Notebooks & Netbooks

[Hemingway60]

My phone is the Blackberry Curve 9320. Bluetooth worked well on Windows 7. On Windows 8, I couldn't transfer files from phone to laptop but everything else worked. But now on Windows 8.1, most of the features are crippled. If this is due to Broadcom, then I'm never buying anything from them again. I'm thinking about changing the wireless card to an Intel one later on because these are reliable

[chef65]

If in windows 7 works well when the windows 8.1 is the problem. I dont think that is the Broadcom card. Before you buy another card i suggest to download a live cd of linux and boot it. Try to transfer files with bluetooth and check it.

[Hemingway60 · Accepted solution]

Well there is nothing Acer can do about this issue really. Bluetooth is being detected but Broadcom hasn't provided proper drivers for it to function properly. So technically, while the bluetooth may not be defective, it's only as good as the drivers released by the parent company which is Broadcom and those unfortunately are very poor at best. I'm waiting for the warranty to finish before attempting to mod it myself. Thanks for your time and effort, I wouldn't have figured it out without your help.

For those who have the same problem, here are the steps you need to follow to fix your bluetooth:

1. During the bootup screen (Windows 8 logo with the rotating dots below), wait for the wireless led to turn on and then press Fn+F3 (typical wireless combo for the V3 series) soon afterwards. 

2. Once booted up, load the corresponding drivers for the specific brand of your bluetooth adaptor in your Acer model.

Atheros: Bluetooth_8.0.1.305_W81x64_A.zip

Broadcom: Bluetooth_12.0.0.7850_W81x64_A.zip

3. If the driver does not detect the bluetooth adaptor, repeat step 1 but this time after the wireless led turns on, press the Fn+F3 key twice and then bootup into Windows 8 and try loading the drivers again. 

4. If the card is still not detected, repeat step 1 and press the Fn+F3 key combo 3 times and then load the drivers once booted up. It should be detected this time around.

This is because 3 separate modes are there:

1. Wireless ON Bluetooth OFF

2. Bluetooth and Wireless ON

3. Bluetooth and Wireless OFF

If you don't want the Bluetooth to drain the battery but you want to avoid repeating these steps, you can disable and renable it more easily AFTER following the above steps using this procedure:

1. Bring up the charms bar by pressing Windows Key+ C 

2. Click on Settings and then click on Change PC settings

3. Click on Devices and then Bluetooth. There is a slider which can be used to turn bluetooth off.

Do NOT use the key combo to turn it off during bootup! That will disable the hardware completely. This method however can be used henceforth to turn the adaptor on and off.

All credit goes to Chef65 for telling me the method, I just broke it down to simple steps for easier understanding.

You're welcome everyone.

[KcOh]

Hi Hemingway60, Chef65,

Many thanks to your solution.

I have the same problem with my Acer V3-471G after Windows 8.1 updated since Feb-19, 2014. I had followed the advices from Acer Supports of tried e-recovery and revert back to Windows 7 Home Premium factory setting, upgrade to Windows 8 then update to Windows 8.1, But results did not worked, the Bluetooth setting is still not shown in PC & devices menu.

Please permit me to seek your helps and advises on the following issues which I had encountered during the trouble-shooting process:

1. I had flashed the BIOS updated to version v1.29, however upon rebooted restart of Windows 8.1 and found the initial screen of Acer Logo + <F2> to enter BIOS utility text also disappeared and screen shown only the Windows Logo with Spinning Circle. Now I am not sure this could be the result of BIOS v1.29 update flashed?  How to enter BIOS utility menu if the <F2> also disappeared?
2. As you have suggested, I had managed to press  Fn+F3 key twice during booted up and found the Bluetooth USB adapter displayed in >Control Panel > Device Manager and Atheros Bluetooth driver version <8.0.1.305> , but subsequent re-boot of Windows 8.1 and it went disappeared again? Does this means Fn+F3 key required to press twice during each time reboots of system?
3. How could I determine the status of the mentioned 3 separate modes: Bluetooth and Wireless ON/OFF? As Acer Launch Manager in Windows 8.1 did not worked similar as Windows 7 before to have a graphical display on the screen of these two setting? 

Once again I would like to thank you for the solution because I was totally clueless for more than a month on this issue, particularly not to mention it’s a very times consuming but a painful experience!

I am looking forward for your early advise and suggestions.

[Hemingway60]

Hi kcOh, I'm really sorry for the late reply. I just saw this message. I'll answer your questions individually.

