Inspiron n4010 virtual wireless adapter shows "unplugged", will not connect

I have scoured the web looking for a solution to this issue, found similar issue posted here but has no solution...en.community.dell.com/.../20263886

My friend brought her Inspiron n4010 laptop to me for help saying up until a few months ago, it used to connect to wifi with no problems. All of a sudden, it would not show any available wireless networks regardless of where she went - her wireless home network, work network and neighborhood free wifi hotspots - none would connect. Likewise, I've tried it with my home wireless network and my office wireless network to no avail. The LAN2 connection (for Boradcom Virtual Wireless Adapter) always shows as "Network cable unplugged".

**********************************
SYSTEM INFO
**********************************
Dell System Detect shows the system as:

Inspiron 14R (N4010, Early 2010)
Service Tag: ***** Let me know if you need this info)
Express Service Code: ***** Let me know if you need this info)

Here's the system specs via system info:
Host Name:                 LAURA-PC
OS Name:                   Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
OS Version:                6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Standalone Workstation
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner:          ******
Registered Organization:   Microsoft
Product ID:                ***********
Original Install Date:     9/9/2010, 7:22:06 PM
System Boot Time:          2/2/2015, 12:13:39 PM
System Manufacturer:       Dell Inc.
System Model:              Inspiron N4010
System Type:               x64-based PC
Processor(s):              1 Processor(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 2 GenuineInt
el ~1065 Mhz
BIOS Version:              Dell Inc. A02, 4/21/2010
Windows Directory:         C:\Windows
System Directory:          C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device:               \Device\HarddiskVolume2
System Locale:             en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale:              en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone:                 (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Total Physical Memory:     3,893 MB
Available Physical Memory: 2,376 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size:  7,783 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 4,938 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use:    2,845 MB
Page File Location(s):     C:\pagefile.sys
Domain:                    WORKGROUP
Logon Server:              \\LAURA-PC
Hotfix(s):                 268 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                           [01]: KB2849697
                           [02]: KB2849696
                           [03]: KB2841134
                           [04]: KB2670838
                           [05]: KB971033
                           [06]: KB2305420
                           [07]: KB2393802
                           [08]: KB2425227
                           [09]: KB2475792
                           [10]: KB2476490
                           [11]: KB2479628
                           [12]: KB2479943
                           [13]: KB2484033
                           [14]: KB2485376
                           [15]: KB2487426
                           [16]: KB2488113
                           [17]: KB2491683
                           [18]: KB2492386
                           [19]: KB2497640
                           [20]: KB2503658
                           [21]: KB2503665
                           [22]: KB2505438
                           [23]: KB2506014
                           [24]: KB2506212
                           [25]: KB2506223
                           [26]: KB2506928
                           [27]: KB2507618
                           [28]: KB2507938
                           [29]: KB2508272
                           [30]: KB2508429
                           [31]: KB2509553
                           [32]: KB2510531
                           [33]: KB2511250
                           [34]: KB2511455
                           [35]: KB2515325
                           [36]: KB2522422
                           [37]: KB2524375
                           [38]: KB2525694
                           [39]: KB2529073
                           [40]: KB2530548
                           [41]: KB2532531
                           [42]: KB2533552
                           [43]: KB2533623
                           [44]: KB2534366
                           [45]: KB2536275
                           [46]: KB2536276
                           [47]: KB2541014
                           [48]: KB2544893
                           [49]: KB2545698
                           [50]: KB2547666
                           [51]: KB2552343
                           [52]: KB2555917
                           [53]: KB2556532
                           [54]: KB2559049
                           [55]: KB2560656
                           [56]: KB2562937
                           [57]: KB2563227
                           [58]: KB2563894
                           [59]: KB2564958
                           [60]: KB2567053
                           [61]: KB2567680
                           [62]: KB2570791
                           [63]: KB2570947
                           [64]: KB2579686
                           [65]: KB2584146
                           [66]: KB2585542
                           [67]: KB2586448
                           [68]: KB2588516
                           [69]: KB2603229
                           [70]: KB2604115
                           [71]: KB2607712
                           [72]: KB2616676
                           [73]: KB2617657
                           [74]: KB2618444
                           [75]: KB2618451
                           [76]: KB2619339
                           [77]: KB2620704
                           [78]: KB2620712
                           [79]: KB2621440
                           [80]: KB2631813
                           [81]: KB2633952
                           [82]: KB2639308
                           [83]: KB2639417
                           [84]: KB2640148
                           [85]: KB2641653
                           [86]: KB2641690
                           [87]: KB2644615
                           [88]: KB2645640
                           [89]: KB2647516
                           [90]: KB2647518
                           [91]: KB2647753
                           [92]: KB2653956
                           [93]: KB2654428
                           [94]: KB2655992
                           [95]: KB2656356
                           [96]: KB2656411
                           [97]: KB2658846
                           [98]: KB2659262
                           [99]: KB2660075
                           [100]: KB2660465
                           [101]: KB2660649
                           [102]: KB2661254
                           [103]: KB2665364
                           [104]: KB2667402
                           [105]: KB2676562
