How to pair/connect Bluetooth audio device to Windows 7 PC when Windows 7 reports "Device driver software was not successfully installed. Bluetooth Peripheral Device. No driver found."

Anonymous
2012-02-29T00:14:29+00:00

I spent many hours trying to figure out how to connect my two Windows 7 64-bit PCs to my Bluetooth stereo audio device (the Motorola S705) but the problem seems to be generic to many Bluetooth stereo audio devices, and the web shows many people having this problem, so I thought I'd post my solution in case it helps anyone else.

SYMPTOMS:

A Bluetooth-capable Windows 7 PC can pair, but can’t connect, to a stereo audio device (like the Motorola S705 SoundPilot) via Bluetooth. The PC and the audio device may pair, but then Windows 7 provides the following error messages: “Device driver software was not successfully installed. Bluetooth Peripheral Device. No driver found.”

It may be worth noting that I had no problem connecting my Bluetooth audio device to my cell phone or Windows XP PC. And the Windows 7 PC was able to connect to other Bluetooth devices, such as mice or keyboards.

CAUSE:

Even though a Windows 7 PC may have a working Bluetooth driver that connects to some Bluetooth devices (like mice or keyboards), a Windows 7 PC may not have the necessary A2DP & AVRCP (audio-capable) Bluetooth software & drivers installed. This software deficiency may occur, especially if the PC has been upgraded from an earlier version of Windows or the PC maker has simply not provided the latest driver update.  This problem can occur even if "Windows Update" is enabled and even if Windows 7 is allowed to automatically search for the driver online.

SOLUTION:

If the PC has an add-on Bluetooth adapter/dongle, download & install the latest driver directly from the Bluetooth dongle maker’s website, if possible.

A) If the PC has Bluetooth built-in, download & install the latest Bluetooth driver directly from the PC manufacturer, if possible.

B) If the add-on Bluetooth adapter/dongle maker, or the PC-maker doesn't offer full-featured Bluetooth software for Windows 7, it is possible (not guaranteed) that the maker of the Bluetooth chips inside the adapter/dongle/PC does offer such full-featured Bluetooth software (but the maker of the adapter/dongle/PC didn't bother to test it and include it on their website).  If so, you may be able to do the following:

  1. On the Windows 7 PC, go into to the “Device Manager” (Start Menu/Control Panel/Device Manager) and expand “Bluetooth Radios”.  You should see two items.  (Ignore the 2nd item which says something like Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator.)  The first item should contain the name of the Bluetooth module, possibly with the name of the Bluetooth chipmaker (e.g. Broadcom, Cambridge Silicon Radio "CSR", or Toshiba), but also possibly with just the module maker's name (e.g. Dell, or HP).  If the chipmaker's name isn't apparent, then double-click on the icon, click on the "Details" tab, and then select "Manufacturer" from the "Properties" drop down menu.  The Bluetooth chipmaker's name should appear under "Properties".  If not, you're probably out of luck but you could surf around some of the other "Properties" so see if you can get a hint at the Bluetooth chipmaker's name.
  2. Go to the chipmaker’s website to download the latest driver. For example, in the case of a Broadcom Bluetooth radio chip, download the Widcomm Bluetooth software from Broadcom’s website, http://www.broadcom.com/support/bluetooth/update.php
  3. With the Bluetooth hardware adapter/dongle installed (if not built-in), install the chipmaker’s Bluetooth software.

Once the Bluetooth software is installed, you should be able to pair and connect with the Bluetooth audio device in the normal manner (Start Menu/Devices and Printers/Add a device).

Note that in any case, once the driver is installed and the Bluetooth audio device is properly installed, paired, and connected, you may need to go into the audio properties of the PC (Start Menu/Control panel/Sound) and set the default audio playback device to be the Bluetooth headphones when listening through the Bluetooth audio device. When not listening through the Bluetooth audio device, the user will have to switch the default audio playback device back to the speakers.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2012-02-29T18:54:20+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for sharing the resolution, as this would help other members of the community facing the same issue.

If you have any other queries or comments related to Microsoft Windows, you can post it on Microsoft Answers Forum and we will be happy to answer you.

Hope this information helps you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-08-24T15:10:35+00:00

    So, I paid the $99 for a technician, Chandran from the service answer desk at Microsoft to help me connect an A2DP device to my Dell Inpiron 1720 laptop.  32 bit Windows 7.   He has been unsuccessful and did not click on the above link.  Instead, he downloaded Ricoh memory card dirvers for Vista 32-bit and XP/2K"

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-18T18:55:20+00:00

    I've found that Windows 7 does not have the A2DP stereo drivers that Windows XP has. On the Microsoft site you can find XP Mode for Windows 7 users. It is a fully certified version of Windows XP Professional and it runs as a program in a window. It takes up a lot of memory, but it works.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-07-17T22:09:32+00:00

    You spent hours trying to pair a bluetooth device without updating your drivers? This doesn't help me at all.

    No.  I updated the drivers through Windows Update, through HP's website, and through the Bluetooth Dongle vendor's website but none of the drivers were new enough.  I had to figure out the maker of the chip inside of the Bluetooth dongle and then update the driver from the CHIPMAKER'S website.  That's highly unusual.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-07-17T18:57:18+00:00

    I had the same issue, and was busy cursing Microsoft - but it shows how we do (and that we shouldn't) rely on Windows update.

    I have an HP Laptop, a few years old now, but still performing pretty well for my purposes, and until the price of dual-purpose tablet/notebook hybrids comes down, it will continue as my prime PC.

    Anyhows, I persevered and (based on the search term “HP Integrated module with Bluetooth 2.1 wireless “ found a likely Win 7 driver here.

    This has worked (Windows Update thinks the 7 year old MS driver is up to date!) So I can now use the headphones – wires-free at last!

    Brian

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