How to Copy Large Files to a Flash Drive
Flash storage devices are generally formatted using the FAT32 file system for compatibility with Macs, computers with a Linux operating system and consumer audio/video devices. This compatibility has a drawback, however, in that the FAT32 file system is unable to store files larger than 4 GB. To store large files on a flash drive, split them into multiple parts or format the drive using a different file system.
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Instructions
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Formatting a Flash Drive to NTFS
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Connect the flash drive to your computer. Click the "Start" button, then click "Computer" or "My Computer."
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Right click the flash drive, and click "Format."
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Click the "File System" drop-down menu, and select "NTFS."
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Click "Start." The flash drive will be formatted using the NTFS file system, which supports file sizes over 4 GB. Keep in mind that using the NTFS file system on a flash drive may reduce its life slightly, as NTFS is a journaling file system which results in more frequent write operations. Additionally, the drive may lose compatibility with computers and devices not running Microsoft Windows.
Splitting a Large File into Multiple Parts
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Download and install File Splitter using the link in the "Resources" section of this article. Launch the program after it is installed.
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Click the top "Browse" button. Navigate to the location of the file that you would like to split and double-click it.
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Click the bottom "Browse" button. Navigate to the location where the split file should be saved, and click "OK."
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Click the drop-down menu next to "Size of a chunk" and select a size for each chunk of the split file. Any size under 4 GB can be used.
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Click the "Split" button to split the file into chunks. The smaller chunks can then be copied to the flash drive and rejoined on another computer using File Splitter.
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References
Resources
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Comments
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If all of your computers are Windows Vista or Windows 7, format as exFAT instead of NTFS. exFAT is designed specifically for flash drives, but will not work with XP computers or other devices.
