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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: giulio_toffoletti on March 07, 2019, 06:33:09 PM

Title: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 07, 2019, 06:33:09 PM
Hello. I have news about my post
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=225401.msg1495224#msg1495224

Today i see that from the 6th February, every definiton update keep 450 mb from my hard disk. I can see in the avast directory from this date all the folder with the definition. The avast installation occupy now 8 gb on the hdd.
I can't delete the older definition. I tried to repair the installation but nothing is change. What can i do now. I have no more free space to lose... Sorry for my bad english,  it's a little bit complicated for me to explaine the problem.  :-[

Windows xp sp3, hdd 80 gb avast free 9. Hdd is ok, no error.
Someone can help me? Thanks.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: MartinZ on March 08, 2019, 09:15:02 AM
Please turn of the self-defense in Settings-> Troubleshooting and then you will be able to delete those old files.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 08, 2019, 09:35:39 AM
Hi ^_^ Thank You so much :)
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 08, 2019, 09:38:31 AM
Please turn of the self-defense in Settings-> Troubleshooting and then you will be able to delete those old files.

Sorry but I have a question. If i delete the folder with the older definition in Avast/setup is sure that I don't make a disaster?  :-[ TY
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: Asyn on March 08, 2019, 10:00:17 AM
Should work, but no guarantee for V9 on XP. ;)
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 08, 2019, 10:12:13 AM
Should work, but no guarantee for V9 on XP. ;)

Ok. Ty. I will try...  :-\
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 08, 2019, 10:17:50 AM
Can you please generate a support package (as described here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file), submit it and post the package ID here?
Normally the old definition folders are deleted automatically of course, so there has to be something strange happening with Avast on your system...
Thanks.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 08, 2019, 11:26:55 AM
Can you please generate a support package (as described here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file), submit it and post the package ID here?
Normally the old definition folders are deleted automatically of course, so there has to be something strange happening with Avast on your system...
Thanks.

I have found that the Avast Housekeeping isn't running as it used to with several old DEFs folders still remaining on this XP system, but most of them only have the SWCUEngine.dll file.  Invariably only the current and previous VPS folders are full.

Rebooting the system (which would ordinarily remain ON) does appear to work to remove old folders.  On occasion there is still the current and previous defs folders remain and may be fully populated.

For MartinZ, disabling the Self-Defence doesn't allow deletion of old folders, even disabling the avast shields doesn't allow this.  Previously I can recall being able to do this.

EDIT: Inclusion of defs folder image attachment after reboot.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 08, 2019, 07:02:35 PM
Can you please generate a support package (as described here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file), submit it and post the package ID here?
Normally the old definition folders are deleted automatically of course, so there has to be something strange happening with Avast on your system...
Thanks.

I have found that the Avast Housekeeping isn't running as it used to with several old DEFs folders still remaining on this XP system, but most of them only have the SWCUEngine.dll file.  Invariably only the current and previous VPS folders are full.

Rebooting the system (which would ordinarily remain ON) does appear to work to remove old folders.  On occasion there is still the current and previous defs folders remain and may be fully populated.

For MartinZ, disabling the Self-Defence doesn't allow deletion of old folders, even disabling the avast shields doesn't allow this.  Previously I can recall being able to do this.

EDIT: Inclusion of defs folder image attachment after reboot.

Thank you to all. I see that the problem is more complicated as I thought. As soon as possible ( i write on this forum from another pc ) i will try to do what asked. I hoped to free the space as MartinZ told me. Now I'm fearfull and worried :/ :( But really thanks. I se that the avast installation in the application menĂ¹ use 8 gb of space... I'm confused... Sorry.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 09, 2019, 06:32:38 PM
Can you please generate a support package (as described here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file), submit it and post the package ID here?
Normally the old definition folders are deleted automatically of course, so there has to be something strange happening with Avast on your system...
Thanks.

I have found that the Avast Housekeeping isn't running as it used to with several old DEFs folders still remaining on this XP system, but most of them only have the SWCUEngine.dll file.  Invariably only the current and previous VPS folders are full.

Rebooting the system (which would ordinarily remain ON) does appear to work to remove old folders.  On occasion there is still the current and previous defs folders remain and may be fully populated.

For MartinZ, disabling the Self-Defence doesn't allow deletion of old folders, even disabling the avast shields doesn't allow this.  Previously I can recall being able to do this.

EDIT: Inclusion of defs folder image attachment after reboot.

===========
Unfortunately the avast support tool give me an error. Maybe because my cpu don't support sse2 instruction.  The situation is now very complicated for me. I have no more place on the hdd, I add some images.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 09, 2019, 06:37:04 PM
All the problems began on 6th february. Now i have no idea. How can I delete the old definitions folder without make a disaster, when and if is possible? In windows safe mode maybe? Thanks for any answer.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 09, 2019, 07:49:17 PM
@  giulio_toffoletti
1.  Did you try the manual deletion of the old defs sub-folders (first disable the avast self defence module) as suggested.  I'm thinking this may still work in your older avast 9 version, unlike mine with a fairly recent avast18.5 version

2.  Have you done a system reboot, as that for me clears dated defs sub folders ?

If so and no change.
3.  Try an Avast Repair - Control Panel > Add Remove programs > Avast Antivirus - Change, from the next window select Repair.  Reboot after the repair.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 09, 2019, 11:20:08 PM
@  giulio_toffoletti
1.  Did you try the manual deletion of the old defs sub-folders (first disable the avast self defence module) as suggested.  I'm thinking this may still work in your older avast 9 version, unlike mine with a fairly recent avast18.5 version

2.  Have you done a system reboot, as that for me clears dated defs sub folders ?

If so and no change.
3.  Try an Avast Repair - Control Panel > Add Remove programs > Avast Antivirus - Change, from the next window select Repair.  Reboot after the repair.