                           [106]: KB2677070
                           [107]: KB2679255
                           [108]: KB2685811
                           [109]: KB2685813
                           [110]: KB2685939
                           [111]: KB2688338
                           [112]: KB2690533
                           [113]: KB2691442
                           [114]: KB2695962
                           [115]: KB2698365
                           [116]: KB2699779
                           [117]: KB2705219
                           [118]: KB2709162
                           [119]: KB2709630
                           [120]: KB2709715
                           [121]: KB2712808
                           [122]: KB2718523
                           [123]: KB2718704
                           [124]: KB2719857
                           [125]: KB2719985
                           [126]: KB2724197
                           [127]: KB2726535
                           [128]: KB2727528
                           [129]: KB2729094
                           [130]: KB2729452
                           [131]: KB2731771
                           [132]: KB2731847
                           [133]: KB2732059
                           [134]: KB2732487
                           [135]: KB2732500
                           [136]: KB2736233
                           [137]: KB2736422
                           [138]: KB2739159
                           [139]: KB2741355
                           [140]: KB2742599
                           [141]: KB2743555
                           [142]: KB2749655
                           [143]: KB2750841
                           [144]: KB2753842
                           [145]: KB2756822
                           [146]: KB2756921
                           [147]: KB2757638
                           [148]: KB2758857
                           [149]: KB2761217
                           [150]: KB2761226
                           [151]: KB2762895
                           [152]: KB2763523
                           [153]: KB2769369
                           [154]: KB2770660
                           [155]: KB2773072
                           [156]: KB2778344
                           [157]: KB2778930
                           [158]: KB2779030
                           [159]: KB2779562
                           [160]: KB2785220
                           [161]: KB2786081
                           [162]: KB2786400
                           [163]: KB2789645
                           [164]: KB2790113
                           [165]: KB2790655
                           [166]: KB2791765
                           [167]: KB2798162
                           [168]: KB2799494
                           [169]: KB2799926
                           [170]: KB2800095
                           [171]: KB2803821
                           [172]: KB2804579
                           [173]: KB2807986
                           [174]: KB2808679
                           [175]: KB2808735
                           [176]: KB2813170
                           [177]: KB2813347
                           [178]: KB2813430
                           [179]: KB2813956
                           [180]: KB2820197
                           [181]: KB2820331
                           [182]: KB2829361
                           [183]: KB2830290
                           [184]: KB2832414
                           [185]: KB2833946
                           [186]: KB2834140
                           [187]: KB2834886
                           [188]: KB2835361
                           [189]: KB2835364
                           [190]: KB2836502
                           [191]: KB2836943
                           [192]: KB2839894
                           [193]: KB2840149
                           [194]: KB2840631
                           [195]: KB2843630
                           [196]: KB2844286
                           [197]: KB2845187
                           [198]: KB2845690
                           [199]: KB2846960
                           [200]: KB2847077
                           [201]: KB2847311
                           [202]: KB2847927
                           [203]: KB2849470
                           [204]: KB2850851
                           [205]: KB2852386
                           [206]: KB2853952
                           [207]: KB2859537
                           [208]: KB2861191
                           [209]: KB2861698
                           [210]: KB2861855
                           [211]: KB2862152
                           [212]: KB2862330
                           [213]: KB2862335
                           [214]: KB2862966
                           [215]: KB2862973
                           [216]: KB2863058
                           [217]: KB2863240
                           [218]: KB2864058
                           [219]: KB2864202
                           [220]: KB2868038
                           [221]: KB2868116
                           [222]: KB2868623
                           [223]: KB2868626
                           [224]: KB2868725
                           [225]: KB2872339
                           [226]: KB2875783
                           [227]: KB2876284
                           [228]: KB2876315
                           [229]: KB2876331
                           [230]: KB2882822
                           [231]: KB2883150
                           [232]: KB2884256
                           [233]: KB2887069
                           [234]: KB2888049
                           [235]: KB2891804
                           [236]: KB2892074
                           [237]: KB2893294
                           [238]: KB2893519
                           [239]: KB2893984
                           [240]: KB2898785
                           [241]: KB2898857
                           [242]: KB2900986
                           [243]: KB2901112
                           [244]: KB2904266
                           [245]: KB2908783
                           [246]
Network Card(s):           3 NIC(s) Installed.
                           [01]: Atheros AR8152 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection
                                 DHCP Enabled:    Yes
                                 DHCP Server:     192.168.1.254
                                 IP address(es)
                                 [01]: 192.168.1.167
                                 [02]: fe80::b535:b8ea:8b87:4d76
                                 [03]: 2602:304:5692:7719:741a:b075:fb08:ce0
                                 [04]: 2602:304:5692:7719:b535:b8ea:8b87:4d76
                           [02]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
                                 Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection
                                 Status:          Media disconnected
                           [03]: Broadcom Virtual Wireless Adapter
                                 Connection Name: Local Area Connection 2
                                 Status:          Media disconnected

