Backing up to an external SSD; file names too long?
Hello, I've been trying for years, without success, to back up my vast amount of data from my PC (now running Windows 11; almost 8 TB full hard drive) to an external hard drive. Unfortunately, it never fully works, as I always get the message "The file name is too long for the destination folder. Shorten the file name(s) and repeat the operation, or use a different location with a shorter path." This isn't so easy, however, because shortening the names doesn't always help, and also because it affects hundreds of folders (and subfolders), as well as presumably thousands of files. I've found supposed solutions involving registry intervention, but to be honest, that's too risky for me. The external hard drive formats I used were NTFS and exFAT. Isn't there a hard drive format that supports unlimited folder names? What can I do? Thanks and regards, Ivo
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https://www.adamfowlerit.com/2016/10/windows-max-path-now-lot-bigger/
Must make “Enable Win32 long path”. I used to. Faith Group Options is not freely accessible for “Home” Edition of Windows, but can also be made available by script. Enable setting by Registry or CMD.
Can be that you still have too many subfolders with long names, then I would recommend to customize the folder names if there are not too many or just boot into a Linux Live Distro via USB stick and just push the data over there.
If you don’t have access to the hard drive in the Linux Distro, then you need to shut down Windows correctly again. Evtl., for example, it’s only in deep-sleep. If you need to do “restart” and boot directly before restarting the Linux Distro, then it will drive Windows down properly and you can access the hard drive.
Use Ultimate Boot CD Live Linux for anything because I can boot it directly from the USB stick without having to install anything on the actual PC.
Wow, okay, sounds promising, I also like to try out, thanks for the tip.
Give me a divorce if you need help.
Alternatively, there are other software that is better than drag&Drop from Windows
Hello Vinc, thank you again for the detailed description. I have enabled long paths, the problem of copying files to an NTFS & exFAT hard drive still. Because in my case too many folders are to rename, I wanted to try out your next tip; a question: If I have successfully copied the files to the Linux Live Distro, then is it not that after this distro is put out, everything is deleted/restricted to the initial operating system? I plan to create Linux Mint, can I actually use a 2TB hard drive? Thank you
Do not copy to the Linux Distro, just use it as an operating system in it from one hard drive to the other.
However, what I have to say when you copy the complete path, you later have the problem in Windows that you can’t copy it anywhere else. Talk the same problem as now. If you just want to leave it where you copy it now doesn’t matter.
Alternatively, you can also shorten the subfolder names or if the individual data names are, then there is also software where you can quickly rename multiple files at the same time.
Hello vinc, you have good tips.
To completely shut down Windows, so the files are closed, the Shift button can be held during the click on Downloads.
Right. I’ve heard that before. Thank you for commenting:)
I would typify that this is a Windows problem, the modern file systems can all be more.
Just search for tools with which too long paths can be found and shortened. But often the file names are the problem rather than the folder paths.
Addition like this can happen in the specific example: Sort a long path to another level (here iteratively with copies of a folder, but also if you move a complete folder structure, for example, according to C:\Sicherung\Personal Document\2024_03_13_complete, Windows does not notice that the overall path of the substructure may be too long)
Thanks for the tip, yes exactly, such solutions have also been running over my way; However, I find the name structure built over the years very practical and would not change it. Can it be that you still have to pay attention to the path length in 2024, or can you not keep it with any other hard disk formats (the external hard drive)? LG
This is not on the hard drive but is a restriction in the operating system. The reason is the downward compatibility to Win32 applications. As far as I know, this can only be cancelled by an intervention in the registry or a group policy. Here is an article by Microsoft on this: Maximum path length.
Unfortunately, I can’t say whether the impact on the function of older programs has. I didn’t test it myself.
Well, you can do it in different ways. Either with a backup program like Acronis True Image or with another file manager like Total Commander.
If you get the Shareware Total Commander https://www.ghisler.com/english.htm install, then you can copy your data. You will then get the warning that the names are too long, but then you just click on “maintain all” and can finally complete your unsuccessfully attempted backup for years.
Screenshot from Total Commander:
Thanks for the tip, I’ll try.
Thanks again for the detailed description. Since “long paths allow” did not solve the problem, I will then implement this tip, and I am looking forward to the result :-).
NTFS can also longer file paths, but Windows maintains this limit for compatibility reasons.
You’re right, that’s not really contemporary. Longer file paths are possible with other operating systems, not unlimited but significantly longer.
The option can be turned off, but you just need a registry entry (in the Home variant).
Some workarounds work by mapping a drive letter to a folder, so you can make the path shorter because from D:\Workspace\Project_a\ zb. Only z:\.
Thank you so much, so I have the pro version, would this be possible without workaround? LG
This goes through Group Policies (can you call directly on Windows + R and then enter gpedit.msc).
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Template -> System -> Filesystem -> Enable Win32 long paths
Have my computer in English, don’t know if it’s different in German, but you should be able to find it.
So almost the same as the registry, but you can simply double-click and set to Enabled, you don’t have to create a new value and something like that. A little easier.
For me much simpler and safer, not that I still get worse with the registry’😄Thank you, thanks to this guide, I find it safe, at the very least I put the system briefly in English around👌
Your hard drive is real?
Certainly. So messes can happen if you rename or move a folder tree on lower levels. Since not all subdirectories are rewritten, Windoof does not complain. Only after that you can’t work properly.
Yes, I used these for years successfully for BackUps.
Very good.