Hard drive space area is being reduced continually since install of Mal 3.0

[PA.Dutchman]

Since updating to the mew Malawarebytes my hard drive space being used is growing all the time. each time I check more free space has been taken up. If I try to delete it and create a new RESTORE POINT immediately the space is being filled again with G bits of used space. This has all happened since installing the NEW MALAWAREBYTES yesterday.

[Firefox]

Are you by any chance using Macrium Reflex or any other imaging software like ShadowProtect or the like?

 

[PA.Dutchman]

No, the ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IS I INSTALLED THE NEW Malawarebytes 3.0. Since then the space being used continually increases and I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM before this.

I JUST CHECKED AND IT HAS INCREASED 2 MORE G'S. When I deleted my SYSTEM RESTORE IT WOULD GO TO ZERO, NOW I CAN NOT DELETE IT TO ZERO AND IT KEEPS INCREASING IN SIZE OF USED SPACE every time I check.

 

Edited February 1, 2017 by PA.Dutchman
additional infor

[Porthos]

1. Hi everyone! If possible, can you please grab some information for us so we can look at what's going on?

   1. Open up Malwarebytes 3
   2. Go to Settings -> Application
   3. Turn on Event Log Data
   4. Restart the computer
   5. Open up Malwarebytes
   6. Verify that Web Protection is not turned on
   7. Attempt to turn on Web Protection
   8. Wait 2-3 minutes
   9. Zip up the folder C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\MBAMService\logs by right clicking the folder and choosing Send To -> Compressed (Zipped) folder
      Note that the ProgramData folder may be hidden. You may need to turn on Showing Hidden Files, or type the path manually

   Please upload the zip file that gets created (it should be on your desktop)

   Now please run mb-check, which can be downloaded from here: https://downloads.malwarebytes.org/file/mb3_check. Run this program, which will create a file on your desktop named mb-checkResult.txt. Please upload this file as well.

   And lastly, the FRST logs will help as well:

   1. Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool from here http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/ and save it to your desktop.
      Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system.
      **After you click the Download Now 64-bit, or the Download Now 32-bit, another page will open — DO NOT CLICK ANY ADDITIONAL 'download now' buttons, just wait and look toward the bottom of your browser for the option to Run or Save. Click Save.
   2. Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to the disclaimer.
      Note: If you are prompted by Windows SmartScreen, click More info followed by Run anyway.
   3. Click the Scan button.
   4. When the scan has finished, it will save 2 logs  in the same directory the tool was run from.  Please attach the following logs:
      Addition.txt
      FRST.txt 

   I realize this is a lot of information to ask, but it should help us figure out what's going on. If you're able to help with the above instructions, there should be 4 files being uploaded. mb-checkResult.txt, FRST.txt, Additions.txt, zip file of logs folder

Edited February 1, 2017 by Porthos

[PA.Dutchman]

I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO AS YOU INSTRUCTED, HOWEVER FOR THE RECORD I UN-INSTALLED MALAWAREBYTES 3.0 AND THE CONTINUED TAKING UP OF EMPTY SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I WILL TRY TO INSTALL IT AGAIN I HAVE MY REGISTRATION NUMBERS ETC. AS I SAID UN-INSTALLING IT COMPLETELY STOPPED THE DRIP DRIP DRIP OF SPACE BEING LOST SINCE INSTALLING MALAWAREBYTES 3.0.

 

 

 

No, the ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IS I INSTALLED THE NEW Malawarebytes 3.0. Since then the space being used continually increases and I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM before this.

