Bluetooth issue, T42p

[sbjoe]

Just quit working. When I power on the bluetooth radio I've been getting a blinking popup from the tasktray reading, "USB Device not recognized -- One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it." Clicking on the message brings up a window pointing to an 'unknown device' under the USB root hub or something of the like.

Oddly enough, it's just now stopped doing the popup dance and the led flashed on briefly a few times but it's off now and the device is showing no further signs of life.

Anybody think of anything I might want to try before I resort to the fleabay crapshoot for a replacement bluetooth modem? Removing Access Connections from the machine couldn't have anything to do with this issue, could it?

[ajkula66]

When Fn+F5 is pressed, what do you get, if anything?

[sbjoe]

I get options to toggle on/off wireless radios including bluetooth. It's currently toggled on, although until this morning leaving it toggled on led to that annoying flashing message I mentioned earlier. That's gone, but there are no other obvious signs of life from the thing.

[sbjoe]

Should've posted the solution I found to this long ago. I'd reconciled myself to looking for another modem but to be sure of what I had I pulled the keyboard and bezel and removed the modem. Plugged it back in, reinstalled the k/b & bezel and it's been fine since. Just resetting the connector seems to have cured it.

On another note, it had started shutting down randomly along about then. While I had it partly disassembled I noticed a bit of dust buildup inside the fan housing. I blew it out with some canned air and the spontaneous shutdown hasn't recurred since. Will overheating cause this behavior?

[schuetzen]

newbie with a beloved T40
I finally got my wireless G card to connect to my Linksys as a result from reading that 3 yr old topic but now I am wondering how to make my laptop bluetooth capable? a USB dongle? thanks

[Mike Blake]

On another note, it had started shutting down randomly along about then.
While I had it partly disassembled I noticed a bit of dust buildup inside the fan housing.
I blew it out with some canned air and the spontaneous shutdown hasn't recurred since.
Will overheating cause this behavior?

Definitely. And it's not a bug, it's a feature. The system does it to keep the excess heat from causing damage.