How many files can a Windows directory have ?

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Mahesh Prasad

01-15-2004, 05:05 PM

Hi,

Is there a limit on number of files a single directory can have in Windows
2000?
Does having a large number of files (10,000+) within a single directory
affect how OS performs
when requesting for files within this folder ?

-Mahesh

Joe Griffin [MSFT]

01-15-2004, 10:07 PM

Depends whether it is NTFS or FAT.
NTFS does not have the limitations of FAT.
This article may help:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;314463
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;310525
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;93496

I believe the largest file that can be stored on a FAT32 system is 4 GIG.

Joe Griffin [MS]
Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

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From: "Mahesh Prasad" <mahesh_prasad@hotmail.com>
Subject: How many files can a Windows directory have ?
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 12:05:28 -0500
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Hi,

Is there a limit on number of files a single directory can have in Windows
2000?
Does having a large number of files (10,000+) within a single directory
affect how OS performs
when requesting for files within this folder ?

-Mahesh

Joe Griffin [MSFT]

01-15-2004, 10:07 PM