Can Windows help me find what I've downloaded?

[ausgumbie]

Hi all

I've just had a real shock. Apparently I downloaded around 1.8 gigs last night (16/9/14 local calendar). That would be a movie or some massive update like I once got from Adobe when I was using Creative Suite.

The "Installed Updates" window shows nothing from last night. My own memory confirms I wasn't watching a movie or consciously downloading anything massive. My Firefox History Bar confirms this.

I'll ask this question like a gumby because thart's what I am. Is there any file Win7 has that logs downloads?

I use mobile broadband to connect to the internet and I've heard of people piggybacking bandwidth, so maybe there's nothing to find on my machine, but if I don't ask, I guess I won't even get a laugh.

Any and all advice gratefully received.

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
As far as I know Ctrl+J will open your downloads in Firefox or Internet explorer,

Also Start and Downloads will show you everything downloaded Use Alt to bring up the Menubar and V-View and Sort by ascending and I believe the latest will be on top,
Cheers.

 

[Berton]

If one doesn't use a password/passphrase on wireless connections it certainly is possible for others to use it, most ISPs would object to providing access without paying for it even if unknowingly. My ISP calls it theft of service and has a provisio for canceling the paid account that allows it to happen. If one has metered service that size download will certainly affect that usage.

A downloaded file will not show in "Installed Updates" until it has been installed which usually requires a user's action [except Windows Update] so it's possible the file is on your HDD, or someone else's.

 

[Ztruker]

How do you know you download 1.8GB of stuff? What tells you this?

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi ThrashZone, Berton, Ztruker

All appreciated. "Downloads", unfortunately, only shows what you downloaded until the last time you clear the contents of the downloads window, which I do regularly.

ThrashZone, I'm afraid one of my problems is I've already used Start (and Control Panel) to look for the culprit but it hasn't helped me.

Berton, I certainly have a password-protected account. My ISP is (Australian) Telstra. (And I've changed it, for whatever that's worth at this stage). "Theft of Service" is a good name and I'm hoping whatever was downloaded is on someone else's computer - I don't like to think what it might have been.

Ztruker, the information about the usage spike can come in different ways. My IP, Telstra, sent an alert email that only 13 days of the month-long billing period had passed and I was almost out of credit. But, I could have seen it for myself if I'd been going to my account regularly and checked the spreadsheet they have there (I don't know about all providers but I've found Telstra's use-table very good up to a point*). *That point being it doesn't tell you time [only date] of use and it doesn't give you any way of finding what that use precisely was. In that, it's unlike a phone account, where you can see on day "x" you used so much, then if you go to another page there are often tables breaking the day's use down by indiviual phone call or packet download. It seems not possible to get that info from Telstra, which has all of its help-desks offshore and one area seems unable to help with another.

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[Ztruker]

Okay, thanks.

Do you run any kind of Torrent?

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi Ztruker

Not in terms of BitTorrent or one of those programs - at least as far as I'm aware.

However, I'm forever downloading pdf's. Also, again for lectures, mp3s and mp4s (videos). I also have "Adobe Digital Additions" to download books from the University Library site. I think that might be a torrent type program, I don't know (don't know much technically).

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[strollin]

One thing to remember is that on metered connections often both downloads and UPLOADS count against your data allotment.

Do you use Dropbox, OneDrive or any other service that syncs data to the cloud and other devices?

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi Strollin

The uploads (I checked the Telstra usage table) were piddling. And, no, I don't use Dropbox or OneDrive, though I may have enabled my Norton 360 to backup to the cloud. Every time the computer boots up I get a window telling me the "Online Backup via Browser isn't working and (blah, blah, blah)". Since it tells me this before I've had a chance to go online, I just kill the message every time. As far as I know I've never uploaded anything to the cloud (by way of a backup).

But - BUT - I'm learning things don't always do what your screen says. e.g., trying to change my Telstra password, the page that came up after I'd submitted angrily told me "it couldn't change my password and come back another time". I did - and found out my password did in fact get changed!

But, my basic query is whether Windows can tell me what's been downloaded to my computer. I was thinking some log file hidden away somewhere. I gather the answer to that is "not really". So, I guess I'm now moving onto Future Prevention, so yeah, I'll take all and any tips.

That in mind, two anomalies: The first, on the Firefox history (otherwise unremarkable) for 16/9/14 were two pages with humungous url's that were named "POST data". The second, one of the pdf's I'd downloaded (uni course reading) wouldn't open one page - "Not enough memory to display image". That's happened before, and I've gathered it's Adobe Acrobat's way of saying "Your poor little RAM is too pov to cope with everything you've got open at the moment so shrink the page size a few percent and I'll display it". I did the page-shrinking thing, but it still wouldn't display which is unusual.

Unfortunately, I cleared the downloads earlier on the night of 16/9/14 so what (Murphy's Law) is probably the crucial bit of info-help I could use is gone. (And, that kinda shows which end I do my thinking with!)

Enough groaning for the moment

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[Ranger4]

@ausgumbie. Software program updates, such Adobe etc., do not show up in your Download Folder. The only things that show up in your Download Folder are programs that you have actually downloaded.

