My Book 4 GB limit? at DVinfo.net

Tom Cadwalader · July 23rd, 2008, 03:05 PM

I have a 500Gb My Book HD, My plan was to store either finished movies or downloaded footage from my SR11 on it ( as a data file). The instruction book pdf says that the max file size is 4 GB. Even if I store finished movies I may be larger than 4 GB (single layer DVD 2 4.7GB) Anyone using a MY Book with a MAC? Does this limit hold true with a MAC as well as with a XP Machine. The book state that the drive is pre-formated as a single FAT 32 partition, but can be re-formated.
Any insight would be apreciated.

Bill Koehler · July 23rd, 2008, 05:06 PM

The problem here is the FAT32 file system, not the hard drive.

I have a bunch of MyBook Essentials 500 GB hard drives.
I routinely buy one, wipe it clean, and quick format it with NTFS.

And I routinely save on them files ranging from tiny (sub 10 KB) up to extra large (26+ GB).

Josh Chesarek · July 24th, 2008, 04:35 AM

Indeed. If you have all ready loaded up the drive you can try using the Convert tool provided by windows.

Convert e: /FL:NTFS

where e: is your external drive. I have done this about 20x and have never lost a file YET but If there is something important on the drive you should have it backed up before doing this.

In the future just remember to do a quick format to NTFS with new drives :)

Tom Cadwalader · July 24th, 2008, 10:27 AM

Bill and Josh, it sounds like you guys are using a windows machine. I'll be using a Mac. I haven't used the drive yet so all options are open to me. Is the NTFS the best course for me on a Mac machine?

Josh Chesarek · July 24th, 2008, 10:44 AM

To get around that limit on the MAC you will have to use one of the Journaled formats. I don't know of any converting tools. In that case you will have to format it before you put your data on. Mac can read NTFS files but it cannot write to that format.

Chris Medico · July 24th, 2008, 10:45 AM

A stock Mac can't write to a NTFS (windows) partition. It can read NTFS but if you want to write to the drive you will need to use the Mac HFSX (or HFS+) file system. If the drive is new just format it as a HFSX partition and you own't have the 4 gig limit of FAT32.

Just so you know, you won't be able to use that drive with a PC. The only file system with read and write compatibility between PC and Mac is FAT.

Josh Chesarek · July 24th, 2008, 10:50 AM

Yep, I was a few seconds a head of you Chris. I use a Mac for day to day stuff and a PC for editing so I go back and forth a lot :)

To clarify yes, the Journaled format will be Mac only, it will not go over to the PC as far as I know.

Tom Cadwalader · July 24th, 2008, 01:12 PM

Thank you to the 3 of you for helping me out with this.

July 23rd, 2008, 03:05 PM	#1
Tom Cadwalader Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 79	My Book 4 GB limit? I have a 500Gb My Book HD, My plan was to store either finished movies or downloaded footage from my SR11 on it ( as a data file). The instruction book pdf says that the max file size is 4 GB. Even if I store finished movies I may be larger than 4 GB (single layer DVD 2 4.7GB) Anyone using a MY Book with a MAC? Does this limit hold true with a MAC as well as with a XP Machine. The book state that the drive is pre-formated as a single FAT 32 partition, but can be re-formated. Any insight would be apreciated.

July 24th, 2008, 04:35 AM	#3
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	Indeed. If you have all ready loaded up the drive you can try using the Convert tool provided by windows. Convert e: /FL:NTFS where e: is your external drive. I have done this about 20x and have never lost a file YET but If there is something important on the drive you should have it backed up before doing this. In the future just remember to do a quick format to NTFS with new drives :) __________________ Simple Thought Productions - Life @ 30,000 Words per second

July 24th, 2008, 10:27 AM	#4
Tom Cadwalader Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 79	With a Mac? Bill and Josh, it sounds like you guys are using a windows machine. I'll be using a Mac. I haven't used the drive yet so all options are open to me. Is the NTFS the best course for me on a Mac machine?

July 24th, 2008, 10:44 AM	#5
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	To get around that limit on the MAC you will have to use one of the Journaled formats. I don't know of any converting tools. In that case you will have to format it before you put your data on. Mac can read NTFS files but it cannot write to that format. __________________ Simple Thought Productions - Life @ 30,000 Words per second

July 24th, 2008, 10:45 AM	#6
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	A stock Mac can't write to a NTFS (windows) partition. It can read NTFS but if you want to write to the drive you will need to use the Mac HFSX (or HFS+) file system. If the drive is new just format it as a HFSX partition and you own't have the 4 gig limit of FAT32. Just so you know, you won't be able to use that drive with a PC. The only file system with read and write compatibility between PC and Mac is FAT. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

July 23rd, 2008, 05:06 PM	#2
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	The problem here is the FAT32 file system, not the hard drive. I have a bunch of MyBook Essentials 500 GB hard drives. I routinely buy one, wipe it clean, and quick format it with NTFS. And I routinely save on them files ranging from tiny (sub 10 KB) up to extra large (26+ GB).

July 24th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#7
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	Yep, I was a few seconds a head of you Chris. I use a Mac for day to day stuff and a PC for editing so I go back and forth a lot :) To clarify yes, the Journaled format will be Mac only, it will not go over to the PC as far as I know. __________________ Simple Thought Productions - Life @ 30,000 Words per second

July 24th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#8
Tom Cadwalader Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 79	Thanks Thank you to the 3 of you for helping me out with this.