[siliconman01]

For Information:  

On my systems which are 100% SSD, I experience Malwarebytes mysteriously writing files (or causing files to be written) into the C:\System Volume Information folder.  This is a protected folder which the typical user cannot open.  I've had Malwarebytes add 8-10 gigabytes of files into that folder.  It does it silently and slowly with no visible reason that I have been able to determine.  What I do to clean up the System Volume Information folder and regain the lost SSD space is:

1.  Turn off ALL protection of Malwarebytes

2.  Disable Malwarebytes self protection

3.  Exit/quit Malwarebytes

4.  Go to Control Panel>System>System Protection>System Protection tab>Configure.  

5  Select "Disable system protection".  (NOTE:  This will wipe out all your system restore points.)

6.  Click on Apply and OK.  

7.  Close the Control Panel

8.  Reboot  (This step probably is not necessary but I do it anyhow  )

9.  Re-enable ALL protection of Malwarebytes

10.  Re-enable Malwarebytes self protection.

11.  Go to Control Panel>System>System Protection>System Protection tab>Configure. 

12.  Select "Turn on system protection".  (You may wish to adjust the allocation size of the System Volume Information folder as well.)

12.  Click on Apply and OK.

13,  On the System Protection tab, click on "Create" and create a new system restore point.

14.  Close the Control Panel 

This does not stop Malwarebytes from again adding files to the System Volume Information folder for "whatever reason"; however, it does "temporarily"  regain your lost space.  

[PA.Dutchman]

siliconman01

I have done just as you instructed, I printed out the instructions and went step by step. I understand this is a temporary fix AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT WITH YOUR LEVEL OF SKILLS YOU CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SHARED THIS TEMPORARY FIX. Do we now wait for an update or permanent fix, or what is the next step to try to eliminate the problem? THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND I AM ALWAYS BLESSED WHEN SOMEONE WITH GREATER SKILLS THEN I HAVE IS ABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE, MANY MANY THANKS TO YOU siliconman01.

I will hold tight until I get an email etc. and again thank you so very much.

Gregg Heilman

 

 

 

I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO AS YOU INSTRUCTED, HOWEVER FOR THE RECORD I UN-INSTALLED MALAWAREBYTES 3.0 AND THE CONTINUED TAKING UP OF EMPTY SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I WILL TRY TO INSTALL IT AGAIN I HAVE MY REGISTRATION NUMBERS ETC. AS I SAID UN-INSTALLING IT COMPLETELY STOPPED THE DRIP DRIP DRIP OF SPACE BEING LOST SINCE INSTALLING MALAWAREBYTES 3.0.

 

 

 

No, the ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IS I INSTALLED THE NEW Malawarebytes 3.0. Since then the space being used continually increases and I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM before this.

[PA.Dutchman]

It appears the added space taken up on hard drive space has slowed down quite a bit. I am still not sure will this problem be corrected in an UPDATE at some point. I followed siliconman01 GREAT DIRECTIONS AND DELETED SOME MORE TODAY AGAIN. However I know this was a temporary fix and was hoping to hear more in regard to a permanent fix by way of an UPDATE.

AGAIN THANK YOU,

 

 

 

siliconman01

I have done just as you instructed, I printed out the instructions and went step by step. I understand this is a temporary fix AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT WITH YOUR LEVEL OF SKILLS YOU CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SHARED THIS TEMPORARY FIX. Do we now wait for an update or permanent fix, or what is the next step to try to eliminate the problem? THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND I AM ALWAYS BLESSED WHEN SOMEONE WITH GREATER SKILLS THEN I HAVE IS ABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE, MANY MANY THANKS TO YOU siliconman01.

I will hold tight until I get an email etc. and again thank you so very much.

Gregg Heilman

 

 

 

I AM GOING TO TRY TO DO AS YOU INSTRUCTED, HOWEVER FOR THE RECORD I UN-INSTALLED MALAWAREBYTES 3.0 AND THE CONTINUED TAKING UP OF EMPTY SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I WILL TRY TO INSTALL IT AGAIN I HAVE MY REGISTRATION NUMBERS ETC. AS I SAID UN-INSTALLING IT COMPLETELY STOPPED THE DRIP DRIP DRIP OF SPACE BEING LOST SINCE INSTALLING MALAWAREBYTES 3.0.

 

 

 

No, the ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IS I INSTALLED THE NEW Malawarebytes 3.0. Since then the space being used continually increases and I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM before this.

