This is a very technical post but because I had such difficulty finding the solution online, I thought I’d post it here for everyone else.

It’s only useful if you have had any strange Windows errors after installing my brand new Logitech MX5000 Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse combo.

I love technology, but I had a bit of a hissyfit over the last few days trying to figure out why I kept getting a “svchost.exe” error and my peer to peer networking was dead. Here’s the scenario:

I have two desktops computers (let’s call them A & B) running Windows XP Professional and they are networked via peer to peer technology.

B, my assistant’s computer has all of the main client and data files, which are shared using the built-in file sharing on XP.

A, my computer, can access files on B’s computer and to make access a bit easier, I’ve mapped various folders/drives on computer B. For example, if I click on “My Computer”, the following drives are displayed: C:, D:, E:, X:, Y: and Z:. C: is the main drive, D: is part of the partitioned drive and E: is my CD burner. X:, Y: and Z: are mapped drives which point to particular folders on B’s computer.

All was hunky dory until I bought and installed my Logitech MX5000 Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse combo. Part of the installation of the 70 MB “Setpoint” software included installing a “bluetooth stack/handler” which appears in the Add/Remove Programs as “WIDCOMM Bluetooth” or some abbreviated version of that title. Keep this in mind!

I didn’t notice the network and Svchost.exe errors until the next day. I suppose I was too preoccupied with my brand new shiny wireless keyboard and laser mouse. It’s got touch sensitive controls and works 15 feet away from the tower with ease. (I tossed the old Microsoft Wireless Keyboard because over time, I had to inch closer and closer to the Wireless Receiver which started to defeat the purpose of the wireless feature - at one point, I was 3 inches from the receiver!)

Both errors were related. The Svchost error affected the Windows Firewall. Whenever I tried to open the Windows Firewall (thinking that my networking errors were due to a Firewall block, I would get this message: “Windows firewall settings cannot be displayed because the associated service is not running. Do you want to start the windows firewall/internet connection sharing (ICS) service?” If I clicked “yes”, the response was “Windows cannot start the windows firewall/internet connection sharing (ICS) service.” After the 10th time, I about threw the whole thing out of my window.

The solution:

Apparently, Windows XP has it’s own “Bluetooth Stack” which in laymen’s terms means Windows XP can handle bluetooth adapters with ease. That said, Logitech decided to bundle the “SetPoint” software with its own bluetooth stack which was causing all of the errors. There was apparently no legitimate reason for Logitech to package its own bluetooth stack.

Admittedly, I didn’t figure this out myself. My computer genius consultant who helps me with the Asterisk PBX setup figured it out.

All I had to do was go to Add/Remove Programs, find the WIDCOMM Bluetooth “program” and uninstall it. The SetPoint software still works fine and all of my networking, firewall and svchost.exe errors are gone!

Hope this helps anyone else who was pullilng out their hair over this one!

ShareThis