[shroville]

i dont have my laptop infront of me, but for the network icon gointo your "network places" and go to "view network connections" and find the network your on.

next right click the icon and then go to properties a small check box should be at the bottom and its says something like show icon when connected.

for the battery im not sure if its something in control panel or something that came with the toplap itself like from dell or something.

i would try and start with power managment or something like that in control panal