Susan C, Author at Drivers.com

Bluetooth disappeared Windows 10 issue [Fixed]

By Susan C on January 10, 2021

Bluetooth allows users to transfer files wirelessly to mobile devices and other computers with Bluetooth functionality. While typically Bluetooth works seamlessly in Windows 10, many users have complained about encountering Bluetooth problems after installing the Windows 10 KB4549951 update. In case you see Bluetooth has disappeared after the Windows update, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we will be discussing several ways to resolve the Bluetooth problem in Windows 10.

Before anything else

There is a possibility the Bluetooth functionality might be actually active but because of some taskbar setting changes, you are not able to see the Bluetooth icon in the Taskbar. So before trying anything else, try these steps as steps to rule out this possibility in your case.

Press Windows and S keys simultaneously to launch search bar
Type Bluetooth in the search box
Select the Bluetooth and other devices settings from the list of results
In the next window, select Bluetooth and other devices
In the right hand pane under Related Settings, click More Bluetooth options

In the Bluetooth Settings window, check the box which says Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area.
Click Apply > OK
Close all windows.

Now go to the taskbar notification area and see whether the Bluetooth icon has appeared. If you don’t see any Bluetooth icon in notification area, proceed to Solution One.

Solution One- boot into Safe Mode and then boot in Normal Mode

According to experts, booting Windows in Safe Mode will force the operating system to install Bluetooth drivers. Here we boot Windows in Safe Mode and then boot Windows in Normal Mode. Here are the steps to follow.

Press Windows + R key combination
Type msconfig in the Run command window and click OK
In the next window, click the Boot tab

Check Safe boot option
Click Apply and then click OK
Close all windows and restart your PC. It will reboot in Safe Mode
Once Windows boots in Safe Mode, the operating system will install all Bluetooth drivers
Now go to Boot settings again(Repeat 1-3 steps)
Uncheck the Safe Boot option
Restart your PC

Now Windows will boot into Normal Mode. Check whether the Bluetooth icon has appeared in Taskbar.

Solution Two- Enable Bluetooth through hardware switch

Most laptops have a dedicated keys combination to switch ON/Off the Bluetooth functionality.

Dell Laptop – Press the “Fn” key and F2 simultaneously to turn On Bluetooth

Check your laptop documentation to know the key combination. According to experts, the hardware key combination overrides any software settings. So it is always a good idea to enable Bluetooth using a hardware switch in your laptop.

Solution Three – Make sure the Bluetooth is on

There is a possibility the Bluetooth functionality is switched off which has caused the Bluetooth icon to disappear. Here are the steps to turn on Bluetooth.

Press Windows + I key combination to launch the Settings app.
In Window Settings, click Devices
In the left pane, click Bluetooth and other devices
Check whether the Bluetooth function is OFF. If it is off, click the toggle switch to turn it on.

Close all windows

If the above solution does not resolve the Bluetooth issue, proceed to the next solution.

Solution Four – Check Bluetooth Support Service

The Bluetooth functionality is dependent on the Bluetooth service. In this solution, you need to ensure the Bluetooth service is running. Here are the steps to follow.

Press Windows + R keys to launch the Run command box
In the Run command box, type services.msc and click OK
In the Services window, right-click Bluetooth Support service and click Start

Now, double-click the Bluetooth Support service
In the Properties window, set the Startup type to Automatic

Click Apply-> OK
Close all windows

Now check whether Bluetooth functionality is working. If the solution has not worked for you, proceed to the next solution

Windows 10 Missing Bluetooth Settings Issue [Solved]

Solution Five – Run Troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with a Troubleshooter that can resolve most problems. The operating system comes with a dedicated Bluetooth troubleshooter that could fix the issue. Here are the steps to follow.

Press Windows key
Type troubleshooting in Cortana search
Select Troubleshooting settings
In the next window, click Troubleshoot in the left pane
Under the Bluetooth section, click Run the troubleshooter

Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.

If the Troubleshooter is not able to fix the issue, proceed to the next solution

Solution Six – Re-enable the Bluetooth driver in Device Manager

Click Start
Type Device Manager in the Cortana search
Select Device Manager from the list of search results
In the Device Manager window, click Bluetooth Radios to expand the section.
You will see one or two Bluetooth adapters. Right-click the first Bluetooth adapter and click Disable

Now right-click the second Bluetooth adapter and click Disable
Now Right-click the first Bluetooth adapter and click Enable
Now right-click the second Bluetooth adapter and click Enable

If this solution did not solve the Bluetooth problem, proceed to the next solution.

Solution Seven – Reinstall Bluetooth driver

There is a possibility the Bluetooth driver is corrupt or updated. In this solution, we will uninstall and reinstall the Bluetooth driver that might fix the issue. Here are the steps to follow.

Open Device Manager
Go to the Bluetooth section and expand it
Right-click on Bluetooth adapter and click Uninstall device

Uninstall all Bluetooth adapters which will cause the Bluetooth section to vanish. It means the Bluetooth is completely uninstalled from your laptop.
Click View
Click Show hidden devices

Click Action and click Scan for hardware changes

Windows will install default drivers for Bluetooth

A much easier way to update the Bluetooth driver is by using a Driver Update Tool.

