Wireless Internet Connection Problem

I have spent the last couple of hours mulling over a problem on my grandfathers computer. He recently reinstalled his Windows XP 32 bit operating system and he can no longer connect to the internet. I logged onto the dell website and used the service tag to locate the drivers that were necessary for the computer to recognize the hardware. I installed the proper driver for the dell wireless 1370 wlan mini-pci card and the computer still cannot recognize the card. I checked device manager and found that the only network device the computer recognizes is the broadcom 440x 10/100 integrated controller. What steps should I take from here to help diagnose the problem?

Notes:

-This is a Dell Inspiron B130
-He recently sent his laptop in to have it worked on because of some virus related issues; they resolved these by doing a complete reinstallation of his operating system.
-He has been able to connect to the internet in the past; until he sent it in.

the computer still cannot recognize the card

Does it mean, it's not listed in "Network adapters" section, of Device Manager?
Any errors in Device Manager?

Does the laptop connect, if hardwired through an ethernet cable?

Since this is a fresh install of XP which SP is installed.

Believe you need at least SP2 for wireless to be recognized\function. Has been a while so my be mistaken.

Since this is a fresh install of XP which SP is installed.

Believe you need at least SP2 for wireless to be recognized\function. Has been a while so my be mistaken.

Service Pack 3 is installed.

the computer still cannot recognize the card

Does it mean, it's not listed in "Network adapters" section, of Device Manager?
Any errors in Device Manager?

Does the laptop connect, if hardwired through an ethernet cable?

It is not listed as a device in Device Manager. I used the following command:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

and started Device Manager. I clicked show hidden devices and I get a really long list of network adapters.
the following related network adapters appeared:

Dell Wireless 1470 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card
Dell Wireless 1470 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card - Packet Scheduler Miniport
WAN Miniport (IP)
WAN Miniport (IP) - Packet Scheduler Miniport
WAN Miniport (IPX)
WAN Miniport (L2TP)
WAN Miniport (PPOE)
WAN Miniport (PPTP)

Edited by ack1234, 25 December 2010 - 01:19 PM.

The service tag of this laptop is: 8PYJY81

information from dell found here: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=8PYJY81&SystemID=Inspiron1300/B130&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

unrecognized network adapter here: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R151519&SystemID=Inspiron1300/B130&servicetag=8PYJY81&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=9110&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=10&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=5&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=202138

It is not listed as a device in Device Manager. I used the following command:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

and started Device Manager. I clicked show hidden devices and I get a really long list of network adapters.
the following related network adapters appeared:

Dell Wireless 1470 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card

The Device Status in the properties menu reads as follows:

Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer. (Code 45)

To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer.

Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.

Edited by ack1234, 25 December 2010 - 02:57 PM.

Does the laptop connect, if hardwired through an ethernet cable?

Does the laptop connect, if hardwired through an ethernet cable?

Yes it does.

I have also ensured that the network card is attached to the motherboard properly.

I have also ensured that the network card is attached to the motherboard properly.

when you/he first started the computer after the XP install, was the device yellow banged or did it not show up at all?

I have also ensured that the network card is attached to the motherboard properly.

when you/he first started the computer after the XP install, was the device yellow banged or did it not show up at all?

The device did not enumerate at all. I recently found out that the BIOS had settings that specifically disabled my mini-PCI card. I re-enabled from there and rebooted the computer. Afterwards, the device still did not show up.

To reiterate: The device is properly connected to the motherboared. The device drivers for the computer are all installed. It is Windows Home Edition 32bit SP3. Everything on the computer is running smoothly with the exception of the wireless device. The card WILL NOT show up in the Device Manager. The only network adapter that shows up is the Ethernet Controller 440x 10/100

Try to uninstall Dell Wireless 1470 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card- Packet Scheduler Miniport
Restart computer.
This is not actual physical device, but software simulation.
Some program might have created it.

Try to uninstall Dell Wireless 1470 Dual Band WLAN Mini-PCI Card- Packet Scheduler Miniport
Restart computer.
This is not actual physical device, but software simulation.
Some program might have created it.

It is uninstalled.

In your post #7 the washed out icon for the wireless device indicates that Windows is still remembering and retaining the driver. If you right click on it you should still have the option to uninstall. Do so then restart the machine.