Difference between IBM Bluetooth SW IV and MS Bluetooth SW?

[CoolDragon]

On the T43p software and driver page: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... #bluetooth, there are two software for the Bluetooth device. Originally, I thought you need to install them all. But now I realized that you can only install EITHER ONE of them.

So, what is the difference? The IBM one is much much bigger than the MS one. Anybody has got any experience?

[cchsiao]

On the T43p software and driver page: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... #bluetooth, there are two software for the Bluetooth device. Originally, I thought you need to install them all. But now I realized that you can only install EITHER ONE of them.

So, what is the difference? The IBM one is much much bigger than the MS one. Anybody has got any experience?

If what I "guess" is correct, that Microsoft software is for those who didn't use SP2. Bluetooth is supported and built-in SP2. However, according to some other threads, people said that the bluetooth software by IBM supports more hardwares. There might be some problems on some bluetooth hardwares when you use Microsoft's software.

So... the suggestion is, use the IBM one.

[CoolDragon]

No, I think you are not correct. According to the MS BT driver installation guide:

Start Windows XP.
Insure Windows XP SP2 is already installed. Turn the Bluetooth power on.
In the Found New Hardware Wizard window, select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and click Next.
Select Search for the best driver in these locations:, check Include this location in the search, and input the location where you expanded the Microsoft Bluetooth support package to.
Click Next. The driver will be loaded automatically.

[snife]

Bluetooth can you different stacks - on ThinkPads you have the choice of MS or Widcomm stacks. The built in bluetooth support (as part of sp2 or as a hotfix for sp1) still requires the driver for the device to set it to the MS stack.

If you install the THinkPad bluetooth software then you need to install the unsigned Widcomm driver for the hardware to work with this software.

More stuff will work with the Widcomm software as it can support virtual ports etc but some devices will have drivers for the MS stack which you may prefer to use as it means one less piece of software is installed.

[kaplanfx]

The MS stack in my opinion is more user friendly but I found it had poor support for the bluetooth devices I tried (mouse (HID compliant), headset, and a palm pilot E2) so I have been sticking with the widdcomm.

-kaplanfx