1. So the Acer logo doesn't show up when you boot up the laptop and it immediately goes to loading Windows 8.1 right? If I'm not mistaken, restart the laptop and then repeatedly press F2 while its beginning to boot until the BIOS screen shows up. Don't give it time, keep pressing F2 when it restarts till that screen shows up. Then go to the Main Tab and "Enable" the Quiet Boot option if its diabled. Here's a picture of how it should look like: Main Tab Save the changes by going to the Exit Tab and reboot, thr Acer Logo should show up again.

2. That is really strange. Once enabled, the Bluetooth shouln't disable itself and you shouldn't need to press Fn+F3 every time you bootup. Could you check the PC and Settings options as mentioned in my previous post to see whether the Bluetooth is disabled? Once you press the key combination, you should be able to disable and enable bluetooth right from the settings, not every time the laptop boots up. Just in case though, try these new updated drivers for the Atheros adaptor and see if it makes a difference:Bluetooth_Atheros_8.0.1.316_W81x64_A.zip

3. I'm afraid there is no way that I know of currently that works. Acer Launch Manager is not coded properly for Windows 8.1 (Wireless swtich is broken, and Fn keys display icons don't show up when you press the Fn+ keys). This is the case with all the Aspire V3 models as far as I'm aware and probably other models too because I'm using the latest Lanuch Manager released for other newer models and it still won't work properly. If there's any Acer technicians that could possinly forward this to the software development team, it'll be greatly appreciated.

Let me know if you need more help. 

[KcOh]

Hi Hemingway 60,

Many thanks for your reply.

1. As you have suggested, I’ve hold press the  <F2> during power on during system start up but it’s has a long beep sound and continues to load Windows 8.1…
   Repeated a few time power shutdown and same results. Google search found a suggestion by press <Shift Key> and mouse click the Shutdown, then select the Power-Off PC option to shutdown completely, re-power on again immediately BIOS utility menu shows up, checked the Main Tab and  found the <Quiet Boot> option is set to <Enable>.
   However, I had forgotten to book-marked the page so I could not retrieved this suggestion but I suppose this is a way to enter BIOS setup? Meanwhile I’ll continue to search hope to find this page again….(*But I am Not too sure this is the right solution? As my V3-471G is an older motherboard bought just a month before Windows 8.0 pre-installed version which support the BIOS version 2.XX c/w a UEFI sub-menu. There are two type motherboards for V3-471G model, BIOS version 1.XX and 2.XX)
    
   *P/S Note: I’ve tried to follow the previously email suggestion from Acer Support Centre to enter in BIOS menu and select "Load Default Settings", double check Bluetooth setting in Device Manager….but somehow I realised the above problem when I tried to enter BIOS menu but failed because of Windows 8.1 did not showed Acer Logo + <F2> BIOS option anymore?
    
   2. I had checked and followed your previous post again and tried to figure out what went wrong with my steps….  Now I could see the Bluetooth Tab/setting in the PC Setting and <Device Manager>, indeed this is a GOOD NEWS POSITIVE SIGN and I FELT VERY GLAD TO HAVE A VERY BIG STEP FORWARD after struggled for painful past months of clueless, endless loop of trial and error search for a solution …

3. For Acer Launch Manager, as you’ve mentioned it seems that is No Solution from either Acer or Microsoft, now I could only just leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth <Enabled or Disable > via PC Settings tab or other Apps! (*I’ve installed the Acer launch manager version 8.00.8101 )

*Windows Compatibility Centre:

Acer Launch Manager ver. 8 compatibility status for Windows 8.1

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/CompatCenter/ProductDetailsViewer?Name=Acer%20L...

I would like to share some information, as my V3-471G was just over 1 year out-of-warranty and Acer Support will provides only email and phone support,  all carry in services will be chargeable BUT limit support up to pre-installed Windows 7 OEM Home Premium, as such their suggestion was to perform e-recovery and reset PC setting back to factory default…

I am very glad that this Acer Community can act as a very useful alternative to share between all Acer users, if anyone encountered issue/trouble shooting.

Thank you again and I would very much appreciate your further comments and suggestions for the above.

[Hemingway60]

Hi again KcOh,

So if I'm no mistaken, your Bluetooth problem is fully fixed now? I know it can be a pain but I'm afraid going to PC Settings is the only way to <Enable> or <Disable> Bluetooth from now onwards. Acer Launch Manager works better under Windows 8 but the new 8.1 update just broke it. I'm almost certain it's simply a case of bad coding because most other manfcaturers have proper Launch Managers were the OSD shows up properly when pressing the <Fn> key. 

