Large File Copies May Fail After 4 Gigabytes in Windows NT

 Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
Article ID: Q104181

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

When you copy a large file [greater than 4 gigabytes (GB) in size] between two Windows NT computers, the file may become corrupted on the destination computer.

CAUSE

This is caused by a problem with the Windows NT network redirector where, in extending the file after copying just less than 4 GB, the redirector actually truncates the file by using only the low part of the LARGE_INTEGER file size. The next write then time-outs because the server has to zero-extend the file, which takes more than 45 seconds.

NOTE: Even if the time-out didn't occur, all of the data between the truncation point and 4 GB would be lost, which would be even worse.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem was corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): 

   S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbbug3.10 kbnetwork ntfilesys
Version : 3.1
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: May 9, 1997
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