Wireless network issues with old Aspire 5720

MichaelBV49
MichaelBV49 Member Posts: 7 New User
I dug out my 14 year old Acer Aspire 5720-4662 to see if it still functioned and was pleasantly surprised to find that it still does. Even though it's running Windows Vista 32-bit with only 1GB of RAM and a 1.46GHz Pentium dual core I was actually surprised at how sprightly it was. More quickly responsive than my HP 2000 running Windows 10 with 6GB of RAM. Makes me wonder how responsive this old thing would be if I upped it to 4GB of RAM...

In any case, despite it's lively performance I can't seem to get it to connect to my wireless network. Nothing wrong with the network as I've got four other laptops connected just fine. Of course, I can't update network adapter drivers if I can't get online. I tried using a wireless adapter dongle that I use on a desktop pc but it wanted drivers and the only ones available for the adapter are only relevant to Windows 10 or 11.

So, I'm wondering if I need to change some settings for this built in Atheros AR5007EG wireless network adapter. Or is there something else, something I might be missing or overlooking, to get this old lappy online wirelessly?

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Answers

  • ttttt
    ttttt Member Posts: 1,947 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    @MichaelBV49

    If you have another PC and you are sure about the driver to be used, you can just download the driver to a flash drive first.

    Insert the flash drive to the PC having issue, go to Device Manager and update driver, specifying to look into the flash drive for driver update.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>In any case, despite it's lively performance I can't seem to get it to connect to my wireless network. >>>

    Not too surprising with WinVista. So open DeviceManager to see if you can see anything that resembles a wireless adapter under Network adapters folder. Preferrably without a red or yellow warning symbol. Next best thing would be a wired RJ45 ethernet adapter.

    Jack E/NJ