File too big to copy it on USB flash drive?

Question

File too big to copy it on USB flash drive?
I have a 8GB flash drive. When I want to copy a 5 GB file on it (it is empty), it says it is too big to copy it. I am using transferring video files from a PC to a Mac and its only been allowing me to put around 4gb of video clips. It is very frustrating.

Answer 1

Try formatting it. My Computer -> Removable Disk "X" -> Right Click & Properties

► Click format and wait for it to finish. This completely removes any and all files and restores the storage to max capacity.





If thats getting annoying and still doesn't hold the 8GB, then you can try an online file host. I use: megaupload.com ( Free / semi-fast / and Easyyy to use. Upload, provides you with a link, copy the link, download ^_^ )

Answer 2

FAT32-formatted drives cannot store any single file larger than 4gb. You'd either have to format the USB drive as NTFS or use file splitting software to break the large video file into parts and reassemble it after it's been copied.



Once you format a drive as NTFS, then it's no longer readable by Macs, PS3s etc, so there are trade-offs.



I don't think most video file formats shrink much when archived as ZIP files etc. so you can skip that.

Answer 3

Your flash drive is FAT32 file formatted. The common usage of this format is that it does have better performance speeds and is universally used by pretty much every os. Right click on the drive in you 'My Computer" windows and hit format. Change the file system to NTFS, default block size is fine. There is a 4GB limit on FAT32 filesystems which will cause it to (falsely) say it does not have enough room. NTFS does not do this and you will be able to copy your file over to it.



Cheers

Answer 4

Since formatting to ntfs will probably make it unreadable on your Mac, that might not help in your case.



Use any file splitting software to split your file into multiple files of less than 4 Gbyte. Then copy them and join the files again on the destination computer.



You can download many file splitting programs from the Internet, including Winzip.

See the 3rd last option in the dropdown box in the screenshot on this page http://kb.winzip.com/kb/entry/255

Answer 5

The FAT, and FAT32 filing systems have limits on the number of files, and the size of a single file. Reformat the flash drive to use the NTFS filing system to bypass all limits.

Answer 6

you probably formatted your flash drive as fat32. it has a 4 gigabyte limit capacity. if you try to copy anything over 4 gigabytes (like a five gig file) it will tell you you cannot, or it will start to copy and then quit right after 4 gigs has been copied. right click on it in my computer, hit format, and select ntfs or exfat. that should solve the problem.

Answer 7

buy a bigger flashdrive. Alienware sells a 64gb flashdrive.

or go buy an external hard drive.

or connect the 2 computer and make a LAN, then share the hard drives and transfer files that way.

or download TeamViewer and click the filetransfer option after you run the program. and you dont have to install it to use it. so you can delete it when your done.

Answer 8

You can try converting it to a zipped file.