4 GB file size limitation--OS disk? at DVinfo.net

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 23rd, 2002, 01:52 PM

Does anybody know if the 4 GB file size limitation for Windows FAT drives applies only to the drive you're writing video to, or only to your operating system drive, or both, or either?

I'm trying to write a Big Whopping (> 4 GB) video file to my video drive which is NTFS, but the disk on which my operating system (Win 2K) and my editing program (Storm Edit 2.00, in this particular case) reside is still FAT32.

The file maxes out at 3.99 GB and that's the end of that. Any suggestions?

(You never think it'll happen to you...)

Edward Troxel · December 23rd, 2002, 03:53 PM

The 4GB limitation is determined by the format of the disk. When running Win2K on a FAT 32 partition with a NTFS video drive, the OS partition will be limited to 4GB but the NTFS partition will not have the limitation. However, I don't know whether your program writes information to the FAT32 partition during its' processing. If the drive is formatted as NTFS, it should NOT be the limiting factor.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 24th, 2002, 12:40 AM

I just remembered that the 4 GB file size limit can be blamed on the AVI 1 file format used by Storm Edit. Storm Edit is incapable of writing out files larger than 4 GB. The only workaround is compiling a Reference AVI.

This was one of those facts that my brain had discarded because I never thought I would have use for >4 GB files. Live and learn.

Rob Lohman · December 29th, 2002, 07:53 PM

One thing that might also bug up (not in this case) is that if your/a
NLE uses temporary files those usually are written to a different
drive. If that one is not NTFS you might get some weird
results too on long projects!

December 23rd, 2002, 01:52 PM	#1
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	4 GB file size limitation--OS disk? Does anybody know if the 4 GB file size limitation for Windows FAT drives applies only to the drive you're writing video to, or only to your operating system drive, or both, or either? I'm trying to write a Big Whopping (> 4 GB) video file to my video drive which is NTFS, but the disk on which my operating system (Win 2K) and my editing program (Storm Edit 2.00, in this particular case) reside is still FAT32. The file maxes out at 3.99 GB and that's the end of that. Any suggestions? (You never think it'll happen to you...) __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 24th, 2002, 12:40 AM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	I just remembered that the 4 GB file size limit can be blamed on the AVI 1 file format used by Storm Edit. Storm Edit is incapable of writing out files larger than 4 GB. The only workaround is compiling a Reference AVI. This was one of those facts that my brain had discarded because I never thought I would have use for >4 GB files. Live and learn. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 29th, 2002, 07:53 PM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	One thing that might also bug up (not in this case) is that if your/a NLE uses temporary files those usually are written to a different drive. If that one is not NTFS you might get some weird results too on long projects! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 23rd, 2002, 03:53 PM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	The 4GB limitation is determined by the format of the disk. When running Win2K on a FAT 32 partition with a NTFS video drive, the OS partition will be limited to 4GB but the NTFS partition will not have the limitation. However, I don't know whether your program writes information to the FAT32 partition during its' processing. If the drive is formatted as NTFS, it should NOT be the limiting factor.