e1705/MCE2k5 refuses to copy 4gb file to OneTouch2

In the process of backing up massive files, those over 1gb in size, I hit a bottleneck with files larger than 4gb. To be more exact, the largest file I copied to my Maxtor OneTouch2 external HD (FAT32 and w/ 250gb total capacity) was one 3.6gb. A file of 4.3gb just refused to copy, w/ the OS giving me this message:

"Cannot copy *file name*: There is not enough free disk space.

Delete one or more files to free disk space, and then try again.

To free space on this drive by deleting old or unnecessary files, click Disk Cleanup."

All the way below I can either click "Dick Cleanup..." or "OK." However, my drive still has 109gb of free space to be used. I do not understand what is going on here! Would someone know a solution?

 

Fat32 doesn't support files larger than 4GB. You will have to use NTFS to store files larger than 4GB

 

Thank you.

1- I understand that I can convert this FAT into an NTFS? By so doing will I run the risk of data loss somewhere on the HD?

2- Also, is it true that I will not be able to use an NTFS-formated drive w/ a FAT OS?

3- As an alternative, is there a safe way (a solid, proven program) to split 2gb/2gb and then re-assemble the file where I want it?

 

You can handily convert it using programs like PartitionMagic without data loss. Failing that, copy any information off the drive and format it NTFS - then copy it back.

Depends what you define as a FAT OS. No, you will not be able to access an NTFS formatted drive on a 9x or previous system (not without some hacking - I'm not saying it's impossible but it's a bit of a PITA). However, if you're running a 2K/XP system on a FAT formatted drive you will still be able to access the NTFS drive. YMMV with Linux, though.

My personal favorite would be winrar - rar the file up, choosing to split the file into a certain size (eg 2GB), then unrar it when it gets to the other end.

Alternatively, compressing the file into a RAR/ZIP might bring it under 4GB and solve your problem.

 

And when doing the winrar splitting, select fastest, that will avoid the process of encoding compression, and be faster in general.
At fastest it is more of an encapsulation than compression

 

WinRAR does not seem to have a 2gb/2gb splitting option; the most it goes is for 700mb files increments. Is there a way to make it split this file exactly into two halves?

edit- You can actually give the prog. a custom number so that is what I did. Thanks.