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Gary WoodsGary Woods 

defs folder

Hi,

My c: drive (a rather paltry 60GB disk)  has a folder C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\Antivirus\defs, which, I assume, holds AVG definition files. This is taking up 10.3GB of disk space (~17%).

As AVG reports it is using version 170611-0 (engine & definitions), do I really need all these other files/folders. If not, how do I get rid of them? I apparently do not have permissions to remove them.

Thanks in advance.
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
Hello Gary,

I understand your concern. The AVG Virus definitions may generally larger in size and it should not be removed from your computer. However, if the desk space is full in C drive, then I suggest you to uninstall AVG AntiVirus Free from your computer control panel and reinstall the same from this link http://files-download.avg.com/inst/mp/Antivirus_Free_1817.exe and during the installation, please change the installation folder to D drive or any other driver that have more free space. If you face any difficulties, feel free to contact us.

Thank you
Gary WoodsGary Woods
Thanks for the quick response.

I thought that's what I might have to do...Thanks again.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
You are most welcome, Gary. Thank you for understanding.
Feel free to contact us if you need any assistance.
Have a nice day!
Jah MicJah Mic
I have this same problem.  However, this folder is currently taking up 19 GBs for me and is growing about a gig a week.

Suggesting to reinstall onto another drive is NOT an acceptable solution.  It is not even a solution.  It just puts the problem somewhere else.

Why, in the world, do virus defintions need to take up 19 GBs?  Find out why, fix the problem and let us know when a fix is available or tell us how to reduce the size of this folder to an acceptable level.  (I would think somewhere around 10% or less of a GB).

Thanks in advance.
 
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Jah,

I am sorry to know that. It is not possible for AVG virus definitions updates to take up 19 GB of your hard disk space.
I request you to provide the screenshot of the AVG update folder and check on control panel "Uninstall Program" window whether there are two instance of AVG protection program is present.
Jah MicJah Mic
I ended up installing AVG and manually removing the folder.  Had I known that you would be questioning my assertion, I would have certainly taken a screen shot to show.

Nevertheless, it DID happen.  The phenomenon was real.  I have been a professional software developers for over 25 years.  I know these things well.  I would not have mis-diagnosed such an issue.

 
Bhuvaneswari VairavanBhuvaneswari Vairavan (Avast)
Jah, I certainly understand your concern. AVG folder contains scan reports, log files, and some virus definitions updates so it will consume more memory. Since you have reinstalled AVG Free, please check the memory of AVG folder and let us know.

Do also provide the screenshot http://bit.ly/1aZxsAV of AVG memory details to check and assist further.

 
Alan BinchAlan Binch
@ Jah Mic
Jah, For your info, just in case that you are unaware, you can post the screenshot (http://avgclick.me/getscreenshot) here in your topic. Click on 'Answer' & then click on the 'Image' [mountain symbol] & follow the instructions. 
AVG Guru
James TaylorJames Taylor
well my defs folder is currently 27gig and still growing which is becoming a bit of a jokeAVG File size
James TaylorJames Taylor
well my defs folder is currently 27gig and still growing which is becoming a bit of a joke

file size image attached: 

File Size
Alok KumarAlok Kumar (Avast)
Hello James,
Please be informed that the file is AVG Virus definition files (which might be all the AVG updates including old updates files). In this case, I request you to uninstall AVG program (http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-uninstall-AVG-AntiVirus-for-Mac), delete all the AVG folders manually (if there after uninstallation), and follow the instruction (http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-download-and-install-AVG-AntiVirus-for-Mac) to install AVG Antivirus on your Mac computer.
Best regards,
Alok.
arabian knightarabian knight
I keep seeing same feedbak from AVG folks regarding uplodaing a screenshot of the issue.  It is the same problem we are facing.  Data definition files generated daily, or more perhaps, while the previous ones remian and cannot be deleted.  Each file is on the order of 35 MB, The numbers do multilpy and the disk space gets eaten up.  So please without asking me to upload a screenshot, I have a "defs" folder in AVG program directory and it has hundreds of "db_pe3.dat" files with each in its own subdirectory.  Same file name.  How do I remove them and just keep the latest? Please help if you can, otherwise please dont ask for a screenshot.  
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
I understand your concern. It seems that the old traces of AVG still present in your computer. Please uninstall and reinstall the latest version of AVG in your computer. This should fix the issue. If you face any difficulties after reinstalling AVG, please let us know and we will assist you further.

Use this link to uninstall AVG: https://share.avg.com/steam/PSP/AVG2017/AVG_Clear.exe
When you are prompted to restart in safe mode, please click on "NO" and continue to uninstall AVG in normal mode.

You can install latest version of AVG from this link:https://www.avg.com/en-us/download
Gabor HorvathGabor Horvath

Dear AVG, you don't really think it is normal usage of a software when you can solve the issues only by uninstalling-reinstalling???

