700m Wireless Problem - Unable To Connect - Very Odd

I am a network admin and my friend handed me his laptop and asked me to get his wireless working.  Usually I can solve these sort of problems...

 

Inspiron 700m; Windows XP Home Microsoft patched to date; Intel Pro Wireless 2200 BG.  Laptop is several feet from the wireless router.

 

I installed the latest driver for the wireless - went from v9.0.0.61 10/21/04 to v 9.0.4.33 2/8/07.  I also installed the latest BIOS - went from v A04 to v A07.  I've also deleted the device from device manager and rebooted, several times.  I've also "repaired" the wireless connection several times.

 

Here is the problem:

You attempt to connect to an available ssid (WEP or Unsecure, ANY available network, doesnt matter) via Windows interface, and it says "waiting for the network..." for about 90 seconds then it never connects and it may or may not indicate "unable to connect to wireless network..." .  My friend tells me that the laptop has NEVER worked with wireless. 

 

Earlier before deleted the wireless from the device manager the first time, I would right click on it and it said somethign about not in the registry (sorry, I did not write it down).  At that time I Googled the error and read something or other about the BIOS not containing some code for the wireless adapter, and that someone manually programmed the wireless adapter with some sort of code....unsure.  BUT, since I deleted the wireless and it has since reinstalled, I no longer receive the registry error message.

 

I have also tried the Intel ProSet/Wireless program to manage wireless connections, and am unable to connect using that program.  So neither Windows or the Intel program allows me to connect to the wireless network.

 

The laptop is apparently over 2 years old.  The warranty has expired.  Dell tech support wants to charge $39 for phone support.

 

What could the problem be here?  I've just about exhausted all possibilities that I can think of.

 

THANK YOU!