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Intel Dual Band AC 3160 Wifi Works but Bluetooth is not Recognized / Working

JTimk
Beginner
3,571 Views

I recently installed this card in a Toshiba Satellite S955D-S5374.

 

The Laptop is running Windows 8.1 x64. It previously had a Realtek combo card (WiFi /Bluetooth) that maxed out at Wireless N, thus the upgrade.

 

I installed the Bluetooth driver first, per Intel website instructions: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24113/eng/BT_17.1.1406.01_e164.exe&Lang=eng&Dwnldid=24113 BT_17.1.1406.01_e164.exe No Bluetooth is recognized in Device Manager or elsewhere.

I then install the WiFi software: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/23994/eng/Wireless_17.0.5_e164.exe&Lang=eng&Dwnldid=23994 Wireless_17.0.5_e164.exe. The WiFi card is now recognized in the Device Manager and I can connect to 2.4 and 5 GHz networks with no issue.

Can anyone advise if there is a proper was to install these (custom location, specific software version, et cetera) that might result in both WiFi and Bluetooth working?

Other things I have attempted:

  • Cold Boot: Pulled battery and power, waited 5 minutes, and restarted. No effect
  • Reinstalled Toshiba's "System Driver" package. No effect.
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14 Replies
Kevin_M_Intel
Employee
1,724 Views

Hi senzanoo,

I am sorry you are having this problem but let me help you.

Based on the information I would like you do the following steps:

  1. Update the BIOS to latest in your computer.
  2. Uninstall all wireless drivers from the computer and install the latest Wireless and Bluetooth drivers

Here are the links:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23942 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23942

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24110 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24110

3. Run all Windows updates.

Kevin M

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
1,724 Views

If you are not seeing BT device node in device manager, likely that Toshiba is keeping the BT device in reset. Some users have tried masking off RFKILL pin to get the BT recognized. Search the forums.

---

Disclaimer: Not speaking for my employer

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DPerr6
Beginner
1,724 Views

I'm in a very similar situation. I recently bought an MSI GE70 2PE Apache Pro with Windows 8.1 64-bit. It has the AC 3160. From day one Bluetooth has not worked properly. Wi-Fi works fine. Bluetooth will connect to a device bu then immediately drop it (not always, but sometimes). If it does happen to hold the connection, the services that should be available and are indicated as available in the Device Manager do not work, namely audio streaming and hands-free calling. As far as my Bluetooth devices are concerned, they see the computer but don't seem to recognize any available services on the computer (other than PIM synchronizing). On a different machine I have (a Dell all-in-one desktop), when I connect my iPhone 5 via Bluetooth, a music application pops up and I can start playing music from my iPhone through the Dell's speakers (and pause, stop, skip and reverse tracks, etc.). I can also use the computer to accept and make calls. With the MSI and AC 3160, I get none of that.

- My laptop is loaded with MSI's latest BIOS update.

- I have performed all of the latest Windows updates as of 9/6/2014, even optional ones.

- I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Wi-Fi and BT drivers MSI makes available. I've done the same with the Intel drivers.

None of this has remedied the problem with the audio streaming and phone calling features. Again, all the features show up in the Device Manager but none of them see to actually work. I'm running Windows 8.1 64-bit and have very little additional software installed as the laptop is brand new.

Any help is much appreciated.

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
1,724 Views

dbot - What is the version intel BT drivers you have installed? Also, please mention your BT accessories (KBD, headset etc) model #

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DPerr6
Beginner
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Hi. According to the Programs & Features module in the Control Panel, I am running:

- Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Software for Bluetooth(R) Technology(patch version 3.0.1342.2) - v3.1.1311.0402

- Intel PROSet/Wireless Software - v17.0.3

I'm attempting to connect an iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1.2. I also have a Samsung Galaxy IIIS I'd like to connect but it's a much lower priority for me.

I've successfully connected the iPhone to at least 2 other computers. I'm able to stream music to the laptop (Sony VAIO) and desktop (Dell 2330) speakers and place and accept calls through those computers. I can't do any of this with the MSI laptop using the AC 3160.

Thanks.

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
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Wow! You are using very old build for BT. Please uninstall it via Control Panel. Cold boot (shutdown /p from cmd line) or Shift+Shutdown. Install

 

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24220/eng/Wireless_17.1.0_e164.exe&Lang=eng&Dwnldid=24220 Wireless_17.1.0_e164.exe and update how it went? Sorry, streaming music to your MSI laptop from another device is not supported.
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DPerr6
Beginner
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As I had mentioned, I've tried all sorts of versions. That was just the one I had installed at the moment. I'll uninstall and reinstall 17.1.0_e164.exe, but I'm pretty sure I've had that one installed before.

