4GB limit while copying to the external drive

Maximum Sizes

The maximum file size and volume size for the FAT file system is 2^32 bytes (4 GB). FAT can support a maximum of 65,535 clusters per volume.

The NTFS architecture is designed to use numbers up to 2^64 bytes (16 exabytes, or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 bytes). In theory, it is possible to have a volume 264 bytes in size. Even if there were hardware available to supply a logical volume of that capacity, there are other limitations to the maximum size of a volume........etc

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/ntwrkstn/reskit/file_sys.mspx?mfr=true

ok try these steps :

1- format u r pc with NTFS file System
2- get the latest update of your BIOS
3 Connect your EXternal HDD and format it

It doesn't really answer my questions. Can I check anything? Change anything? Without loosing data. We are talking of limitations on which drive? On the PC or on the LACIE?

j.

If I format pc with NTFS file system will I not loose any data?

j.

Before I format how can I check the PC BIOS - what size drives it sees?

 

How about providing some info on PC such as OS and CPU.

1st at all what's your OS ?
-----------------------------------
let me tell you something :
1- as i understand u can't copy file's it size 4 GB . Is that true ?? so i suggest to format u r HDD with NTFS file system to Be able to copy largest files .
2- as i understand your PC can't recognize your external HDD with huge Size ..... is that true ?? so i suggest to update your BIOS of your pc to be able to recognize the huge size of your external HDD
3- format your EXT HDD with NTFS file system  to Be able transfer and receive huge data

have i understand you right ?

Try this.

1. Attach your External Drive so that its detected.
2. Open up Computer Management from under Control Panel>Admin Tools.
3. Go to Disk Management.
4. Delete all partitions marked under ur external drive. Make sure you check that the drive letters assigned and the drive number match that of the external drive. Also make sure u have all ur data on the external drive backed up.
5. Now right click on the blank drive and select create partition. Choose it as a Primary partition and select the size of the partition and the type as NTF. Do a quick format and thats it.

Now you shud have no problem.

Dan

Like mystic said, as long as the device your are writing too is ntfs, you can create +4GB files.  

Does not matter what your OS os running on locally.

If you attempt the fat32-ntfs converision, backup first, can go horrible wrong.

The file size limit is in the file system - FAT32 - and it applies to internal and external drives alike. Obviously, the PC will have NTFS, as there seems to exist files larger than that on the system. The external drive, if FAT32, cannot accept those files. You will have to reformat the external drive NTFS. Make sure you copy off all data from it first.
/RID

justeena --  this discussion is making things sound too hard :-)

Let's make it simple:

(1)  The issue you're having is (as noted) simply that FAT-32 does not allow files larger than 4GB;

(2)  Your COMPUTER is fine -- it's the external Lacie drive that's causing the restriction because of it's FAT-32 file system;

(3)  You do NOT have to reformat the Lacie (and lose everything) ... just do this:

(a)  Connect the Lacie, and note what drive letter it is (suppose it's drive L:)

(b)  Click Start, Run and type CMD - then click OK  to open a Command Prompt window

(c)  Type convert L: /fs:ntfs  ==>  This will convert the file system on the Lacie to NTFS without causing any loss of data.   (Be sure the drive letter is correct)

DONE  :-)

... incidentally, you don't have to worry about what size drives your PC's BIOS supports => with an external drive the 48-bit LBA support is in the external controller (and obviously Lacie's controller is fine).

... if you want to read the details on convert, you can see them either of two ways:

(1)  In a Command Prompt window type "Help Convert"  ==> this will show you all the options

(2)  Read the Microsoft TechNet article on it:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/convertfat.mspx

But it really is that simple:  Just type  "Convert  L:  /fs:ntfs"  and you're done :-)

... one caveat (just so you're aware):  probably the main reason that Lacie uses FAT-32 format for their external drives is that both PC's and Mac's can read FAT-32 partitions.  Mac's CANNOT read NTFS partitions;  so if you do the conversion the drive will NOT be useable on a Mac anymore.   This may or may not be a consideration in your case -- but you should be aware of that before doing the conversion.

Thanks for all this. I will be able to try it tomorrow as it's on my freinds' PC.

We have two LACIE drives we can use, one is brand new and empty, I will work with this one than, so I won't loose any data.