Ty for the answer.
I've just tried the point 3 unsuccessfull :(
I turn off the pc every day. So i make a new boot every morning. The folders you can see are the folder created every day. :(
I' ll try as you tell me the manual deletion. If also this don't solve the problem i don't know...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 09, 2019, 11:39:15 PM
You're welcome, you're bumping into having an old system and old avast version.  Unfortunately most of the regular users on the forum haven't used the version for years and things change.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 10, 2019, 02:17:23 PM
Inside the C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs folder, there's a small file called aswdefs.ini.
Can you please open it (e.g. in Notepad) and post its content here? (There's a value Latest=something inside - and I'd like to know if it refers to the latest folder you have on disk, or for example to the very first one - 19020600).

Also, could you please create a list of the files in the folders and attach it here? Just open a command line prompt (e.g. press Win+R and type cmd.exe into the box). Then copy&paste the following command to the command prompt:
dir /s "C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs" > c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt
After that, please attach the file (c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt) here...
Thanks!
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 10, 2019, 06:25:32 PM
@ igor,
I take this is directed to giulio_toffoletti who has the major problem ?

But the contents of my aswdefs.ini file is:
[Definitions]
Latest=19031002

There was another earlier defs sub-folder prior to my doing my weekly drive image backup. But on checking that earlier sub folder has now gone.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 10, 2019, 06:32:30 PM
Inside the C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs folder, there's a small file called aswdefs.ini.
Can you please open it (e.g. in Notepad) and post its content here? (There's a value Latest=something inside - and I'd like to know if it refers to the latest folder you have on disk, or for example to the very first one - 19020600).

Also, could you please create a list of the files in the folders and attach it here? Just open a command line prompt (e.g. press Win+R and type cmd.exe into the box). Then copy&paste the following command to the command prompt:
dir /s "C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs" > c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt
After that, please attach the file (c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt) here...
Thanks!

Thank you all so much for your help  :) As soon I can i'll do what you told me. Today I have tried what MartinZ told me. I have deleted all the folders from february except the folder from 6th Feb. I have rebooted the pc and made the virus definition update ( the hdd was completely full ). I must see if all is gone good O.o
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 11, 2019, 06:18:40 PM
Inside the C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs folder, there's a small file called aswdefs.ini.
Can you please open it (e.g. in Notepad) and post its content here? (There's a value Latest=something inside - and I'd like to know if it refers to the latest folder you have on disk, or for example to the very first one - 19020600).

Also, could you please create a list of the files in the folders and attach it here? Just open a command line prompt (e.g. press Win+R and type cmd.exe into the box). Then copy&paste the following command to the command prompt:
dir /s "C:\Programmi\Alwil Software\Avast5\defs" > c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt
After that, please attach the file (c:\windows\temp\aswlist.txt) here...
Thanks!


Hello. So, the content of my aswdefs.ini is this
[Definitions]
Latest=19020600
 
The same date of the creation of the file. I don't know at the moment if my Avast work with the virus definition of that day, or with the updated defs.  :-\ For Windows xp my antivirus is not updated, but for Avast ( read another file .ini ? ) is all updated.

Here is the file aswlist.txt. I hope it will be useful. I saw that this question of the date of the virus definition is not only a problem of mine. In the original post another guy quoted the same problem with the same date.  6th Feb 2019  :o
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 11, 2019, 07:17:06 PM
Thanks a lot for the info. I'm afraid it shows that your Avast is really using virus definitions from 6th February - any later are incompletely extracted on disk. That's also why they are not removed - Avast always removes the definitions older than the ones it's currently using...

Could I please ask you for one more file? Normally this does the support tool, but that's not working on your machine. Problem is, I honestly don't know where to find it on your machine... you having Italian Windows, plus the installation is updated from an even older version of Avast (so it's "Alwil Software", not "Avast Software" that the new versions got).
The file is called Update.log and it's in a folder which, on English Windows XP, is called C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
In that folder, it may be in AVAST Software\Persistent Data\Avast\Logs... but for you, it may be Alwil Software instead, and I'm not sure if Persistent Data will be there.
Maybe you could use Windows Search (Win+F) to find the location?

There's one thing I would try to fix the problem - download the full virus definition update from https://www.avast.com/download-update and run it... chances are it may help.
Sorry for the troubles.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 11, 2019, 11:21:43 PM
Thanks a lot for the info. I'm afraid it shows that your Avast is really using virus definitions from 6th February - any later are incompletely extracted on disk. That's also why they are not removed - Avast always removes the definitions older than the ones it's currently using...

Could I please ask you for one more file? Normally this does the support tool, but that's not working on your machine. Problem is, I honestly don't know where to find it on your machine... you having Italian Windows, plus the installation is updated from an even older version of Avast (so it's "Alwil Software", not "Avast Software" that the new versions got).
The file is called Update.log and it's in a folder which, on English Windows XP, is called C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
In that folder, it may be in AVAST Software\Persistent Data\Avast\Logs... but for you, it may be Alwil Software instead, and I'm not sure if Persistent Data will be there.
Maybe you could use Windows Search (Win+F) to find the location?

There's one thing I would try to fix the problem - download the full virus definition update from https://www.avast.com/download-update and run it... chances are it may help.
Sorry for the troubles.

Thanks a lot for the help.  I will search the file as soon as possible, unfortunately, I've just try to use the offline definition package. It was the first attempt after the repair function. I was worried that avast don't use the newest definition. You confirm my suspect.  :'( You and all the people that asking me are so nice. Thank you so much. Using the removal tool and installing the last version available ( 10 for not sse2 cpu ) can be a solution?
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 06:52:58 PM
Thanks a lot for the info. I'm afraid it shows that your Avast is really using virus definitions from 6th February - any later are incompletely extracted on disk. That's also why they are not removed - Avast always removes the definitions older than the ones it's currently using...

