I think the first time you go to each hot spot or wherever you plan to connect at - you would probably have to go to the network set up & connection section in the control panel.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...nnect-now.aspx

I haven't taken my laptop to other places to use the wifi so not exactly sure about how to do that part of it. But the section in contra panel should take you set by step.

But you wouldn't want it on all the time and you wouldn't want to have an open connection. {meaning no security }
There's WEP , WPA & WPA2 and pass phrase that you can set up.