I am also in Qld & use Telstra as my IP & I have Wireless Broadband as well. Is your modem the same as mine in the screen shot?. If so you can fiddle with the settings to get it to show your actual usage during a session, but you have to redo for each session. Post back here & let me know.

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi Ranger4

No, but funnily enough it is the same as my wife's. Mine is something like the photo I've attached (except it also has the "Sierra Wireless Logo" above the chrome bit).

Instead of the screen on the back of your wifi modem (I notice my wife has no corresponding window on her computer's desktop, so maybe you don't either) I have a window that just launches with every bootup. If you left-click Tools/Session Log you get the info I think you mean. Otherwise, you have to log into your Telstra account.

I have, meanwhile, been onto Telstra Tech Support and spoken for a while to one of the guys there. He thinks it may well be a case of "service theft" and has put it in for investigation, giving me a job number and re-contact details. I gather someone will get back to me and tell me what they find out. He also offered me some more high-speed usage (how much wasn't specified) when I ran out. As I'm right on the dialup limit I asked if I couldn't have it now - exams, assignments rolling in. After a bit of "Let-me-see-ing" I think that ended up being something the person who calls me back will say yea-or-nay to.

Just for future ref, can you tell me (for the missus) how to change the password on the wi fi gadget you have? I saw a long rigmarole on a Crowd Support thread (http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/...ssword-my-modem-is-a-bigpond/m-p/168898#M1260). Surely there has to be a simpler way?

Meanwhile, dialup for half-a-month. omg, as the kids say today.

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[strollin]

The reason there's no log anywhere to tell you what you've downloaded is because downloads/uploads can be initiated by pretty much any program you have installed on your computer. It's not just FireFox that can download but so can many other programs. Anything (such as software updates) downloaded by a program other than FireFox won't show up in the browser's download history.

You may have contracted some malware that is causing your unexplained data consumption, so malware scans are in order. But before that, I would use msconfig to determine what programs are being started at boot time since those are the most likely culprits as to unexplained data consumption.

 

[ThrashZone]

You can verify your existing password contains multiple numbers and letter with also capitals ?
I switched to U-verse mid last year they had a simple 9-10 only number password
I just got a new modem/ router and they finally shifted to a real combination character password I feel better anyway I'm in close proximity to neighbors

 

[Ranger4]

@ausgumbie. Actually that screen shot I posted yesterday was of my modem as I have a website tab which shows me the modem.
To change the password of your wife's modem, log in as usual, then select Device Security, at the top is Administrator Login which will have a password there, delete that & type in your new Password, this will then ask you to save it, do so & be sure to write the new password down somewhere for safe keeping.

If you do not use the WiFi part of your modem you can disable the WiFi detection if you wish. If this is disabled that should prevent anyone else gaining access to your modem.
I have mine disabled as I don't have any requirement for WiFi.

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi All
I'll be quick as I'm on dialup. I guess they decided at Telstra "Naah, we won't give him any tide-over credit." That's Aus for you.
Strollin - doyou know if Windows has a computer activity log? That might be something in the manufacturer's software (Toshiba).
ThrashZone - yep, Telstra called my password "strong" when I changed it. Mind you, it only lets you use numerals, capitals and lower case and two symbols.
Ranger4 - many thanks, much appreciated!

cheers

ausbumbie

 

[gregrocker]

Look in the Downloads folder. Unless you changed it's directory any browser will direct the downloads there. They don't disappear after download from the Downloads folder, only from the downloads manager.

Did you download Adobe Creative Suite or its updates?

Password your modem, your network and your PC.

 

[ausgumbie]

Hi GregRocker

unfortunately, anything I download into the Downloads folder I immediately move to other folders, so the Downloads folder is bare.

I have two Adobe Creative Suite components installed - Photoshop and Acrobat. About two years I had the entire suite installed and a similar thing like this (unexplained usage spike) happened, which at the time I attributed to CS, so I uninstalled it and reinstalled the two components mentioned not long after (I find them useful). So, could the fact I've got these two components installed attract "complete suite" updates? I didn't think that'd happen - just that any updates would be for those two components.

Speaking of Adobe, I just had an update for Adobe Reader X (10.1.12) MUI. I accepted it and, judging by the little download window/box, it downloaded very quickly. According to "Control Panel > Uninstall or Change a Program", the program is "Installed on 20/09/2014" and its size is "455 MB". Now, I'm presently on dialup speed, so I'm sure 455 MB wouldn't have downloaded in a matter of seconds. Just for my future reference (because it was on just such an entry I thought I'd got a 1+GB update for CS two years ago) does that mean the update was just a few kb-sized files added to an existing program of some 455 MB already OR (somehow) it was a 455 MB update?

Back to the original “usage-spike” incident, the key date was 16/09/2014. I’ve been slowly looking at folders and files with that date. One is “Notes” filled with .jtp files (i.e., for Windows Journal). But the Windows Update History doesn’t show any updates for 16/09/2014. Any thoughts??

Cheers

ausgumbie

 

[Ranger4]

@ausgumbie. In one of your post you mentioned Norton 360 backing up to the Cloud. It would be very worthwhile looking to see if you can block that occurring, as it may be running in the background, without your knowledge.

 

[ausgumbie]

Thanks Ranger4

Good thought. Might not be able to but I'll certainly give it a go.

Cheers

ausgumbie