[Curious]

I installed the official beta of Windows 7 on my mini 9. My bluetooth works fine, but my wireless doesn't work - and I think I know why now.

When XP home was still on my machine, I had bluetooth enabled and wifi disabled because I had a network cable plugged in. When I installed the beta I think the wifi switch remembered its off position...

I got a copy of btmeter from Dell's website and installed it. However, when BTMeter.exe is ran, it gives me an application error "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click OK to terminate the application." I've tried various compatibility modes and with administrator privilege with no success. When I troubleshoot the wireless connection it says that the wireless switch is in the off position. The problem is Fn+F2 does nothing. So now I'm stuck with a netbook that can't access the internet.

I think you can save yourself some grief and make sure that bluetooth and wifi are enabled before Windows 7 is installed.

But, if anyone knows a solution it would be welcome news.

[holmes4]

I have the related problem WLAN but no BT. Grrr....

[Curious]

Originally Posted by holmes4

I have the related problem WLAN but no BT. Grrr....

Did you have bluetooth disabled before you installed the Windows 7 beta?

Also, can you get btmeter to run? It's available on Dell's support website, but only for XP.

I still haven't had any luck enabling wi-fi (which I think is a bigger problem than no bluetooth). In device manager I can open up properties on the Broadcom Wireless G card and it claims that the radio is enabled, but it's really not... I will try reinstalling XP (sigh) on Monday, re-enable wi-fi, and then try my luck at Windows 7 again.

If this works, I'll write a checklist for preparing to install Windows 7.

[holmes4]

I did not have BT enabled at the time. I have managed to enable BT by reinstalling XP and the wireless switch, turning on both radios, then restoring Windows 7 from my backup. BT came up but I figured I'd install the Dell BT drivers. That part worked.

The battery meter still will not run, though, so I can't disable BT except through the BIOS. I can't turn WiFi off either. (I have an out for that since I am using an Intel WiFi card and I can install the Intel drivers.

[holmes4]

AHA! Install the Battery Meter/Wireless Switch for the Mini 12 (Vista 32). It works. Doesn't show the battery meter but the wireless option is in the "hidden icons" tray.

[Curious]

Originally Posted by holmes4

AHA! Install the Battery Meter/Wireless Switch for the Mini 12 (Vista 32).

Great find! It works perfectly now, including the Fn+F2 hotkey. I didn't have to reinstall XP to make it work either, so I'm very happy about that. I wish there was a sticky with the download links to the critical drivers...

[holmes4]

Perhaps I can put one together this evening if someone else doesn't get to it first. I wish I had thought to look for a Mini 12 version before going through the hassle of backup/install XP/restore.

[latinracer]

For bluetooth i just used the windows 7 drivers and it works perfect. no problems yet.

[Curious]

Originally Posted by holmes4

Perhaps I can put one together this evening if someone else doesn't get to it first. I wish I had thought to look for a Mini 12 version before going through the hassle of backup/install XP/restore.

Done

Originally Posted by latinracer

For bluetooth i just used the windows 7 drivers and it works perfect. no problems yet.

Your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi worked fine because they were both already turned on before you installed Windows 7. My Wi-Fi was disabled because I had it turned off in XP before I made the transition, just as holmes4 had his Bluetooth turned off before he switched. The devices remembered their on/off positions and they couldn't be turned back on in Windows 7 without the Vista drivers made for the Mini 12.

[holmes4]

A nit. It isn't the drivers that are the issue but the "hardware switch" which is actually implemented in software. This sets some value in the BIOS which, if the device is disabled, Windows believes it is not installed.