When you say "streaming music to your MSI laptop from another device is not supported" are you saying that's the case regardless of what version of the drivers I'm using? If so, is that not a feature supported by the 3160? Seems odd as I can do that no problem with my 1-year-old Dell all-in-one and my 6-year-old Sony VAIO.

Will keep you posted after the next uninstall/reinstall.

By the way, the Intel site has downloads for Wireless, Bluetooth, and Wireless + Bluetooth. Looks like you're directing me to one for the just wireless. Are you sure this is going to do anything about Bluetooth?

Thanks.

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
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Dbot - Lack of support for streaming music to Laptop speakers is a shortcoming in Microsoft's native Bluetooth stack.

The release I pointed out should install fine. Please let me know.

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DPerr6
Beginner
1,724 Views

Thanks, and thanks for the clarification.

I believe the version number I previously gave is MSI's version number, not Intel's.

That aside, I uninstalled the version I had from the Control Panel, rebooted, then installed the version you pointed to ("http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/24220/eng/Wireless_17.1.0_e164.exe&Lang=eng&Dwnldid=24220 Wireless_17.1.0_e164.exe"), and I'm in the same boat. Wi-Fi works, Bluetooth appears to work most of the time, but typical BT services don't work with my iPhone (nor with my Samsung Galaxy IIIS, which doesn't even connect as reliably as the iPhone). Also, if my iPhone moves out of range or I turn off BT, then come back in range or turn BT back on, the two devices won't connect (manually or automatically). I have to remove the laptop connection from my phone and the phone connection from my laptop, and then re-pair, only to connect but without any working services again.

Best.

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
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OK, could you elaborate on issues with iPhone & Galaxy SIII? What services are you trying to use?

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DPerr6
Beginner
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I'm attempting to use my iPhone to play music and stream it to the laptop so the audio comes out of the laptop's speakers (the Audio Source service). I would also like to accept and place phone calls on the laptop using the Handsfree Telephony Gateway. These 2 services show up in my phone's properties under Devices and Printers, as do Remote Control and Remotely Controllable Device. All boxes for these services are checked but I'm unable to use any of them. As it is now, my phone appears to be connecting to the laptop via Bluetooth but I can't do anything with it.

I use this same phone for these same services successfully on two other computers using different Bluetooth hardware (the Dell uses a Dell DW1703 and I'm not sure what my Sony VAIO uses). The AC3160 or its software in my MSI laptop doesn't seem to want to actually enable these services (even though all settings and other indications would seem to suggest that they're working).

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Muthu_K_Intel
Employee
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Sorry, on 8.1, streaming audio to your laptop is not supported. The Handsfree support is available with applications like Skype. You should be able to use your Bluetooth

 

headset for voice with Skype.

However, I don't understand "accept and place phone calls" use case. Could you elaborate?

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DPerr6
Beginner
1,724 Views

I have another Windows 8.1 computer that connects to my iPhone and lets music from the iPhone stream through the computer's speakers. A little music playback app even pops up on the Windows 8.1 computer when the iPhone is connected to it via Bluetooth (another app pops up when a call comes in on the BT-connected iPhone). So, I'm not understanding your comment that "on 8.1, streaming audio to your laptop is not supported." Are you saying Intel's AC 3160 doesn't support that on Windows 8.1? Because Windows 8.1 supports it if the BT driver supports it.

I just connected the same iPhone to my 6-year-old Sony laptop and it's streaming music to the laptop's speakers as I type.

I find it difficult to believe that Intel isn't supporting such a basic BT service as audio streaming.

As for "accept and place phone calls," I've explained it a couple times now. Please refer to previous posts.

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DPerr6
Beginner
1,724 Views

Any additional thoughts on this? The Intel drivers don't appear to resolve anything for Bluetooth functionality. I bought a Qualcomm Atheros WLAN/BT mini PCIe card (branded as a Dell DW1703) and popped it in my laptop. After installing the drivers for it, everything works fine. All of the functionality I described as not working with the Intel AC 3160 works fine with the generic Qualcomm Atheros card. Not sure why Intel's card can't deliver the same basic functionality.

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