Copying Large Files

[Hemmati]

Is there any way to copy a large file of 8 GB and above from one directory to another in an NTFS system?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Yes why not... what's the problem?
you are talking about copy ....not about move?

 

[Hemmati]

I haven't tried moving such a file. Yes, I'm talking about copying. It seems to be impossible even on an NTFS system like mine.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I haven't tried moving such a file. Yes, I'm talking about copying. It seems to be impossible even on an NTFS system like mine.

Any error message? Please explain exactly what happens

 

[Hemmati]

Sorry Kaktussoft! The error message was "The file is too large for the destination file system" but please pardon me! You're RIGHT! I just looked at my external disk, the destination directory, and noticed its system is FAT32. Now my problem should be how to change the file system from FAT32 to NTFS without losing the current data on the external HD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be so grateful if you recommend the safest software.

 

[Kaktussoft]

In http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

convert   X:   /fs:ntfs

replace X with actual drive letter

 

[Hemmati]

Belated thanks past measure, Kaktussoft, for this precious command. I formatted the external hard disk manually before I received this kind instruction.

I have another, related, question now. Today my little nephew plugged my flash drive--the file system of which is NTFS--into his android mobile and his phone didn't recognize its file system. What is the command prompt for changing the file system from NTFS to FAT32? I changed their place in your invaluable code but I faced an error saying the command was invalid. I extend my gratitude in advance.

With best regards.

 

[LMiller7]

Microsoft has never provided a utility to convert NTFS to FAT32. One reason being that NTFS supports so much that is not compatible with any other file system.
I believe there are third party tools that will do this but I don't know of any.

One way would be to copy all files on the drive to some other location, format the drive as FAT32, then copy the files back. Flash drives should not be used a primary storage so you should have a copy of these files anyway.

 

[Berton]

I think Android uses a different file system in which case converting to FAT32 wouldn't help.
https://www.google.com/search?q=and...J4K0yASmk4Bw&ved=0CGMQ1QIoAA&biw=1116&bih=508

If FAT32 is usable on an Android device [check documentation for it] one could reformat the Thumb/Flash drive in Windows Explorer to FAT32.

 

[Ztruker]

Google shows some possibilities: convert ntfs fat32

 

[Hemmati]

Thank you, LMiller7, Berton, and Ztrucker, for taking the time and instructing this novice. Yes, I have just to copy the contents of the flash to somewhere else and then change its file system.

I don't know the version of my nephew's tablet, but it reads the flashes with the FAT32 file system. Of course I tried Kaktussoft's command to change the file system from FAT32 to NTFS successfully which took a relatively long time for the 30 GB flash. I think for 1 TB external hard disks the time equals that of copying the contents to somewhere else and then changing the file system. I think there's no other way.

Thank you all, dear friends. With regards.

 

[Berton]

You're welcome.

 

[Hemmati]

Thanks, again, dear friends. I just downloaded a third party freeware:
http://www.disk-partition.com/resource/convert-ntfs-to-fat32-partition.html
I've got Partition Magic and some more similar software, but they seem to be complicated and I'm scared to loose the data. Anyway, I will try it on the flash to see what happens. If successful I'll apply them to larger disks. Regards.