Files larger than 4G
 

Here's a funny story. After downloading Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion using BitTorrent with crappy speed for 3 days, the download is finally finished. Well, I've thought I'll be playing the game today, but... When I try to extract the file, I get the following error: file is over 4G in size. As I understand this, only NTFS supports such large files. All my hard drives use FAT32 system. Is there another way to extract the file without converting the file system to NTFS?

Is there any particular reason you don't want to convert to NTFS (really, "convert <drive letter>: /fs:ntfs" seems easier)?
You'll have to extract the file to a file system that supports files that large.

If you're worried you'll lose your data if you convert to NTFS, you won't. But you should back them up anyway.

What everyone else has said. FAT32 is a dead, rather hideous filesystem. ext3/reiserfs > NTFS >>>>>>>>>>>>>> FAT32. You cannot create larger files on a FAT32 partition, period. I strongly reccomend converting to NTFS.

This is the result of a big file and windows 98 for me:

http://www.mbnet.fi/~talkkuna/ffx2.png

Hmm you use fat32, maybe you have an old PC? Oblivion won't be fun if it is so. =P

I actually did not know that FAT32 had such limitations. Then again, I've been using NTFS for longer than it's been possible for me to download files that are over 4GB.

I don't understand why you would be using an operating system - presumably Windows 95 or 98 - so old but expect to play Oblivion. Then again there's the possibility you have another computer on which you intend to play the game. Or you simply do not like to upgrade your operating system, I dunno. Will Oblivion even run on Windows 95/98?

Nah, I use Windows XP. I think Oblivion should run on my AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, 512MB RAM, ATI RADEON 9550 on low settings... I've just been using FAT32 all of my life and wasn't aware of its limitations until today. OK, I've converted one of my drives to NTFS, problem solved.

this happend to me when i downloaded prince of persia two thrones....so i had to convert the drives..

what u could do is just leave the drive containing windows in fa32 and convert rest all into NTFS...

Use norton partition magic...thatts what i used.

and oh btw ntfs is faster than fat32

Yes, with the exception of the built-in encryption and compression features; those slow things down considerably. (Really, though, Windows needs a file system where, at the very least, fragmentation isn't really an issue. Ext3 for the win!)

The other nice thing about NFTS over FAT32? If Windows locks up and you hard shut-down your computer or reboot, no SCANDISK! The only time this will show up is if there's a SERIOUS problem with a hard drive.

That's like saying, why not use 50% of your CPU-power?

No why i said so is that having the windows drive in fat 32 really helps if u are reinstalling windows or windows crashes...as u can use a startup disk and solve the problem...if the drives are in NTFS they wont show up when using a start up disk

You can always get an NTFS boot disk...

Also some Linux live disks can read NTFS. Just burn your files to DVD or get a backup HDD with FAT32. FAT is really only good for Windows9x/DOS HDD usage nowadays.
Converting to NTFS should not have any problems, unless your computer loses power in the middle of the conversion. NTFS is more secure anyways, no yahoo will be able to use a boot disk to piler your Windows passwords so easily.

I have the same file size limit issue. If I convert, will all files on the HDD disappear?

You shouldn't have any problems, take a look at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...onvertfat.mspx if you are worried though, its come straight from Microsoft's mouth.

I would expect people to be more skeptical due to the fact that it's straight "from Microsoft's mouth."
I can say from experience, though, that I've never seen a conversion go wrong.

I have done it ...nothing happens..ur HDD will same as before converting.