T410 BIOS doesn't list installed Bluetooth

[91011]

Been trying to get a very nice T410 ready to sell but have been unable to get Bluetooth running so I’ve pretty much reached point where I’ll have to sell it cheap.

Bluetooth enable/disable option is not seen in BIOS which, to me, means nothing I could do with OS or drivers, etc. would have any effect.
For example, if I remove the BT radio in an x301 the enable/disable option in BIOS goes away – which is what the T410 is (not) showing.
BT doesn’t appear in Device Manager, or Fn+F5 and the Broadcom standalone driver doesn’t find a radio.

-Have flashed the oldest, several intermediate and the current BIOS.
-Have used three known-to-work BT radios.
-Have used two different TP/FPR/BT ribbon cables.
-A live Linux disc doesn’t see it.
-Just to be sure, have done clean Win 7 & Factory Recovery installs.

All that seems left is a less than perfect motherboard.
Anyone have a suggestion? Thanks.

[ajkula66]

I'm going to guess that it "should" have BT by model number, and that it's what you're relying upon, correct?

If that's the case, Lenovo's database has been incorrect in this respect more than once...

[91011]

I'm going to guess that it "should" have BT by model number, and that it's what you're relying upon, correct?

No, never actually looked it up.
Took the palmrest off and there is a BT daughter card attached to the TP/FPR/BT ribbon cable.
In fact, there is only one T410 cable assembly in the parts list and it has all three TP/FPR/BT connections.
So every T410 should at least be 'capable' of having a BT card installed.

And I've tried three working cards in two different cable assemblies.

[rkawakami]

I don't have a T410 but looking around the net I see mentions of there being a wireless switch It's located on the side at the front right corner. There's a note about this switch in the HMM in the Base Cover assembly but it's not listed in the Locations diagrams.

[91011]

Thanks, I did play with the switch.
While the 410 switch does turn the WiFi radio on/off within the OS, the WiFi enable/disable option can still be seen in BIOS with the switch off.
But no BT in BIOS in either position.

With the x301 both WiFi & BT enable/disable options can be seen in BIOS with the switch off.

[ajkula66]

I'll crack open one of my T410 units sometime tomorrow, all of them are spec'd as having NO Bluetooth.

If your machine (like mine) came from some type of a government agency, it is quite possible that the custom ROM was added to BIOS in order to disable BT. Generally speaking, government and several major corporations that I'm aware of will NOT allow a laptop with BT, considering it a major security risk.

Will keep you posted.

[91011]

Thanks George, very nice of you.
Have no idea of the provenance of this T410, came in a lot of ‘missing parts/not working’ TPs I came across.
The custom ROM would make sense and make me feel better selling as is, but a parts search with the SN showed it was originally configured with BT and does have the BT clear plate.
Whoever bought it got the 3yr EZ-serve warranty and the 3yr Thinkplus warranty if that indicates anything.
Any way to determine if it is custom?

Off-topic but would you mind if I PM you about a subject we’re not supposed to discuss on the forum? Nothing serious.

John

[ajkula66]

Thanks George, very nice of you.
Have no idea of the provenance of this T410, came in a lot of ‘missing parts/not working’ TPs I came across.
The custom ROM would make sense and make me feel better selling as is, but a parts search with the SN showed it was originally configured with BT and does have the BT clear plate.
Whoever bought it got the 3yr EZ-serve warranty and the 3yr Thinkplus warranty if that indicates anything.
Any way to determine if it is custom?

Off-topic but would you mind if I PM you about a subject we’re not supposed to discuss on the forum? Nothing serious.

John

*You* can PM or email me anytime regarding anything. You should know that by now...

Government machines often have Computrace, miss wireless/BT cards, and can originate from countries other than China...might come with a warranty that doesn't require the return of the defective hard drive. That's off the top of my head, since I'm getting ready to hit the hay...may come up with something else tomorrow...

[91011]

Stand down, George. I'm convinced the custom ROM you mentioned has been installed.
Tried three USB BT radios and, while I could get a BT mouse to work, the drivers for any BT PAN, A2DP or similar protocol would not install.
They were seen in Dev Manager but not allowed to install their driver.

Interesting to know about the custom ROM, never heard of it before.
Of course I have to ask if there's any way back to the stock ROM?

I'll PM you over the weekend about the other thing.

Thanks,
John

[ajkula66]

Stand down, George. I'm convinced the custom ROM you mentioned has been installed.
Tried three USB BT radios and, while I could get a BT mouse to work, the drivers for any BT PAN, A2DP or similar protocol would not install.
They were seen in Dev Manager but not allowed to install their driver.

Interesting to know about the custom ROM, never heard of it before.
Of course I have to ask if there's any way back to the stock ROM?

Well, I cracked one of mine open anyway and there's no BT card, and I don't have one that would match, so I closed it. Duh. That didn't help all that much, did it now?

As for the custom ROM...that's *way* above my level of knowledge. I would presume it can be reverted, but how...no clue. Apologies.

I'll PM you over the weekend about the other thing.

Thanks,
John

Anytime. I'll be travelling, but will respond when I get a chance.

[Dbltour]

Great information! I think this might explain why I've not been able to the BT working on my FleaBay purchased 410.

[emeraldgirl08]

Just going to throw this out and you may have already tried this but enter BIOS>> Security>> I/O Port Access>> and you should have a BT 'enable' or 'disable' option there. I once could not get my SD card reader to work and it was not recognized by a ThinkPad I had just received. The issue was it was disabled in I/O Port Access sub-menu. Enabling it did the trick for me.

[chuggles]

I might be dusting off an old thread, but I've got the same problem.
I recently bought a new base assembly for my T410 that has the Quadro graphics to replace my stock Intel board, and after the swap, I cant get Bluetooth to show up anywhere.
Both the old (Which worked just fine on the original board) and new palmrests both have the bluetooth module installed, but neither get picked up in BIOS or the OS.
Was there ever a fix for this, or is it just stuck?

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

.

Was there ever a fix for this, or is it just stuck?

Check whether BT is enabled under I/O ports in BIOS.

Good luck

[TPFanatic]

Welcome to the forum!

.

Was there ever a fix for this, or is it just stuck?

Check whether BT is enabled under I/O ports in BIOS.

Good luck

Want to report
I got a T410 with a nonfunctioning Bluetooth and Fingerprint reader despite the laptop having both (FPR is obvious, there's the BT icon in the clearplate, and after opening the laptop it definitely had BT).

Going to Security then I/O ports showed that both FPR and BT were set to disabled, enabling them restored functionality in Windohs.

Thanks ajkula and emeraldgirl!