Do you see an unknown network controller in Device Manager (right-click My Computer, Manage)?  If so, what is the DEV and VEN ID's for it (right-click, Properties, Details tab, Hardware Ids from dropdown menu)?
I bought my Dell Inspiron 1525 with Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit quite a while ago. I had a problem with it, and an incompetent "technician" erased (!!!) Vista and installed XP. Now I finally got around to re-installing Vista, and all is good, but I don't seem to be able to breath life in the wireless network adapter. Actually, applications and drivers that I downloaded don't even seem to see the wireless adapter, as if the hardware was not there. I am really desperate as it is a vital function that I badly need, and my initial happiness about getting Vista finally reinstalled has now turned into frustration, as the wireless DID work with XP! Any help, please? I tried downloading all I could find from Dell, but nothing seems to work.
Dell Inspiron 1525 wireless network adapter