What file size can a USB memory handle?

[bacardi/avt]

I was thinking of getting a new bigger USB memory to use moving files between different computers. I then saw that Corsair had a 16GB version now and that gott me wondering how big files you can store on it?

From what I have read, most USB memory are formated as FAT16 or FAT32 and since this memory is bigger than 2GB it must be FAT32 (since FAT16 can't adress more than 2GB). But If I remember correctly there is a limitation in FAT32 that can't handle files bigger than 2GB or am I wrong? That skould mean that you can not use these new memorys to transport DVD isos.

OK, I know i can format it as NTFS instead and that would let me handle bigger files, but at the same time it will require me to always use the "stop usb function" in Windows. And I also wonder if Linux and MacOS can read that filesystem?

Has anyone tried these bigger USB memorys?

[jagabo]

Files on a FAT32 device are limited to a maximum of 4 GB.

[buttzilla]

I believe linux can't properly handle ntfs. I think you can mount it as read only. I know suse could read ntfs but couldn't write. I don't think you can write to it from linux. I could be wrong. I'm not a linux expert.

[bacardi/avt]

Ok, so this means that I have to choose if I want to be able to store files bigger than 4GB (using NTFS) or be able to write to the memory from Linux (using FAT32).

I wonder if it is possible to have two partitions with different filesystems on the same USB memory? I have to look into that I think.

[Bjs]

Actually these devices are formatted as FAT , which has a 4gig max file size restriction .

The only problem is , if the device is used with systems using older windows os's , they will have issues with files that surpass there own native format restrictions and the file may appear to them as being corrupt , when in fact , there are not .

You can have different partitions , and each using a different format , but as I mentioned before , this may not be handy when the device is used on pc's running older windows os's .

[bacardi/avt]

So I can have partitions with different filsystems on them. That should let me have one smaller partition (let say 6GB) and one larger (10GB) and then use the small one on computers not supporting NTFS and the other on those that does, Right?

How about Mac? can MacOS read NTFS or must it be FAT32?

[Bjs]

A: Yes

B: Fat32 fine ... I think its restricted to 32gig max ... fat16 for win95 , incase

Ntfs is another thing

http://code.google.com/p/macfuse/

The gui which is supposed to automate the process can be found here

http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/08/mgorbach/MacFusionWeb/

They explain it all in clear common sence ... well , to me it makes sence ...

[bacardi/avt]

OK, Thanx for all the help.

By the way, that FUSE thing on Mac and linux has it got an equal on Windows?