Content over 4GB not possible on free external hard drive?
For weeks now, my MacBook has been displaying an error message whenever I try to copy files larger than 4GB to my external hard drive. There's plenty of free space on the hard drive, and I'm really frustrated!
I can't even export videos to the hard drive; I get the same error message. It also kept saying something about "Fat16," I think. I don't know enough about it and don't know what to do next.
I use the hard drive to transfer videos and images from SD cards so I can edit them from there. This way, I don't have to use up too much storage space on my MacBook.
Unfortunately, Google doesn't give me a suitable answer, so I thought I'd just ask here…
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This has nothing with the file systems NFTS or Fat32 to do.
For HD > 4TB = You have to GPT partition!
All our HD ́s run on this partition! ( 8 & 10 TB hard drives )
partition style of a hard disk finding-so-gangs/
That’s the problem. If drives are formatted (usually under Windows), you cannot save any files that are larger than 4GB.
Secure all data from the drive and reformat it. This goes under macOS with the hard disk service program.
Be careful! Do not delete the system disk! This is usually called “Macintosh HD”.
The external panel is the lower in the list, you also recognize the size of the maximum storage space.
Please contact us again.
Sounds like your external hard drive FAT16 or FAT32 formatted. Try exFAT as a file system. MacOS can clog exFAT without any problems and the plate would then be usable on a Windows computer for emergency.
The maximum size of files in FAT16B and FAT32 file systems is 4GB
Before reformatting the external HDD to exFAT, however, please secure any data already on it if these are important
Thank you. I don’t know where and how do I find the exFAT file system? Oh, man… for me that’s like a new world I’m engaged 😂
The file system “find” you nowhere. You only need to specify what you want to use when formatting (see a selection)
Maybe there’s someone in your family or among your friends who knows it and shows you how it works. You may even do this yourself under his guidance – so you always learn best. As I have more to do with Windows and Linux than with MacOS, I can’t help you much with details.
Maybe it helps:
https://www.lacie.com/de/support/kb/how-to-format-your-drive-exfat-on-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-to-yosemite/
https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/disk-utility/dskutl101010/mac
https://praxistipps.chip.de/mac-festplatte-mit-exfat-formatieren-so-gangs_31575
FAT16 can only save files up to a maximum of 4 GB size.
FAT16 is the file system. If you want to save larger files on it, you need to reformat the hard drive with another file system (e.g. NTFS).
Okay and I have to do something for that? The files that are on it will be safe and secure. How and where can I format the hard drive with the new file system? Doesn’t make it by itself or 🥴
Right. Since all data is lost when formatting, you must first save it where different.
You make formatting about your computer, how it is done on Mac, I can’t tell you. On a Windows computer, right click on the drive (in the File Explorer), then you get the option “Format”.
Be careful: Be sure to get the right drive, otherwise you may delete your computer’s internal hard drive.