AVD Defs folder consumed 35 GIGABYTE  (no, no 3,5 but 35!!!) from my SSD. Is it a JOKE really?  Okay, I would understand if on an another computer this folder was not only 245 Mbyte...

Somewhere must be an error in your code, and this is your responsibility, not of the users.

But nevermind, I uninstall the program - but won't reinstall..
 

Sorry, bye.

 

 
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Gabor,

We understand the situation but it will be easy for us to find the root cause by analyzing the files.
Hence after reinstallation if the issue persists we can collect and analyze AVG log files.
We understand that you have uninstalled AVG hence we have forwarded this as feedback to concern team.
We assure you that this kind of issues will not happen in mere future.
Paul EllisPaul Ellis
So AVG's position on this issue is that the user's just have to delete the program and reinstall it?  Are you guaranteeing that there won't be a file space issue again?  Because I saw an earlier post where a rep recommend uninstalling/reinstalling and pointing the reinstall def folder to a "D drive with more space because the virus definitions are supposed to be in the GB range."

Are you actually saying your virus definitions just stack on top of each other instead of the older ones automatically deleting after the new ones are installed...the way every other Antivirus software runs?

I can't even uninstall the program because I don't have any space left on my comoputer.  I can't even manually remove the virus definition folders logged in as Administrator (through file manager or command line.) 

I've already put my information in the community.  I'm expecting a fix...as are all of us.  This isn't how you treat your customers!
R TR T
Balasubramanian (AVG Technologies) wrote "I am sorry to know that. It is not possible for AVG virus definitions updates to take up 19 GB of your hard disk space."

In my 60 GB hard drive, the AVG defs folder now takes up 23.5 GB.  This has caused incredible problems.  I deleted the Recovery drive, expanded the C drive to gain about 5 GB, and within ~3 weeks C was full again.  Then installed TreeSizeFree to finally find what was hogging all the space.

I will uninstall AVG, then install BitDefender.


User-added image
R TR T
Hah!  I tried to run AVG_Clear.exe and I'm told there isn't enough space available.  Thanks, AVG!
 
Andrzej CzarnolewskiAndrzej Czarnolewski
My defs folder has 30gigs by now, eating up a third of my C: drive. What do I win?
Bhuvaneswari VairavanBhuvaneswari Vairavan (Avast)
Hello R T,

I understand this must be upsetting and I apologize for the inconvenience. It seems that the program got corrupted. I would suggest you reinstall AVG program completely and check the status. Please uninstall AVG from the control panel, restart the computer and do a fresh installation https://www.avg.com/en-us/download.
Attila ZahoraAttila Zahora
Hi,

My antivirus defs folder is 45,6 GB. It is not normal! Occupying half of the C drive! So, I am uninstalling, but it is really strange!
 
Akash ChandaAkash Chanda (Avast)
Hi Attila,

This should not be happening.

To resolve the issue please follow the steps provided in this article: How to troubleshoot issues after upgrade to the latest AVG antivirus product

Note: Please run the AVG Clear first and then the AVG Remover

Once uninstalled, please reinstall your AVG Program monitor the situation. 
Robert LeeRobert Lee
It seem like this is a common problem, I installed ABG Internet Security on a clean machine on 16 Jan 2018, today (08 Feb 2018 so 3 weeks later) , the defs folder is 4GB in size already, surely AVG MUST have a way to solve this problem rather than asking users to uninstall and reinstall, other software vendors would laugh at you because your 'solution' is beyond a joke.  I have 40+ machines here, you are basically forcing us to change to another provider by providing such a nonsense method of 'fixing' the problem.
Alan BinchAlan Binch
@ Robert Lee
Robert, Quote "I have 40+ machines here".. Are you actually an AVG "Business products" customer?.
AVG Guru
Bhuvaneswari VairavanBhuvaneswari Vairavan (Avast)
Hello Robert,

I am very sorry for such destabilizing encounters you have been faced with.  I would request you to get in touch with our Chat team using this link 
https://support.avg.com/support_tech_chat, they will analyze the issue with AVG and fix it. If not they will escalate the case to the senior technician with the required log files. 
Clifford JansonClifford Janson
I had the same problem, my 'program files/avg/antivirus/defs' folder was 16GB large, has grown constantly over 10+ years.  I tried to uninstall via Windows ControlPanel and got an error.  However then I downloaded the current installer (https://www.avg.com/en-ww/free-antivirus-download).  It failed the first time (due to an error I could not say, even after examining the log).  But the second time it worked; it may have helped that I stopped the AVG service.  That freed up almost the entire 16GB.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Clifford,

This shouldn't happen with AVG.
It is not recommended to stop AVG service as it would stop the functions of AVG program.
Do you still have AVG folder consuming more space on hard drive?
André HakeAndré Hake
65GB
re-installing worked.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
André, glad to know that your issue has been resolved.
Thank you for updating the status.
Have a nice day!!!
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