Try stopping first with
stop bluetoothd.
Then starting again.

is there code to check bluetooth name and / or current state?

to stop bluetoothd, i get

stop: Job not changed: bluetoothd


my other phone seems to see my phone, but says it cant pair as passkey error.

Try this as user

This should show all the bluetooth services that your phone is offering.
The fact your other phone is seing the N900 is good as we know the process is running.

just get

~ $ sdptool browse
Inquiring ...
~ $

Start the bluetoothd process first.

still nowt...

/home/user # start bluetoothd
bluetoothd (start) waiting
bluetoothd (start) starting
bluetoothd (start) pre-start, process 3992
bluetoothd (start) spawned, process 3993
bluetoothd (start) post-start, (main) process 3993
bluetoothd (start) running, process 3993
/home/user # sdptool browse
Inquiring ...
/home/user # exit
~ $ sdptool browse
Inquiring ...
~ $

That is unusual. If you run that command when the bluetooth is switched off it should fail but yours just hasnt found any services.
I have to go to bed now very early start tommorow but hopefully someone else will pick this up. I will check back in tommorow.

cheers. i appreciate all the help thus far too. nice one.

Ross.

OK, so ive now uninstalled uboot, multiboot, nitdroid, kernel power, kernel power settings and anything i installed in last week or so, and reflashed original kernel to make sure thats all ok, tho it was working with all that installed....

but still no bluetooth