windows no bluetooth. I took out the msata and reinstalled it on the normal hdd still no bluetooth. Turn it on and off in the bios, still no joy. Bluetooth is well and truely dead.

Phoned dell this morning and they are sending me a new wireless card out. Fingers crossed this will fix it.

Im on win7.

 

I do not mean to only enable it in the BIOS in the BIOS settings. You have to press FN+F3 when you are in the BIOS screen additionaly.

 

Hehe i tried the fn and f3 aswell not just turning it on and off in the bios.

Just to point out bluetooth doesnt even appear in device manager for me and there are no unknown devices.

 

Me neither. I could just see the bluetooth service running in the background in the taskmanager.
But after I did the mentioned steps it is activated right after boot.

 

Send us an email with your service tag and phone number at [email protected], we'll review your case and contact you soon.

 

Thanks Luis.

I actually got a replacement killer card in the post today but havent installed it as my wife gave me a shiny new daughter this morning!

If i have no joy with the new card i'll send an email to the address. Likewise if it does solve my problem i'll update the thread.

Edit - It didnt work, I have emailed the address you provided Luis.

Edit 2 - sadly its going to the depot to be *fixed*

 

Just an update.

It came back from the depot all fixed and fully functioning according to the document but it was exactly the same still no Bluetooth!

A tech has been out this morning and replaced the motherboard and wireless card. Bluetooth still does not work and the board has another fault on it. The tech is coming back tomorrow with another motherboard and a daughter board.

This is getting quite annoying now.

 

And another update:

Tech fitted another motherboard and a new today, new motherboard was faulty again!

I am now getting a new replacement system.

I will not be choosing the killer wireless option after this.