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

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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
    2010-05-06T00:56:11+00:00

    Brilliant, Victor! I have yet to have problems since my last post, but in the event that I do in the future, I will certainly try your method and respond with my findings! I believe it may even relate to my suspicions I mentioned. Regardless, great tip & thanks for the post!

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-09T05:12:52+00:00

    I also tried several times right after each other and it finally went through. I chose "Pair without code" though.

    Reza Alirezaei,MOSS 2007 MVP http://blogs.devhorizon.com/reza

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-15T06:25:04+00:00

    Thanks for the link. My issue WAS on a MacBook Pro and the solution worked. I had a similar issue with my previous BT mouse but found that was a driver that Windows had installed instead of the Apple BT driver.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-09-21T17:30:32+00:00

    I have the same problem. I have Windows 7 Professional, I tried adding a stereo headset, then my bluetooth phone. Both reported 0x80004005.

    I use a "no-name" Bluetooth dongle labeled ES-388. It was properly detected by Windows 7 as a "generic Bluetooth adapter".

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