I'm glad that you think the PC is fine, as if i had to format it, I'd have loooots of backing up to do. :(

What surprises me though is, that I have been using LACIE drives myself (my own ones not my friends', backing up onto them very big files (up to 10GB) and had no problems whatsoever. Besides we used two different LACIE drives. Also why I had problems writing the files to data DVD writer, which I use at home with my PC for larger files with no problems? Would I have to change it to NTFS? Why if it's fine on other machines?
Doesn't it look to you that the PC just doesn't see the external devices correctly or it doesn't want to let the files greater then 4GB go? :0
I believe you that PC is fine, I will try to convert the external drive, but I think that the fact that 3 devices were refused is a bit too much.
Don't you think?

(This LACIE will be used with PC. If we ever need those files on Mac, we will copy it elsewhere first. Thanks for letting me know.)

I will try all this in about 24 hrs and will let you know what happened.

Thank you.

j.

I did make an assumption, since you indicated that there were files larger than 4GB:  the PC is using XP and the PC's hard drive (or at least one volume of it) is formatted with NTFS ==> is that correct?

Looking at your question again, I noted that you said you got the error message "... The current File System does not support file sizes larger then 4 GB" while writing to DVDs.  What writing application are you using (Roxio, Nero, Sonic, etc.) ??   DVD's are written in UDF format, which does not have any file size restrictions (at least none that will ever be encountered with a DVD).   But if you're using an application that's trying to write a DVD in ISO format, then the 4GB restriction of CDFS could be what's causing that message.   If that's the case, you need to use a different writing application.

... as for why your Lacie allows larger (> 4GB) files and your friends doesn't; it has to be a file system difference => yours must be formatted with NTFS.   Right-click on your Lacie drive in My Computer and do a "Properties".    What does it show for "File System" ??    Have your friend do the same.   I'd be very surprised if yours doesn't show "NTFS" and your friends doesn't show "FAT32".

Hi there,

Finally somebody is telling me wher I can find those info about NTFS and FAT32! :)
Thanks garycase!!!

Suddenly everything is much more clear. Ok, what happened is that my laptop is NTFS, while my LACIE drives are... FAT32. So are definitively my friends' (I will check their PC tomorrow, but I'm sure it must be NTFS as rid noticed above, the files got there in the first place).
Anyway I went back to the bigger files that I thought I could copy across on my LACIE and thinking they're over 4GB and actually the folders were over 4GB, but single files were split into pieces, so they never bigger really than 2GB!

So I created a larger file - 6GB on my laptop and... got the same error - not enough space on the external drive! Eureka! :)
So I think you are right I have to convert the LACIE to NTFS...

Then when I wanted to write a data DVD, I got the same error about File System as on my friends PC. I wasn't using the ISO, just wanted to write a data DVD to 8.5 GB disc using Roxio Easy Media Creator Basic DVD Home and then just choosing Data option - copy files to disc. Which software shall I use it to write data 8.5 DVDs? Or maybe my DVD writer is not for 8.5GB discs? How can I check it?

So thank you for this fantastic discussion, but don't leave me yet guys! :)
Tomorrow I will do the following:
(a)  Connect the Lacie, and note what drive letter it is (suppose it's drive L:)

(b)  Click Start, Run and type CMD - then click OK  to open a Command Prompt window

(c)  Type convert L: /fs:ntfs  ==>  This will convert the file system on the Lacie to NTFS without causing any loss of data.   (Be sure the drive letter is correct)

And I let you know what happened.

In the meantime, how to handle my DVD data writing for bigger files?

Thank you!!!

j.

"... And I let you know what happened ..." ==> ... what will happen is the drive will then be NTFS and you can copy your large files to it :-)

... as for your DVD writing larger files ==>  I don't have the same version of Roxio, so the location may be slightly different;  but look on the File Menu for Project Settings;  then click the General tab and see what the File System is set to.   This SHOULD be "UDF 102" ==> which will allow you to write large files with no problem.   The error message you're getting indicates it may be set to Joliet or ISO 9660.

... I don't know if your burner is a dual-layer burner => if you don't know for sure, post the make/model # and I'll look it up for you.   But that's not the problem here -- Roxio will "span" files across multiple discs if they're too large;  your problem is it's not allowing you to write files larger than 4GB; which indicates it's trying to use a file system (e.g. CDFS) that's limited to 4GB files.

... if you don't have a File System option under Project Settings, try the write again and post EXACTLY what the ENTIRE message you get says.

