Data Shredder mysteriously filled up all my usable space?!

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Thanks bob3160 I think have read all the relevant posts on this forum after an extensive search but regretably they do not help. The files do not show in explorer. They seem to be in the root directory but I cannot see them. I was hoping that someone could give me an example filename with file path. Sad that the programmers of Avast have not responded to any of the posts from people who have this problem. There will be others and the solution needs to be found.
On another forum it has been suggested that I try SpaceSniffer and see if that reveals the files. I will try that tomorrow.

[bob3160]

The files quoted were C:\~090f  C:\~090.  C:\~093...etc.
They may be hidden files so be sure that your setting show hidden files. They would also all have been created on the day you used the file shredder.

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Hidden files is enabled but sadly no such files show, no matter where I look or what program I use to find them. Avast seems to have created completely invisible files that have filled the C drive. I cannot delete what I cannot find. Back to my original post, the only clue is that 70% of the disc space is used by 'others', in disc analyzer.

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Just in case anyone else falls foul of this atrocious piece of software (the Avast data shredder), the disc space has finally been reclaimed. The C drive was filled with invisible files in the root folder. Thousands of them all 200mb in size and beginng with a tilde, just as JeffVoodew posted. They did not show in Windows explorer, even with hidden files enabled. They were found using spacesniffer and then the disc analyzer of CCleaner located them in 'other'. Finally they were deleted using a search and select for all files starting with a tilde on that date. Thanks to all on this forum who tried to help. No thanks whatsoever to Avast programmers who caused the problem and did not offer any support or help whatsover. Lets hope they have fixed the cause in new editions of the software.

[mchain]

TBH, daily management using CCleaner is sufficient. 

As you found out, using a program such as this one has risks.  Sorry for your troubles.

[bob3160]

Just in case anyone else falls foul of this atrocious piece of software (the Avast data shredder), the disc space has finally been reclaimed. The C drive was filled with invisible files in the root folder. Thousands of them all 200mb in size and beginng with a tilde, just as JeffVoodew posted. They did not show in Windows explorer, even with hidden files enabled. They were found using spacesniffer and then the disc analyzer of CCleaner located them in 'other'. Finally they were deleted using a search and select for all files starting with a tilde on that date. Thanks to all on this forum who tried to help. No thanks whatsoever to Avast programmers who caused the problem and did not offer any support or help whatsover. Lets hope they have fixed the cause in new editions of the software.

Just to clarify, the problem was the fact that you as a user interrupted the process which in turn caused the problem.
Had you allowed the process to finish, you would not have had all of those files left on your computer.
This same thing would have happened had you used another program that does the same thing and interrupted it.

[REDACTED]

Not true bob3160. Just to clarify, the program hung on 90% and sat for hours doing nothing! It was obvious that is was doing nothing the computer was completely unresponsive. There was not option but to shutdown. The file that was being shredded was tiny!

[bob3160]

I don't intend to argue the point with you.
You've solved it and moved on.

[REDACTED]

TBH, daily management using CCleaner is sufficient. 

As you found out, using a program such as this one has risks.  Sorry for your troubles.

The file being deleted as a small folder of passwords, hence the nmeed for a shredder. The problem was an unfortunate error but it does not absolve the programmers of AVAST from resposibility in helping to solve it. 

[REDACTED]

I don't intend to argue the point with you.
You've solved it and moved on.

I am not arguing, just pointing out that you were not clarifying the problem, just making assumptions, which in this case were wrong.
End of matter. Now closed.

[REDACTED]

I FOUND THE FIX..... I FOUND THE FIX..... I FOUND THE FIX....
I ran into the same problem on my p.c. my windows 10 laptop was in perfect condition. I download avast because i needed a new antivirus. I saw the data shredder and decided to use it. 2 hours later i received a message from windows telling me my 1 terrabyte hard drive was full and Avast data shredder froze. so i ended the scan early. And now my 1 tb hardrive is full. I tried many options and even tried to do a system restore. You name it, I tried it. But to make a long story short i found the fix. The only issue is that you have to manually delete these files and they are hidden. You CAN NOT try to find them by just going to your C Drive and looking for them, You'll never find it. But there is a program that found every one of em.

Download CCCleaner free. When you open up cccleaner, Go to "tools" and then go to "disk analyzer". Analyze your disk. Once that's finished those hidden files will be in the "other files" category. Look further down at the itemized files, All of the files you should delete have a tilde (~) in front of them with a couple numbers next to them. They should look like this......

~0765..........C/.........204,800kb........... (And the exact date you screwed up your laptop)

Those are the files. Select em all and delete them and that's your fix. Mine had about 2000 of em and it took a while because they have to be manually deleted and it takes a while. Avast seriously dropped the ball on this feature and i'll never use it again.. But i got my 500 Gigs back. Very important.... NEVER USE AVAST DATA SHREDDER especially if you're using and solid state drive. It doesn't work well with SSD's. It took me awhile to figure it out. You can send me an email and i'll give you all my address and you can send me a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka in the mail. Cheers and happy new year.

shortythepresident@gmail.com

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I FOUND THE FIX..... I FOUND THE FIX..... I FOUND THE FIX....

Download CCCleaner free. When you open up cccleaner, Go to "tools" and then go to "disk analyzer". Analyze your disk. Once that's finished those hidden files will be in the "other files" category. Look further down at the itemized files, All of the files you should delete have a tilde (~) in front of them with a couple numbers next to them.

Exactly what I posted further up in this thread. Glad you found the fix. Shame  Avast have not recognised the problem.