Could I please ask you for one more file? Normally this does the support tool, but that's not working on your machine. Problem is, I honestly don't know where to find it on your machine... you having Italian Windows, plus the installation is updated from an even older version of Avast (so it's "Alwil Software", not "Avast Software" that the new versions got).
The file is called Update.log and it's in a folder which, on English Windows XP, is called C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
In that folder, it may be in AVAST Software\Persistent Data\Avast\Logs... but for you, it may be Alwil Software instead, and I'm not sure if Persistent Data will be there.
Maybe you could use Windows Search (Win+F) to find the location?

There's one thing I would try to fix the problem - download the full virus definition update from https://www.avast.com/download-update and run it... chances are it may help.
Sorry for the troubles.

Hi Igor :) I found the file. it's very big, 13 MB. Due the forum limitation I can't attach it as rar file. I must split it so i need a little bit of time. I understand to little of the contents, but I think that the contents it's interesting. I hope can be useful. Thanks for all. One question. If they aren't problem with the virus definition, can be the file .ini in the folder virusdef edited to force manually the use of the new virus definition?
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:21:23 PM
Thanks a lot for the info. I'm afraid it shows that your Avast is really using virus definitions from 6th February - any later are incompletely extracted on disk. That's also why they are not removed - Avast always removes the definitions older than the ones it's currently using...

Could I please ask you for one more file? Normally this does the support tool, but that's not working on your machine. Problem is, I honestly don't know where to find it on your machine... you having Italian Windows, plus the installation is updated from an even older version of Avast (so it's "Alwil Software", not "Avast Software" that the new versions got).
The file is called Update.log and it's in a folder which, on English Windows XP, is called C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
In that folder, it may be in AVAST Software\Persistent Data\Avast\Logs... but for you, it may be Alwil Software instead, and I'm not sure if Persistent Data will be there.
Maybe you could use Windows Search (Win+F) to find the location?

There's one thing I would try to fix the problem - download the full virus definition update from https://www.avast.com/download-update and run it... chances are it may help.
Sorry for the troubles.

Hi Igor :) I found the file. it's very big, 13 MB. Due the forum limitation I can't attach it as rar file. I must split it so i need a little bit of time. I understand to little of the contents, but I think that the contents it's interesting. I hope can be useful. Thanks for all. One question. If they aren't problem with the virus definition, can be the file .ini in the folder virusdef edited to force manually the use of the new virus definition?

Here are the files. Sorry for the format... :-[
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:26:48 PM
One at a time :/
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:27:45 PM
2
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:28:37 PM
3
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:29:24 PM
4
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:30:27 PM
5
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:31:10 PM
6
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:31:52 PM
7
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:32:33 PM
8
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:33:26 PM
9
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 12, 2019, 07:34:22 PM
10 the last  :P
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 12, 2019, 08:25:15 PM
Wow, thanks a lot!
Now... I can see that some of the extractions (of new virus definitions) failed with "Not enough space on disk error" during the file extraction. That's possible I guess - if there was a low disk-space condition during the update, the virus definition extraction failed - and made the problem even worse because the partially extracted folder remained on disk (and again and again, each time there was a little space - but not enough for a correct update - it got consumed by an incomplete one). Unfortunately some of the folders (the biggest ones) failed later, during a "preparation" phase... and the error doesn't really say what went wrong. Could have been a low-disk space as well (the preparation phase creates additional files, so if the previous extraction filled the drive up to its maximum...
I admit it sounds like a bit of a coincidence - to happen so many times, plus I can see the listing says 2GB free on the C: drive. On the other hand, I believe free disk space used to be sometimes reported incorrectly by the system, so I guess it can be the case.

You certainly don't want to edit the aswdefs.ini file and "move it" to newer definitions - they are not complete and Avast wouldn't be able to load them (if they were OK, the ini file would get updated automatically). I'd suggest to manually remove the folders other than the one referenced in aswdefs.ini (i.e. if aswdefs.ini still says 19020600 is the latest, remove all the newer ones). You can keep those whose name ends with _stream - those are streaming updates and they are actually being used to protect you, plus they are small anyway).
This should hopefully make some space on disk - and then try to update the virus definition (maybe even via the full update downloaded from our web). Of course, if you could free some more space on disk (in other ways, not just in Avast folder), that could help as well.
What happens when you do that? Does the number in aswdefs.ini finally change?
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 13, 2019, 06:29:24 PM
Wow, thanks a lot!
Now... I can see that some of the extractions (of new virus definitions) failed with "Not enough space on disk error" during the file extraction. That's possible I guess - if there was a low disk-space condition during the update, the virus definition extraction failed - and made the problem even worse because the partially extracted folder remained on disk (and again and again, each time there was a little space - but not enough for a correct update - it got consumed by an incomplete one). Unfortunately some of the folders (the biggest ones) failed later, during a "preparation" phase... and the error doesn't really say what went wrong. Could have been a low-disk space as well (the preparation phase creates additional files, so if the previous extraction filled the drive up to its maximum...
I admit it sounds like a bit of a coincidence - to happen so many times, plus I can see the listing says 2GB free on the C: drive. On the other hand, I believe free disk space used to be sometimes reported incorrectly by the system, so I guess it can be the case.

You certainly don't want to edit the aswdefs.ini file and "move it" to newer definitions - they are not complete and Avast wouldn't be able to load them (if they were OK, the ini file would get updated automatically). I'd suggest to manually remove the folders other than the one referenced in aswdefs.ini (i.e. if aswdefs.ini still says 19020600 is the latest, remove all the newer ones). You can keep those whose name ends with _stream - those are streaming updates and they are actually being used to protect you, plus they are small anyway).
This should hopefully make some space on disk - and then try to update the virus definition (maybe even via the full update downloaded from our web). Of course, if you could free some more space on disk (in other ways, not just in Avast folder), that could help as well.
What happens when you do that? Does the number in aswdefs.ini finally change?