For EZ Media Creator 7, selection is located in Project Properties under General tab.  Choice of UDF102, Joliet, and ISO9660.  That's for a Data disk (Copy files to disk) project which should be used to copy files.  Also ensure that an 8.5GB DVD is selected vs standard DVD in main Creator Classic window.

As Gary indicated, UDF102 should be used.  If it is, can span disks.

Mr.  garycase  &  Author : i want to inform you if you check my answer i suggest to  Author to convert from fat32 to ntfs but he don't replay me . if he replay i will told him how ..... what you think??

Ok, sorry about that, I'll keep it in mind!
I wasn't near the Internet at that time and when I got back garycase has already posted the details. Pls look at my first comment to your first answer. Only garycase told me where I can check the formatting and things became clear.

j.

Unfortunately I need some more help here.

Yes my friends computer is NTFS, but LACIE is FAT32.

I did the following:
(a)  Connected the Lacie, it was letter I.

(b)  Clicked Start, Run and type CMD - then click OK  to open a Command Prompt window

(c)  Typed: convert L: /fs:ntfs  

Then I clicked enter and I received this:
Enter current volume label for drive I:

What is that?
:(

j.

I'm not any more in front of my friends' PC, but I look at mine and the LACIE and cannot see anything in the explorer window. More details pls.

Next to I: it's just says LACIE.

Shall I then just typed LACIE then?

Seems OK...
/RID

Try blank first and then LaCie.  LaCie may just be from USB device designator.  There is no harm in entering an incorrect volume label and you'll know it's wrong.

As to my DVD writer - when I checked File>Project settings it was set to File System UDF102 and Bridge:Joilet Bridge.

I think my burner is dual layer. It's LACIE LightScribe 8.5GB 16x4x12x DVD±RW FW/USB.

Again the error when I try to burn to DVD (with 8.5 GB selected) is:
Compatibility Warning
Your project layout contains a file larger then 4GBs. The current file system does not support file sizes larger then 4GBs. Do you wan to delete it from the project and continue recording?

Still the same error.

:(

I think I tried blank, no success. Will try LaCie.

... one other thought r.e. your DVD burning issue:   In Roxio, look on the Tools - Options - General tab and see what the TEMP file location is set to.   Now open My Computer and do a right-click Properties on the drive that contains the TEMP file.    What file system is it using (NTFS or FAT32) ??

Thanks garycase,

Yes, of course I typed I: not L:  :)

Yes, it says LACIE, so I will type it in (tomorrow).

For burning I use blank new 8.5 Verbatim DVD. I use them often at work, no problems with them.
:(

What version of Roxio are you using?      Do a "Help - About" and post what is shows ==> for example, mine says "Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 (Build 7.1.1.189 ENU)"

It's Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 Basic DVD Edition (Build 7.1.0.217 ENU)

It was supplied with the burner.

Gary, good catch on FAT32 for temp file.  This link's for you.  I may have to start using Intel chips again.

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=5692&page=3

Ahhh yes ... another nice Conroe benchmark.   You may recall a couple months ago I was thinking seriously about building an AMD dual-core system ==> then I read a Conroe benchmark  --->   So ... my current plan is to build a nice dual-core Conroe system this fall :-)

justeena -- is your temp file on a FAT32 volume?   If not, I'm not sure why your copy of Roxio is refusing to write files > 4GB.   You should log onto Roxio's site and download the updates for Easy Media Creator, just in case there's something along the way that resolved that problem.

Those were supposedly first independent test results of Conroe vs FX62 on AM2 mobo.  Note that those are middle of the road Conroes and not EE version.

Yep :-)  :-)    ... however, despite the huge windfall I anticipate by converting all my EE points into dollars;  I will probably still be limited to one of those "middle of the road" Conroes when I build my next system :-)  :-)

I checked -  In Roxio - Tools - Options - General tab the TEMP file location is set on my C drive, which is NTFS.

Do you have the installation disc for Roxio?    If so, I would completely uninstall it; reboot; and then re-install it.   I would also log into Roxio's site (you'll have to register, but that's easy), and then download the updates for your software.    With the settings you've indicated, this SHOULD be working fine for files of ANY size !!

Ok, thanks for that. I'll keep trying, at least I know the settings now.

I finally converted my friends' Lacie to NTFS... and of course I could copy the files across with no problems! :)

Thank you all!!!

All the best!

j.