Problem copying files to vfat floppy

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 07:18 AM

I am trying to copy around 300 small files to a vfat floppy drive. After 75 files have been copied I get 'No space left on device' errors. 'df' shows that the floppy is only 21% full.

If I create a directory on the floppy I can copy all of the files into that directory, so it is clearly not a space issue. vfat does not use inodes so it is not that either.

Can anyone help me.

Thanks in advance.

Stealth870 · 03-09-2005, 07:25 AM

Why not copy around 70 files, check its disk space, then copy another 70, and another?

Instead of all at once...

michaelk · 03-09-2005, 07:25 AM

There is a limit to the number of files that can be in the root directory on a FAT formated floppy disk . I've read that the limit is 224 files but it is not confirmed.

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 07:37 AM

I will try copying in chunks and checking space left but I dont think it will help.

Thanks for the swift reply.

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 07:41 AM

Michaelk,

Thanks for your swift reply.

I can only copy 75 files. If there is a limit of 224 why is this. Is there nothing I can do about a limited number of files in the root directory?

michaelk · 03-09-2005, 07:48 AM

I had always thought the limit was 64 but a quick search on a couple of sites mentioned 224. I've never confirmed either number. AFAIK it is a filesystem limitation. Is there any reason you can not use a directory?

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 07:53 AM

Michaelk,

Thanks again.

I may be able to use a directory but the problem is that the floppy is to be used on an existing Windows platform which expects all the files in the root directory. It would require a change to this system which may be difficult.

jeremy · 03-09-2005, 11:45 AM

I thought the max was actually 512, but keep in mind that having files longer than 8 characters starts eating up multiple spots, so it's very likely than you will get less than the max.

--jeremy

jeremy · 03-09-2005, 11:46 AM

OK, I actually went and looked instead of trying to remember

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...c_fil_tdrn.asp has the gory details.

Quote:

Maximum number of files and folders within the root folder 512 (Long file names can reduce the number of available files and folders in the root folder.)

--jeremy

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 11:51 AM

Jeremy,

Most if not all of the files I am copying have names between 12 and 20 characters. But only being able to copy 75 if the limit is 512 still seems strange.

Thanks for your input anyway.

Malcolm

Malcolm Dobson · 03-09-2005, 12:46 PM

Jeremy,

Thanks for that. It looks like I have a FAT16 volume. The number of files and folders in the root directory is much greater on FAT32.

I will look into that and let you know how I get on.

Many thanks for your help.

Malcolm

michaelk · 03-09-2005, 08:10 PM

After playing around and doing some additional research:

Using a standard windows formated floppy disk:

With standard 8.3 naming convention I could copy 222 files. I assume that the hidden files io.sys and msdos.sys would make it 224.

Coping approx 25.3 character names I could only create 56 files. And so If long filename support is enabled, then each file can use more than one file or directory entry.

From what I've discovered the 512 number is for a FAT16 root directory on a hard drive and not a floppy disk. I've also read where FAT32 can have 65,536 (based on 8.3 naming convention) but I'm not going to confirm this. AFAIK you can not format a floppy disk as FAT32.