Getting around the FAT32 4GB limitation.

[Question]

So im trying to get a 4+GB file on my FAT32 120GB external hard disk. Naturally it wont work.

My question therefore is....if i convert the external hard disk to NTFS in order to bypass the FAT32 limit, will it still be operable? Also, my files and everything on it after convertion will still be intact right?

 

[Impotence]

no

you will need to find somewhere else to store all the files on that disk before you re-format it (or you will lose everything).

But yes, you will still be able to use your external drive on any computer (2000, XP & Vista... not sure about older versions of windows supporting NTFS though)

 

[Addis]

Yes you can convert it to NTFS while preserving your files. You can use the convert program included with XP to do this.

How to convert a FAT16 volume or a FAT32 volume to an NTFS file system in Windows XP

 

[Impotence]

Interesting, but i would still take a backup just in case :)

 

[eranga262154]

Ya, it is better. No need to worry in later.

 

[donkey42]

yeah,[ot]as the grand master said (Addis)[/ot]First, back up your data[ot]just in case[/ot]conversion process almost always works flawlessly, but there is no point in taking the risk.
Click <Start> <Run> type "cmd" <OK> type type "convert c: /fs:ntfs" to convert FAT32 to NTFS[ot]assuming you are converting c:, if not converting c: just replace the drive letter (c: ) if you are converting drive f replace c: with f:[/ot]

 

[DavidNW]

Yes you can convert it to NTFS while preserving your files. You can use the convert program included with XP to do this.

How to convert a FAT16 volume or a FAT32 volume to an NTFS file system in Windows XP

Thanks a lot, Addis.

I just did the conversion to NTFS on my laptop (which came new, in FAT32 for some strange reason). It worked a treat and I did not lose anything - well done!

David

 

[Impotence]

(which came new, in FAT32 for some strange reason).
David

FAT32 is supported by nearly every operating system in existence, NTFS support isn't as widespread... So if you want to move files between a few different computers then FAT32 is normally the best choice (unless the files are >4GB :P)

 

[DavidNW]

Okay, guys.

Going out on a bit of a limb here, but when I ran a FAT 32 filing system on XP, I had no trouble in storing files in access on 4 GB. Have I missed something here?

David.

 

[donkey42]

Going out on a bit of a limb here, but when I ran a FAT 32 filing system on XP, I had no trouble in storing files in access on 4 GB. Have I missed something here?

i think so, the FAT32 FS ONLY supports file sizes of under 4Gb (4096Mb)

Edit: i think you may be confusing the file size with the partition size

 

[DavidNW]

i think so, the FAT32 FS ONLY supports file sizes of under 4Gb (4096Mb)

Edit: i think you may be confusing the file size with the partition size

No, when I was running a FAT32 filing system on my XP laptop, only last week, I had a VIDEO_TS file stored on the computer that was 4,464mb in size, which is of course, over 4gb. So, when we speak of a 4gb limitation on a FAT32 system, this is what I don't understand.

Cheers,

David.:confused:

 

[donkey42]

No, VIDEO_TS:

well VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS are directories from a DVD & not separate files[ot]insert a DVD & look at it in Explorer[/ot]BTW: if you look at the root directory[ot]D: (if D: is your DVD drive[/ot] you will see VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS as directories on the DVD NOT on the FAT32 formatted hard disk

BTW: do you have you a DVD + & - ReWritable

BTW: sorry but "directories" is an old term now, directories are now called folders

 

[DavidNW]

well VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS are directories from a DVD & not separate files[ot]insert a DVD & look at it in Explorer[/ot]BTW: if you look at the root directory[ot]D: (if D: is your DVD drive[/ot] you will see VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS as directories on the DVD NOT on the FAT32 formatted hard disk

BTW: do you have you a DVD + & - ReWritable

BTW: sorry but "directories" is an old term now, directories are now called folders

Hi, Dave.

Yes, I have a DVD + & - ReWritable. Okay, if I copy one of my DVDs in order to back it up -VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS files then get stored on the HD - which means I can remove the original DVD.

The VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS files are now stored on the HD and are in excess of the 4GB limitation that FAT32 allows. I can now, if I should choose, burn then to a blank DVD. Whichever way you look at it - the folders/files are stored on the HD and are over the 4GB limit. Hence, I don't understand the concept of FAT32 not allowing files over 4GB, when you consider the abovementioned VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS files.


Cheers,

David

 

[Impotence]

[OT]

BTW: sorry but "directories" is an old term now, directories are now called folders

Depends on who your talking to, i only use the term 'folders' when explaining things to my famaily...
[/OT]

 

[donkey42]

Okay, if I copy one of my DVDs in order to back it up -VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS files

VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS are not files, they are directories / folders containing files[ot]e.g. the files within the VIDEO_TS folders are usually called *.vob & are not larger than 1024Mb (1Gb)[/ot]BTW: insert any video DVD and use explorer to look in the VIDEO_TS directory / folder

here is a screenshot of a VIDEO_TS folder of a video DVD

as you can see it contains .vob, .bup & .ifo files

The VIDEO_TS & AUDIO_TS files

they are NOT files, they are folders

if I should choose, burn then to a blank DVD.

to backup a DVD, i've only ever done it by creating a .mpg with something like DVD Shrink

BTW: hope this clear it up[ot]im sometimes not good at explaining stuff[/ot]BTW: insert a video DVD & look in the VIDEO_TS folder youself[ot]its not you, i just can't explain some stuff very well[/ot]

 

[donkey42]

[OT]

Depends on who your talking to

well, I'm stuck in the past, i prefer to use "Directories" but younger people tend to use "Folders"[/OT]BTW: listen to me "younger people" - im not that old, yet