Sometimes windows does not show the wireless internet traffic in the little Icon in the notification area on my XP SP3 laptop is there a third party item that will replace the one in the notification area? Any ideas?
Maybe not quite what you want, but here's an updated version of a network monitor that I developed a while ago.
http://93.96.76.31/download/NetworkMonitor.exe
Thanks Jon. I want something that has a meter that shows with lights or a meter network activity. Does that one you put up do that?
I am not near the router, that is in my shed, so I can't see it although I can access it using my laptop of course.
There is a little computer looking icon in the notification area of Windows in the menu bar on the right side. In it there are some icons that load at startup. One has two computer monitors with an X in it detailing that there is no wired network connection. Next to it there is a single computer like icon that depicts a single computer monitor which is the wireless network connection monitor icon. When there is network traffic the little screen depiction lights up. Sometimes it loads correctly and it works, other times it does not load correctly, and it does not show a connection although the network connection is working and I can get on the internet. If I disable the icon, and then re enable it it works fine. I used to use Zone Alarm as a software firewall, and it too had meters that showed network activity. But now all I use is the modem/router hardware firewall and the Windows native firewall. so something is blocking the communication between the windows wireless icon and the Intel Pro Set Wireless application. It just started a week ago, before that it worked flawlessly for the two years I have had this laptop.
Have I described the problem clearly, or are further attempts necessary?
I sometimes simply use the Windows Task Manager. Just right click in the System Tray (usually at the bottom right of your screen) then select Windows Task Manager. The Networking tab should then be able to show you some statistics. You can try this since the Windows Task Manager stays "on top" by default - just bring it up and do something on the internet and you should see action on the graph.
Additionally, double-clicking on the "little computer icon" in the System Tray will show you the number of packets sent and received as "Activity" (make sure you click on the one without the "X" - i.e., your wireless connection).
Although I don't have an application with a flashing icon, here's another utility (not one of mine this time) that is really excellent.
It shows you what application is accessing the internet and also shows the ip address that it is connecting to.
http://93.96.76.31/download/Aports.exe