Installing Microsoft Bluetooth Stack on Windows Server 2008 x86 / x64

The know-hows of installing Microsoft Bluetooth Stack on Windows Server 2008 64-bit (and 32-bit) edition, in case of using it as a workstation, is spread on blogs everywhere, and Gil is behind the whole story.

The problem is System File Repository (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository) doesn’t always contain all the files needed, like Broadcom (Widcomm) driver files for instance (filenames starting with “btw”), and gurus also forgot to mention a few files in their listings (btwavdt.inf, btwrchid.inf, and bthprint.sys to mention a few.)

Note: Broadcom (Widcomm) files are not included in a fresh Windows’ File Repository. People who luckily find them in the Repository have definitely installed OEM BT drivers. For example, Lenovo Y710 OEM drivers include the latest Broadcom (Widcomm) Bluetooth driver version 6.0.1.5500 (08/31/2007), where Dell XPS M1330 OEM drivers include the older Broadcom (Widcomm) Bluetooth driver version 6.0.1.3100 (11/03/2006).

So I collected all the files needed for both x86 and x64 systems separately, modified all the NTx86...1, NTia64...1, and NTamd64...1 sections into NTx86, NTia64, and NTamd64 in all INFs, and cabbed them into separate archives for both 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

CAUTION! I double-checked, sometimes triple-checked everything, but please practice safe driver upgrade. Creating a system restore point (image backup is even safer) is highly recommended. Remember, at the end, you’re doing it at your own risk!

Download Links

• Download Microsoft Bluetooth Stack for Windows Server 2008 x86 (32-bit) as a 573 kB (587,517 bytes) CAB file which should extract to 1.62 MB (1,702,659 bytes)
• Download Microsoft Bluetooth Stack for Windows Server 2008 x64 (64-bit) as a 632 kB (647,411 bytes) CAB file which should extract to 1.81 MB (1,902,527 bytes)

Both the 32-bit and 64-bit stack drivers include:

• Microsoft Bluetooth Stack driver version 6.0.6001.18000 (06/21/2006)
• Broadcom (Widcomm) Bluetooth driver version 6.0.1.5500 (08/31/2007)

Note: Files starting with “btw” belong to Broadcom (Widcomm) and the others are Microsoft’s:

• btwaudio.cat, btwaudio.inf, btwaudio.sys: WDM audio (PortCls) Bluetooth Audio Driver
• btwavdt.cat, btwavdt.inf, btwavdt.sys: Broadcom Bluetooth AVDT Service Installation
• btwrchid.cat, btwrchid.inf, btwrchid.sys: Remote Control HID Minidriver Installation

CAB File Listing

bth.inf bthenum.sys bthmodem.sys bthpan.inf bthpan.sys bthport.sys bthprint.inf bthprint.sys bthspp.inf bthusb.sys btwaudio.cat btwaudio.inf

btwaudio.sys btwavdt.cat btwavdt.inf btwavdt.sys btwrchid.cat btwrchid.inf btwrchid.sys circlass.inf circlass.sys fsquirt.exe hidbth.inf hidbth.sys

hidclass.sys hidparse.sys hidusb.sys input.inf irstusb.inf irstusb.sys mdmbtmdm.inf modemui.dll netirda.inf rfcomm.sys tdibth.inf

Supported Hardware Brands

ALPS Belkin Brain Boxes Broadcom Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd. (CSR)

Dell FIC GVC HP IBM

Microlink Microsoft MicroStar Microsoft Motion Computing

Silicon Wave Sony TDK Toshiba Zeevo

Infrared (IR) Support

To support infrared (IR), both CABs contain modified versions of Windows / SigmaTel drivers:

• circlass.inf, circlass.sys: Microsoft Consumer IR Devices (CIR Class enumerator driver)
• netirda.inf: Microsoft IrDA transport
• irstusb.inf, irstusb.sys: SigmaTel NDIS 5.0 USB Infra-Red Driver

Bluetooth Headsets

Due to the fact that both Windows Vista / Windows Server 2008 don’t support Bluetooth headset profile, if you want to use a Bluetooth headset with your adapter, you’ll need to add the headset profile to the default Microsoft stack. Visit my headset blog entry to know more about installing and enabling Bluetooth headset profile in Windows Vista / Windows Server 2008.

Enabling Bluetooth on MacBook Pro and Windows Server 2008

The CAB files are for “normal” Windows users running an IBM-PC compatible machine, however some came to their senses and produced Macs that are not Macs anymore, the CABs could gladly help these users too:

• Install Boot Camp drivers. The driver will be installed, but it won’t be associated with the appropriate hardware.
• Open Device Manager, right click the Bluetooth USB Host Controller, and click Update Driver Software... menu item.
• Choose Browse my computer for driver software and then Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
• Choose Bluetooth Radios, then click Next.
• Uncheck Show compatible hardware, in the left select Apple Inc. and in the right Apple Built-in Bluetooth, then click Next.
• Answer Yes to the popped Update Driver Warning dialog.
• Wait for the driver to install and display Windows has successfully updated your driver software, and then click Close.
• Cancel all of the Found New Hardware dialogs. The Bluetooth icon will show up in the notification area.
• Apple Built-in Bluetooth is now listed under Bluetooth Radios, three Unknown devices under Other devices.
• Download and extract Microsoft Bluetooth Stack for Windows Server 2008 (x86/x64) CAB file in a specific folder, e.g. C:\BT.
• Right click the first Unknown device and click Update Driver Software... menu item.
• Choose Browse my computer for driver software and enter the path to the CAB extraction folder and click Next.
• Choose Install this driver software anyway in the Windows Security dialog shown.
• Wait for the driver to install, and then click Close.
• Do the same routine to install the other Unknown devices.
• Upon completion, Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator will show up under Bluetooth Radios, along with new Network adapters.
• Installing Microsoft IntelliPoint, it will prompt you to insert the transceiver, click Cancel.
• Pair the mouse using Bluetooth control panel, and a new device shows up in Device Manager. Update the driver using the same methods you’ve done before, so it’s recognized as Bluetooth HID Device.
• Enable your Wireless Notebook Presenter and click the presentation mode button.
• If everything is fine, delete the temporary driver extraction folder. You’re done.