moze229
Member
- Messages
- 35
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
I hope I'm posting this in the correct section. If not, feel free to move it to the appropriate location.
I am a former PC user gone iMac for 10 years, and then back to PC about a year ago. Way back in 2006, the iMac defaulty had Blutooth on-board. Both the keyboard and mouse would function via Bluetooth BEFORE getting into the OS. This functionality was built into the BIOS. (Or whatever it's called nowadays.) I now have a PC that I'd like to use a BT keyboard and mouse with. It has a mini PCI-e Bluetooth/WiFi card installed, but will ONLY work once Windows loads with a driver. Consequently, the BIOS (or whatever it's called nowadays) does not have BT functionality built in. So, my keyboard and mouse are dead until I get into Windows. Two problems with this.
1.) If I want to go into the BIOS (or whatever it's called nowadays) too bad. I'd have to have another keyboard on hand at all times, just in case I want to do this.
2.) I have a dual boot system. I have a boot menu. I'd have to have another keyboard on hand at all times just to boot the machine.
I suppose BT peripherals just never caught on in the PC world. I find this intriguing, since many BT keyboards and mice sets are available for PC via PROPRIETARY dongle. Why haven't the PC main board manufacturers picked up on this? Apple was doing this 10 years ago. (I digress. Sorry.)
On to what I want to do. I have purchased a BT keyboard and mouse set that will work via BT 4.0. No big deal - I've got the card for that. BUT, I want these peripherals to work OUTSIDE of Windows. The keyboard (Microsoft designer keyboard) is a BT 4.0 device. If I buy a 3rd party BT 4.0 dongle, will I get functionality OUTSIDE of Windows? (The other OS I have installed is Linux - I'm not asking about that. I'm referring to functionality outside of ANY OS.) I suppose I could just buy one and try it, but I'm sure that many of you already have the answer. I'm not sure how the non-proprietary dongles work, and their requirements of drivers. I can't seem to find any solid info from any of the manufacturers. They assume everyone just uses Windows only and has no need or desire to access the mainboard settings in any way.
I am familiar with the peripheral devices that come with dongles - they are proprietary to those specific peripherals and will work regardless of drivers. However, I cannot find a keyboard like the one I have (Microsoft designer keyboard) that has this proprietary setup. I want to use the BT 4.0 keyboard I have with a BT 4.0 dongle and have it work without having to rely on Windows drivers. Anyone know if the dongles operate this way?
Sorry for the winded post, but I wanted to include as much info as possible. Thanks in advance.
I am a former PC user gone iMac for 10 years, and then back to PC about a year ago. Way back in 2006, the iMac defaulty had Blutooth on-board. Both the keyboard and mouse would function via Bluetooth BEFORE getting into the OS. This functionality was built into the BIOS. (Or whatever it's called nowadays.) I now have a PC that I'd like to use a BT keyboard and mouse with. It has a mini PCI-e Bluetooth/WiFi card installed, but will ONLY work once Windows loads with a driver. Consequently, the BIOS (or whatever it's called nowadays) does not have BT functionality built in. So, my keyboard and mouse are dead until I get into Windows. Two problems with this.
1.) If I want to go into the BIOS (or whatever it's called nowadays) too bad. I'd have to have another keyboard on hand at all times, just in case I want to do this.
2.) I have a dual boot system. I have a boot menu. I'd have to have another keyboard on hand at all times just to boot the machine.
I suppose BT peripherals just never caught on in the PC world. I find this intriguing, since many BT keyboards and mice sets are available for PC via PROPRIETARY dongle. Why haven't the PC main board manufacturers picked up on this? Apple was doing this 10 years ago. (I digress. Sorry.)
On to what I want to do. I have purchased a BT keyboard and mouse set that will work via BT 4.0. No big deal - I've got the card for that. BUT, I want these peripherals to work OUTSIDE of Windows. The keyboard (Microsoft designer keyboard) is a BT 4.0 device. If I buy a 3rd party BT 4.0 dongle, will I get functionality OUTSIDE of Windows? (The other OS I have installed is Linux - I'm not asking about that. I'm referring to functionality outside of ANY OS.) I suppose I could just buy one and try it, but I'm sure that many of you already have the answer. I'm not sure how the non-proprietary dongles work, and their requirements of drivers. I can't seem to find any solid info from any of the manufacturers. They assume everyone just uses Windows only and has no need or desire to access the mainboard settings in any way.
I am familiar with the peripheral devices that come with dongles - they are proprietary to those specific peripherals and will work regardless of drivers. However, I cannot find a keyboard like the one I have (Microsoft designer keyboard) that has this proprietary setup. I want to use the BT 4.0 keyboard I have with a BT 4.0 dongle and have it work without having to rely on Windows drivers. Anyone know if the dongles operate this way?
Sorry for the winded post, but I wanted to include as much info as possible. Thanks in advance.
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 10 / Linux Mint 17.2 / OS X
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- CPU
- Intel i5 4660 3.2
- Motherboard
- Asus H97I-PLUS
- Memory
- 8GB