32GB flash drive encountering error of file too large for volume format when trying to copy a 8.74GB file onto it.

[dboiistough]

my flash drive is 32GB, but on my mac when I try to copy my 8.74GB .iso file onto it it gives me an error that the file is too large for the volume format. Is there any way I can fix this? I have already tried formatting the flash drive many times and it is completely empty.

 

[yeskay]

my flash drive is 32GB, but on my mac when I try to copy my 8.74GB .iso file onto it it gives me an error that the file is too large for the volume format. Is there any way I can fix this? I have already tried formatting the flash drive many times and it is completely empty.

Right click on your flash drive and select "Properties" to see what "File System" your drive have. If it says "FAT32", then that could be the problem. Because "FAT32" file system has limitations and will give you problem, when you try to copy huge size single file that are larger than 4GB.

So in order to over come this problem, you may need to convert your flash drive 'File System" from "FAT32" to 'NTFS".

How to convert from FAT32 to NTFS:

Important Note: Before you continue backup data from your flash drive, to prevent any data loss while attempting the conversion. I've done conversion with data in the flash drive successfully, no loss of data. But as a precautionary measure it's better do backup data. Make sure your flash drive is properly connected.

- Click on "Start", then click on "Run" to bring up the "Run" dialog box.
- Type "cmd" (without quotes), and press enter on your keyboard to bring up the "Command Prompt"
- Type the following command to convert from FAT32 to NTFS:

convert g: /fs:ntfs /v

convert - is the command
g: - is the drive letter of my flash drive. Your flash drive letter may vary, so replace the g: with your flash drive letter.
/fs:ntfs - this switch will convert from FAT32 to NTFS
/v - Verbose, will give you details of the conversion as it happens.

wait till you get "conversion successfully completed" mesage. Exit the command prompt. Now you can try copying the huge single file and should be able to complete the task with ease.

Cheers!

 

[clyde54]

yeskay, I have tried the commmand you mention numerous times but keep getting "Windows found errors on the disk, but will not fix them
because disk checking was run without the /F (fix) parameter.
Convert lost chains to files (Y/N)?"

It doesn't matter if I click Y or N, windows will not convert from fat32 to ntsf. And drive properties now show 95 GB used when there are no files on the disk. Can you help?