Avast taking up 200GB of hard disk space

I installed Avast Free 2015 yesterday and today at some point i noticed my ram usage was too high but i didn’t pay much attention. After a while i saw my cpu usage being at atround 20% while it should be idle, i checked the task manager and it was “Avast NG Front End” causing this.

Then i went to “My PC” and WOW! my 500GB hard disk only has 20GB of free space even though my files take up 300GB and there should be almost 200GB free. This number kept becoming less and less, i tried closing it from the task manager but it didn’t work so i uninstalled the NG component of Avast from add/remove programs and it finally stopped at around 18GB and my cpu went back to normal… i restarted my PC but of course my HDD still has only 16GB of free space…

I revealed all hidden & protected files, i went to the root —> ctrl+A —> properties and indeed it’s only 300GB as it should be… but then what’s going on?? are there any “invisible” files avast placed somewhere and used up all of my free space???

I’m running windows 8 and after using avast since windows xp i’m speechless…

Recycle bin?

nope, the recycle bin is empty

Run a chkdsk and try fixing the disk… maybe the free space remained allocated in error

well good thing i have auto backup software on my PC and i restored yesterday’s image…
i remember when avast was good… now with every update i like it even less and they keep bloating it more and more with bad “tools”.
it’s about time i tried some other AV

thanks for the suggestion dprout69, i tried what u said as well but it didn’t get fixed, after running out of ideas i just restored my PC, it took some hours but now it’s back to normal

and they keep bloating it more and more with bad "tools".
You can remove any module you dont want........

Putting back a image takes hours?
What system do you have?
A 286?
Even on my old system it takes 60 minutes (tops)!

Disable hw vm in the bios and boot.
See if the space is released or not.

You can remove any module you dont want........
Even better, you don't have to install them if you don't want/need them. ;)

I have a very fast computer and mine takes a couple of hours as well… depends on how big your image is

Do a clean uninstall: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TCCX0R7AAF2WOxAMQ_kcun2nNnCPFAk2P4RBzFXSgds/edit?pli=1
On new FREE install IMHO uncheck all TOOLS, including NG in tools menu.
Once up and running uncheck “HTTPS Scanning” in WebShield Settings.
This is a very efficient config of V10/2015…avoids the bloatware and the items still being worked out IMHO.
Here is great video on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kTqm7P1KtU&feature=youtu.be
You can always add back in HTTPS scanning and NG in future.

Following an update to Avast 2015, my hard disk free space reduced
I normally disable system restore and restore from a back up image to correct a problem
After several days of investigation, I found that Avast reset the System Restore Max Usage from 1% to 50% and caused disk space usage to increase even though System Restore remained turned off. Deleting the data and resetting the Max Usage to 1% is only a short term result. Restating the computer causes the Max Usage to again be set to 50% and disk space usage increases.
Using Group Policy Editor to disable System Restore does not correct this.
This problem occurs on a clean Windows 7 system and a full install of Avast 2015 free addition.

That’s a lot of space : :o

I also having lots of problems with the new Avast 2015 it keeps resetting the System restore max usage to 50% and I have had to turn off Web shield as it was stopping me from downloading files from my on Mythtv server had me pulling my hair out for days. Avast has been real good up to now. Went back to Avast 9 and all the problems went away :cry:

I have the same problem after the latest program update. Avast keeps jacking up my system restore disk space usage from 6% to 50% when I restart Windows – very bad behavior and a glaring bug. I uninstalled the NG component and the problem stopped.