I need to network one of my desktop computers with my Dell laptop.

In order to network the two computers you can opt for three methods. Firstly, you can use a cross cable (you can either make one for under Rs 30 or purchase a readymade cable for around Rs 150 depending on the length of the cable) to connect the two machines. The second method is using a network hub/switch to connect the two machines. This method uses two patch cords (a straight-through network cable which connects each machine to the hub/switch). In the above two methods, you need to specify individual IP addresses to each machine. 

For example, use the IP address 192.168.0.1 on one machine and 192.168.0.2 on the other machine while keeping the subnet mask of both machines as 255.255.255.0. You don’t need any gateway or DNS addresses to be specified. These settings need to be entered in the TCP/ IP (IPV4) settings under the properties of the network card, which is available in the networking section of the Control panel. The third option is to use a wireless router, which can connect the two machines together and also gives out IP addresses automatically to the machines. 

The laptop can be connected wirelessly while the desktop needs to be connected using a network patch cord. In all the above cases, once the networking has been finalized, you need to ensure that the machine names are not identical and the folders that need to be seen on network are shared with appropriate rights.

Problem with the display of laptop. There are several bright horizontal lines at the bottom of the screen, which almost covers the entire taskbar..Can I change the laptop’s LCD with an LED display panel?

Your laptop’s LCD display is faulty and you will need a replacement. The lines showing up could be due to a bad cable connection between the LCD panel and the laptop’s motherboard, or could be a faulty motherboard too. You will need to get the laptop inspected from an authorized service center to ascertain the cause of the issue and the cost of repair and/ or replacement. 

You cannot replace the laptop’s LCD panel with an LED panel unless the manufacturer has given an upgrade option. Check with your laptop’s manufacturer for a more appropriate answer. 

To get a clearer picture of the compatibility of a 64-bit Windows operating system on your existing laptop, download the Upgrade Advisor from http://windows.microsoft.com/ upgradeadvisor.

A faulty connection between the LCD panel and the motherboard could result in poor display.