I just bought an acer 4720 laptop, and i am trying to hook up to a wireless network, but i really don't know what i'm doing. do i need a subscription? is it safe to use an unsecured network so long as i have all the firewall, antivirus, spyware, etc?

Try to switch it back on. If this doesn't light up the indicator for Wifi, then the internal card for wifi may have a problem. However, try to 'restore' the computer to an earlier date, when the wifi worked. It might be a driver problem.

Good luck on this.

Check that you have entered the wireless security key onto the laptop, may be this that is not allowing connection.

http://us.acer.com/acer/service.do?LanguageISOCtxParam=en&miu10einu24.current.attN2B2F2EEF=3750&sp=page15e&ctx2.c2att1=25&miu10ekcond13.attN2B2F2EEF=3750&CountryISOCtxParam=US&ctx1g.c2att92=453&ctx1.att21k=1&CRC=2054404012

Click on this link,then notebook,then aspire,then 4330.
look below and the drivers should be listed for vista.
Let me know if it works and then leave me a good recommendation.
leadfoot44

the internal wireless card has either been told in network settings to shut down every 10 mins or is faulty and needs replaced if you take the cpu and ram cover off the bottom the card with the grey and black (usually)wires attched to it is the wireless card also u might wnt to try rolling back the drivers or updating them even from acers website

Use the shortcut Windows Key + X from your desktop to access the windows mobility center. This will allow you to enable wireless networking and allow you to connect to your wireless router.

If you have any more questions or this solution doesn't work, please let me know and I will further investigate.

The Aspire 4715 comes with Wireless OPTIONAL. Your system obviously wasn't bought with a pre-installed wirelss card. If you want to go wireless, you will need to buy a wireless card/adaptor seperately.

do you know what's not working on your laptop (like sound,wireless,network,bluetooth,etc) ? it's the problem with driver.

Download all your 4720 drivers from here :

http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_4720.html

three switches to check.

one on side that is mechanical....check

wireless connection in control panel, network connections...check...

bottom right in tray...right click on the icon...repair...check.

let us know.

Here's the solution to your problem

Scanss2k
Let me know if this solves the problem

vAHCI driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Audio driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
BTW driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Card Reader driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Webcam Bison driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Webcam Suyin driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Chipset driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
CIR driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
LAN driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
LM driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Modem driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Touchpad driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
VGA nV driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
VGA UMA driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Wireless Atheros driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Wireless Broadcom driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)
Wireless Intel driver Aspire 4720 - Windows XP (Download here)

You will have several problems to install Windows XP in a computer designed to use Vista. I personally don´t think it´s fair.
But your problem possibly is not related with the OS. Are you using a wireless router? If yes, the problem may be your 4720´s wireless adapter (probably internal). You can test it by using another wireless network (most malls, shopping centers, airport or hotels have avaiable public wireless internet access).