I have never been able to download torrents larger than 4.5GB...help?

[ScotHibb]

First I am using the following:
--uTorrent (and sometimes BitTorrent)
--Running both a duel PC system with XP (now Windows 7), and a MAC Pro (loaded)
--Firefox, IE, Safari
--Cable modem connected direct w/ cat-5 (i.e. wireless only when using a laptop in my house), download speeds averaging anywhere from 20-60Mbps

So...here's my dilemma...
Every time I choose a torrent to download that's over approximately 4.5GB I click "download this torrent", it reads the package info and when I click "OK" I get an immediate pop-up window notice that reads "One or more of the files exceed the filesystem size limit, these files can not be saved properly. Do you want to continue anyway?" I click "YES" and it adds the torrent to my download list and starts to download...after a bit of time I get the error "ERROR: File exceeds filesystem size limit." then it red-X's the torrent and kills the download.

This has happened since I started using uTorrent/BitTorrent over a year ago, however since the only time I have tried to download files over 4.5GB they are files that aren't seeded well anyhow (PSP mega packs, Mac Adobe CS master packs, etc, etc) so I haven't worried about it...however I now am in need of a TON of files that are over the limit and need HELP BAD.

I'm sure it is a simple thing that my dumb-arse can't figure out, why else would there be a ton of torrents available for download if they are too big to download?

THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN AFFORD ME!!!

ScotHibb

[spy_vs_spy]

Seems like you are still using FAT32 file system on your Windows. You need to convert your partions to NFTS (handles much larger files) file-system.
First backup data before doing so (just in case).
Read up about it via Google if you are want to know more about the pros and cons.

The main con about NFTS is you are unable to run any FAT16 apps (which is highly unlikely nowadays).


Edit/
Before you do anything, wait to see what others in the forum have to express regarding your dilemma too. I am unfamiliar with Windows 7 and Macs.

[bob5695]

i'm betting on fat32 vs nfts too...

[ScotHibb]

One more thing to add...all of my Torrents are downloaded and seeded to/from an external 4-TB hard drive stack...have a 1-TB drive I use only for my Mac, but primarily use my PC for torrent ups/downs...if I reformat my main C: drive or my externals it would be a TON of backing up...

Do you guys think it would be best just to switch over to my Mac for torrent downloads? Would it help if I took an extra 750GB external pocket-hard drive and formatted it to NFTS rather than messing with my home systems?

Thanks so much for your help so far...

One more question...what's the difference between downloading via "MAGNET"? (something I started noticing as a feature with an icon and a choice when reading the torrent info page)

THX!
ScotHibb

[bob5695]

i believe that if you point the download location to a nfts partition you should be fine.

[ScotHibb]

This is awesome...I have a spare USB2 750GB HD I can re-format to test this (which would also make the torrents ultra portable)...hope it works!

And thanks for all the SUPER FAST replies thus far guys!

PS - @Spy_vs_Spy (loved that strip and 1980's game BTW) - I have to revert my main PC back to XP since I've been running a "not so Billy Gates Friendly" Win-7 beta version for the past 7 months, so if the re-format for XP would work in your opinion I will go for it. Thx!

[velvetfog]

FAT32 volumes are not able to store files larger than 4 GB. In order to store files larger than that, Microsoft's NTFS (New Technology File System) has to be used. FAT32 volumes can be converted to NTFS without losing your data or having to reformat the drive, by running the command line task convert.exe that is supplied with Windows.
Here are Microsoft's instructions on how to do that:

How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS

[ScotHibb]

You RULE VelvetFog, THANKS!!!!!

If I convert JUST an external HD to NTFS would it work, or do I have to format my drive that my operating system is running on?

[velvetfog]

(4th December 2009 23:28)ScotHibb Wrote:  You RULE VelvetFog, THANKS!!!!!

If I convert JUST an external HD to NTFS would it work, or do I have to format my drive that my operating system is running on?

Each drive that you have can be converted independently, without affecting any other drive.
The procedure for converting the "C" drive that you are booting from and loading your OS from, is a little bit different, in that a reboot of the machine is required, since the file system conversion can not be done on a live OS drive, and it therefore gets scheduled to be done on the next startup, prior to loading the OS kernel.

[ScotHibb]

AHHH HAAA!!! I just checked and my PC is already formatted to NTFS...HOWEVER all my externals (4-TB stack, 1-TB drive, 750-Gig pocket drives, etc) are ALL formatted to FAT32!!!

Wow, I knew it was something 'simple' that my cluttered mind just could not figure out.....thanks so much everyone both for the fast replies and the collaborative posting to find a solution for my problem!!!

Going to format my 4-TB external to NTFS as soon as the 10 torrents are finished downloading...wish more people seeded, 8 are stuck at 98%...a very compelling reason that I always seed at least 50% of my bandwidth...

Thanks again all,
ScotHibb