Error "Adding the device failed resulting in an unkown error. 0x80004005" when adding Bluetooth headset

Anonymous
2010-01-20T20:16:27+00:00

I'm having an issue re-pairing my Bluetooth headset with my laptop.  I'm running Windows 7 Enterprise 64.  I have repeated this behavior with 2 different headsets.  Here's the problem:

1.  I pair the headset with my laptop and everthing works fine

2.  I go into Bluetooth Devices and remove the headset device

3.  I then attempt to pair the headset to the laptop and receive the error

I have not been able to find anything online to help.  I have spoken to the manufacturer (Plantronics) and they were also unable to help.  Surely there's got to be a way to get it to pair again.  I'm desperate for help.  I really don't want to rebuild my machine just to get the headset to pair again.

Thanks in advance for an assistance.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2011-01-19T02:30:59+00:00

Hi guys,

I couldn't pair either of my two headsets to my Windows 7 machine.  Here's what fixed it for me.  In Device Manager, under Bluetooth Radios, I opened the properties for my radio (Broadcom 2046 Bluetooth 2.1+EDR USB Device with First Connect).  Under the Advanced tab, I took the hyphen out of my radio's name.  The headsets paired immediately after that.  

This is a pretty serious bug considering the radio takes its name from the computer name, which is username-PC by default when you install Windows 7.

I hope this solves your problems.  

Note that in order to actually use the headset, you will probably have to update your Bluetooth drivers if you haven't done so already.  Go to http://www.broadcom.com/support/bluetooth/update.php

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-19T20:18:43+00:00

    Exactly the same problem here.

    In summary - connected BT dongle, drivers auto-installed fine.

    Paired with Logitech V470 BT mouse fine, used it for about 10 min.

    Went for meal, laptop went in to standby.

    Upon return - no response from mouse.  Changed batteries - no different.

    Tried removing mouse from BT devices then re-pairing (pressing the pairing button on the mouse, blue LED flashing as expected) - bam, error -

    "Adding the device failed resulting in an unknown error. 0x80004005 "

    I then tried moving the USB BT dongle to another port - no improvement.

    I think TomK21 has hit the nail on the head here - any reply from Microsoft?  The two IDENTICAL replies so far seem to have completely missed the point made by the OP - they added the device fine initially, it was when they re-added it that they had a problem.

    FYI - the mouse works fine with 2 Win 7 32-bit laptops I have (as it can only hold the pairing for one device at a time I frequently do this remove/re-pair process when moving between laptop and netbook), but this is a 64-bit machine, could that be to blame?

    Also, I'm suspicious that it started happening after it came out of standby but have no 'power management' option as noted in the MacRumors suggestion above.

    Any help much appreciated!!

    Alan

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-16T21:29:08+00:00

    Is there a possibility that Win 7 saves BT profiles for devices that require specific drivers even after the device has been removed?

    I have a Altec Lansing (now Plantronics) Backbeat 903 and have experienced a very similar issue ... I successfully paired and after Win7 couldn't find the drivers, it performed a diagnostic/troubleshooting and suggested I run a BT driver installer from a 3rd party site.

    After doing so, my headphones worked great!

    However, over the course of the day, my headphones failed.  I figured I would just start from scratch and remove the device and try to re-pair.

    This is where the trouble started.  EVEN BEFORE I WOULD BUT MY HEADSET IN DISCOVERY MODE, THE DEVICE SHOWED IN THE 'SEARCHING FOR DEVICES' WINDOW.  It then disappeared.  Thought nothing of it.  Put my device in discovery mode. The device shown this time, VERY quickly ... not like the first time I ever successfully paired which again piqued my suspicions ...

    I attempted to pair and come to the error mentioned in the this thread.

    uninstalling/reinstalling all drivers and software came to no avail.  It only was until I uninstalled all drivers and software to my headset ... and uninstalled the drivers to my BT dongle ... THEN plugged the dongle into a different USB port, did I finally get everything working again ...

    After Win7 auto-installed the dongle drivers for the new USB port, I was able to pair with my headset again!

    This leads me to believe that the reasoning behind my headset not pairing after removing the device from the Bluetooth Devices window is that the pairing keys (or whatever it is that Win7 uses internally) are never really removed or reset even when the device profile is removed from Windows.

    To this end, I want to note that during ALL successful pairings, I was never prompted for a pairing key ... i think how Win7 handles this may be the issue ... is there a way to override this setting or would you be able to comment further on my findings?

    Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-06T19:31:52+00:00

    Same error here with a Microsoft bluetooth wireless keyboard Elite.  Been a rock solid keyboard, but now won't pair.  Windows 7 Ultimate, 32 bit.  The mouse will work, unless I try a second time then it dies too.  I pull and reinsert the bluetooth usb transceiver and the mouse at least reconnects.  The keyboard does not.

    Sounds like it's wider spread than the devices...  Something change recently??

    EDIT:  possible answer here for my keyboard:

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=739314

    From a mac forum no less...

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-17T03:44:16+00:00

    I have the same exact problem. Help!

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