[Telos]

On 2/1/2017 at 2:48 AM, siliconman01 said:

4.  Go to Control Panel>System>System Protection>System Protection tab>Configure.  

5  Select "Disable system protection".  (NOTE:  This will wipe out all your system restore points.)

6.  Click on Apply and OK.  

12.  Select "Turn on system protection".  (You may wish to adjust the allocation size of the System Volume Information folder as well.)

12.  Click on Apply and OK.

 

@siliconman01 Just FYI... but the shortened procedure I quoted in part from your post works on my system. No reboot required.

As you noted this is not a solution, but will temporarily restore the OS drive capacity at the expense of losing all system restore points. I do this weekly.

@PA.Dutchman If you use drive imaging products while v3 is installed this may happen. I have found that secure file delete and drive wiping products that "permanently" overwrite deleted files rendering them "unrecoverable" as well as free space wiping software can do this.

[PA.Dutchman]

I am familiar with the process of DISABLE SYSTEM PROTECTION. However as you first stated this is only a temporary solution and I understand that and that you were trying to be helpful.

Since I installed and followed up with the deleting etc I am still accumulating between 1 to 2 GB daily by the time I get home. THIS ALL STARTED AFTER INSTALLING  

Malawarebytes 3.0. Already the next morning I could not find where all this extra storage space was being taken up by or from. THE I FINALLY REALIZED IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING THE NEW PROGRAM. I can delete every night or two however it was a lot easier BEFORE WHEN I WASN'T DEVELOPING ALL THIS EXTRA SPACE BEING TAKEN UP ON OUR HARD DRIVE and deleting every day.

[Porthos]

@PA.Dutchman You never provided the logs that I suggested in this post.

These might help the developers figure a real fix. .

Edited February 3, 2017 by Porthos

[PA.Dutchman]

Is there a link to download the previous version of Malwarebytes, that program did a GREAT JOB and it didn't keep eating up the space on our hard drive?

Many thanks,

 

[PA.Dutchman]

I un-install Malwarebytes 3.0 and I downloaded the previous version and the eating up of hard drive space has stopped using the older version.

[PA.Dutchman]

It has been since 5:00 A.M. EST and now it is 1:17P.M. EST and by going back to the previous version there has been NO DECREASE IN THE FREE SPACE OF MY HARD RIVE. Try to understand I am nearly 69 years old, I went through treatment for Stage 3 Prostate Cancer and required a SPINAL FUSION BEFORE I COMPLETED MY CANCER TREATMENTS. I would like to help more and try to find the issue BUT I AM NOT THAT SKILLED AND IN MY SHAPE I HAVE TO PICK MY CHALLENGES. I immediately noticed the HARD DRIVE SPACE BEING TAKEN OVER AND THE ONLY THING I HAD DONE WAS TO INSTALL THE NEW Malwarebytes 3.0. I came here to let the folks know and try to get a fix. I am not up to the investigation and GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTIONS OFFERED AND AS IT WAS STATED THEY ARE ONLY TEMPORARY GOING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION HAS STOPPED THE DISAPPEARING FREE SPACE on the HARD DRIVE. I will now just wait and see if anyone can issue an update to permanently up and correct the new  Malwarebytes 3.0. I WAS TOLD YEARS AGO TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL  Malwarebytes and that was SOME GREAT ADVICE!!! Malwarebytes IS one of maybe 5 programs I have invested money to purchase AND I HAVE THANKED GOD SINCE THAT DAY. IT IS THE BEST of the BEST AND I KNOW THIS WILL BE CORRECTED IN TIME,

[Porthos]

@PA.Dutchman My prayers and best wishes for your health issues.

[Telos]

@PA.Dutchman I can't speak for MB, but since the previous version is working for you I would suggest that you come back to this forum in 3 months and see how things are going with v3. My view as an outsider is that considerable work remains to be done and it may be even 6 months before this settles out. FWIW I have 10+ GBs of drive space consumed unnecessarily by v3 antics over the past 5 days. The disappointing part of all this is that I heard from someone who reported this last November while v3 was in official beta, and yet it was released without a fix. Personally, I am at the edge of uninstalling and reverting to v2. It is only to help others here that keeps me on v3.