Hi and Thanks for all. With 6 gb of free space nothing different. I try to read and understand what appened on the 6th feb in the update log but it's to difficult for me. I have no idea. Every idea is something accepted  :-\
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 13, 2019, 09:14:27 PM
 :(

Can you please upload the last part of the Update.log (from the line with "START: Avast installer/updater" and the current date?) - to see what happened with more disk space? Or, you could rename the Update.log file to something else and start a virus definition update - then a new Update.log file should be created, so you can attach it whole.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 14, 2019, 02:45:12 PM
hey, i've got very same problem as giulio here... sending my last part of update.log, hope it's gonna be useful anyhow...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 14, 2019, 04:11:56 PM
Strange, also a non-SSE2 cpu. It starts to look related...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 14, 2019, 06:29:19 PM
Strange, also a non-SSE2 cpu. It starts to look related...

yes, i'm afraid... too old to work properly... :(
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 14, 2019, 06:31:01 PM
:(

Can you please upload the last part of the Update.log (from the line with "START: Avast installer/updater" and the current date?) - to see what happened with more disk space? Or, you could rename the Update.log file to something else and start a virus definition update - then a new Update.log file should be created, so you can attach it whole.

Hi and ty as everyday ;)
This is the update log of today
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 14, 2019, 06:35:57 PM
Strange, also a non-SSE2 cpu. It starts to look related...

Mumble mumble. The version 9 don't need sse2 istruction. also the avast_free_antivirus_setup10.4.2233.1299.exe is "sse2 free". Bob3160 linked every time this offline setup for this old cpu.  :-\
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 14, 2019, 08:32:55 PM
I believe I finally found the problem... stay tuned, hopefully a fix will appear soon.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 14, 2019, 11:12:19 PM
I believe I finally found the problem... stay tuned, hopefully a fix will appear soon.

Fingers crossed  ;) It would be great
TY
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 15, 2019, 12:18:44 PM
Please try again with the latest virus definitions, a sse-2 related problem was fixed there.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 15, 2019, 02:24:31 PM
great, works for me... thank you very much, sir...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 16, 2019, 11:56:03 AM
Please try again with the latest virus definitions, a sse-2 related problem was fixed there.

Thank you so much for all.  :D The problem is solved. wonderfull, great work !!!
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 16, 2019, 08:10:38 PM
oh, seems that old definitions still remains in folder... or is it as it should be? my defs folder now contains: 19031504, 19031602, 19031604 and 19031604_stream... but it's possible to delete them manually in safe mode, of course...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 16, 2019, 08:20:44 PM
So the folders remain there even after reboot? That shouldn't happen...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 16, 2019, 08:47:17 PM
So the folders remain there even after reboot? That shouldn't happen...

sorry, my bad... after reboot old folders are gone...  ;)
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 16, 2019, 11:17:30 PM
So the folders remain there even after reboot? That shouldn't happen...

I checked the defs folder afetr the today's update. All the older def folder was deleted except 4 folders of today and the first of yesterday. I had no manual deleted the old folder of march and the folder of the 6th feb.  I think that's ok ... right?
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: peter_nejedly on March 17, 2019, 03:37:36 AM
So the folders remain there even after reboot? That shouldn't happen...

I checked the defs folder afetr the today's update. All the older def folder was deleted except 4 folders of today and the first of yesterday. I had no manual deleted the old folder of march and the folder of the 6th feb.  I think that's ok ... right?

same here, giulio... but don't worry, after restart of windows i've got only one folder, the newest... everything's ok (for me at least)...
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 17, 2019, 06:30:29 PM
So the folders remain there even after reboot? That shouldn't happen...

I checked the defs folder afetr the today's update. All the older def folder was deleted except 4 folders of today and the first of yesterday. I had no manual deleted the old folder of march and the folder of the 6th feb.  I think that's ok ... right?

same here, giulio... but don't worry, after restart of windows i've got only one folder, the newest... everything's ok (for me at least)...

Hi and Ty :)
That is a image of my defs folder before the update of the 11:20 am ... i hope that it's all right...
After the update, the oldest folder it ws automatically deleted. At the end always remain 4 folders. The aswdef.ini file is ok.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 17, 2019, 06:46:23 PM
If you reboot now, it should drop off the older VPS sub-folder/s and the older _stream sub folders.

I have just done my weekly drive image backup. Prior to that I rebooted (to clear up and save space) as I had a similar number of defs VPS & _stream sub folders.  After the reboot I only had one VPS folder and two _stream subfolders (see image).

Until you get your next VPS update you will get streaming update sub folders until you get the next VPS update.  This should already include most of those streaming updates, so those _stream sub folders should be removed, but possibly not until a restart.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 17, 2019, 11:11:51 PM
If you reboot now, it should drop off the older VPS sub-folder/s and the older _stream sub folders.

I have just done my weekly drive image backup. Prior to that I rebooted (to clear up and save space) as I had a similar number of defs VPS & _stream sub folders.  After the reboot I only had one VPS folder and two _stream subfolders (see image).

Until you get your next VPS update you will get streaming update sub folders until you get the next VPS update.  This should already include most of those streaming updates, so those _stream sub folders should be removed, but possibly not until a restart.

Hi :) Perfect ^^ Tank you so much for all
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on March 17, 2019, 11:47:06 PM
You're welcome.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 29, 2019, 06:36:54 PM
Please try again with the latest virus definitions, a sse-2 related problem was fixed there.

=======
Unfortunately the problem is not solved.
Today I checked the free space on the hard disk and i saw that in 10 days i've lost 3 gb.
Igor's fix works properly for the version of the virus definition. I see correctly that the last version downloaded is the last version used.
The aswdef.ini is ok.

