strange Bluetooth / MOBO issue!

[sojourner]

Turned on the T41 today to find the BT systray icon to have a red icon symbol (that's bad). The BT mouse did not work. Being this is a multiboot system tried another OS, same thing. Noticed in XP's device manager no BT icon (meaning the device doesn't exist). Upon telling device manager to show hidden devices (XP mod) I saw the standard BT icon. The properties dialog said the device was not connected, but it was! Checked modem diagnostics (BT and land-line modem are on the same card) and diagnostics show everything fine for the modem. Hmmm....

I have a backup lappie which is identical in every possible way. Swapped BT cards. The known GOOD card did NOT work either. So now I believe there is a MOBO issue (it's definitly not the card). Did some actual tests of the modem and found the good MOBO connects at 50K but the suspected bad MOBO only (consistantly) connects at 21.6K. Don't know what that means but seems the daughter board (BT-modem) port may have gone south. Other than these issues the MOBO seems fine!

Does anybody have ANY idea what could have happened and if it is fixable? Would hate to have to buy a new mobo, but I NEED BT working and cannot use a USB port for it.

Thanks for your help!

[sjthinkpader]

You can't turn it on by Fn+F5 or AC? Red mean the Blue BT icon has red lines in the Task Tray or the whole icon turned red?

[sojourner]

You can't turn it on by Fn+F5 or AC? Red mean the Blue BT icon has red lines in the Task Tray or the whole icon turned red?

Boy oh boy sjthinkpader, you are a genius! Never thought the adapter may have been turned off, but it was. Fn-F5 gave it away. Thanks a bunch!

BTW, concerning the question on red, the BT systray icon looks like a blue egg standing on end. Inside that is a very funny looking B, that B is either red, white or blue.

Best I can determine the color code is as follows:
RED = bad news, adapter problem (in this case it was off)
WHITE = adapter found, no BT accessories connected
BLUE = accessory connected

[sjthinkpader]

That's correct; red=off, white=on, and blue=active.