Using Backup Wizard tool to an external hard drive

[Guest]

I have attempted to back up my system files to a 250GB external hard drive
using the Backup Wizard. I want to set up a timed backup but the process
stops before completion with the message "You have either run out of space or
the backup file (.bkf) is too large for this disk." It says the transfer is
limited to 4GB.

The entire backup is less than 25 GB, so how do I get around this 4 GB limit?

 

[Malke]

I have attempted to back up my system files to a 250GB external hard
drive using the Backup Wizard. I want to set up a timed backup but the
process stops before completion with the message "You have either run
out of space or the backup file (.bkf) is too large for this disk." It
says the transfer is limited to 4GB.

The entire backup is less than 25 GB, so how do I get around this 4 GB
limit?

A couple of possibilities:

1. You are trying to back up onto an external hard drive that is
formatted in FAT32 which has a file-size limitation of 4GB. Format the
external hard drive NTFS.

2. I don't know if the built-in NTBackup has any file-size limitations,
so you should also check that. NTBackup isn't really the best backup
program for a modern system. Some recommended backup programs are
Acronis True Image (which will also make images) and Second Copy
(www.centered.com).

Malke

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),

I have attempted to back up my system files to a 250GB
external hard drive using the Backup Wizard. I want to set
up a timed backup but the process stops before completion
with the message "You have either run out of space or the
backup file (.bkf) is too large for this disk." It says the
transfer is limited to 4GB.

The entire backup is less than 25 GB, so how do I get around
this 4 GB limit?

Sounds like your external hard drive is formatted FAT32. FAT32
has a file size limit of 4 GB. If you want use that drive for
your backups, you're probably going to have to convert the file
system to NTFS. Take a look at these articles for more info:

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314463

How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/convertfat.mspx

Courtesy of Alex Nichol, MS-MVP
CONVERTING FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.php

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Kerry Brown]

The external drive is using FAT32 which has a maximum file size of 4 GB. You
need to convert it to NTFS.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

Make sure you have a backup of the data on the drive before you do this.
Normally the conversion process will keep the data intact but there is
always the possibility of something going wrong.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I have attempted to back up my system files to a 250GB external hard
drive using the Backup Wizard. I want to set up a timed backup but
the process stops before completion with the message "You have either
run out of space or the backup file (.bkf) is too large for this
disk." It says the transfer is limited to 4GB.

The entire backup is less than 25 GB, so how do I get around this 4
GB limit?

Sounds like the destination disk is formatted in FAT32, not NTFS. You need
to convert it to NTFS.

convert <drive letter>: /fs:ntfs