Problems moving large files to an external HD

[dud]

I've never run into this problem before so I thought I would ask the forum for advice ...


A friend asked me to check out their laptop as they were having a problem clearing large files from their HD to an external 2.5" HD. They are using XP SP3 and a 500 GO WD 2.5 inch HD. My froend showed me how he could successfully transfer smaller files but when he tried a few larger ones (4 to 7 GB size) he got the following messgae:

"Cannot copy file: There is not enough disk space. Delete one or more files ...."


The external drive has over 300 GB of free space remaining. What gives???


Thanks in advance ...

 

[taltamir]

what file system is the external drive formatted in?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table#FAT32

The maximum possible size for a file on a FAT32 volume is 4 GB minus 1 byte (232−1 bytes). Video applications, large databases, and some other software easily exceed this limit. Larger files require another formatting type such as NTFS.

Do note, that if you convert it to NTFS then you will not be able to use it with a mac. this is why they are still formatted in FAT32 out of the factory, to make it work with both windows and MAC... of course, FAT32 is downright ancient...

 

[dud]

what file system is the external drive formatted in?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table#FAT32



Do note, that if you convert it to NTFS then you will not be able to use it with a mac. this is why they are still formatted in FAT32 out of the factory, to make it work with both windows and MAC... of course, FAT32 is downright ancient...

Thank you ... that did the trick!