Are you using Windows 7 and miss the XP or Vista network icon data lights that were in the bottom right hand corner system tray?
These lights would flash to show you when you were uploading or downloading something.
If so, you can download a free app which will restore this functionality from here:
http://www.itsamples.com/network-activity-indicator.html
To keep the lights showing in the sytem tray and not being hidden after a while, click on the “Show hidden icons” up arrow in the system tray and select the option “Show icon and notifications” next to the entry “Network Activity Indicator system tray utility”. Click OK and enjoy!