Introduction
Microsoft has (sort of) provided for an own Bluetooth stack that supports a lot of Bluetooth devices. By using this it is possible to skip the COMport connection setup, and directly interface to the MS stack. This should result in higher stability and more control over the Bluetooth connection from applications (as BTcontrol).
The package provided by Microsoft is meant as a base for Bluetooth device vendors to use for their drivers and applications. Itself it only provides for the handling of 'pairing'. My experience is that it cannot run in parallel with your standard provided Bluetooth software, still XP has the capability to 'restore' so it is possible to try the MS stack and 'restore' if you do not like it.
Note that you will not find capabilities for file-transfer etc. for the MS-stack. As mentioned above the Bluetooth providers have to implement that, unless you do it yourself of course as I did for BTcontrol.
Installation
The starting point must be XP with SP1 installed. Then get http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/SP/1.1.1/WXP/EN-US/bt_stack_rtm.exe and install that.
In the installation directory you will find a some interesting files one of them then BLUTOOTH.INF file. Possibly changes in it are required to make your device work, below I have described my experiences with MSI Bluetooth hardware and the MS stack.
Make it work
Based on a discussion in my Bluetooth forum on Yahoo I decided to test things once more (last time was end 2002).
I have the MSI bluetooth software and USB-plug normally installed and
running on my PC.
First started a 'system restore point' to make it possible to get back to something that worked.
Introduced changes in the BLUTOOTH.INF file (you can download my version overwrite the existing one in the patch location),
from 'Device Manager' selected the MSI device under 'Universal USB
controllers'.
T
hen selected Update driver and via 'Install from specified location'
where you select
the location of the unpacked patch. When the driver updating is successful, you now should have a 'Wireless Link' applet in the Control Panel. If
not check the Device Manager, there should be a label 'Bluetooth Radios' under which at least
one "Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator'.
If the previous exists and you do NOT have a Wireless Link applet, reboot.
If you do not have the '... Enumerator' something went wrong (you are on your own, either restore to the working situation or figure out where the problem is...sorry)
OK, you have the Wireless Link applet, open it and select tab 'Bluetooth'.
In my experience one has to pair Bluetooth devices before they can be
used, suits me fine so I never tried without.
Pairing: on the phone go to the Bluetooth menu and select 'Paired
devices' (or something) and then 'Add device' and then 'Phone accepts'.
The phone is now waiting.. On the PC hit the Add.. button on the
Bluetooth tab and then Next and then select the phone.
Next again and as (Sony)Ericsson phones REQUIRE authentication mark Yes.
Next again, fill in password (I think 4 digits are fine)
same password on phone. Then again on PC, do NOT check the DUN device,
only Next and Finish.
The Bluetooth tab window should now list your phone as 'authenticated'.
Congratulate yourself.
When you run BTcntrlXP1.0.0 it should now list the Bluetooth address of you phone on the Edit->Phone Connection.. menu.