Comments for Why can I only back up a maximum of 4 gigabytes?

Comment from Omar on 2010-03-18

2010-03-19T05:52:44Z

EXCELLENT explanation on the file system issue.

I recently got a 16GB flash drive and I've been meaning to backup my VMWare Ubuntu image. I was going crazy since it wouldn't let me copy it over.
That line you mentioned:
CONVERT E: /FS:NTFS

worked like a charm! In about a minute the file
system was converted and I could backup the file.
GREAT explanation.

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A comment on: Why can I only back up a maximum of 4 gigabytes?

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Comment from Ged McDonald on 2009-12-04

2009-12-04T16:49:30Z

Leo,

I am running Windows XP & have bought an external hard drive to perform a full back up, the hard drive came with Nero BACKITUP software. The booklet states the external drive is formatted in FAT32 format. I have tried to use the Windows XP back up utilty, not Nero, and get the 4GB error message. I have tried to convert my external drive to NTFS as suggested by entering CONVERT F: /FS:NTFS but receive another message in DOS 'Enter Current volume label for drive F:' - am I missing something?

Thanks.

Not at all, you simply need to type in the current label for the external drive. This article talks about what that is, and how to create one if the drive is unlabelled: What's a Volume Name?

05-Dec-2009

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A comment on: Why can I only back up a maximum of 4 gigabytes?

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Comment from Valerie on 2009-06-23

2009-06-23T15:27:28Z

where is the command prompt?

[All] Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt.

- Leo
24-Jun-2009

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Comment from Steve Bukosky on 2008-12-29

2008-12-30T01:04:34Z

That answers why Acronis made around 36 files rather than one big one on my new external HD. That's one question answered! If Acronis mentions this in their software, I missed it.

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Comment from Simon on 2007-11-19

2007-11-20T01:58:57Z

Ziggie: actually, NTFS's theoretical maximum file size limit is 16 *exa*bytes, over 4000 times bigger than JFS's limit. It's only in the current implementation that you're limited to 16 (not 2) terabytes.

(Besides, it's not as if Microsoft might switch to JFS, as it's an inferior file system to NTFS in a number ways -- no file changelog, no internal snapshotting, doesn't support transparent compression, doesn't support filesystem encryption... etc.)

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Comment from Ziggie on 2007-11-16

2007-11-16T15:44:15Z

Eeveevolve--

I have a feeling that the 2TB limit won't be a problem for a couple years yet.
Supposedly Windows is releasing WFS (Windows File System). They stripped it from Vista, but it is supposed to get around that limitation (on the off chance it's a problem).

JFS, however, has a limit for the file size of 4 Petabytes (4000 TB). (according to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JFS_(file_system))

--Zigg

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Comment from Eeveevolve on 2007-11-16

2007-11-16T11:50:31Z

So what will come after NTFS?
Files sizes are becoming so huge now (a Blue-ray movie is typically 45gb) and the size of Hard Drives getting bigger.
What happens when people want to back that much data up?

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A comment on: Why can I only back up a maximum of 4 gigabytes?

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