Fix the 4 GB file limit on your drive
Many drives come set up in an older format called FAT32. It can't hold any single file bigger than 4 GB. A few Solomon items, like the larger Wikipedia and map downloads, are one big file each, so they won't fit on a FAT32 drive.
You have two options:
- Skip the large items. Uncheck the items the installer names and install everything else.
- Reformat the drive as exFAT. exFAT has no 4 GB limit and works on both Windows and Mac. Steps are below.
Check your drive's format
Windows
- Open File Explorer and click This PC.
- Right-click the drive and choose Properties.
- Look at File system. If it says FAT32, the large items won't fit. exFAT or NTFS is fine.
Mac
- Click the drive in the Finder sidebar, or on your desktop.
- Choose File > Get Info.
- Look at Format. If it says MS-DOS (FAT32), the large items won't fit. ExFAT is fine.
Reformat the drive as exFAT
Reformatting erases everything on the drive.
Copy anything you want to keep onto your computer first. Make sure you pick the right drive, not your computer's main disk.
Windows
- Close the Solomon installer.
- In File Explorer, right-click the drive and choose Format.
- Set File system to exFAT. Leave Allocation unit size on Default.
- Leave Quick Format checked, then click Start and OK.
- Wait for Format Complete. It usually takes a few seconds.
Mac
- Quit the Solomon installer.
- Open Disk Utility. It's in Applications > Utilities, or search for it with Spotlight.
- Choose View > Show All Devices, then click the drive's top entry in the sidebar.
- Click Erase. Pick a name, set Format to ExFAT, and if you see Scheme, set it to Master Boot Record.
- Click Erase and wait for it to finish.
Run the installer again
Open the Solomon installer, choose the drive, and check the items you want. The 4 GB message should be gone. Anything that was already on the drive will download again.
Still stuck?
Email support@solomonsurvivaltech.com and tell us which step you're on.