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How to remove Bluetooth wireless device support in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Article ID: 889814 - View products that this article applies to.

SUMMARY

This article discusses how to remove Bluetooth wireless device support from Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

By default, Windows XP SP2 installs Bluetooth wireless device support when you install Windows XP SP2 to a computer. After installation, if a Bluetooth wireless device or radio is detected, Device Manager will install the driver for the Bluetooth device.

To remove Bluetooth wireless device support, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
Click the Hardware tab.
Click Device Manager.
Expand Bluetooth Radios.
Right-click each device listed under Bluetooth Radios, click Uninstall, and then click OK.
Close Device Manager, and then click OK.
In Windows Explorer, open the C:\Windows\Inf folder.
Rename the Bth.inf file to Bth.inf.old.
Rename the Bth.pnf file to Bth.pnf.old.
Restart Windows XP SP2.

This will prevent the Microsoft Bluetooth Stack from loading. However, this does not prevent third-party Bluetooth stacks from being installed or loaded.