Backup to file fails at 4GB (FAT32 limitation?)

[MaxG]

Hello Good People,

I have installed the 30 day trial on a XP Pro machine to test BAs functionality. I scheduled a default job to back-up local C: and save it to an iOmega 80GB USB HDD. The backup ran at the time scheduled but failed with the following error report:

Date performed: Monday, 13 February 2006 00:00:04
Label: Sunday
Job name: Default job
Backup Method: Full
Backup Mode: Overwrite
Destination: File - on H:\BUPs (Volume: IOMEGA_HDD)

Checking files and directories to backup
-- All selected files and directories are available for backup

Phase One backup operation - errors occurred.

Total bytes: 4,284,272,389
Total files: 11,831
Total directories: 1,789
============================================================
Phase One backup log

Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "2006-02-13.bkf created 13/02/2006 at 00:00"

Backup (via shadow copy) of "C: System"
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 13/02/2006 at 00:00"
Media name: "2006-02-13.bkf created 13/02/2006 at 00:00"

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 13/02/2006 at 00:01.
End of Media encountered while backing up to non-removable media.
The operation was ended.
Backup completed on 13/02/2006 at 00:11.
Directories: 1789
Files: 11831
Bytes: 4,284,272,389
Time: 9 minutes and 58 seconds

The HDD is formatted in FAT32... and I can't recall whether this is a FAT32 file size limit or not, or whether something else causes the problem. The HDD has 40GB available disk space and C: has 20GB to be backed up.

Any help or pointer in the right direction would be appreciated. BA is eventually going onto a SBS2k3 server with the intent to use large HDDs connected in the network as backup media.

Thanks and regards,
Max

[MaxG]

Well, well... looks like silly me
I changed the bkf destination to another HDD formatted in NTFS; the backup is still going and passed the 7GB mark; looks like it will finish.
Oh dear, and silly me again: FAT32 has a 4GB file limit. (just googled it).

Apologies for posting something that was easily answered with a little more effort of mine.

Thanks,
Max

[Justin]

Hi Max,

It's Justin here from BackupAssist support.

Don't be sorry, thanks for posting the problem and the solution (it's something we encourage!). This is actually a very common issue, especially with backups to USB hard drives becoming more and more common, and the format for those drives being FAT32 by default.

Hopefully others with this problem will find this post quickly, before having to spend time researching something that is, as you mentioned, easily fixed if you know what's wrong!

Btw, for others who find this, in order to fix the problem go to your USB drive in Windows Explorer, right click on it, select format and select NTFS as the file system then click ok. Note that this will erase all data on your drive, so make sure that anything important has been copied somewhere else first. After the format you should be able to backup over 4Gb.

[MaxG]

Hi Justin,

Yes, in hidsight I should have known

There is another way to change the drive format without loosing the data; at least in XP: CONVERT driveletter: /FS:NTFS, converts FAT to NTFS... but in doing so one will loose the ability to utilise the drive under Mac OS and other OSes that do not support NTFS partitions.

And I can also confirm BA works, and completed the backups I intented.

Thanks and regards,
Max

[thembicat]

Hi All,

I was pretty excited when I found this thread as I have the exact same problem, backup fails at 4gb.

I followed the instructions and I am already formatted as NTFS. Any other ideas what I can do?

thanks
Pam

[Stuart]

Hi Pam,

It's Stuart here from the BackupAssist team, thanks for your post.

Did you re-format the drive at all just to refresh the drive (I have seen this happen previously).

If you have done this and it's still failing at 4Gb, would you be able to provide some diagnostic information as
this gives us a lot of information which we can use to help resolve your issue.

To send us diagnostic information please follow these steps:

1) Go to Contact Support (from the bottom-left corner of the console) -> Contact Support
2) Fill out the form and ensure that the Submit system diagnostics checkbox at the bottom is checked.

If you have anything to add Pam, please either reply to this post or send us an e-mail directly at support@backupassist.com.

[seraulu1]

Thanks for good advice

Thanks and regards
max

[Sally]

THank you for contacting BackupAssist support.
The error you are experiencing seems to indicate you are most likely experiencing a FAT32 limitation.

Please check that your external hard disks are formatted using the NTFS filesystem instead of FAT32. FAT has a limitation of 4GB, meaning that if your backup file gets to that 4GB limit, no more data can be backed up and you get the "End of media" error.

NTFS does not have the 4gb file size limitation.

More details on NTFS vs FAT can be found here: http://www.theeldergeek.com/ntfs_or_fat ... system.htm

Also note that you can "upgrade" a filesystem from FAT to NTFS by using the convert command. From the command prompt, type convert /?



for info on how to use the command. For example:



convert g: /FS:NTFS