On the plus side there are several MB staff working this forum tirelessly... a job I wouldn't want in these circumstances. Kudos to them all!

[PA.Dutchman]

Malwarebytes will NEVER EVER GET A COMPLAINT FROM ME. Your program has served us wonderfully and faithfully, some one of the OLD SMART COMPUTING WEB SITE recommended THAT WE ALL install Malwarebytes on our PCs.

WE HAVE NEVER EVER TURNED ON ANY PC SINCE THAT DAY WITHOUT OUR Malwarebytes AND IT HAS SAVED AND SERVED US FAITHFULLY.

God bless and I will try to stay up to date on anything that might change in the future. WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS.

MANY THANKS,

Gregg Heilman

 

[PA.Dutchman]

Just checking in to see if the issue with using up SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE has been eliminated or corrected? I am only asking because I am running the last issue of Malwarebytes and it is working fine but keeps asking for me to go to the New 3.0 and I have not because I have not heard anymore from this posting. MANY THANKS,

Edited February 14, 2017 by PA.Dutchman

[Telos]

14 hours ago, PA.Dutchman said:

Just checking in to see if the issue with using up SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE has been eliminated or corrected? I am only asking because I am running the last issue of Malwarebytes and it is working fine but keeps asking for me to go to the New 3.0 and I have not because I have not heard anymore from this posting. MANY THANKS,

 

There are rumors of a component update coming on Feb 22 and a new release on Feb 26. I would hold tight until then. I'm certain a new release preview will be announced in the "sticky posts" on this board. Peace bro'

[Cleatus]

2 hours ago, Telos said:

There are rumors of a component update coming on Feb 22 and a new release on Feb 26. I would hold tight until then. I'm certain a new release preview will be announced in the "sticky posts" on this board. Peace bro'

Thank the Maker...

hopefully get the real time protection-no-start fixed too...

 

[PA.Dutchman]

Cleatus, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, HELP AND PATIENCE. I mentioned this before years ago someone on the OLD SMART COMPUTING FORUM RECOMMENDED Malwarebytes to everyone and it continues to be ONE OF THE VERY BEST SOFTWARE INVESTMENTS I EVER MADE.

[Cleatus]

Agreed PA.

 

I brought this in to our company to help keep the bugs out of our system.  So far, it has been fantastic.  Its just kind of a pain when you have 2000 workstations that suddenly go stupid because two competing programs are not compatible--and cause massive headaches for users.

[PA.Dutchman]

I really miss the OLD SMART COMPUTING MAGAZINE AND FORUM. Folks like me new to the world of hardware and software were greatly helped both by their magazine and forum. Malwarebytes has served us well and it impressed me greatly that the staff operating Malwarebytes actually listened to and helped clients if someone had an issue. PEOPLE WITH MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THEN MYSELF STRONGLY RECOMMENDED Malwarebytes IN ADDITION TO A GOOD ANTI VIRUS PROGRAM. Back then many of us did not realize or understand the danger of getting hit by malware but I trusted some of the members of the forum and THANK GOD I DID. BOTH THIS FORUM AND Malwarebytes HAVE THAT USER FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP THAT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO THIS KIND OF THING FOR A LIVING. YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY MY FRIEND.

[PA.Dutchman]

Has anything changed in the last UPDATES? Something is using up my HARD DRIVE SPACE AGAIN, this happened with 3.0 and I un-installed it for a few weeks until the revised version of 3.0 came out. However today something is again using up my HARD DRIVE SPACE and I am trying to rule out what it might be. AVG had a PROGRAM UP DATE as well so I un-installed it completely however the HARD DRIVE SPACE IS STILL BE USED UP.

MANY THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR GREAT PROGRAM AND HELP,

 

[dcollins]

Can you please provide the logs mentioned in the following thread? This will help us figure out what's going on and get us started on troubleshooting.