Yet another Data Transfer problem in Windows 8...

OK, so I have read a lot of threads on here regarding excessive data transfer in Windows 8. I have followed many, if not most, of the steps to reduce this but I still have a major issue. I have disabled/uninstalled all (that I can see) live tiles and apps I don't want or need. According to task manager, I have no apps transferring data at all. I have disabled Windows Update completely. As far as I can tell, my browser is the only thing transferring data at a high rate, which can be expected to a degree, but not to the extent my computer says. As far as I can tell the only thing I have running that's using my internet connection is whatever I'm doing on my browser, which is AT MOST maybe trying to watch a YouTube video. There might be a few background services transferring data, but it shouldn't be taking up much of anything. I had clicked on my connection bars in the taskbar, then right clicked my wireless ID and had it show my data usage....and its outrageous. After having done everything I have mentioned above at one point it said I transferred over 5GB of data in the last 12 minutes, and the only thing open on my computer was my browser. WTF? I can only transfer about 4-5 GB a day cause my apartment complex limits my usage, then it slows me to basically dial-up speed if I exceed that. My old laptop had no problems, but once I bought this new laptop a few weeks ago, its out of control and I don't know whats using all my data. I seem to reach my daily limit after about 2 hours even when I'm not doing anything. Any help would be appreciated...or if anyone knows a program that might be able to show whats using all that data would be awesome...thanks

Open the Task Manager and it will show what is using the Network. Look at App History tab and click on Network to sort for the highest usage.

There is an option to Delete the History and it will start again to give you current usage.

Jim

I did...App History shows NO usage of anything, as I already disabled, and/or, uninstalled all apps already that I don't need or want. It's not that. Network shows 0MB for everything in the list...Something is using something, but not sure what...

Thanks for the reply Jim.

In Task Manager select Performance tab and at the bottom select Open Resource Monitor and then Network.

Jim

Ok, did that. It seems like the most active thing there is my browser, Pale Moon....and there is a few other things there, but they don't seem to take up much of anything, but nothing shows me what could possibly be transferring GB's in a matter of minutes...still confused...

This much data usage and nothing more than a browser open...?

Phone Man said:

Open the Task Manager and it will show what is using the Network. Look at App History tab and click on Network to sort for the highest usage.

There is an option to Delete the History and it will start again to give you current usage.

Jim

Click to expand...

If you're on the App History tab in Task Manager, go into Options on the menu, and make sure that "Show History for all processes" is ticked.

Otherwise it will only show the details for Metro apps (which isn't currently where most people spend their time so likely to be zero or very low).

Thanks DavidY for taking the time to respond, but alas, its unfortunately not the answer to my problem....I did try you're suggestion, but sadly my results were to no avail

Notice that that says "estimated". Chances are, it's simply wrong. Also, consider that it likely considers both upload an download bandwidth, not just download.

The other option, if it is actually using that much, but you can't find where, is that you might have a Trojan that is sending out spam on your connection. Or is being used as a hidden proxy by some hacker.

I never trust anything that says "estimated", so I would just assume it's wrong unless you have evidence that you are actually using that much data (ie, you connection starts getting throttled).

It's unlikely you could even transfer 5GB in 12 minutes anyways... you would need to be downloading from very fast servers over a very fast connection.

Yeah, I agree that "estimated" isn't really trustworthy, though I do have a daily limit of around 4-5 GB of data then my connection slows to a crawl. It seems like every time it resets and I get on the internet, its just a matter of minutes before I hit my limit and get throttled. I also get a message appear on my page when I hit my limit as well, so I know I'm getting slowed down. As I type now, it seems to be just fine, so I don't know what triggers it to transfer data so fast, but its driving me crazy. I don't know what else to do to figure out what's causing this or to even see what's using the data, as nothing shows that I am, yet I get slowed to basically dial-up anyway. I'm lost.

Are you using any services like Dropbox, SkyDrive, iCloud, etc? Do you have an iPhone and iTunes? These services no tend to synchronize music and what not... Are you using an online backup program?

I do have Skydrive but its disabled cause I don't use it. Not using an online backup program, and I do use iTunes, though I never have it open unless I'm doing something on it, like adding a file or burning a cd.