***************************************************************
TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS COMPLETED SO FAR:
***************************************************************

1. Checked that wireless is enabled via F2 key - it is (but turning it off seems to have no affect).

2. Checked that wireless is enabled in BIOS - it is. BIOS version is A02, I have not tried updating it. I prefer to do this as a last resort unless specifically necessary.

BIOS:                Wireless: Enabled
                          Wireless (Switch)/(Hotkey): All
                          Internal Bluetooth: Enabled
                          Internal WLAN: Enabled
                          Internal WWAN: Enabled

3. Does Device Manager show wireless network devices as missing any drivers? No.
     Device Manager showed the following details: Broadcom Virtual Wireless Adapter, Provider: Broadcom, Driver Date: 1/21/2010, Driver Version: 5.60.48-35, Digital Signer: MS Windows HW Compatible Publisher

4. Are the wireless network drivers up to date? Using Dell System Detect, auto-detecting the system, it showed a driver update available listed as "Dell Wireless WLAN 1501 Half Mini-Card (4313bgn) Driver". When Setup ran, it gave an error "No compatible hardware found..."

5. I ran ipconfig /all. Here's the readout:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Administrator>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : **********
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom Virtual Wireless Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-50-F2-00-00-01
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C4-46-19-EF-96-56
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR8152 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : B8-AC-6F-70-2F-4B
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{C00AD485-0CED-4EF9-B632-033E9AFD14E9}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{CD91392E-769E-4E32-A5C2-2680FF4BBC41}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{FC8C4544-C5EC-479D-AA95-B545EBDCD8C1}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #6
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Users\Administrator>

6. I checked Windows Mobility Center. No wireless "tile" was listed where it should have been, according to other posts I viewed which were about this issue. Strangely, when I clicked the Launch button under Dell - Radio control options, the Wi-Fi and Mobile Broadband checkboxes were unchecked and greyed out.

7. I reset the winsock catalog and restarted the computer via elevated (administrator) command prompt
            net winsock reset catalog
No change in wireless status.

8. I disabled Norton and Windows firewalls and antivirus protection to see if wireless was somehow being blocked by them. No change in wireless status.

9. I checked Windows power plan settings to confirm that the network cards were not having their power reduced. I set the wireless adapter to max performance while on battery and ac power.

10. I checked Windows Event Viewer Logs > Windows Logs > System:

I saw repeated error entries spread amongst numerous dates of "BTHUSB (Blue Tooth adapter failed in undetermined manner, will not be used. The driver has been unloaded." I saw nothing referring to anything regarding the wireless connection however.

11. I attempted to run Windows Update manually to see what, if any, driver updates it might find (while using a network cable connection), and got the error "Cannot update because the Windows Update service isn't started". I confirmed that it was started. I also manually stopped and restarted the service but continued to get the same error message. I kept Windows Firewall and Norton Firewall (and antivirus) disabled in case they were interfereing with Windows Update, but no luck.

12. I ran mal/ad/spyware scans with a portable version of Spybot and also a free version of SuperAntiSpyware, scan results showed several adware results, which were removed.

13. I tried manually configuring the IP address, subnet mask and default gateway entries for IPv4 of the wireless adapter, which had been set on "obtain automatically", as they should be. I also set preferred DNS server to my ISP (Comcast), then tried Google's 8.8.8.8. This should have worked but the connection still showed as "cable unplugged" (Why is a wireless connection throwing a "cable unplugged" error?)

14. Just for giggles, I ran Intel's driver update from their website (via wired connection), which identified updates available for Graphics and Chipset - I updated both but it didn't help (no surprise).

15. I started Windows in Safe Mode with Networking - just as in normal mode, it showed the wireless connection as "cable unplugged".

I am open to any and all suggestions at this point. The laptop is out of warranty so prefer to avoid paid support, if in any way possible.