file copy error - path is too deep

Trying to copy files from my hard drive to a usb 4 gig flash drive.

I have a home network setup running windows xp

It seems that the flash drive is FAT32 format.

My best guess is that the System filenames are too long.

How can i check the whole system filename length?

or

How can I get around this problem.

It seems Ubiquitous but I am yet to find an effective solution.

 

how long is the path you are trying to copy TO? According to this article the Windows API is limited to 260 characters for a path. So if you are copying from "x:\really long path\in this file\that fits\ok\as\it\is in the api\big filename here that you wouldn't really want to change[...].blah" to someplace like your desktop which is at "c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Backup Files\From my USB Stick\Etc[...]\" the combined path length might be over 260 characters.

The article also talks about using unc naming conventions and the \\?\ prefix on the filename to copy them and having an appoximate 32000 character limitation.

try copying the files to the root folder on your hard drive and see if it's a communications issue, if they copy to that location then it really is a path to long error.

I've also gotten around the path to long error before by using subst.exe to mount the destination folder as a drive and copying to that drive instead. to do so, from a command prompt type:

subst.exe x: "c:\path that you want to copy everything to\"

then you should have an x: drive appear in My Computer. copy to this drive as your destination and the path names given to the Windows API will be shorter.

 

Dear Halo - Thank you so much.

Plugged the usb drive into the back usb ports.

All copying proceeded with NO Problems.



Now I can senf 4 gig of humorous songs to my daughter for her birthday !!!

Woo Hoo !!!

Thanks heaps

PS

I have seen this PATH IS TO DEEP discussed from 2005 to 2010 - with MANY long involved, INEFFECTIVE, solutions.

Maybe this is the post that will "Set my people free".

Well done !!!

 

Thanks for your advice.

Seems the simple solution of

moving the flash drive from the front usb ports to the BACK USB PORTS (which are connected directly to the motherboard) solves ALL the copy problems....

amazing esp after trying 2-3 days of research and unsuccessful "fixes"

 

PATH IS TOO DEEP - SIMPLE EFFECTIVE SOLUTION - HERE NOW !!!


The simple solution of

moving the flash drive from the front usb ports to the BACK USB PORTS
(which are connected directly to the motherboard)

solves ALL the copy problems....

amazing esp after trying 2-3 days of research and unsuccessful "fixes" from 2005 to 2010.


Please excuse the evangelical double posting but I want to give this simple solution to what appears to be an intractable problem with lots of incorrect advice the widest possible coverage.

 

Thanks so much for this

i am amazed at how prevalent the queries are about this and how crappy the solutions are

yours was simple and effective.

 

I thought youd gone nuts for a sec to there Halo ... any idea why that happens?