Copy 30 GB file to external harddisk problem

[Man T]

XP SP2.
I got a WD external harddisk to backup data.
I had already copies some files from XP to this external HD, now I tried to
copy a 30GB AVI file by drag and drop to there but got the harddisk has not
enough space error. However, I checked the external harddisk has 300GB free
space, any idea the reason?

 

[Paul]

XP SP2.
I got a WD external harddisk to backup data.
I had already copies some files from XP to this external HD, now I tried to
copy a 30GB AVI file by drag and drop to there but got the harddisk has not
enough space error. However, I checked the external harddisk has 300GB free
space, any idea the reason?

Is it formatted FAT32 or NTFS ? I think FAT32 has a 4GB max
file size. NTFS would not have the same problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat32

Paul

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

XP SP2.
I got a WD external harddisk to backup data.
I had already copies some files from XP to this external HD, now I
tried to copy a 30GB AVI file by drag and drop to there but got the
harddisk has not enough space error. However, I checked the external
harddisk has 300GB free space, any idea the reason?

Make sure it's formatted NTFS and not FAT32 - the latter has a file size
limit of about 4GB. By default most of these external drives are FAT32 - you
can convert it.

 

[Figaro]

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Make sure it's formatted NTFS and not FAT32 - the latter has a file size
limit of about 4GB. By default most of these external drives are FAT32 -
you can convert it.

To format NTFA, go to http://support.wdc.com and look for ID207

 

[Bill in Co.]

FAT32 does have a maximum file size of 4 GB. So if he wants to copy a 30
GB AVI file, he will have to convert the drive to NTFS.

A single 30 GB file? Wow! I wonder how long it is. I've never dealt
with such huge files, but I don't have a digital camera, either.

 

[Man T]

XP SP2.

To format NTFA, go to http://support.wdc.com and look for ID207

Yes, the WD external HD is FAT32.
I noticed there were files and folders existed in this HD when I first used:
Folder "autorun" (file in this foler "wdlogo.ico")
Files autorun.inf

Do I need these folders and files after converted into NTFS?

In addition I have such big AVI files (a 30GB and a 60GB) because I have
converted my old analogue v-8 tape to AVI files.

 

[WindPipe]

Do you know anyone with a digital camera and young kids Bill in Co.? They usually
have wall cabinets full of external hard drives, it is amazing, haven't crossed a
30GB file before, I didn't think there was a Win32 application that could
create\allow a file that big, other than Database applications, and I don't mean
MS Access. ;~0)

- WindPipe

 

[M.I.5¾]

FAT32 does have a maximum file size of 4 GB. So if he wants to copy a 30
GB AVI file, he will have to convert the drive to NTFS.

A single 30 GB file? Wow! I wonder how long it is. I've never dealt
with such huge files, but I don't have a digital camera, either.

Large files like this are the norm for anyone processing or editing video
files. Things get worse once the switch is made to high definition, though
the MPEG4 formats can provide a lot of video in a very small file size. 1
hour of HD video complete with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound can be shoe
horned into an 8 GB file (with negligible loss of quality) or 3 hours can be
squeezed in (with some loss of quality).

 

[almostbob]

If they were v8, the original data source did not contain enough data to
create a 30GB file
they should be ~1GB each v8 is 320*256px check the settings on whatever
software used for the conversion

 

[smlunatick]

Yes, the WD external HD is FAT32.
I noticed there were files and folders existed in this HD when I first used:
Folder "autorun" (file in this foler "wdlogo.ico")
Files autorun.inf

Do I need these folders and files after converted into NTFS?

In addition I have such big AVI files (a 30GB and a 60GB) because I have
converted my old analogue v-8 tape to AVI files.

You can copy these files off the hard drive and then either reformat
ot convert the drive to NTFS.

You need to know that most external hard drives are usually delivered
pre-formated to FAT32 in order to ensure compatibility over multiple
operating system. NTFS formatted drives are mostly compatible with
Windows only.

 

[Bill in Co.]

The only video I've ever worked with is NOT HD, but has been extracted
either from a regular DVD or a VHS tape, and is typically in MPG format.
(or I can get it there from a DVD by converting the DVD's vob files to MPG)

Actually, as I understand it, the VOB files are basically MPG files except
that they include the other DVD navigation or menu stuff, too. The largest
any of these has ever been is around 1 GB. As I recall, normally DVDs
break up large video files into these 1 GB segments for their VOB files,
presumably because of legacy of the limitations of FAT32.

 

[Man T]

The only video I've ever worked with is NOT HD, but has been extracted

either from a regular DVD or a VHS tape, and is typically in MPG format.
(or I can get it there from a DVD by converting the DVD's vob files to
MPG)

Actually, as I understand it, the VOB files are basically MPG files except
that they include the other DVD navigation or menu stuff, too. The
largest any of these has ever been is around 1 GB. As I recall, normally
DVDs break up large video files into these 1 GB segments for their VOB
files, presumably because of legacy of the limitations of FAT32.

Hi,

I converted the analogue video-8 tape from my analogue camcorder (old type)
via USB to my pc in AVI format ULead Video Studio: 720x576

However, as you all mentioned the size of the video file, I got recorded
about 20mins the size of AVI file becomes 26GB.
How come that is so big?
Yes, I also tried MPG file, the size is much smaller. But the resolution is
352x288.

I can still notice the resolution difference by viewing these 2 video files
simultaneously (by opening 2 VideoLan video player).

But why I got 26GB AVI file for only 20mins video?

 

[Man T]

If they were v8, the original data source did not contain enough data to

create a 30GB file
they should be ~1GB each v8 is 320*256px check the settings on whatever
software used for the conversion

The program I am using is Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus.
I converted the analogue video-8 tape from my analogue camcorder (old type)
via USB to my pc in AVI format ULead Video Studio: 720x576 (I chose the
highest resolution for better quality, also there are other lower
resolutions for selection though)

I also tried MPG file, the size is much smaller. But the resolution is
352x288.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Hi,

I converted the analogue video-8 tape from my analogue camcorder (old
type) via USB to my pc in AVI format ULead Video Studio: 720x576

However, as you all mentioned the size of the video file, I got recorded
about 20mins the size of AVI file becomes 26GB.
How come that is so big?
Yes, I also tried MPG file, the size is much smaller. But the resolution
is 352x288.

I can still notice the resolution difference by viewing these 2 video
files simultaneously (by opening 2 VideoLan video player).

But why I got 26GB AVI file for only 20mins video?

This would be the uncompressed size of the video data stream. Compressing
the data stream using one of the many available codecs would make it much
smaller. Even the relatively inefficient (but lossless) MJPEG codec would
reduce it to about a fifth of that size.

 

[M.I.5¾]

v8 is 320*256px > --

No it isn't. V8 is an analogue format and the image on the tape is not
divided up into pixels. The horizontal resolution of the V8 format is
officially claimed at 240 line pairs (the method used to express analogue
resolution). However the vertical resolution is determined by the TV
standard which for the PAL-I format is 576 active lines. Thus the luminance
resolution is roughly equivalent to a digital resolution of 480x576.

SONY claimed that the Hi8 format achieved 420 horizontal line pairs (the
equivalent of 840x576 pixels) and was thus equivalent to laser disc quality.
Anyone who possessed both systems would certainly have argued the point.

 

[Man T]

This would be the uncompressed size of the video data stream. Compressing
the data stream using one of the many available codecs would make it much
smaller. Even the relatively inefficient (but lossless) MJPEG codec would
reduce it to about a fifth of that size.

It looks like I should convert to AVI file for archival purpose, then to MPG
for burning to DVD?