Is there a limit to how many files can be in any given dir in WinX

[owen66]

thousands? millions? what would be some of the downfalls of dumping say 10s
of thousands of photos into a single directory?

 

[Big Al]

thousands? millions? what would be some of the downfalls of dumping say 10s
of thousands of photos into a single directory?

A directory is simply a special file. And windows has to search that
file to read it. So I would say the longer the dir, the longer the
manipulation task. I wouldn't put 20K files in one folder, even if it
did it and I don't know it will.

I have some 20,0000+ photos on my hd, and from my point of view, this
came up too when I started scanning 40 years of slides. How to store
them. One directory might look good on paper but its just too bulky to
visually scan and scroll. So I made a photos folder, then in that a
folder for each year, then a folder in them for each event.
photos
........ 2005
.........2006
.........2007
.............01 14 - Kids Birthday
.............02 22 - New Bike
.............03 02 - Trip to Disney

See my point. Search in windows works good for finding "disney" and
if each photo was labeled like "bob on bike.jpg", 'bike' would find both
folder and files.

This works for me, but I just offer it as food for thought. You got
your own design problems of course.

 

[smlunatick]

There is usually a limit (???) on the main folder (ex: c:\.)

However, you need to consider that the more files you have the slower the file
access will become. Also, I hope you have an external backup to your photos.
Loosing sentimental photos can be a real drag.

 

[Big Al]

There icis usually a limit (???) on the main folder (ex: c:\.)

However, you need to consider that the more files you have the slower the file
access will become. Also, I hope you have an external backup to your photos.
Loosing sentimental photos can be a real drag.

smlunatk:
I say this with a laugh, but "you got to be kidding!"
Yes! I spent days over a 2 year period wiping dust off of slides,
putting them in a carrier, waiting for the scanner, putting them back
sorting them in folders. That and 250$ for the scanner. I would be
stupid not to go out and buy that 60$ enclosure and drive to backup them
and my other needed files.

 

[Big Al]

I have no idea what made me use big!. I used to be 300+ and started
eating at Subway.... not!, but did finally start working on it and after
8 years I'm down 1/3 of that. But I'm 6'1" and affectionately I was
tagged as Big Al by co-workers and a few friendly clients and it kinda
stuck with me.

 

[Gerry]

Limits apply to the root folder if the disk is formatted as FAT16 or
FAT32. No limit if formatted as NTFS. I found a KB Article saying that
you can encounter problems with fragmentation of the MFT file if you
have over many (more than 300,000 files) in the root folder.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[M.I.5¾]

thousands? millions? what would be some of the downfalls of dumping say
10s
of thousands of photos into a single directory?

There is a limit to the number of files and folders that may be placed in
the root folder of a drive, but even under FAT32 it is pretty large number.
There is no limit to the number of files and foldres that may be placed into
sub folders, other than the obvious one of the physical size of the disc.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have no idea what made me use big!. I used to be 300+ and started
eating at Subway.... not!, but did finally start working on it and after 8
years I'm down 1/3 of that. But I'm 6'1" and affectionately I was tagged
as Big Al by co-workers and a few friendly clients and it kinda stuck with
me.

There is a 'Big Al' where I work. Now could you be that same person?

 

[RandyM]

There is a 'Big Al' where I work. Now could you be that same person?

He's posting from a U.S. IP address.

Doesn't look like it.

 

[Gerry]

I thought Randy lived at Nowhere.com?

The time zone places Al in Canada or far less likely somewhere in South
America.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Big Al]

And considering I retired 6 months ago, I'd say no too.

 

[Big Al]

512 files in root was the old spec. And I repeat OLD.

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

512 files in root was the old spec. And I repeat OLD.

The fact that it's old doesn't mean it's irrelevant or that the problem
can't still be encountered.

Mark Russinovich described this very problem because of a USB stick using
FAT16. Here's the entry:

http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2007/10/01/2087460.aspx