But every day with the update I lost 300 mb of free disk space.
Scandisk is ok, avast says that's all ok. But something doesn't work correctly.
The problem is that the virusdef folder contains only the last definition. Not all the definitions as before.
I have no idea where I can find the file that occupies my space. And while before i could delete the oldest definition, now I have no idea of what and where delete.

As before the applicatio manager in the control panel says that the "avast program" ( like the image attached in precedence ) occupies 9 gb of space.

@ Igor or anyone has an idea, please help me.
For the moment, i have set the virus definition update on manual.
 :'(
P.s. With the windows search function, with the parameters *.* C: and FILE CREATED between the date from 17 march to 29 march I haven't found nothing significant. No big file or something that tells me something about the problem...
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: bob3160 on March 29, 2019, 09:06:50 PM
Just curious, isn't each new update just a little bigger than the one from the day before?
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 29, 2019, 11:22:16 PM
Just curious, isn't each new update just a little bigger than the one from the day before?

Hi. I have no idea. I see only that i had lost space in this days. Only today I checked the disk space. The virusdef folder after the fix from Igor is every day different. After the fix i saw all the oldest update subfolders. The problem is that I made an average of the daily space lost from the 17th March because i have no idea where this " ghost files of avast " are.  :-\
Like before about 300 mb pro day.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 30, 2019, 06:40:34 PM
Please try again with the latest virus definitions, a sse-2 related problem was fixed there.

=======
Unfortunately the problem is not solved.
Today I checked the free space on the hard disk and i saw that in 10 days i've lost 3 gb.
Igor's fix works properly for the version of the virus definition. I see correctly that the last version downloaded is the last version used.
The aswdef.ini is ok.

But every day with the update I lost 300 mb of free disk space.
Scandisk is ok, avast says that's all ok. But something doesn't work correctly.
The problem is that the virusdef folder contains only the last definition. Not all the definitions as before.
I have no idea where I can find the file that occupies my space. And while before i could delete the oldest definition, now I have no idea of what and where delete.

As before the applicatio manager in the control panel says that the "avast program" ( like the image attached in precedence ) occupies 9 gb of space.

@ Igor or anyone has an idea, please help me.
For the moment, i have set the virus definition update on manual.
 :'(
P.s. With the windows search function, with the parameters *.* C: and FILE CREATED between the date from 17 march to 29 march I haven't found nothing significant. No big file or something that tells me something about the problem...

===============
I have new informations. Without the virus definition update I haven't lose any space.
searching something strange to solve the problem I have found this interesting things.

In the path C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\ Log  there are 3 files .mdmp ( minidump I suppose, report of something gone wrong ) in three different and old date with different big dimension. 274Mb, 257 Mb, 412 Mb, respectively on 13th may 2017 , 2th june 2017 and 22th may 2017.

In the path  C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\REPORT i found maybe the problematic files. I suppose that these files are growing up every virus update, and I have seen that these files are modified/upgraded every day.
Today, FILESYSTEMSHIELD.TXT with 395 Mb and the gigantic WEBSHIELD.TXT with 1.5Gb ( imho to big )
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: bob3160 on March 30, 2019, 07:45:00 PM
Reported to Avast. Remember, this is the weekend. :)

Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: Asyn on March 30, 2019, 08:01:36 PM
Hi Giulio,

seems you've some remnants of older Avast versions on your system.
I'd suggest a clean install of V10.4 - let me know if you want to try that.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on March 30, 2019, 08:06:59 PM
In the path C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\ Log  there are 3 files .mdmp ( minidump I suppose, report of something gone wrong ) in three different and old date with different big dimension. 274Mb, 257 Mb, 412 Mb, respectively on 13th may 2017 , 2th june 2017 and 22th may 2017.

Those are some old crashdumps - you can just remove them, they're useless two years after it happened.

In the path  C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\REPORT i found maybe the problematic files. I suppose that these files are growing up every virus update, and I have seen that these files are modified/upgraded every day.
Today, FILESYSTEMSHIELD.TXT with 395 Mb and the gigantic WEBSHIELD.TXT with 1.5Gb ( imho to big )

Well this doesn't have anything to do with definition updates.
Normally (= unless some settings get changed) those reports should only have records of virus detections (which you hopefully don't have that many) and a record of the shield being started and stopped (so usually a few lines each time the computer is started and shut down).
Can you post a few lines from the end of the report files so that we can see if anything unusual is there?
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 30, 2019, 11:20:47 PM
Reported to Avast. Remember, this is the weekend. :)

Hi :) Thank you so much for all. Wait is not a problem. If is possible to understand what is appened and solve ^_^ Ever ty for the support to all  :)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 30, 2019, 11:26:43 PM
Hi Giulio,

seems you've some remnants of older Avast versions on your system.
I'd suggest a clean install of V10.4 - let me know if you want to try that.

Hi Asyn, ty for the support :) I will leave the clean installation for the last solution. Because I had bad experiences with the unistall of this antivirus... and i prefer, ever if is possible to know if a clear install can be a solution. For example, due mi cpu limitation with the sse2 istruction, without the fix of Igor ( great ty ) after the clean install i had the same problem with the use of the virus definition. This is the last solution :)
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on March 30, 2019, 11:33:08 PM
In the path C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\ Log  there are 3 files .mdmp ( minidump I suppose, report of something gone wrong ) in three different and old date with different big dimension. 274Mb, 257 Mb, 412 Mb, respectively on 13th may 2017 , 2th june 2017 and 22th may 2017.

Those are some old crashdumps - you can just remove them, they're useless two years after it happened.

