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
    2017-01-11T23:57:32+00:00

    This is literally the only thing that has helped me. However, I still can't get my headphones to play anything. It now reads as everything is fine. Even got to the "services" popup and clicked on "Listen to Music" and nothing.  I'm about ready to pull my hair out.

    Any ideas anyone?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-11-30T09:54:56+00:00

    I tried long back to connect my Sony Bluetooth Stereo Headset ( MDR-EX31BN ), it was not successful. And now after reading this KB, i tried it and installed latest Intel Wireless Bluetooth Drivers (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/72252/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software) and tried to pair the device. The overall process took 5 mins and finally achieved and able to access it. After installation go to "Devices and Printers" and Right click on Bluetooth headset and select "Service", a window will pop-up and select "Listen to Music".

    There you are and enjoy hands free music/calls on laptop.

    Thanks to the Article !!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-23T10:10:06+00:00

    Thanks for this awesome tip! Spent hours trying to figure this out and this finally fixed the issue. Required a couple resets after the drivers installed. But once i went into the Services option and selected "Listen to Music" the headset started working!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-27T21:51:23+00:00

    14 HOURS OF HAIL later... this is what finally worked for my Plantronics headset:

    My Windows 7 computer does not have internal BT

    • delete previous BT attempts/drivers/devices (start over)
    • plug in USB bluetooth dongle (mine is an Asus BT21), let Windows put a Generic driver on it
    • install Broadcom's wizard (SetupBtwDownloadSE.exe downloaded from their site), it figures out what your system needs and installs it
    • reboot
    • use Windows update, on mine it located "Broadcom 2046 BT 2.1+EDR w First Connect" to replace/update Generic BT (for my Asus USB BT dongle)
    • reboot
    • add a device under BT devices (for my headset), will recognize the pairing and show the device, ***R clk on the newly discovered device and select ADD THIS DEVICE (not the properties!)**** (I kept selecting Properties for variations on the 4 check boxes)
    • DO NOT SELECT NEXT button, only use the R clk and select Add this Device
    • it auto added it's needed drivers, and recognized it (added Hands-free, Romote Control and AV)

    "This device has been successfully added to this computer"

    • R clk device and Control is there
    • sound properties now lists it
    • simply make it the default for sound, then when you turn it off it should default to speakers again

    This ordeal nearly killed me, but I won.

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