#Large usb backup drive how to#
#Large usb backup drive windows#

Open File Explorer, right-click the drive and choose Format.Ģ.

Therefore, you’d better backup external hard drive before formatting.ġ. This solution can help you convert FAT/FAT32 to NTFS or vice versa, but it will erase all data on the drive. Note: There are chances that you fail to convert file system to NTFS due to low disk space, non-standard cluster, non-continuous volume, etc. Then you can copy large files to it as normal. Within a few minutes, FAT32 formatted external hard drive will be converted to NTFS successfully. Press Enter key to run it, and enter the volume label (name) if required. Type the command: convert n: /fs:ntfs (“n” refers to the drive letter of external hard drive).ģ.

#Large usb backup drive windows#

Press Windows logo key + R at the same time. If you’ve stored some files in the external hard drive, this may be the best way to convert file system without data loss.ġ. ★ Convert file system without losing data: ★ Check the file system information: First open the File Explorer > right-click the external hard drive > choose Properties > find File system under General tab. Thus you can’t transfer large files beyond the amount unless you convert the file system to NTFS. If you receive the file too large for the destination file system message while the external hard drive has sufficient space, the first possibility is your destination drive has been formatted to FAT/FAT32, which has a maximum size limit of 2 GB/4 GB. If not, you can take the most direct way – prepare another external hard drive or USB flash drive with sufficient space. If you don’t have any large device, please refer to Method 4. Check your external hard drive or USBĪnyway, first check that your device is connected properly and make sure it really has more available space than the file you want to copy. Backup a large file into multiple smaller images Re-connect the external hard drive or USB Convert the FAT/FAT32 file system to NTFS If you fail to copy large files to external hard drive or USB, you should check the available space and file system of the destination drive at first, and then pick a solution according to your case.

#Large usb backup drive how to#

How to fix the problem that a file too large for external hard drive Such being the case, you can take following measures to fix the problem and copy large files smoothly. You can’t transfer a file that exceeds the limit of the destination drive even when it has plenty of spare space. It happens because each file system has its own size limitation. FAT (also known as FAT16) only supports a file up to 2 GB, FAT32 supports up to 4 GB, as for NTFS, the maximum file size is 16 TB. Anyone knows what does that mean and why I can’t copy a 7 GB file to a 250 GB hard drive? When I try to copy one file to the external hard drive, I get the message: ‘The file is too large for the destination file system’.

Bought a 250 GB USB WD external drive to back up my video footage.