Share via

Windows Creation Tool changing file system on USB and creating an issue with copying files without properties.

Anonymous
2025-05-20T15:51:13+00:00

I'm currently trying to install Windows OS on a brand new built PC using the flash drive method.

I'm trying to get the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool on the flash drive, as well as a folder with the drivers for my hardware. I format the USB to NTFS otherwise I get the "The file [...] has properties that cannot be moved/copied to the new location." I install the creation tool first, because it wipes the USB clean during the process. I realised that it's also re-formatting the USB back to FAT32 file system. So I cannot move the folder with Drivers as well.

I am following this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpnLehvOM6E

The creator specifically mentions creating a folder with the driver downloads on the USB along with the creation tool.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Rodrigo Queiroz 70,925 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-20T16:38:52+00:00

    Hi,

    I'm Rodrigo and I'll help you.

    When you see the error "The file [...] has properties that cannot be moved/copied to the new location.", just select yes to cope the files, it is just file metadata that won't be copied to the USB drive, but the file will keep as it is.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

3 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-22T14:09:54+00:00

    Thank you.

    But what is the difference? How is the file the same if some properties are missing?

    0 comments
  2. Rodrigo Queiroz 70,925 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-22T14:31:07+00:00

    This metadata is information like the date modified and download data, which are stored on the file system, not on the file.

    0 comments
  3. Ramesh Srinivasan 173.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-22T14:40:35+00:00

    When you downloaded the drivers (or any file from the web), the zone identifier (the source URL and the internet zone it was from) was saved as NTFS Alternate Data Streams (ADS). Since FAT32 doesn't support ADS, the metadata will be dropped when copying the file(s) from an NTFS partition to the FAT32 partition. When you see the following notification, simply click Yes. The file won't be modified. Only its ADS (which is not essential) is lost.

    Image

    To avoid that notification, right-click on the file you want to copy, and click Properties. Select "Unblock" and click OK.

    You can read about the ZoneID MotW at Eric Lawrence's site.

    Downloads and the Mark-of-the-Web – text/plain: https://textslashplain.com/2016/04/04/downloads-and-the-mark-of-the-web/

    How to Bulk Unblock Files Downloaded from Internet: https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/bulk-unblock-files-downloaded-internet/

    0 comments