copying a large file

[igor_m]

Hi,
I’m trying to rescue a couple of files from my dead (windows) PC using knoppix.
I’ve run into a problem trying to copy one file (huge ~ 23 Gb ) to my USB HDD (FAT;
2 partitions each~ 30Gb) – the “cp” has copied only 2 Gb of the target file; then I got error message “file limit has exceeded”;
but the “ulimit –f “ returns “unlimited”
Any ideas?
Thanks!
igor_m

[baldyeti]

I guess your source file is on NTFS, but the target fat FS has a file size limit of 2Gb. See here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/WINDOWSXP/home/using/productdoc/en/choosing_between_NTFS_FAT_and_FAT32.asp).

[igor_m]

yes, you are right
Thnx!
igor_m

[windos_no_thanks]

If you just want to keep the file temporarily on the USB drive you can split it
into smaller pieces, like this:
cd /the/usb/drive
split -b 1024m /full/path/to/huge_file

That should give you 24 (or 23) files called xaa xab xac xad...
Each of them 1G in size

To put them back on another drive you'd just do this:

cd /the/usb/drive
cat x?? > /full/path/to/new_copy_of_huge_file

[igor_m]

Thanks!
Igor_m