Updating Drivers Automatically

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

You can update device drivers automatically
The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

Start Download

PFN List Corrupt Error Fixed

By Susan C on January 3, 2021

“Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD) errors can be very irritating. BSOD errors are usually caused by faulty memory, malfunctioning hardware, power supply issues, hardware running beyond specified limits, and many more reasons. If neglected, these errors can reduce the lifespan of your PC. Here we have discussed the “PFN list error” BSOD that continues to annoy Windows users.

PFN stands for Page Frame Number. The PFN database contains the list of files that represents the physical memory of your Windows system. It contains the index number of the files. The PFN file is needed by the Windows OS to determine the locations of the memory files on your system. If the PFN list is corrupt, Windows cannot complete important processes and throws a PFN List Corrupt blue screen error. Here we have offered some easy to follow solutions that might fix the issue.

Solution One – Run BSOD troubleshooter

The BSOD troubleshooter is part of in-built troubleshooting tools in Windows OS. Let’s see if the BSOD troubleshooter can resolve the PFN list corrupt error. Here are the steps to follow.

Open the Control Panel(icons view)
Click on the Troubleshooting icon
Click View all link on the top left side of the window
Right-click on Blue Screen and select Run as admin
Click the Advanced link in the window
Check the box Apply repairs automatically
Click Next

The BSOD troubleshooter tool will detect problems that lead to Blue Screen Errors.

If it finds any problems, it will list them and then you have to follow the instructions to resolve the issue.

If it does not find any problems, click View detailed information to see the troubleshooting report. In this scenario, you need to continue to Solution Two in the list.

Solution Two – Run DISM

DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. It is part of in-built maintenance tools in Windows. According to experts, you need to run the DISM tool before running the SFC tool. The DISM tool uses the Windows update feature to fix any corruption. Here are the steps to run the DISM tool.

Click Start
Type Command prompt in the search box and right-click on the top result
Select Run as administrator
In the command prompt window, type the following command and then press Enter

The tool will check for any data corruption that requires fixing. We recommend you also run the advanced scan and repair option. In the command prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

Windows will connect to the Update server and download any files needed to fix the corruption. If the above solution does not fix the PFN list corrupt issue, you need to run the SFC scan.

Solution Three – Run System File Checker

The Blue Screen error can be a result of a corrupt system file. SFC stands for System File Checker. The SFC scan is also a part of in-built troubleshooting tools. It checks the integrity of the system files and replaces any corrupted files with a cached copy located in the compressed folder:

The SFC tool starts checking the integrity of system files. Wait for the operation to complete. If the “PFN List Corrupt” error is not resolved, proceed to Solution Three in the list.

The hard drive develops bad sectors over time which may lead to BSOD errors like PFN list corruption. Windows offers a CHKDSK tool that can find and fix hard drive errors. Here are the steps to follow.

Click start
Search for command prompt and select the top-most result from the list
Launch command prompt with admin rights
In the command prompt window, type the following command and press Enter

Wait for the process to complete

If the solution does not work for you, proceed to the next solution in the list.

Solution Five- Check RAM

Since the PFN list error is related to memory, you need to ensure the RAM is not faulty. Windows provides you with a memory check tool that can find problems with RAM. Here are the steps to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.

Close all programs before following the steps given below
To invoke Run box, type Windows+R key combination
In the Run command box, type mdsched.exe
Click OK.
Select the recommended option – Restart Now
Windows will restart and you will see the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool running
Wait for the process to complete.

If the diagnostic tools find any errors, it will show them on the screen. If no problems with memory are found, reboot the computer after the test and see if the error is resolved.

Solution Six- Disable Microsoft One Drive

Cloud storage has become popular and Microsoft One Drive has become part of Microsoft Essentials. According to experts, Microsoft One Drive could cause the PFN list corrupt issue might lead to BSOD errors like PFN list corrupt. Here are the steps to disable Microsoft One Drive

Press key combination Windows + S to access group policy
Choose Edit Group policy
In the Local Group Policy editor window, navigate the following
Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive.
In the right pane, find Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage and double-click on it.
In the window titled” Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage”, select Enabled
Click Apply > OK to save settings and exit window

This will disable Microsoft OneDrive. Check whether the PFN List Corrupt is resolved. If the issue persists, proceed to the next solution.

Solution Seven- Update Drivers

Corrupt drivers can be the reason behind the PFN list corrupt error. In that case, you need to update all system drivers and see if it helps. If you have an assembled desktop, you need to go to the motherboard manufacturer website and download the latest drivers for your system.

If you have a branded desktop/laptop, you need to go to the device manufacturer website, download the latest drivers for your model, and install them.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

You can update device drivers automatically
The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

Start Download

Function keys not working issue [Solved]

By Susan C on January 3, 2021

If you are a laptop user, you probably would be aware of or familiar with the function keys on the keyboard. The keyboard has 12 function keys, F1 to F12. Unlike desktops, the function keys on the laptop keyboard have several commands integrated.

