[trublue]

Hi...maybe someone can help me.

After installing the 10.3.3 update, I no longer have BlueTooth. It is no longer even in the System Preference Pane (it used to be) and the bluetooth icon in the menu bar (next to the volume) now has a squigly line through it. When I select it I get the text : "BlueTooth: Not Available."

I am on a 17 " new (< 5 mo. old) powerbook. Does anyone know anything about this? Or has anyone experienced anything like this?

Thanks in advance.

Here's to hoping that it is not a hardware problem, because I don't want to swap out my 7200 RPM HD just to be back under warranty.

[jocker]

Hi there! Well I'm running a Rev A 17" powerbook and my bluetooth disappeared after a couple of months of using 10.3.2.. At first the menu icon on the top right said "Bluetooth Unavailable" but having restarted it disappeared completely. Nothing appeared in System Preferences, nor the icon on the top right. Even the System Profiler didn't recognise the bluetooth module, it was as though it had disappeared.

I reinstalled 10.3 to no avail, and updating to 10.3.2 didn't fix it either.

I contacted Apple and they were sure it was a hardware problem, after we went through the usual diagnostics. They sent me the packaging to send the 'book back.

However, the same day the packaging arrived, so did 10.3.3 in my software update. Lo and behold, after a restart bluetooth is back!!! Funny thing is... it didn't come back * straight away *, only after a couple of reboots. Very very strange.

So my experience is directly the opposite of yours. I suspect dodgy hardware personally, and our OS updates are just 'coincidental'. I'm still in two minds as two whether to send the laptop back whilst its still in warranty. However, since 10.3.3 my bluetooth has not had a single glitch so I don't know what to do!

I'm not sure how this experience is meant to help you, but I hope it clarifies that I don't think 10.3.3 is to blame. If you think it is, back up your data and reinstall 10.3 to see if comes back. You might get the same as me, and your bluetooth might just 'reappear'!

[Fothb]

It seems to be a known issue (you're not alone! ). Try this Apple support page. Scroll down to read a post by "tonza" who suggests what to try:

BlueTooth Missing: Apple Support Page

[trublue]

Thanks so much for replying!

I found a fix. All I had to do was shutdown and remove the battery for about a minute or two, then restart.

I don't know why it worked, but it did and was recommended on the Apple Support page. Even Bluetooth is back in the system prefs.

Thanks FothB...by the way...I ran "tonza's" terminal jargon and bluetooth didn't show up. It wasn't even in my System profiler under USB as suggested either. According to Tonza, this was most likely a hardware problem then...but as it turns out another post recommended the battery fix.

The apple support pages were great. Thanks again.

Oh and BTW, I am so glad that it is not a hardware problem, because I put in a 7200 RPM HD myself (voiding the Apple Care). And I really didn't want to put the original back in (it is quite a bit of gut wrenching work).

-Ian

P.S. 127 on Xbench now.

[Fothb]

Terrific news! Apple makes some fantastic machines, but sometimes they act up like exotic sportscars (which takes all of the fun out of having one in the first place and can end up being costly). I'm glad to hear you got things taken care of without too much trouble.

[trublue]

Foth:

I couldn't agree more! But I don't think anything could compare to the *weeks* of my life that I have lost to Microsoft operating systems (at least I sure hope not *knock on wood*...please keep going my sweet little powerbook ;-)

Anyway, thanks again. You played an integral part of the speed of the fix. It is people like you who make the forums worth while.

Thanks as well jocker.