Max file space in root directory?

BelchFire · 01-14-2005, 08:37 AM

Please feel free to move this thread if it's in the wrong forum.

I'm using W98se, to access four different JumpDrives. All seem to work OK, but my wife is experiencing occasional problems with hers when she tries to store to the JumpDrive.

The error message is horribly simplistic "The file could not be created". No other options.

I tried many, many things to rectify this, and it wasn't until I ran Norton Disk Doctor on the JumpDrive that I encountered an error that suggested that the Root Directory was full even though it only had (100 something files?) about 7.X MB in the root directory. It's a 128MB drive at issue here. I removed a few, and created a subdirectory, and then moved EVERYTHING into the suddirectory. Then I restored those few I moved, and everything seems to be fine.

My specific questions are:

Is there a legitimate max file space in a root directory?

What is that limitation? As it relates to W98se, or Dos, or what?

Last, since she much prefers to have all her files in one big area, rather than categorized in subdirectories (don't ask me why, that's just how she likes it.) Is there anything I can do about increasing it?

**johnwill** · 01-14-2005, 01:51 PM

There is an absolute maximum of 512 files in the root of a FAT16 volume, and things like Volume ID take up entries. Typically, you'll choke when you get to around 500 or so entries. That's where I stop with a 256mb JumpDrive Pro.

BelchFire · 01-15-2005, 06:08 PM

Will the subdirectories have a similar limitation?

**johnwill** · 01-15-2005, 07:34 PM

Subdirectories have no practical limitation, though on really large ones, I've been limited to 14,000 files or so with FAT32.

cochrandesign · 01-16-2005, 05:56 AM

hey .. .. so i'm not a complete idiot...
A. how do you start a new thread
B. i'm a mac user... shalll i exit?

soooo....
i'm a graphic designer (slightly inebriated..?) but what's up with "connection failure" when i log into hotmail?...or msn.com for that matter? any clue?

i'm going to go outside and smoke a cig... please help if you can...? i came across this site through google... if i should go, let me know.. but that register process was kind a' a bi@tch...

eh?

01-14-2005, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	Max file space in root directory? Please feel free to move this thread if it's in the wrong forum. I'm using W98se, to access four different JumpDrives. All seem to work OK, but my wife is experiencing occasional problems with hers when she tries to store to the JumpDrive. The error message is horribly simplistic "The file could not be created". No other options. I tried many, many things to rectify this, and it wasn't until I ran Norton Disk Doctor on the JumpDrive that I encountered an error that suggested that the Root Directory was full even though it only had (100 something files?) about 7.X MB in the root directory. It's a 128MB drive at issue here. I removed a few, and created a subdirectory, and then moved EVERYTHING into the suddirectory. Then I restored those few I moved, and everything seems to be fine. My specific questions are: Is there a legitimate max file space in a root directory? What is that limitation? As it relates to W98se, or Dos, or what? Last, since she much prefers to have all her files in one big area, rather than categorized in subdirectories (don't ask me why, that's just how she likes it.) Is there anything I can do about increasing it? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

01-14-2005, 01:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,721 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	There is an absolute maximum of 512 files in the root of a FAT16 volume, and things like Volume ID take up entries. Typically, you'll choke when you get to around 500 or so entries. That's where I stop with a 256mb JumpDrive Pro. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-15-2005, 06:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
BelchFire Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 60 OS: Win XP w/ sp3	Will the subdirectories have a similar limitation? __________________ Mr. Key got it wrong.....It's the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave.

01-15-2005, 07:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,721 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Subdirectories have no practical limitation, though on really large ones, I've been limited to 14,000 files or so with FAT32. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-16-2005, 05:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
cochrandesign Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: midwest, but now i'm in austin, tx Posts: 3 OS: mac 10.3	what? i'm a mac user with a question? hey .. .. so i'm not a complete idiot... A. how do you start a new thread B. i'm a mac user... shalll i exit? soooo.... i'm a graphic designer (slightly inebriated..?) but what's up with "connection failure" when i log into hotmail?...or msn.com for that matter? any clue? i'm going to go outside and smoke a cig... please help if you can...? i came across this site through google... if i should go, let me know.. but that register process was kind a' a bi@tch... eh?