Computer Hope

Internet & Networking => Networking => Topic started by: 02bin3 on August 21, 2011, 05:26:15 PM

Title: Mysterious Downloads
Post by: 02bin3 on August 21, 2011, 05:26:15 PM

I think I'm in the right Forum for this question.  Last night I forgot to turn my desktop off, but it was in Sleep Mode and I had closed out of Firefox so that all that was showing on the screen was my desktop.  This morning when I went to sign on to Firefox I noticed that it was running really slow so I checked the Usage Page on Hughes and it showed that between 8-9 last night my computer had downloaded 249.13 MB, and between 6-7 this morning 44.73 MB had been downloaded. If I go over 200MB of download/upload in a 24 hour period, Hughesnet will slow my computer down to a virtual crawl as I have their least expensive package. Since I had put it in Sleep Mode around 7:30 last night and hadn't downloaded anything that huge just before Sleep Mode, and I didn't get up this morning until 7:45, I am really concerned as to what and how my computer downloaded all those megabytes without my knowledge or permission.     So, I guess my question is, how can I find out what was downloaded and if it is something of a viral nature can I go back to a previous time before the download to get rid of it?  I do not have any of my programs on automatic download with the exception of Norton Antivirus.  My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit system.  Thanks

Never pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel.

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Title: Re: Mysterious Downloads
Post by: Computer_Commando on August 21, 2011, 05:35:29 PM

You weren't in Sleep Mode if you could see the screen.  Sleep Mode shuts everything down & saves to RAM, power is on but at a low level.  Since computer was on & running, let's move on to what is running:
Download & install this:  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653

My OS is also Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit system, but not on the computer I'm on now.  PE is good for 64-bit, too.
Win7HP64-bit system, has over 100 processes running.

Title: Re: Mysterious Downloads
Post by: 02bin3 on August 21, 2011, 05:57:20 PM

I guess I wasn't too clear in my explanation as I had gone off line and was at the Desktop before I put it into Sleep Mode.  Sorry about that.  I will try as you suggest as soon as I am out of the 24 hour "penalty" period that Hughesnet imposes when you go over their limit.  Thanks for you prompt reply.

Title: Re: Mysterious Downloads
Post by: Computer_Commando on August 21, 2011, 06:08:57 PM

This will help define the 3 modes:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Sleep-and-hibernation-frequently-asked-questions.
Yes, you were in Sleep Mode.  Next time try one of the other 2, or shut it off.
Win7 features are a little new to me, too.

What is make & model of computer?  My HP does updates just like Microsoft & must be configured to not do it automatically.  About a week ago, the download was 1000MB.

Title: Re: Mysterious Downloads
Post by: jason2074 on August 21, 2011, 09:13:21 PM

Downloads are usually USERS controlled. The exceptions are usually for Windows update, Protection Softwares and several programs installed that have user intervention to enable or disable updates.