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Problem copying files

Axtman

Axtman

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2008
2,573
4,709
Seattle, WA
#1
I am trying to copy a large amount of files from a thumbdrive to my hard disk. It starts copying the files then gives me an error message that the file name is too long and then stops.

I am using Windows XP and just dragging and dropping. I also tried cutting and pasting.

Any ideas would be appreciated. :D
 
#2
Find out which file it's having the problem with, and copy everything except that one file.
Hint: Ctrl+click can select/deselect a single file when you already have lots selected.

FWIW I don't really like dragging and dropping, I much prefer 'copy' and 'paste' on the right click menu.
 
#3
Are either your harddrive or the thumbdrive using FAT32 as a filesystem, and are any of the files over 2Gigs? If so, that is probably the problem. FAT32 has issues with really big files.

If you go to "My Computer" and then right-click your C drive or the thumbdrive, you can go to "Properties" and it will show you what filesystem is being used on that drive. Should be NTFS or FAT32.

HTH
 
#4
suckybassplaya said:
Are either your harddrive or the thumbdrive using FAT32 as a filesystem, and are any of the files over 2Gigs? If so, that is probably the problem. FAT32 has issues with really big files.

If you go to "My Computer" and then right-click your C drive or the thumbdrive, you can go to "Properties" and it will show you what filesystem is being used on that drive. Should be NTFS or FAT32.

HTH
Click to expand...

This. I'll place my money on you having a FAT32 file system.
 
#7
set up a folder on your hdd for the thumbdrive data, click start, run, type command or cmd to open the command window (basically what you could call a dos window if xp had dos...) Type "copy <thumbdrive letter>:\*.* <hdd letter>:\<folder>" Just replace the stuff in <>'s with the information (do not include the <>'s). It should automatically rename any files that are too long with a shortened version that ends with ~ followed by a number automatically, but if you still get the annoying message, just rename it manually.
 

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