Chosen Solution
So, I’m about ready to throw in the towel on my beloved Mid-2012 MBP’s. This is #3 in a year and a half and I’m not particularly hard on my computers. #1 was just sold. #2 (Matte screen) was my baby, but has RAM module issues —> Kernel panics —> unreliable. #3 (Glossy screen) was just purchased for $500 off of a grad student. Aside from some dust, the machine looks to be in great condition. When I tested it before purchase, everything worked, including Bluetooth. I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t have seen the Bluetooth Not Available icon. But alas… I swapped out the optical drive, hard drive, and RAM from #3 for the SSD’s + RAM from #2. Three beeps. Tightented logic board, reseated the RAM, started up. But, Bluetooth is not available. There is no Bluetooth in the System Preferences. I deleted com.apple.bluetooth… plist files (there was no simply “bluetooth” file). I reset the SMC. I disconnected and reconnected: the battery, the bluetooth-to-logicboard cable, the antenna cables… and nothing. My computer setup relies on bluetooth as I use a secondary monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Thoughts? Is it as simple as, “time to troubleshoot and replace all the things”? If so, I think I’m throwing in the towel, selling both computers and getting a new MBP (though, they’re not without their problems… ugh). Any thoughts?
You may want to try and replace the AirPort Card as that is what Bluetooth and WiFi is transmitted by (so-to-speak if that makes sense). iFixit sells the part in both Bluetooth 2.1 and Bluetooth 4.0 so you do have a choice when buying. MacBook Pro Unibody (Early 2011-Mid 2012) AirPort/Bluetooth Board MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 AirPort/Bluetooth Board Replacement
