Windows 7 (32) keeps installing driver for non existing hardware

Windows 7 (32) keeps installing a driver for a non existing Bluetooth radio

Device manager lists it with "this device is running properly". I can uninstall it but Windows keeps detecting it and re-installs the driver automatically.

Of course I cleared the hidden devices list and tried to delete any reference of Bluetooth in the registry, to no avail.

It wouldn't be a big deal if it weren't keeping a real Bluetooth radio (USB) from getting to work.

The machine is a laptop (acer aspire one 756) that comes with Bluetooth in some editions but not this one.

Paul Black said:

Hi pouizo, welcome to Seven Forums,

You haven't got anything in the Startup menu that is triggering it have you?
To get to the Startup menu, click Start > in the search box type msconfig > press Enter > click the Startup tab.

I hope this helps!

no, nothing

Paul Black said:

Hi pouizo,

Have a look in the Windows Features.

Click Start > click Control Panel > click Programs and Features > click Turn Windows features on or off in the left hand pane. You will probably need to expand them to see everything.

Just a thought.

I hope this helps!

No, it doesn't since there is no bluetooth feature to turn off

pouizo said:

No, it doesn't since there is no bluetooth feature to turn off

it looks like the bluetooth option has to be turned on or off in the BIOS, not in Windows 7 for the acer laptop.

also there are several models of "Aspire One 756" laptops as there are sub-model nos. after 756 like "756-2420, 756-2423, 756-2436", etc. look underneath the laptop (flip it around to see the exact model number of the acer laptop or use either msinfo32.exe or dxdiag.exe in Win7 to gather system info about the model no. of the acer laptop).

And the "Aspire One 756" laptops seem to be available only in european region and not in other parts of the world.

In another forum someone found out that this laptop has an Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter that also incorporates a Bluetooth 4.0 module. Windows finds it correctly although it has no function.
Too bad, since even if disabled it seems to prevent an USB Bluetooth-Dongle from installing correctly.