In the path  C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\REPORT i found maybe the problematic files. I suppose that these files are growing up every virus update, and I have seen that these files are modified/upgraded every day.
Today, FILESYSTEMSHIELD.TXT with 395 Mb and the gigantic WEBSHIELD.TXT with 1.5Gb ( imho to big )

Well this doesn't have anything to do with definition updates.
Normally (= unless some settings get changed) those reports should only have records of virus detections (which you hopefully don't have that many) and a record of the shield being started and stopped (so usually a few lines each time the computer is started and shut down).
Can you post a few lines from the end of the report files so that we can see if anything unusual is there?

Hi and thank you. I try to do this. i'm not sure if my pc can open the big txt... I will try it as soon as possible.  :-\ with only 1gb of ram ... notepad is not available for use this big file. I must use an text editor. I hope that the pc don't crash during the operation.

One question. Is normal the dimension of this file? Why without the definition update i don't lose disk space? Thanks. I'm confused now.
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: bob3160 on March 30, 2019, 11:44:46 PM
Notepad has restriction that Wordpad doesn't have.
Title: Re: Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 02, 2019, 11:43:51 PM
In the path C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\ Log  there are 3 files .mdmp ( minidump I suppose, report of something gone wrong ) in three different and old date with different big dimension. 274Mb, 257 Mb, 412 Mb, respectively on 13th may 2017 , 2th june 2017 and 22th may 2017.

Those are some old crashdumps - you can just remove them, they're useless two years after it happened.

In the path  C:\document and settings\all user\dati applicazioni\ALWIL SOFTWARE\Avast 5\REPORT i found maybe the problematic files. I suppose that these files are growing up every virus update, and I have seen that these files are modified/upgraded every day.
Today, FILESYSTEMSHIELD.TXT with 395 Mb and the gigantic WEBSHIELD.TXT with 1.5Gb ( imho to big )

Well this doesn't have anything to do with definition updates.
Normally (= unless some settings get changed) those reports should only have records of virus detections (which you hopefully don't have that many) and a record of the shield being started and stopped (so usually a few lines each time the computer is started and shut down).
Can you post a few lines from the end of the report files so that we can see if anything unusual is there?

Hi and thank you. I try to do this. i'm not sure if my pc can open the big txt... I will try it as soon as possible.  :-\ with only 1gb of ram ... notepad is not available for use this big file. I must use an text editor. I hope that the pc don't crash during the operation.

One question. Is normal the dimension of this file? Why without the definition update i don't lose disk space? Thanks. I'm confused now.

Hi. I repeatly tried to open the file Webshield.txt with Wordpad ( tank you Bob3160 for the suggestion :) ) but also with the most powerful pc at my home it's impossible. After any hours of work, Wordpad ( the laptop is an acer wit an amd a8-7410 8 gb ram windows 10 home 1803) stop to respond and crash.

What can i say is that in this days without virus definition update i don't lose space on the hard drive.
so i can onli think that all the problem is related with the update process. I can try nothing because every attempt make me lose space anc this space is not recoverable.
I don't know if is a file that's grow, or that are more files hidden, I don't find any file to delete to recover this space.

I can't use the avast uninstaller and install the last version for the not sse2 pc of avast because I am not sure if that program will delete all files and bring me back this " ghost " space. And the problem can be repeat it. Igor fix the update for the version not ss2 capable. So maybe the problem is not solving by me. ( sorry for the english ).

at the end i have no idea. I know only that only update is space definitively lost. Where what, i don't know.  :'( :'( :'( Sorry, but now is very complicated for me solve this problem. Ty to all for the help 
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on April 03, 2019, 09:02:57 AM
I suggest to use Total Commander by Christian Ghisler. OK, maybe I'm biased, personally I can't imagine having a Windows system without it... it's a file manager (something like Explorer, but with two panels) and its internal viewer (used when you press F3 on a file) doesn't load the file into memory, so you can instantly view files that are gigabytes in size. Now I assume there are other similar tools (i.e. viewers - not editors - that don't have to load the whole file into memory)... I just know about this one.

Those report files should not be that big. Whether it's connected to the disk loss, I don't know - but on the other hand, I can't think of anything else, so I'd focus on what is doable right now.
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: bob3160 on April 03, 2019, 03:43:59 PM
I suggest to use Total Commander by Christian Ghisler. OK, maybe I'm biased, personally I can't imagine having a Windows system without it... it's a file manager (something like Explorer, but with two panels) and its internal viewer (used when you press F3 on a file) doesn't load the file into memory, so you can instantly view files that are gigabytes in size. Now I assume there are other similar tools (i.e. viewers - not editors - that don't have to load the whole file into memory)... I just know about this one.

Those report files should not be that big. Whether it's connected to the disk loss, I don't know - but on the other hand, I can't think of anything else, so I'd focus on what is doable right now.
I imagine that Irfanview would also fall into the category of a viewer. I know it opens image files but also works on text files.
https://www.irfanview.com/ (https://www.irfanview.com/)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: DavidR on April 03, 2019, 04:09:09 PM
<snip quotes>.
I imagine that Irfanview would also fall into the category of a viewer. I know it opens image files but also works on text files.
https://www.irfanview.com/ (https://www.irfanview.com/)
[/quote]

A little OT, I have been using irfanview for years and never knew that it could open text files :)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: bob3160 on April 03, 2019, 04:20:27 PM
@DavidR,
We are never too old to learn something new. :)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 05, 2019, 06:51:01 PM
I suggest to use Total Commander by Christian Ghisler. OK, maybe I'm biased, personally I can't imagine having a Windows system without it... it's a file manager (something like Explorer, but with two panels) and its internal viewer (used when you press F3 on a file) doesn't load the file into memory, so you can instantly view files that are gigabytes in size. Now I assume there are other similar tools (i.e. viewers - not editors - that don't have to load the whole file into memory)... I just know about this one.

