Turning on animation of the network icon in the system tray

[Mortimer]

In XP, the network icon (two computer screens for Ethernet, one for
wireless) lights up when network traffic is being transferred.

In Vista, it doesn't do this by default but if you right-click on the icon,
there's an option "Turn on activity animation".

Is there any way of doing the same thing in Windows 7?

 

[batuca]

As far as I know W7 doesn't have any but there's a little app that does it - check it out
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/IP/NetworkIndicator.aspx

 

[Dave-UK]

In XP, the network icon (two computer screens for Ethernet, one for
wireless) lights up when network traffic is being transferred.

In Vista, it doesn't do this by default but if you right-click on the icon,
there's an option "Turn on activity animation".

Is there any way of doing the same thing in Windows 7?

Microsoft removed the flashing lights so now if you want to
have any indication of network activity you need to use
third-party software. I've tried this one on Win7, seems ok:

Network Activity Indicator
http://www.itsamples.com/software.html

 

[Mortimer]

Microsoft removed the flashing lights so now if you want to
have any indication of network activity you need to use third-party
software. I've tried this one on Win7, seems ok:

Network Activity Indicator
http://www.itsamples.com/software.html

That does the job perfectly. Thank you.

It's odd that Microsoft removed the capability. I did a bit of research
after posting my question and they said it was because the flashing lights
distracted users. Well that's why the animation could be enabled or disabled
on Vista. I wonder why they couldn't have done the same on Win 7?

 

[Dave-UK]

That does the job perfectly. Thank you.

It's odd that Microsoft removed the capability. I did a bit of research
after posting my question and they said it was because the flashing lights
distracted users. Well that's why the animation could be enabled or disabled
on Vista. I wonder why they couldn't have done the same on Win 7?

Maybe the change was part of the 'streamlining' of Vista.
I now use DuMeter, which logs network info and also provides
a flashing tray icon. Unfortunately it's not free. :-(
http://www.dumeter.com/

 

[Mortimer]

Just one minor annoyance. I've set it to start automatically when Windows
starts, and it warns that the program has not been certified and asks my
permission to continue. Is there a way of configuring Win 7 so it doesn't
check certification for trusted programs?

 

[Dave-UK]

Just one minor annoyance. I've set it to start automatically when Windows
starts, and it warns that the program has not been certified and asks my
permission to continue. Is there a way of configuring Win 7 so it doesn't
check certification for trusted programs?

I was using version 1201 which worked ok, but now I have downloaded
version 1205 and I can't get it to load with Windows. I'm running Win7 64bit.
Anyway, try right-clicking the NetworkIndicator.exe file, selecting 'Properties'
and then see if there is a button marked 'Unblock'.
(Win7 has a habit of tagging anything from the internet as unsafe.)

 

[SC Tom]

In XP, the network icon (two computer screens for Ethernet, one for
wireless) lights up when network traffic is being transferred.

In Vista, it doesn't do this by default but if you right-click on the
icon, there's an option "Turn on activity animation".

Is there any way of doing the same thing in Windows 7?

I used this program, LanLights 1.1, for a while
http://downloads.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=672201
Works well in XP, Vista, and 7 even though they aren't specifically listed.
I run ZoneAlarm and it shows all activity in the systray, but one of their
updates disabled that function so I installed LanLights. ZA had a later
update that restored it, so I uninstalled LanLights, but it was a good
program. It also has the ability to customize the icons if you feel like
playing around with it.

 

[Lord Vetinari]

Just one minor annoyance. I've set it to start automatically when Windows
starts, and it warns that the program has not been certified and asks my
permission to continue. Is there a way of configuring Win 7 so it doesn't
check certification for trusted programs?

I'm nearly 100% certain that you can whitelist them....but I forget where
it's done.

 

[FiOS-Dave]

I have been using the Network Meter Gadget for several months now and
find that it gives me all the information I need.
It does take up some screen space, but I have dedicated the right edge of
my 17" screen for Gadgets and seek to have enough desktop left for
everything
else I need.

Dave