urgent HD help!

[T-Bird]

I am trying to extract a file that is over 4 gigs in size and for some reason when I'm doing so I keep getting an error saying that there is no more disk space which is far from the truth I tried it on 3 HD's one had 11.5 gigs left the 2nd 23.7 gigs and the 3rd 32 gigs! is there some reason that it would come up with that kind of error? maybe some bios crap or something?

[5vz-fe]

What kinda file system are u running?

[T-Bird]

sadly still FAT 32 (if that's what you meant)

[5vz-fe]

http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/38803/38803.html

[5vz-fe]

Maximum Sizes on FAT32 Volumes
A FAT32 volume must have a minimum of 65,527 clusters. Windows XP Professional can format FAT32 volumes up to 32 GB, but it can mount larger FAT32 volumes created by other operating systems. Table 13.6 lists FAT32 size limits.

Table 13.6 FAT32 Size Limits

Description Limit
Maximum file size 4 GB minus 1 byte (232 bytes minus 1 byte)
Maximum volume size 32 GB (implementation)
Files per volume 4,177,920
Maximum number of files and subfolders within a single folder 65,534 (The use of long file names can significantly reduce the number of available files and subfolders within a folder.)

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkc_fil_tdrn.asp

[T-Bird]

so basically if I switch to NTFS then I should be all good...
BTW thanks for your help man.
OH BTW is it safe to add a partition to a drive that has files on it? or does it have to be empty?

[5vz-fe]

Yes, it will be all okay if you convert your FAT32 partition into NTFS
(depending on size, but this shouldn't take you too long)

you are welcome t-bird

[T-Bird]

so I can safely convert my drives to NTFS even with all the files on them?

[5vz-fe]

yes, but if I remember correctly you will require a reboot and it will do it before windows is booted up.

The command line syntax should be:
convert <drive letter>: /fs:ntfs

[T-Bird]

WOW that was guicker than I thought and not as painful as I imagined.
Again many thanks.

[5vz-fe]

no problem, now u can enjoy ur spiderman 2 LOL

[T-Bird]

among other things actually I have something else that I've had the same trouble with actually. That and it doesn't hurt to do the switch anyway right.
Actually we should be getting that movie in about 3 weeks at work for "pre-street" research