Not able to backup more than 4 gig using XP Pro backup utility

[Geoff]

I must be missing something somewhere. I want to backup at least 40 gig and
apparently I can't because of a limitation imposed by FAT 32.

I am not overly techy, but it is hard to imagine, considering the size of
most hard drives these days, that there is not some other way of backing up
large amounts of data.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Convert the drive to NTFS. If you are still using FAT32 you should probably have converted a long time ago. You can convert with the convert command. Click on Start then Run, then type "command".

From XP Help and Support:

"To convert a volume to NTFS from the command prompt
Open the Command Prompt window.
In the command prompt window, type
convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs

For example, typing convert D: /fs:ntfs would format drive D: with the ntfs format."

Converting does not disturb your files and apps but you should back up your drive just in case.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I must be missing something somewhere. I want to backup at least 40 gig and
apparently I can't because of a limitation imposed by FAT 32.

You aren't missing a thing: its a limitation imposed by FAT32.

Change to

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I must be missing something somewhere. I want to backup at least 40 gig and
apparently I can't because of a limitation imposed by FAT 32.

I am not overly techy, but it is hard to imagine, considering the size of
most hard drives these days, that there is not some other way of backing up
large amounts of data.

No, this has nothing to doing with backup up in particular. There is
simply a 4GB limitation on the size of a FAT32 file. Especially
"considering the size of most hard drives these days," you should be
using NTFS, rather than FAT32.

The only good reason for using FAT32 is if you are dual-booting to
another operating system that is not NTFS-aware.

I recommend converting to NTFS. To convert to NTFS, you use the
CONVERT command. But first read http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
because there's an issue regarding cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your
drive. When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is
always possible that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's
prudent to make sure you have a backup of anything you can't afford to
lose before beginning.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I must be missing something somewhere. I want to backup at least
40 gig and apparently I can't because of a limitation imposed by
FAT 32.

I am not overly techy, but it is hard to imagine, considering the
size of most hard drives these days, that there is not some other
way of backing up large amounts of data.

You are trying to write a file to a FAT32 file system that is larger than
4GB. The FAT32 File System is antiquated and does not support files larger
than 4GB in size. If you wish to have files larger thasn 4GB in size, you
need to utilize a file system that support it. Simple as that.

Think of it this way... You wouldn't download/purchase a "For MAC OS X
ONLY" application and expect it to run on your Windows XP only PC, would
you? You wouldn't buy tractor tires for a Nissan Sentra and expect them to
fit without modification (large modifications - hah) to the Nissan, would
you?

Then why would you expect a File System (FAT32) with antiquated
specifications (such as not allowing for files larger than 4GB) to allow you
to save files larger than 4GB?

 

[jason.mangiafico]

quoting:

I recommend converting to NTFS. To convert to NTFS, you use the
CONVERT command. But first readhttp://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
because there's an issue regardingcluster sizethat isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your
drive. When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is
always possible that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's
prudent to make sure you have a backup of anything you can't afford to
lose before beginning.

Convert command ends up with 512 byte clusters, which tends to make
the file system overhead rather huge and can slow performance. I'd
recommend using a third party utility insead. The OP can break up the
backup by doing a little at at time keeping each file under 4gb.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

The OP can break up the backup by doing a little at at time keeping
each file under 4gb.

??

A good backup program will automatically "break up" the image into 4G
segments.

 

[jason.mangiafico]

quoting:

??

A good backup program will automatically "break up" the image into 4G
segments.

I was following along the thread and so I meant the built-in backup
utility. The built-in backup utility in win2k and xp seems to be
optimized for ntfs so it doesn't automatically break up the image.
You must select under 4gb of directories at a time, or it will fail.
But yes, anybody can use any good third party backup program and all
will be well.

Also a real time saver if you happen to have a spare drive and a usb
enclosure, and don't want to mess with your drive or download
anything; format that ntfs and use the built-in backup utility. Which
you should be using an external drive anyway since backing up to the
same drive doesn't make much sense.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Convert command ends up with 512 byte clusters,

Often, but not always. Read the link I posted above.

which tends to make
the file system overhead rather huge and can slow performance. I'd
recommend using a third party utility insead.

The convert tool is fine. Again, read the link I posted for info on
how to get around the 512-byte cluster issue.

 

[jason.mangiafico]

quoting:

No, this has nothing to doing with backup up in particular. There is
simply a 4GB limitation on the size of a FAT32 file. Especially
"considering the size of most hard drives these days," you should be
using NTFS, rather than FAT32.

"considering the size of most hard drives these days," Is not an issue
as of yet. Having say a 500gb drive with 4kb clusters is within the
limitations of fat32. Though you wouldn't typically need a 500gb
system partition, so I would partition it so that I have a second
partition with bigger cluser size for the storage of big files.

The only good reason for using FAT32 is if you are dual-booting to
another operating system that is not NTFS-aware.

That is what I do. Also I like the simplicity of fat32, and I don't
need the extra features of ntfs.

I recommend converting to NTFS. To convert to NTFS, you use the
CONVERT command. But first readhttp://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm
because there's an issue regarding cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also note that conversion is a big step, affecting everything on your
drive. When you take such a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is
always possible that something could go wrong. For that reason, it's
prudent to make sure you have a backup of anything you can't afford to
lose before beginning.

Convert to ntfs then back up, or back up first, but you can't back up
first so probably at this point it would then be best to find a way to
back up to an external drive or something and just leave the drive
alone asis.

 

[Holz]

Not so true. Linux can read and write to NTFS partition, although not
so recommended.