Question:

How to troubleshoot a built-in Bluetooth device that stopped working and cannot be reinstalled?

I have an HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation with Windows 10 (64-bit) and Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) as the built-in Bluetooth device. It was working fine until it suddenly disconnected from my wireless earbuds and showed an error code 43 in the device manager. I tried various solutions, such as disabling and enabling, uninstalling and reinstalling, running the Bluetooth troubleshooter, changing the Bluetooth Support Service settings, and checking for Windows updates, but none of them worked. In fact, after I uninstalled the device and deleted the driver, I could not find any drivers online or on my PC, and the device became an unknown device. I also heard a faint squeaking noise from the right side of my laptop when I scanned for hardware changes. Now, I have no Bluetooth functionality on my PC and I don’t know what caused this problem or how to fix it. Can you please help me?

Answer:

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other over short distances. It is widely used for connecting headphones, speakers, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals to computers, smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets. However, sometimes Bluetooth devices may stop working properly due to various reasons, such as driver issues, hardware problems, software conflicts, or interference. In this article, we will discuss how to troubleshoot a built-in Bluetooth device that stopped working and cannot be reinstalled on an HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation with Windows 10 (64-bit) and Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) as the built-in Bluetooth device.

What are the symptoms of the problem?

The problem started when the Bluetooth device suddenly disconnected from the wireless earbuds and showed an error code 43 in the device manager. This error code means that Windows has stopped the device because it has reported problems. The device could not be reconnected even after restarting the PC. The user tried various solutions, such as disabling and enabling, uninstalling and reinstalling, running the Bluetooth troubleshooter, changing the Bluetooth Support Service settings, and checking for Windows updates, but none of them worked. In fact, after the user uninstalled the device and deleted the driver, the device became an unknown device and no drivers were found online or on the PC. The user also heard a faint squeaking noise from the right side of the laptop when scanning for hardware changes. Now, the user has no Bluetooth functionality on the PC and does not know what caused this problem or how to fix it.

What are the possible causes of the problem?

There are several possible causes of the problem, such as:

• The Bluetooth driver is corrupted, outdated, incompatible, or missing. This could happen due to a faulty installation, a Windows update, a malware infection, or a hardware change.
• The Bluetooth hardware is faulty, damaged, or loose. This could happen due to physical wear and tear, overheating, dust, or impact.
• The Bluetooth settings are incorrect, disabled, or conflicting. This could happen due to user error, system changes, or software interference.
• The Bluetooth device is out of range, low on battery, or paired with another device. This could happen due to environmental factors, user behavior, or device limitations.

How to troubleshoot the problem?

To troubleshoot the problem, the user can try the following steps:

• Step 1: Check the Bluetooth status and settings. The user can check if the Bluetooth is turned on, enabled, and visible on the PC and the device. The user can also check if the Bluetooth device is paired, connected, and compatible with the PC. The user can access the Bluetooth settings by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar, or by going to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. The user can also try to remove and re-add the Bluetooth device from the list of paired devices.
• Step 2: Run the Bluetooth troubleshooter. The user can run the built-in Bluetooth troubleshooter to automatically detect and fix common Bluetooth problems. The user can run the troubleshooter by going to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Bluetooth. The user can follow the on-screen instructions and apply the suggested fixes.
• Step 3: Update the Bluetooth driver. The user can update the Bluetooth driver to the latest version to ensure compatibility and performance. The user can update the driver manually or automatically. To update the driver manually, the user can go to Device Manager > Bluetooth > Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) > Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. To update the driver automatically, the user can use a reliable driver updater tool, such as Driver Easy, to scan, download, and install the correct driver for the device.
• Step 4: Reinstall the Bluetooth driver. The user can reinstall the Bluetooth driver to fix any corruption or missing files. The user can reinstall the driver by going to Device Manager > Bluetooth > Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) > Uninstall device > Delete the driver software for this device > Scan for hardware changes. The user can then restart the PC and let Windows reinstall the driver automatically, or download and install the driver from the official HP website.
• Step 5: Check the Bluetooth hardware. The user can check if the Bluetooth hardware is working properly and securely connected to the PC. The user can open the laptop case and inspect the Bluetooth module for any signs of damage, looseness, or dirt. The user can also try to reseat the Bluetooth module or replace it with a new one if necessary. The user should be careful when handling the internal components of the laptop and follow the proper safety precautions. The user can also contact HP support or a professional technician for further assistance.

Conclusion

In

this article, we have discussed how to troubleshoot a built-in Bluetooth device that stopped working and cannot be reinstalled on an HP ZBook 17 Mobile Workstation with Windows 10 (64-bit) and Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) as the built-in Bluetooth device. We have explained the symptoms, causes, and solutions of the problem, and provided step-by-step instructions for each solution. We hope that this article has helped the user to resolve the problem and restore the Bluetooth functionality on the PC. If the user has any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading.