GabNetStats is a free software which you can use in order to restore Windows XP network icon into Windows Vista and all the newer versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 7 and Windows 8. If you have used Windows XP, or if you still do, you probably remember the useful little feature of the old network icon where it would flicker depending on the network activity. This feature isn’t available in the icons of the newer versions of Windows.
Icon that we are talking about can be seen in the screenshot above. Even though it looks the same like the old icon in Windows XP did, the functionality of it isn’t quite the same. For example, right-click on the icon will open up the context menu which can also be seen above, which is a lot different from what would have happened when you’d done the same thing in Windows XP.
Key Features of GabNetStats to Restore Windows XP Network Icon:
- Restores the old blinking traffic network icon in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.
- Gives you direct access to all the network adapters that you have.
- Find out network information like your IP addresses and so on.
- Track amount of traffic and speed of your internet connection.
- Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.
- Detailed list of statistics about the traffic is available.
So not only that you get the same useful network icon that you had in Windows XP, on top of that you get a lot more very useful features like network monitors and quick access to important network management tools. Don’t worry, if you love the new icon which was shipped with Vista, Windows 7, and 8, you can still use it. They can both work side by side just fine.
How to Restore Window XP Network Icon in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and 8 with GabNetStats?
Great thing about this free software would be the fact that it’s portable, there’s not need for installation. If you want to try it out just download, extract, and run the executable. After that the icon should show up in the system tray right away. To access the menu that you can see in the image above you need to right-click on the icon.
Notice in the image above that the computer screens on the icon are lit up, which means that traffic is both being sent and received. All the options in the right-click menu will directly open up various different network tool, but the one built-into Windows, practically none of them are of the application.
Left-clicking on the icon will open up the detailed statistics of the network where you can find out traffic speeds and the amount of traffic that you’ve spent. All this is displayed with the help of a graph also.
Conclusion:
GabNetStats allows you to easily, in just one click restore the old-fashioned network icon in Windows 7. In addition, you also get access to various different Windows network settings and tools and detailed network statistics. Download it free. You may also try Network Lights and tbbMeter reviewed by us.