bluetooth interface not seen (lshw, lsusb, hciconfig) on Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 (=10v)

[Václav Šmilauer]

Binary package hint: bluez

I have a Dell Inspiron Mini 1011, with integrated bluetooth interface (as I assume: that's what the specs say, and there is also switch to enable it in the BIOS, which is on). I've seen many people reporting bluetooth functioning out of the box with karmic on Dell Inspiron Mini's (various models).

The bluetooth device is not known to the system in any way, however: lshw, lsusb don't show anything pertaining to bluetooth. The rfkill switch is on (its presence is another indicator that the device is somewhere).

$ rfkill list
0: compal-wifi: Wireless LAN
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no
1: compal-bluetooth: Bluetooth
 Soft blocked: no
 Hard blocked: no

I will be happy to provide additional information if needed. I am running fully up-to-date karmic with 2.6.31-14 kernel (i386, not lpia).

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Nov 16 18:05:53 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release Candidate i386 (20091020.3)
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Package: bluetooth 4.51-0ubuntu2
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=cs_CZ.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
SourcePackage: bluez
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic i686

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

Try going through a cycle of "rfkill block all" followed by "rfkill unblock all". See if the device shows up after that. If it doesn't, can you confirm that it is or isn't working in Windows so we can evaluate if it's a hardware or software related issue?

[Václav Šmilauer (eudoxos)]

Hi, I tried the block/unblock cycle, it switched the soft-blocked to yeas and then back to no, but no adapter did show up.

I brought this computer with intrepid lpia installed by Dell, but I unfortunately didn't try bluetooth with the old installation (before I installed karmic). I hoped that other people with the same experience will comment on this bug.

I could try booting older ubuntu release from a usb stick. Which version would you recommend? There was a few dell-specific packages in their intrepid-based distro. Do you think contacting dell support would be of any use here?

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

You'll need to restore back to that image shipped by Dell if you are going
to contact support. I suspect some hardware failure going on here, but that
will be the only way to verify for sure.

2009/11/24 Václav Šmilauer <email address hidden>

> Hi, I tried the block/unblock cycle, it switched the soft-blocked to
> yeas and then back to no, but no adapter did show up.
>
> I brought this computer with intrepid lpia installed by Dell, but I
> unfortunately didn't try bluetooth with the old installation (before I
> installed karmic). I hoped that other people with the same experience
> will comment on this bug.
>
> I could try booting older ubuntu release from a usb stick. Which version
> would you recommend? There was a few dell-specific packages in their
> intrepid-based distro. Do you think contacting dell support would be of
> any use here?
>
> --
> bluetooth interface not seen (lshw, lsusb, hciconfig) on Dell Inspiron Mini
> 1011 (=10v)
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/483713
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Mario Limonciello
<email address hidden>

[Graham Bygrave (graham-bygrave)]

I want to confirm I also have this problem with my mini10v. I have not used bluetooth before, however the bluetooth icon did show in the intray, enabled, in Jaunty. Hence I doubt this is a hardware failure.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

@Graham:

Just because the icon showed in Jaunty doesn't mean the hardware was working then, and that could have changed now. We need a reference point to see that it's working somewhere currently. This can be checking in windows, or checking with the Ubuntu version that shipped with it.

[Václav Šmilauer (eudoxos)]

@Graham: do you have image of the original installation? (I don't unfortunately) If not, I will try to get somewhere apt sources and install the original dell's hardy-derived distribution with debootstrap, to see if it really worked or not.

[Václav Šmilauer (eudoxos)]

PS. Added a note about possible issue to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Netbooks#Dell%20Mini%2010v%20%28Inspiron%201011%29

[undfined (patrick-armstrong)]

Gah. I'm in the same boat. Guess once of us will need to install Windows to find out.

[undfined (patrick-armstrong)]

I haven't tried this yet but am putting it out there:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1101204

[undfined (patrick-armstrong)]

I confirmed a hardware issue and Dell is sending me a new module - mine was doa. FWIW the BIOS on the 1011 has the option to enable/disable bluetooth even if the module is removed and/or missing.

[Václav Šmilauer (eudoxos)]

@undfined:

1. How did you "confirm hardware issue"?
2. Did you communicate with Dell directly or with your local reseller?
3. Was your notebook originally with Windows?
4. If you change the module, does it void the warranty?

For those who bought with Linux, it would be enough to get the pre-installed /etc/apt/sources.list with dell's repositories. Anyone has backed it up? (I didn't unfortunately) We could test Dell's pre-installed linux and claim its functionality via warranty service if it wouldn't work.

