Network activity taskbar icon...

teknomedic

Power User
OK, I know I'm little nuts... aren't we all?... but this has been bugging me since I installed Vista and maybe you guys know if there's anything I can do about it.

It's the network activity icon near the clock... I much prefer to know the exact activity of my PC and the internet/network PC.... in WinXP this icon would flash in tune with which computer was doing the "talking". This helped me many times figure out if it was an issue on my end or on the internet end depending on how the lights would flash. Not exact, but I used it as a quick guide.

...but in Vista, the icon seems to just have a simple animation that repeats over and over (I've turned on "enable activity animation).

The icon has gone from something usefull (telling me which computer was sending data... to just being a simple animation that only animates when there's overall network activity.


So.... anyway if getting the older more acurate activity animation back?... or would this require a third party download now?

Thanks for any tips,
TK.
 

My Computer

System One

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    Intel C2D e8400
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    Antec TruPower 650w
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    Haven't OC'd anything.... yet.
    (Laptop is a Gateway 6860FX... awesome bang for buck)
Hi Teknomedic,

Yeah, that bugged me to. The most accurate way to view network activity it to use Task Manager. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc and click on the Networking tab in Task Manager.

You might be able to find a Windows Sidebar Gadget for it to.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
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    Custom
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    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
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    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
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    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
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    Conexant ISST Audio
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    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Thanks for the tip... I'll use that then if needed.... although the sidebar would be a nicer, quicker thing maybe.

Anyone know where to get sidebar gadgets?... I haven't looked as I turned off my sidebar, lol.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel C2D e8400
    Motherboard
    EVGA nForce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    4GB Corsair DDR2 4-4-4-12 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia 9800GTX+ (w/ XFX 8600GT for PhysX)
    Sound Card
    Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hanns-G 22" WS LCD
    PSU
    Antec TruPower 650w
    Other Info
    Haven't OC'd anything.... yet.
    (Laptop is a Gateway 6860FX... awesome bang for buck)

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
If you enable Sidebar, at the top there is a +. If you click that you get a window with installed gadgets, then there's a place to click that will take you to the gadget site. There are dozens of network activity monitors to choose from.

I prefer the simplicity of this one:

Windows Live Gallery
 

My Computer

Thank you as well, I didn't know the gadget thing had a way to get more them as well. Great tips all around, thanks again!

TK.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel C2D e8400
    Motherboard
    EVGA nForce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    4GB Corsair DDR2 4-4-4-12 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia 9800GTX+ (w/ XFX 8600GT for PhysX)
    Sound Card
    Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hanns-G 22" WS LCD
    PSU
    Antec TruPower 650w
    Other Info
    Haven't OC'd anything.... yet.
    (Laptop is a Gateway 6860FX... awesome bang for buck)
With your permission, I would like to know if this supposedly flashing network icon can be made to flash.

When I installed my Vista 64-bit the network icon aside the clock at bottom right appeared as it is supposed to, but it doesn't flash! The network functions fine. It's wireless, but the lights do not come on and go off like in other systems.

I tried a few of the procedures I found on Vista forums that turn on and turn off the icon itself, but when I turn it back on, it is the same - just two monitors without any activity.

Must I reinstall my system to get these two to work, or is there a more practical way?

If I am off base here trying to get an answer, please let me know and I will gracefully follow your directions to go elsewhere.

Thank you,
Clarence:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Manufactured
    CPU
    E8500
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5E3 PremiumWifi@n
    Memory
    OCZ1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS EN9600
    Sound Card
    Imbedded on MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG T220
    Screen Resolution
    VARIOUS
    Hard Drives
    2 wd Raptor 150gb in RAID0 + 1 WD SATA650
    PSU
    550w
    Case
    LianLi
    Cooling
    fine fan produced airflow
    Keyboard
    Logitech bluetooth
    Mouse
    Logitech bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Comcast Supposedly fast, but about 6mb slow
    Other Info
    On UPS by APC
Hello DukeofClarence, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You should be able to right click on the Network icon and click on Turn on activity animation.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hello Brink:
thank you for the kind welcome. I'm at work right now and will heed your advice as soon as I get home this evening. I'm surprised I didn't see such an obvious option...getting too old I suppose.
I hope you all are well and don't get too much wind and rain there. God keep you all safe. Thanks again.
Clarence
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Manufactured
    CPU
    E8500
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5E3 PremiumWifi@n
    Memory
    OCZ1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS EN9600
    Sound Card
    Imbedded on MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG T220
    Screen Resolution
    VARIOUS
    Hard Drives
    2 wd Raptor 150gb in RAID0 + 1 WD SATA650
    PSU
    550w
    Case
    LianLi
    Cooling
    fine fan produced airflow
    Keyboard
    Logitech bluetooth
    Mouse
    Logitech bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Comcast Supposedly fast, but about 6mb slow
    Other Info
    On UPS by APC
Your welcome Clarence.

That's ok. We can use the rain and breeze. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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