Windows 10: How to identify large files so that I can move some of them to an external drive

My oneDrive space is greater than 90% full. I've been advised here to not let that get any closer to 100%. I now have a 2nd external drive, which I can use to store large, low-usage files. Such as mp4 files. These are concentrated in specific folders, so I can quickly migrate those to the new external drive.Beyond those files, I haven't figured out a way to readily identify other groups of large files.I think my next steps can proceed in an orderly fashion only if I understand how Windows determines the total size of the OneDrive files that it states are 90% of the capacity of OneDrive.Thank

:)

 

Getting a "The file is too large for the destination file system" error on a NTFS external HD

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

If you're encountering the "The file is too large for the destination file system" error on an external hard drive that is already formatted with NTFS, it's possible that there may be other issues at play. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check Available Space: Ensure that your NTFS-formatted external hard drive has sufficient free space to accommodate the file you're trying to copy. NTFS theoretically supports very large files, but the actual available space on the drive could be a limiting factor.
   
2. File System Corruption: Although NTFS is a robust file system, it's not immune to corruption. Run a disk check utility to scan and repair any potential file system issues. Here's how to do it:
   
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
     
   • Type (replace "X" with the drive letter of your external hard drive) and press Enter. chkdsk /f X:
     
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to schedule a disk check at the next system restart.
     
   • Restart your computer to allow the check to run.
     
3. Check for Disk Errors: Use the built-in Windows utility to check the disk for errors:
   
   • Right-click the drive in File Explorer.
     
   • Select "Properties."
     
   • Go to the "Tools" tab.
     
   • Under "Error checking," click "Check."
     
4. Defragment the Drive: If your external hard drive is heavily fragmented, it might affect its ability to store large files efficiently. You can defragment the drive to optimize its performance:
   
   • Right-click the drive in File Explorer.
     
   • Select "Properties."
     
   • Go to the "Tools" tab.
     
   • Under "Optimize and defragment drive," click "Optimize."
     
5. Check File Attributes: Ensure that the file you're trying to copy doesn't have any unusual attributes or permissions that might prevent it from being copied. Right-click the file, select "Properties," and review the file's attributes.
   
6. Use a Different USB Port or Cable: Sometimes, hardware issues can lead to file transfer problems. Try using a different USB port or cable to connect your external hard drive.
   
7. Test with a Different File: Try copying a different large file to the external hard drive to see if the issue is specific to that particular file.
   
8. Backup and Reformat: If none of the above steps work, you may need to back up the data on the external hard drive, reformat it, and then copy your files back to it. This process can help refresh the file system and resolve any underlying issues.
   
9. Check for Hidden or System Files: Make sure you're not trying to copy any hidden or system files that could be restricted.
   

If none of these steps resolve the issue, and you continue to encounter the error, it's possible that there might be a hardware problem with your external hard drive. In such cases, consider contacting the drive's manufacturer for further assistance or replacing the drive if it's under warranty.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates. Thanks.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

External Hard Drive

Hi John,

We suggest that you try the troubleshooting steps below:

• Open your External Hard Drive file in File Explorer.
• Type the name of the file you want to search on the search box and click Enter.

The file will show up in Search Results and you will be able to move it to the correct folder.

Let us know if you need further help.

 

External drive

Hi Richard,

There are several factors that can cause your external drive to not read DVDs even though the system is recognizing the device. This could be caused by a driver that needs to updated or corrupted files. For us to resolve your concern, kindly answer the questions
below:

• Just to confirm, the device that is not working properly is a external DVD optical drive?
• Were there any recent changes or updates installed on your computer?
• Have you tried to plug the external drive to a different port on your computer?

As a initial recommendation, we suggest that your run the built in troubleshooter in Windows 10. Kindly refer to the steps below:

• Type “Troubleshooting” in the Search bar and press Enter.
• Click on “View All” in the top left corner.
• This will display the list of troubleshooters which are built-in in the computer. You can click on
  Hardware and Devices from the list and you can run the troubleshooter.

This will check for common errors that affect hardware on your computer and attempts to correct them.

We look forward to your response after completing the steps.