I am willing to try fresh install, anyone has Dell's /etc/apr/sources.list?

[maheshjagadeesan (maheshj)]

Has anyone tried starting the computer with another OS, enabling the BT module from there, and then restarting in Ubuntu? I can confirm that this works for me

[Václav Šmilauer (eudoxos)]

Maheshjagadeesan, thanks for your reply. If it is the case for everybody, it is driver fault to not initialize the module properly.

1. What OS did you use?
2. Does bluetooth survive hard reboots, without re-enabling in the other OS?

Someone tried with the original Dell-distributed Ubuntu?

[Steve E (sellsworth38)]

Good Morning,
   Someone had mentioned about not having the original image to make a restore image. Here is a link from Dell I dug up. Try this one out.

http://linux.dell.com/files/ubuntu/

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

You won't find the image that shipped with the mini at that site
unfortunately. it was shipped with unredistributable components that
were difficult to decouple.

On 01/03/2010, Steve E <email address hidden> wrote:
> Good Morning,
> Someone had mentioned about not having the original image to make a
> restore image. Here is a link from Dell I dug up. Try this one out.
>
> http://linux.dell.com/files/ubuntu/
>
> --
> bluetooth interface not seen (lshw, lsusb, hciconfig) on Dell Inspiron Mini
> 1011 (=10v)
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/483713
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

Mario Limonciello
<email address hidden>

[Jean-Claude Le Douaron (jcledoua)]

I got the same problem on my Dell Inspiron mini 10. Wifi works ok but bluetooth shows but can't be activated..

[Erick Alvarez (jaalvarezsp)]

Problem Fixed on my Inspiron E1505!

maheshjagadeesan was correct. I'm dual booting Karmic Koala and Vista. Before I installed Ubuntu I had turned off my bluetooth radio in Vista. I also changed the setting in the BIOS and Dell Quickset to only toggle my WiFi card so that I could enable Bluetooth only when I needed it.

I installed Karmic Koala and WiFi worked great but the Bluetooth option was greyed out and the only two options when right clicking it were "Turn OFF Bluetooth" and "Preferences". You click on preferences which tell you that Bluetooth is currently OFF and has a button to "Turn ON Bluetooth" which did absolutely nothing. I tried the Fn+2 in Ubuntu but it would only toggle my WiFi card.

I went into the BIOS and enabled the function key combo to toggle both WiFi and Bluetooth but still no joy. I then rebooted, went into windows and enabled the Bluetooth radio and restored the default Dell Quickset settings.

When I rebooted into Ubuntu all was well with the world. Bluetooth and WiFi are now enabled in Ubuntu Karmic Koala.

It may have something to do with WMI support.

[Phillip Chaboya (chaboyap)]

I have the same problem as Jean-Claude Le Douaron, Got the wifi to work. Bluetooth shows but I cannot activate it(I click the button and nothing happens.

[Damian Yerrick (tepples)]

I am seeing this problem on a Dell Inspiron Mini 1012: "Your computer does not have any Bluetooth adapters plugged in." I too have lost my install media for Ubuntu Moblin Remix after having switched from Ubuntu Moblin Remix (which I disliked heavily because I couldn't figure out how to switch to GNOME) to vanilla Karmic. What should I do to help make this bug not Incomplete? Or is this 1012 different enough from the 1011 that this bug does not apply?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for bluez (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Rhys Thomas (e-rhys-thomas)]

This problem is still around

[Rhys Thomas (e-rhys-thomas)]

in both maverick and natty*

[Sabaki (crbell)]

I am having this problem with bluetooth also on my Inspiron Mini 1012 running 11.04. I checked the BIOS to make sure bluetooth was enabled there. It was. WIFI works fine. The bluetooth icon is visible but bluetooth preferences says "bluetooth is disabled" and clicking on "Turn on bluetooth" does nothing. It doesn't show up in lshw either.

[Amiran (amiko-)]

I have the same problem.
Have tried several drivers - NO RESOULT!
BIOS - Bluetooth [enabled]
When I hit F2 WiFi on/of dialog appears with single checkbox and it enables/disables WiFi.
What can I do?

[codeRed (geniusunil)]

@Erick Alvarez (jaalvarezsp) thanks.......................this was the solution for me . i use ubuntu 11.10 and windows 7 dual boot
disabled bluetooth in windows and using it here ;)