What is downloading?

the last few days, my network speed monitor has been telling me I am downloading between 5 and 50 kb/s (usually 5-12, although it spikes) when everything I can think of that connects to the internet is shut down. I have seen uploads at the same time running up to 5kb/s although it is usually 0kb/s I downloaded a couple internet monitors to try and figure out the problem, and while they were downloading, the firefox download window was reading aprox. 200 kb/s, while the monitor was reading 360kb/s, so it seems that when I am active on the connection, the total unidentifyed use goes up (it doesn't just go to 207 when my download is at 200). any idea what is going on? I need to reload windows anyways, but I want to figure out what the problem is in case I see it again. i looked through my process list, and killed every thing that looked suspicious, and still made no inpact on download speed.

Have you tried running something like NetLimiter which shows you each separate process and speed seperatly...

that was they type of program I was looking for, thanks for the tip. I down loaded that, it doesn't record the continious use. not sure what that's all about. any chance the other connection monitor I am running is somehow drawing? screw it, I'm reloading, if the same problem shows up after reloading, I will post it up here again.