Bluetooth Disappeared from Device Manager After Windows 7 Upgrade

[sixsoccer]

I have an Inspiron 1420 with built-in bluetooth.

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista and the bluetooth does not work anymore.

Symptoms:
1 Bluetooth does not appear in device manager or control panel anymore
2 The 'Radio On-Off' switch on the front of the laptop no longer controls the bluetooth
--a. Dell Quickset switch options does not let me select Bluetooth
3 The WIDCOMM bluetooth software does not even open on my computer anymore
--a. I uninstalled WIDCOMM in order to install the latest driver from Dell
--b. I cannot finish installing this driver (R140135) because it tells me to turn on the blutooth hardware using Fn+F2 (my keyboard does not have this shortcut)
4 I have tried using the BTW bluetooth patch from Dell but it does not work (R159805)


Essentially, my computer does not seem to know that there is bluetooth hardware built into it. The 'bluetooth sensor light' (next to the power and wifi lights) has remained off since I installed windows 7.

I would appreciate if someone could provide a solution to my problem. Please let me know if you require more information on my laptop

 

[richc46]

You are not going to like this answer, but it is the best and almost all would agree. You made a mistake when you upgraded, you should do a clean install. This is just the beginning of the problems.

Do it over. Do a clean install. I know you dont want to install programs, again, etc. But it is for the best. That is the only way to fix this and everything else that will happen.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips
Need help just ask.