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I created a "Dynamic" VeraCrypt container of size 10 GB, i.e. it will grow when the usage needs it.

As it's initally empty, in reality it takes less than 100 MB on disk.

Why does it still take a few minutes to copy with Windows Explorer to an external USB HDD (normal time for 10 GB with my USB2 device), rather than a few seconds, as the file in reality takes less than 100 MB?

Why does it copy the full 10 GB whereas only < 100 MB are used?

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Basj
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  • Copying a sparse file may well "copy" the empty space. Seems we have a duplicate question at https://superuser.com/questions/657780/copymove-sparse-files-on-ntfs-with-windows – Mokubai Nov 30 '20 at 12:05
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    The second paragraph of your error message even states as much. Moving the container to another disk "will be extended to the maximum" and even states a method around it. – Mokubai Nov 30 '20 at 12:11
  • @Mokubai Yes indeed (I saw this in the screenshot), but why is that so? – Basj Nov 30 '20 at 12:11
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    Because as far as the copying program is concerned you have a 10GB file. That the disk units are not allocated is transparent to applications. As far as programs (explorer included) the file is almost entirely zeroes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparse_file – Mokubai Nov 30 '20 at 12:14

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