Those report files should not be that big. Whether it's connected to the disk loss, I don't know - but on the other hand, I can't think of anything else, so I'd focus on what is doable right now.
I imagine that Irfanview would also fall into the category of a viewer. I know it opens image files but also works on text files.
https://www.irfanview.com/ (https://www.irfanview.com/)

Hi and Ty to all. So I have used TC ( I remember Norton commander, that I have used many many many many years ago, on windows 3.1 and something similar 20 years ago on linux ). Unfortunately is shareware, but for the moment, it's ok, for the future, I will search something similar free. Using F3 on the file webshield.txt i see a long list, like a chronology, of the website I've visited. I think that the file it's so big because it contains the activities since 2011... over 8 years of daily navigation on the web...   :o
I've try to save the file ( i don't know how create a report file smaller then the original ) but total commander stop to respond  :( Press F3 on the file and then cli on save as create I think a file identical as the original. A quick look dont' say me nothing strange. To much voices to check, but what I see is a web address with an ok at the end.

Since I don't make virus update i verify the dimension of this file. It's grow up every day around 50-150 kb daily. Imho more i navigate more it's grow up  ::)

So, the problem remains. There is something particular to search? I want to remember that all the problem started on 6th feb ( the problem with the file aswdef.ini ). Since this day only the problem with the aswdef file it's solved.
What is sure is that the virus update make me lose space on the disk, space that i can't recover or find. I have no idea. And I'm not sure that a clean installation after the use of the avast uninstall utility will be a solution. I have some doubt also for the version available for the not sse2 capable cpu. :/
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on April 06, 2019, 02:06:18 PM
If your WebShield (or FileShield) report contains all the visited/scanned items, it sounds like you have the "OK files" Report file option enabled for those shields. That shouldn't be enabled by default - it's mainly just for debugging purposes. Normally, only Infected files should be enabled there (and possibly some errors, not sure).

You can check the settings and disable the "OK files" option for those reports...
Plus, you can delete those reports (stopping the corresponding shield may be necessary to do that), it's certainly no needed to occupy the disk by that.
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 07, 2019, 06:40:48 PM
If your WebShield (or FileShield) report contains all the visited/scanned items, it sounds like you have the "OK files" Report file option enabled for those shields. That shouldn't be enabled by default - it's mainly just for debugging purposes. Normally, only Infected files should be enabled there (and possibly some errors, not sure).

You can check the settings and disable the "OK files" option for those reports...
Plus, you can delete those reports (stopping the corresponding shield may be necessary to do that), it's certainly no needed to occupy the disk by that.

Hi. I have done what you said to me. I put in the Trash folder the webshield.log file. All the log options were set on enable by default. Now I have a new webshield.log file " clean ".
But the main problem remains. And i can't believe there's no solution. I can delete the mdmp files, I can delete the trash folder. But this are old files. The dimension of the webshield log is normal with this settings. I stayed since the 27th march with the update of the definition set to manual. Today I made a manual update of the virus definition. Again the same problem. I've lost 400mb of space. Before the update the free space was 2.60 gb, after 2.20 gb. And this thing is a very big problem. In the virusdef folder, now there are two subfolders the oldest ( 178 mb) and the last (179 mb ) and the aswdef.ini file.
So avast is unusable. something goes wrong on every update. The antiviru it correctly updated, but some files remains and occupies space on the disk. I don't find those files, and i have no idea how to solve the problem. windows search don't help me. What was the problem with the sse 2 instruction and the update? After the fix it seem's that all goes worse. And i repeat that I'm not sure that uninstalling and upgrading can be a solution. I have fear to lose only space, space that I can't recover in no way.
Now I'm hopeless.     
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: Asyn on April 07, 2019, 07:14:55 PM
See Reply #59 and let me know if you want to try it now...
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 08, 2019, 09:38:40 AM
See Reply #59 and let me know if you want to try it now...

Hy Asyn :) TY again for the support, but i can actually answer like post #62  ;)
due a very very bad experiences thi is really the last solution.
Anyway can you confirm that tha procedure is the following ( is not my fist time ):
1) Windows running in safemode
2) Avast uninstaller
3) Cause my particular configuration the offline setup on this link.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=164936.msg1322691#msg1322691 answer #36

I have fear of a failuro on this procedure. It's already appened twice... :'( I' lost all... It was not possible remove the remains of the antivirus and install a new antivirus. And at the moment, i have problem in my life and for me is impossible to format the pc.  :-[  Two backup, one to old and one with the problem. But ty, i know that you are here if i need help  :D
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: Asyn on April 08, 2019, 10:15:00 AM
OK Giulio, no problem. :) Best you wait for Igor then...
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on April 08, 2019, 12:04:28 PM
Honestly, unless the "disappearing" disk space is found [to be occupied by some files], I don't think I have any more ideas... (note: Total Commander is quite good for searching for stuff as well)

Now it's normal that the disk space goes down temporarily after the virus definition update - simply because the old virus definition is removed only after some time. But it certainly shouldn't add up gradually, ten times the same over ten definition updates.
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 08, 2019, 06:30:08 PM
OK Giulio, no problem. :) Best you wait for Igor then...

Ty so much Asyn :)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 08, 2019, 06:39:12 PM
Honestly, unless the "disappearing" disk space is found [to be occupied by some files], I don't think I have any more ideas... (note: Total Commander is quite good for searching for stuff as well)

Now it's normal that the disk space goes down temporarily after the virus definition update - simply because the old virus definition is removed only after some time. But it certainly shouldn't add up gradually, ten times the same over ten definition updates.

Thank you Igor for the support.

I can say one thing. as you know there was problem with the sse2 instruction. The other Avast user with the Sempron cpu gave you an idea to fix something abotu the problem with the update. The problem equal to mine for this user began at the same date. 6th Feb. So i think that something is appened on this date. and my problem with the date of the virus update and the lose of the space are began in this occasion. Before i never had messages of " not enough space " on the disk...

