Cannot find Bluetooth driver that will install

[HDS7]

Hello all. I'm so desperate for help with this problem. I've been trying for hours to get Bluetooth installed on my laptop but nothing is working.

-I have a Dell Vostro 3500 with Windows 7 32bit Home Premium
-Bluetooth is enabled in the BIOS (I have the most recent BIOS available for my system)
-I have a Bluetooth light (which is off) above my keyboard, next to the sound controls. I can't figure out how to get it turned on
-I own multiple Bluetooth devices (mouse, iphone) all of which work on my other computer which is a Dell Inspiron with Windows 8
-When I first got this computer, I seem to remember having a Bluetooth icon in my system tray. But after reinstalling Windows, I never saw it again.

-I DO NOT have a Bluetooth button on my keyboard to enable or disable it
-I DO NOT have the Bluetooth icon in my system tray
-My Device Manager DOES NOT detect any Bluetooth drivers installed on my laptop
-When I search for wireless devices to add, Windows DOES NOT detect anything

I have tried installing the Bluetooth drivers from the Dell website, using my Service Tag (the warantee is expired but I still have access to all my drivers) to find the correct drivers.
None of them work.
After extracting, it attempts to install and I get the error "No bluetooth device was detected. Please make sure that your bluetooth device is plugged in properly".

I then attempted to install the drivers that came with the computer on CD.
It also doesn't work.
After extracting, it attempts to install and I get the error "No bluetooth device was detected. Please make sure that your bluetooth device is plugged in properly".

I obviously cannot contact Dell for any support as my warantee is expired.
Can anyone help me please?

 

[ComputerGeek]

Windows doesn't need the device driver installed for it to DETECT a plug and play device. If the device isn't being detected it means

1. Disabled in BIOS
2. It's turned off or disconnected
3. The device hardware has failed

You've already checked 1) and 2). Which probably means 3) device failure

See the instructions HERE to view "non-present" devices. (The Fixit may not work for you but the manual instructions are the same). After it's done and you view hidden devices, does your bluetooth show up with semi-transparent icon?


If yes, means BT was detected and drivers installed once upon a time, but Windows doesn't detect a BT device now

/* EDIT */
And if not there when non-present set and you view hidden devices means either

1. No such device was ever detected (so no driver installed either), or
2. Device no longer detected and you've un-installed its device driver

Note you see non-present when a device is no longer detected BUT it's driver is still installed

 

[HDS7]

Thanks a lot ComputerGeek! I assume it would be listed under the Network Devices along with the Wireless card. If so then it's not listed at all. Maybe this computer actually never came with Bluetooth or perhaps the card is dead?

 

[ComputerGeek]

I found a copy of the Vostro 3500 service manual HERE.

1. Looks like it should come with BT
2. And if you're seeing the BT symbol at top of keyboard, should have been equipped
3. If you view manual, click Ctl-F and type bluetooth in the search, you'll see 16 word references: including in BIOS, how to replace the BT card, how to turn on/off the light with sys tray icon (assuming the icon is there!)

Look at main BIOS page. Does it display a BIOS card model #?

 

[HDS7]

I know that most signs point to having Bluetooth on this laptop however there are two things that make me believe that I probably never had it.

1: I have a light on my keyboard for it, but not a button on my keyboard.
2: In my BIOS, Bluetooth is listed in 2 sections but the device says {none}

Therefore the only solution would be that perhaps it no longer functions, in which case I would have to open my motherboard to find out.

 

[ComputerGeek]

The service manual said the BT light is controlled from a notification try icon (but it won't appear either when BT not detected). So, don't think there's any keyboard key. In any case, yea, you'll need to open the computer (see the service manual i link i gave before) so you can find the BT card. I'd remove it then reseat it. May have simply come loose.

G'luck!