I have Windows 7 and airport express utility 5.5.2. When connected to the internet and I rescan, it does nothing. It cannot find my Airport Express model A1088. I went to file, configure other, put in the ip and login but did not work

Unplug the AirPort Express from the power outlet and press and hold the reset button. While still holding down the reset button, plug the device into a power outlet. Hold down the reset button until you see the light flash green four times. Let go of the button and the device will reset itself. Wait the requisite 45 seconds and configure it with the AirPort Express Assistant or AirPort Admin Utility.
This performs a factory reset.

Try a reset of the Airport, or replace the internal circle battery, then reset. But sounds like the internal battery.

You may contact Windows Customer Service for any kind of help you require. You can also call on Microsoft Windows technical support phone number at +1-800-204-4427 and for UK customers the Toll free Number +44-800-046-5216 we are also provide technical support in AUS Toll free number is +61-1800-954-262.

Please check and see if IPv6 has been disabled on your Windows 7 desktop.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203762

From my reading at the Apple support web site, it appears that you may need to download the latest version of the Airport Utility in order to get around this issue.
Additionally, Apple has just recently come up with an update to the firmware for this device.
Try downloading the latest version of the Airport Utility (Mac or Windows) and see if that doesn't resolve the issue.
After installing the latest version of the Airport Utility, try to connect to the Airport Express. If that is successful with the new version, click the "Manual Setup" button to display the "Summary" page for the Airport Express.
Next to the entry for "Version:" there should be a button to press to upgrade the firmware to the latest version (7.5.2). Perform the upgrade by following the on screen directions.
After the upgrade, again attempt to connect to the Airport Express using the Airport Utility. This should work as expected.
Before attempting to use the AirTunes (recently renamed "AirPlay"), make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed.

connect a ethernet cable to it. find it in the utility and reset it.

Login to your airport express using Apple's airport utilities (either in it's current configuration or after resetting it).

Using the airport utility do not choose manual setup, just select continue.

Adjust (as required) the airport express station name and password and select continue.

Select "I have a wireless network and I want to add AirPort Express or replace an existing device on my network and select continue.

Select I want Airport Express to wireless join my current network and select continue.

Choose if you want to extent the rance of your network or just join the network and select continue.

Choose the network you wish to join... etc etc etc....

You should be fine.

Using the Airport utility on your macbook (located in your Utilities folder) will tell you what the conflict is.....most likely you have DHCP issue or the network is at the incorrect setting.
The wizard in the utility will tell you what you should fix.

Throw the device out of the window, the apple folks are terrible and liers they mislead us into buying this device and it is not working with most Vistas.

You need to use the AirPort utility, which will walk through the setup and configuration of it. You were already on the right track to get it going. If it mentions there is an update available for it, though, do the update first.