I don't not what to think.

What would you do if you were me? Ty for the patience and the help  :(
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: YeOldeBowler on April 08, 2019, 07:32:59 PM
A shot in the dark but could it be related to:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=224523.30

The increase in disk space used looks similar...
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: igor on April 08, 2019, 09:09:52 PM
Well the SSE2 problem was clear (looking back, of course) - we updated the compiler and it started to include Spectre mitigations in the code... which caused the code to crash on systems without a SSE2 support. The crash happened during the "preparation" phase of the virus definitions which resulted in more and more ("unprepared") virus definition folders to get created on disk - because only the older folders than the one currently used are automatically removed, and here the current was a rather old one (the one before the compiler got updated). So disk space got consumed. (On one hand, it was kinda lucky that the crash occurred during the preparation, and not only later during the actual scanning - because the machine remained protected with the old virus definitions. On the other hand, if the preparation finished successfully and it crashed later during scanning, the program would show as unprotected - and we'd probably notice faster).

However, that problem has been fixed - you can see that the "latest" number in aswdefs.ini get updated and the older virus definition folders are (with some delay) removed; those were the ones that occupied your disk space.
I don't know about other files being created though... sure, during a virus definition update, the relevant installer packages are downloaded (but that has always been the case and that part is program code so it didn't change), they are extracted and their code is called/used. The virus definitions don't create any files automatically... they can create temporary files during archive scanning, but nothing "out of the blue", right after the update.

Let me repeat once again though - when virus definitions are updated, you may "lose" something like 200MB at that moment, that's normal. There are two virus definitions loaded for some time; the old one should be deleted (and the disk space reclaimed) after some time, let's say half an our - depends on what's going on on the machine though, the time may vary. There can even be a bug in some of the code causing the first definitions to keep loaded; in that case, after the next virus definitions, three different definitions will be loaded for some time (and another 200MB disk space is "lost"). However, that shouldn't grow much farther... plus, regarding the virus definitions, if you reboot the system, they are cleaned up and only the last one remains (so the disk space grows).

If you're saying that even after a reboot (when there's only one virus definition folder - not counting those with _stream suffix, they are small) the disk space remains lost... well I'm afraid you'd need to find where it is. You can use Total Commander to search for files not older than X hours and bigger than X megabytes... you can compute the sizes of the folders on the C drive (Alt+Shift+Enter) and you can watch which one did grow (and remained up!) and then go one folder down and do the same etc.

I'm afraid that without knowing where the space is, I really can't say much more.
(There might be ways to lose space that really wouldn't show as files... maybe System Restore points? Don't see why virus definition updates would create them though. Or someone writing huge blocks into NTFS alternate data streams - but that would be even more weird.)
Title: Re: [NOT SOLVED ] Avast free virus definition updates make full my hard drive
Post by: giulio_toffoletti on April 17, 2019, 10:08:52 AM
Well the SSE2 problem was clear (looking back, of course) - we updated the compiler and it started to include Spectre mitigations in the code... which caused the code to crash on systems without a SSE2 support. The crash happened during the "preparation" phase of the virus definitions which resulted in more and more ("unprepared") virus definition folders to get created on disk - because only the older folders than the one currently used are automatically removed, and here the current was a rather old one (the one before the compiler got updated). So disk space got consumed. (On one hand, it was kinda lucky that the crash occurred during the preparation, and not only later during the actual scanning - because the machine remained protected with the old virus definitions. On the other hand, if the preparation finished successfully and it crashed later during scanning, the program would show as unprotected - and we'd probably notice faster).

However, that problem has been fixed - you can see that the "latest" number in aswdefs.ini get updated and the older virus definition folders are (with some delay) removed; those were the ones that occupied your disk space.
I don't know about other files being created though... sure, during a virus definition update, the relevant installer packages are downloaded (but that has always been the case and that part is program code so it didn't change), they are extracted and their code is called/used. The virus definitions don't create any files automatically... they can create temporary files during archive scanning, but nothing "out of the blue", right after the update.

Let me repeat once again though - when virus definitions are updated, you may "lose" something like 200MB at that moment, that's normal. There are two virus definitions loaded for some time; the old one should be deleted (and the disk space reclaimed) after some time, let's say half an our - depends on what's going on on the machine though, the time may vary. There can even be a bug in some of the code causing the first definitions to keep loaded; in that case, after the next virus definitions, three different definitions will be loaded for some time (and another 200MB disk space is "lost"). However, that shouldn't grow much farther... plus, regarding the virus definitions, if you reboot the system, they are cleaned up and only the last one remains (so the disk space grows).

If you're saying that even after a reboot (when there's only one virus definition folder - not counting those with _stream suffix, they are small) the disk space remains lost... well I'm afraid you'd need to find where it is. You can use Total Commander to search for files not older than X hours and bigger than X megabytes... you can compute the sizes of the folders on the C drive (Alt+Shift+Enter) and you can watch which one did grow (and remained up!) and then go one folder down and do the same etc.

I'm afraid that without knowing where the space is, I really can't say much more.
(There might be ways to lose space that really wouldn't show as files... maybe System Restore points? Don't see why virus definition updates would create them though. Or someone writing huge blocks into NTFS alternate data streams - but that would be even more weird.)

Hi. Sorry for the late reply, thank you and the others so much for the tips and suggestions and explanations. But either due to my limitations, with Total commander, with the space that disappears every time I make a update so I am not free to make test and research, or due to the complication of the problem, I can't solve it. I try every day to think where and what to search but nothing to do. Now I remain practically without an antivirus. I can't update it. Unfortunately that's what happened.  :'( :-\

P.s. @ YeOldeBowler ty, but I've not found files prb*.tmp