Thinkpads Forum

Has anybody successfully installed an Intel AC-7260HMW with BlueTooth on a T61 with Intel graphics, under Windows 7 Pro 32-bit or 64-bit?
The wifi part works great, but I can't get BlueTooth working.
I've only used the latest Intel drivers:
wifi: wireless_17.1.0_ds32.exe / Wireless_17.1.0_Ds64.exe which work fine.
BT: bt_17.1.1406.01_s32.exe / BT_17.1.1406.01_s64.exe which do NOT work.
Tried everything, no luck at all so far.
On an X200 it works (see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=115506) but their solution does not help on T61.

Presumably the WiFi part of that card uses PCIe lanes and the BlueTooth part uses USB lanes, because that's how the 6000 series cards worked.

I don't remember whether the WLAN slot on T61 machines have USB lanes in them. Check the schematics if you have them. Or you could try it in the WWAN slot which should have both PCIe and USB lanes.

This is a 15" FrankenPad with 14.1" T61 mobo.
Problem with the WWAN slot is that the wifi-cables are not long enough to reach it.
So I can't even try that without ripping the machine apart.

Ah, right. The point of testing it in the WWAN slot is to see whether the BT part of the card gets picked up by the system at all. So, with the card still in the WLAN slot, check Device Manager and see whether there is an Intel BT device, separate from the Intel WLAN device. If there is not, then move the card to the WWAN slot, don't worry about the antennas, boot up the computer and see whether the Intel BT device appears in Device Manager. If it does, then the reason is most likely that there are USB lanes in the WWAN slot but not the WLAN slot.

You can use the USB at the PCI-e slot right under the modem, just solder two short jumping wires and everything will work fine. One of my friend has got Wimax to work on his T61 by this method.



P.S. isn't the bluetooth inside the screen frame good enough?

Thanks for the info.
But I have 3 of those Frankies (ready to go), each one also has 'regular' BT in the lid, which works.
I was just hoping to get the BT4 from that new card working as well.
I guess it needs newer motherboard(s) for it to work.
Soldering wires in 3 machines is way too much hassle for now.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Thanks for the info.
But I have 3 of those Frankies (ready to go), each one also has 'regular' BT in the lid, which works.
I was just hoping to get the BT4 from that new card working as well.
I guess it needs newer motherboard(s) for it to work.
Soldering wires in 3 machines is way too much hassle for now.

I think you know allready - you (anybody) can use BT3 and BT4 modules from x20 and x30 series of thinkpads in 60 / 61 series. It's as simple as plug and play (but needed to open screen case).

And yes i understanad - it is more economical to insert 7260 and got both (BT4 and AC) but not on our black boxes...

PS
Mod with 3nd miniPCIe slot on T61 4:3 allready beed done, but it is more "hardcore" than connecting USB lines to WLAN slot.

FryPpy wrote:I think you know allready - you (anybody) can use BT3 and BT4 modules from x20 and x30 series of thinkpads in 60 / 61 series. It's as simple as plug and play (but needed to open screen case).

Is it worth it to get the modules from the x20/30 series or just use a cheap BT4 USB dongle? I have a T61 without factory BT. I just ordered the Intel 7260ac. Would love for BT to work but it looks like it won't. I came across this kit (link below) on ebay but it's unfortunately BT2.1 Do you know if they make anything like this for BT4 or what should I search for to get the BT4 module from the X20/30 series? I have took most of my T61 apart before but never the screen. I'll have to find step by step directions if available as that's the last thing I would like to break. Just overall looking for some general direction on what would be the best way to proceed once my 7260 arrives. Thanks to all!!

Link for T61 BT kit (only 2.1): http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Lenovo-Thin ... 6016.l4276

If you haven't got it yet, click on this link to download the T60 HMM manual (PDF).
Switch the laptop OFF. Remove the charger and the battery.
Load that HMM on another PC/laptop and go to page 118 to remove the LCD front-bezel.
IF your LCD cable has a BT-connector, you'll see it near the LCD-bottom, to the left of the LCD cable.
Plug the BT-module in (pointing to the left, and screw it down. Reassemble the LCD-bezel.
If there is no connector, you either need to replace the LCD cable as well, OR get a USB-dongle with BT.

Correction: I gave info above for a T60, this should have been for a T61.
Get the correct T61 HMM from here: http://www.thinkpads.com/support/hmm/thinkpad-hmm.html

Well after reading your post back in 2011: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=100832 and other posts about breaking off clips left and right I decided to just get a USB adapter. I don't use BT a lot so I should be ok using USB adapter. Thanks for the info!!

With the T61 you need to remove the lid top cover before you can safely remove the bezel without breaking it, but if you just want to slip the BT module in you can remove just the three lower screws and with some skillful manual dexterity you can lift of the bottom of the bezel enough to add the BT.

Also, every T61 seems to have the BT connector but this is not true with T60 and some R61 models.