As for your first complaint, I think I figured it out. And it has nothing to do with the BIOS version, I have version 1.XX too and it's working fine with Windows 8.1. Your problem I believe is the "fast start-up" as Microsoft calls it which is basically basically a Hybrid shutdown in which the system doesn't Fully Power Off. This bsically speeds up the bootup process but it means you never get access to the BIOS anymore because it just skips it. Here's what I want you to do:

1. Click on the battery icon on the bottom-right corner of the screen and click on More Power Options.

2. Click on Choose what the power buttons do on the top-left corner of the screen.

3. Scroll down and you should find an option like this: Power Options

4. Uncheck the fast startup and restart your laptop. You should see the BIOS menu henceforth.

Let me know if you need more assistance. 

[KcOh]

Hi Hemingway60,

Thanks and now, I can see the Bluetooth tab in <PC & devices setting> and <Device Manager> and use the PC setting to <Enable or Disable> it. I’ve tried to transfer image files to Samsung Mobile Phones vice versa and presumably I think it is working now with Windows 8.1.  Just I hope both Acer and Microsoft could have some official updates on this Bluetooth issue as many others may face the same problems?

For Acer Launch Manager version 8.00.8101, it has been published in Microsoft Website mention with <Compatible & No Action Required>, supposedly no further changes to the OSD for Bluetooth & WLAN with Windows 8.1?

As I had followed your suggestion & steps to make changes on Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Uncheck the fast startup and restart my V3-471G, now I could see the initial screen of <Acer Logo + Fn F2 for BIOS >, however then Windows 8.1 starts loading quickly with a spanning circle until the Desktop screen fully loaded…. I have not yet able to press quick enough chance to enter the BIOS screen? Trying Google search to find more information about <Fast start-up> & <Hybrid shutdown> setting, as hope to understand how <Shift Key + Power Shutdown > can brings up the Legacy BIOS v1.29 menu setting,  similar as the Windows 8.0 pre-installed <UEFI sub-menu>? (*I’ve watched a Acer Youtube video on this supposed only apply to those Motherboard BIOS 2.XX?.....This is really not easy answers as I have initially? for a logical explanation?)

Once again, thank you for the Bluetooth solution and would appreciate your further comments and suggestions.   

[Hemingway60]

That's weird... It shouldn't boot this quickly once you've disabled the fast-boot setting. UEFI BIOS can boot this quickly though but your BIOS I understand is version 1.XX so it cannot have UEFI. Are you holding the F2 key or tapping it? I need you to tap the F2 key as quickly as possible,repeatedly the moment you press the power-on button. 

Otherwise, try pressing the Win+C to bring up charms and then click on the power icon and press on shift while clicking restart. This should in theory emmulate a cold reboot and show up the BIOS. May I ask what is it that you require changing in the BIOS Menu?

[KcOh]

Hi Hemingway60,

Thanks and it was an email suggestion by Acer Service Centre support to enter BIOS menu to select <Load Default Settings> and check option to enable Bluetooth before re-boot Windows 8.1, from there I had realized the different between the Legacy BIOS v1.XX and UEFI BIOS v2.XX (*System shipped with Windows 7 c/w BIOS v1.XX & Windows 8.0 c/w BIOS v2.XX), before this I did not have any knowledge of Microsoft has mandated the UEFI implementation for all Windows 8.0 based systems, this could has been less pains if I come to this Acer Community early, instead of taken the e-recovery Windows 7 route and reverted to factory default setting!  

Yes, after I had made changed on Power Options >> Uncheck the fast startup setting and restart, then initial screen of <Acer Logo + F2 for BIOS > did appeared, but by holding the F2 key will have long beep sound and continues to load Windows 8.1…I had also tried restart by tap the F2 key quickly without press the Shift key has the same result of Windows 8.1 continue loading…

As you’ve suggested to emulate a cold reboot (*press on Shift Key while clicking restart) and BIOS menu displayed immediately.  In addition I had tried by press on Shift Key + clicking power off, Re-power on system and quick tap F2 key will also show up the BIOS menu. Perhaps here I could concludes that by press on <Shift Key + Restart> or <Shift Key + Power Off> will bring back the BIOS menu.

I really appreciate your good suggestions to help solved my notebook Bluetooth issue and now I have gains a good understanding of Acer Support the limitation on out-of-warranty services/solutions .

I am looking forward for your continue good comments and suggestions.