For example, pressing the function key and F7/F8 helps you control volume. Similarly, several Windows functions are integrated with function keys. For example- F8 is used to boot Windows in Safe Mode. If the function keys stop working, you will face difficulties using the laptop.

Many users have complained of function keys stop working all of a sudden. If you are facing a similar problem, we’ve got you covered. We will be discussing several solutions that could get function keys working again.

Solution One- Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has some issues with older hardware and such things mainly happen with users having old laptops. Windows 10 comes with a hardware troubleshooter that fixes minor issues and it could get the function keys working again. Here are the steps to follow.

Press Windows + I key combination to launch the Settings app
Click Update & Security
From the left pane, click Troubleshoot
In the right pane, expand the Hardware and Device section

Click Run the troubleshooter
Wait for the troubleshooting procedure to end, check the function keys

If the Hardware troubleshooter does not fix the issue, move to the next solution.

Solution Two- Update laptop drivers

There is a possibility the drivers are outdated or corrupt. In that case, you need to update laptop drivers. You need to visit the OEM website of your region, select the model, operating systems, and download the latest drivers for your laptop.

Alternately, you can update your device drivers using a reliable driver tool. This tool is super fast and reliable. What’s more, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Users can get a full refund if they are unhappy with the software.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

You can update device drivers automatically
The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

Start Download

Solution Three- Check the BIOS settings

Dell and Lenovo allow Windows users to disable function keys through BIOS. This allows users to use the F1-F12 keys as multimedia keys. You need to make sure the function keys are not disabled through BIOS. Here are the steps to follow.

Reboot the computer and press the F2, F10 or Delete button to access BIOS/UEFI.

Note- the BIOS/UEFI settings differ with each laptop manufacturer. Here we have shown steps for Dell laptop.

Go to the Advanced option in the BIOS
Locate and select the Function key behavior option and press Enter
You will see two options- Function Key and Multimedia keys

Select Function Key and press Enter
Save BIOS settings and Exit BIOS utility
Reboot PC and check if the function keys work now

If there is nothing wrong with BIOS settings, move on to the next solution

Solution Four- Uninstall Synaptics Pointing Device Driver

According to Windows 10 experts, the Synaptics Pointing Device Driver is known to cause such issues. If nothing has worked for you so far, try uninstalling Synaptics Pointing Device Driver. Here are the steps to follow

Click Start and type control panel in the search bar
Open Control Panel
Select Programs -> Programs and Features
Press and hold Synaptics Pointing Device in the list
Click Uninstall
Wait for the procedure to complete
Restart your PC and see if the function keys work now.

If the above solution has not worked for you, move to the next solution

Solution Five- Uninstall Hotkey driver

Laptop manufacturers like Lenovo and Toshiba are known to include the ATK Hotkey Utility program that allows the function keys to work properly. However, in some cases, the program itself prevents the function keys from working. You need to find and uninstall the hotkey driver on your laptop and see if that helps turn things around.

Here are the steps to follow.

Open Control Panel( Refer steps given in Solution Three)
Right-click the hotkey utility and click uninstall
Close all windows
Now check if the function keys are working.

Solution Six- Enable VAIO Event Service

Note- This solution is applicable to only Sony laptops

Sony laptops come with a VAIO Control Center utility which spawns VAIO Event Service. This utility comes pre-installed on Sony laptops. It is an eventing model platform that allows you to manage function keys. If the VAIO Event Service is not running, that might disable the function keys. To rule out this possibility, we need to enable the VAIO Event Service. Here are the steps to follow.

Press the key combination Windows + R to invoke the Run command
In Run command, type services.msc
In the Services window, locate and right-click VAIO Event Service
Select Properties
In the properties window, go to the Startup-type section
Select Automatic from the drop-down list
Click Apply-> OK
Close all windows
Restart your laptop
Now check if the function keys are working

Solution Seven- Disable Filter Keys

Filter keys are an accessibility feature in Windows. It makes the Windows ignore brief or repeated keystrokes. Some users who were facing function keys not working problem reported disabling function keys helped them resolve the issue once and for all.

Here are the steps to follow.

Open Control Panel
Go to Ease of Access center
Scroll down and locate the Filter keys option
Make sure the Turn On filter keys option is not checked. If you see a checkmark, click the box to uncheck the option

Click Apply-> OK

If none of the solutions have worked for you, reset the PC as a last resort.

Solution Eight- Reset PC

Windows updates, various application updates, 3^rd party control apps make changes to Windows component settings. In some cases, it is impossible to predict which apps or settings have caused the function keys problem. In such a scenario, the last resort is to reset the PC.

Resetting the PC will take your laptop to the factory setting configuration when everything was working well. It is a better option than re-installation as your files and other data remain intact.

Here are the steps to Reset your PC.

Click Start
In the Windows search bar, type reset
In the list of results, click the Reset this PC option
In the Recovery window, go to Reset this PC option and click Get Started option

Select whether you want to keep or discard your files
Start the reset procedure

Once your system is refreshed, you will see the function keys are working normally as they should

Updating Drivers Automatically

Drivers.com Sites

About Us