A couple of people emailed me saying that they don't care for bluetooth functioning and just want the error message go away. There are two ways of doing it. You can physically take the bluetooth module out by opening up the laptop. Or, since there is no way to disable the bluetooth in the BIOS, do it in windows as follows. Go to device manager and extend Universal Serial Bus Controllers and disable one of the USB Root Hub that represents the bluetooth connection on the motherboard - you'll have to test which one as they won't be in the same order. Now every time you enable your wi-fi card using Fn+F2, the bluetooth connection won't be checked.

:EDIT: The method underlined above isn't a good one. I recently found out that on my machine the bottom usb port is on the same USB Root Hub as the internal bluetooth. So disabling the USB root hub on which the internal bluetooth is on will also disable any devices plugged into the bottom usb port. This is not an acceptable fix in my opinion so another way is to go to the device manager and, with the bluetooth working, disable all mentions of it.

So sorry for the delays in responding. For some reason, the notification system on this board didn't send me a notification of PMs waiting for me until today. I double checked the settings, and notification was checked. While I was there, I turned on "email access", so people can now email me.

I answered all of the PMs in my box. So if you sent me a PM, you now have a reply.

So far, five computers were repaired and so far *no* complaints from users.

I certainly hope others can get their units fixed.

Let me know if I can be of future service.

-Ed

They changed the default settnings a while ago. You got the notification today because I emailed the mods today and told them to enable the email PM notification on your account

Thanks for the service tag, I'll see what I can do with it and hopefully there won't be a problem as I'm assuming you bought the laptops from Small Bussiness while most of us from Home division.

I'm trying to get the email from sakor and other moderators. Will PM you when I do.

I no longer get the error messages and see no reason to send this laptop back until I have some indication they will fix the problem. I did waist a couple hours on the phone with them while they tried to convince me it was softwar or that I didn't even have a blue toothcard installed. Referencing the tech trac number did no good. If you guys can solve this I would certainly appreciate it. I am planning to get a bluetooth gps this spring so would like it to work. I would send it in but the case is already showing damage (bulging) where the bluetooth card goes.

My almost 2 year old (bought July 2003) just started having these issues with its Bluetooth module - 2 weeks after buying a Bluetooth phone

Since I'm well out of warranty and I'm an electrical engineer who designs circuit boards, I figured I would open up the 600m and try to fix the problem.

What I found was the connecto on the motherboard was loose and if fell off while I was trying to determine what the problem was. Looking at the solder joints, I could tell that the connector was never solder on correctly. It had what is called cold solder joints. I suspect it might have something to do with where it is located on the motherboard and how it is assembled. I resoldered the connector on and it works perfectly again. Padding the module might make steady the connector enought to work for awhile but eventually the connector will seperate from the motherboard and the bluetooth module will stop working all together.

If you are good at soldering, you can easliy fix this yourself. I didn't even have to remove the motherboard from the base, just remove the cage the hard drive goes into.

From reading posts on this issue on the official dell forums I think this was another/separate issue with the connector. But it only existed with the first revisions of the motherboards - that is the bluetooth connector would completely fall off. This would happen because the connector protrudes from the board and applying pressure on the palm rest would push the bluetooth module down and it would in turn put pressure on the BT connector.

But the newest boards don't have the problem because

1. the board is more solid
2. The (new) plastic base provides support for the protruding BT connector from the bottom.

The issue here is not the connection of the BT connector to the motherboard but the connection of the BT module to the BT connector. Anyway, that's how I diagnosed the problem.

I'm skeptical about this solution in the long term. Because the same issue that caused this problem in the first place is still affecting your fix - that is, wear and tear on the connector from pressing down on the palm rest.

Here is an idea. Get wires and solder them with one end connected to the BT module and and the other to the the BT connector. And put/mount the BT module somewhere else inside the case. I might try this before my warranty expires.

Since the three things that will be gone are:

smart card reader -
Gigabit Lan -
Internal Mic -

I like these features... sad that it will be lost. I don't use the mic, nor the gigabit lan, but I do use the smart card reader with my amex blue card.

I can live without it...

on the plus side....
bluetooth fix (hopefully)
333mhz for rams...(will there really be that much of a difference)
+ any more?

I think I'll just call mine in for replacement. I have until october before my warranty runs out. But I rather not wait till then.

Just remember that they might still give you the older revision. I would either tell them you want the new revision - you have a legitimate claim since the older revisions are plagued by the BT issue. Or you can just wait a month or two until the older boards run out. If you have a home repair it can be faster easier to get the right mobo.

You can (try) replacing it with the original 600m's pcmcia/smart card housing:
http://www.parts-people.com/index.ph...7&prevstart=24

Well I bought a D600 with bluetooth a few months after they came out. It is still under warranty, but i don't want to go through the hassle of sending it in (don't want to pay for postage). Anyrate, I don't have a bluetooth device to check if my thing is working and I am not getting any error messages like with the usb. I even went through the entire dell hardware diagnostic test ( the boot to the other partition) without a problem. My beef is that the bluetooth light rarely works for me anymore. It has been like this for some time, and when running linux (gentoo) it is nice to have a visual clue as to if the WiFi is turned on/off. I know the light is suppose to be for bluetooth not wifi, but in practice it works that way and i want it back. I have recently noticed that if I hold the notebook up with with my thump on top of the front left corner (lid open), and two fingers supporting from bellow (just in front of the MiniPCI opening, the light will turn on. I guess it must be from this faulty connector. Perhaps I'll just wait and warrantee this thing a few months before it expires so i get the right fix. Pitiful excuse for getting your computer warrantied though.

All I can comment on is what I found when I took my 600m apart. I checked the connector on the Bluetooth module and it was okay. There is definitely some support under the motherboard connector from the plastic base. My motherboard was replaced in October of 2003 but I don't know if that means I have the first revision of the board or not. I believe it is A02 version, which would suggest it is not the first version.

I don't see how you could tell the difference from the module not connecting to the connector correctly versus the connector not being attached to the motherboard correctly - the symptoms would be the same. My symtoms were exactly as described - connect & disconnects of the module and USB device not found, all that could be affected by pushing on the left side palm rest.

There clearly is an issue with the assembly of the connector based on what the solder joints to the connector look like, at least on my board. And since these boards are not hand assembled that would suggest this is a common problem.

I guess you're right. I just assumed the issue was the connection between the BT module and the BT connector because the card is loose (it moves when pressed on top left or right). In my case the connection is most stable when the card is pushed back a little bit facing the user and that's where I would put the padding.

After you soldered the BT connector you can still take out the BT module, correct?

Yes you can still take out the module. I just resoldered the connector to the motherboard. The kind of connector they used is a pretty loose fitting connector - it doesn't really lock or click when it is attached.