Ok, a bit of clarification: the phone and laptop are not mine, but my oldest son's (I'm the main tech support for my family's laptops and other techy devices). I posted them as "mine" 'cause I was hoping I could get the issues fixed before he left to return to college, but alas, it was not meant to be. My son is not a "techy", so I'm going to have to accumulate your ideas and forward them to him. I told him that he needs to find someone who is a 'computer ninja' (not that I am really, but I've dealt with them long enough to know how to do things) and I will send some of these things to said friend who will be my surrogate at school.
So he's begun the search for a friend who can do these things on my behalf. No word back yet, but I will post the results when I have them back.
BTW, he's never connected (that I know of) his phone to his laptop via Bluetooth--I don't know that he can or knows that he can, but it's always been via USB cable--it's just what I've instructed him and he's learned over time. So Bluetooth is not the issue--the USB ports are.
Oh, and thanks for all your help! I do appreciate it!