Avast Free 913 MB in size

[nana3]

Latest version, updated just recently.  How come the Avast is so very large even though I just have 3 shields installed and that's it?  In Windows 7 Home, Programs and Features there is no size in MB shown (just blank space).  A long time ago I read that Avast cleans up after itself but this amount of MB is just GROSS. 

Just to let you know, after the recent update I had to do a repair of Avast because the Avast icon would not show up in the system tray.

[stibi]

My avast free has 935 MB.
Seems normal.

[DavidR]

First the Windows Programs and Features has been pathetic about reporting the size of installed programs (not just avast) for some considerable time.  I have many that aren't reporting the size and for those that are, I never take the size that is reported as accurate.

What would be helpful, if you browse the avast folders and see the one/s that are large.  I suspect that this will be the Defs and Setup sub-folders.  Avast has for some considerable time had a housekeeping function, but recently this hasn't been doing a very good job on my XP Pro SP3 installation of avast free. 

The combined total of the two folders mentioned reported by windows explorer is greater than that reported by programs and features/add remove programs.

Old virus definition folders should be periodically removed by avast housekeeping or the size can expand greatly.

[nana3]

Thank you both for responding to my inquiry.  According to you both it's best then to leave all alone and leave it up to Avast! to do some housekeeping?  That is if they still are doing it?   I think the almost 1 GB in size for one program only is absurd.

[DavidR]

Basically I'm trying to find what may be the cause and this is why I asked about the sub-folders that contain the majority of the data.

I believe that the avast housekeeping is not doing a good enough job.

That said, unless you have very little space on your hard disk then this shouldn't be an issue.

[nana3]

Thanks DavidR.  I went into the Avast Folders and they look different than yours.

Anyway here are some numbers:
Avast Software size 1.00 GB, size on disk 877 MB
Defs 306MB  - 18022202 - 18022310 - 18022310 stream
Setup 477 MB
x64 properties 33.2 MB
Avast Properties 877 MB

That's in a nutshell.  I'll keep an eye on Avast for a while.... 

[DavidR]

Yes, things are likely to look different there are differences between my three systems.  Those two folders are the ones likely to expand depending on avast housekeeping.

[REDACTED]

Are there any actual solutions to this issue - other than waiting for Avast?

I have about 1gb of free space left right now -

[DavidR]

Are there any actual solutions to this issue - other than waiting for Avast?

I have about 1gb of free space left right now -

Generally there isn't other than to wait for the avast housekeeping to kick in. 
What is your system and the size of your HDD ?
What is your OS ?

1GB of free space is an indication you should be looking at what programs you have installed and removal of those not used in a long time, get an external HDD and hive off some data files, media or image files or consider getting a new larger HDD and clone your existing installation on to that.  Most people have way more than 1GB of RAM so having 1GB left on your HDD is BAD.

Windows doesn't like it getting less than 15% free space, as that doesn't allow for certain functions, defragmentation, swap file use, etc.

[REDACTED]

The drive is 1tb SSD running Windows 10 with 16gb RAM

I do a lot of video and Photoshop work, so typically the drive stays about half full.

I have moved all my source files to an external drive (about 150gb) and directed the scratch areas to the external drive as well.

So, until the issue is resolved, I will get by.

[DavidR]

WOW if you had a 1TB SSD with only 1GB left that is seriously over crowded.

If your system remains on or on standby 24/7 a restart can have a beneficial effect as some of the defs sub folders are very likely to be cleared.  Compare my defs sub-folder image from the previous one.

[REDACTED]

System is powered off nightly - and I just rebooted with no changes.

Typically, my free space is around 500gb - so this avast problem is really causing issues.
At least by moving stuff to the external drive, et all --- now Windows is happy because it has free space.

I'm thinking of removing Avast and re-installing it to see if that fixes the issue....just thinking about it right now
will probably wait a week or so before attempting.  Hoping the issue gets resolved.

[DavidR]

If you typically had 500GB free space and Avast was only taking 1GB that is only a small part of your problem/s (1/500th).  So I don't know how it manages to get down to only 1GB remaining.

Your figures quoted in Reply #5 aren't far of what stibi has reported or mine.

What components do you have installed ?
Do you run the Smart Scan Periodically ?

[REDACTED]

Issue solved.

I had run the Avast Shredder and it left well over 400mb of hidden system files.

Deleted the files and all is well.

I have also reported this issue to Avast

[bob3160]

Issue solved.

I had run the Avast Shredder and it left well over 400mb of hidden system files.

Deleted the files and all is well.

I have also reported this issue to Avast

This happens when you don't allow the process to finish.
(It takes a long time and many people just don't wait.)