I want to tfr some normal PC files onto a DVD-RW. Is there anyway of putting more than the 4.7Gb onto 1 disc ?

Question

I heard of DVD Shrink, but this is only suitable for DVD-type files.
I'm not sure if win-zip can manage this either ?

Answer 1

You want to try and find someone who has a 'ghost' program... this is a program which makes a copy of all the files you want to keep and massively compresses them... i had the whole contents of my hard disk on a regular cd...

look for a ghosting program, failing that winzip or RAR work well at compression assuming the files are within reason... as some files cannot be compressed as well as others.

Answer 2

Although different files can be compressed using different techniques such as JPG as apposed to TIFF images. JPEG uses Lossy compression (meaning each save with compression looses some quality which can never be retained) wheras TIFF is a non Lossy format (which i believe if i can remember right is based on LHarc technology).

Then a similar comparison in the music world between say MP3 and FLAC (MP3 = Lossy, FLAC = non Lossy).

You say that your storing "normal PC files", which could be quite an array of different files but i'm assuming that "normal" PC files would consist of word documents, software programs, system files maybe images and potentially sound. Generally most movie formats have already been compressed to some degree so you wouldn't really gain much if you were compressing them.

It depends what data your compressing and how your compressing it some compression systems are better for certain sorts of files. Thats just something to take into consideration when cramming large amounts of data onto a DVD. I have managed to get ridiculous amounts of MP3's onto DVD's and they can be played back in many modern DVD players (hours of music playback).

Anyway one thing that should definately be considered here is the importance of the data your backing up. If its personal stuff that you really don't wan't to loose or important for any other reason and you don't wan't to loose it then please think more carefully about your backup strategy.

Especially when compressing large bits of software becuase if the disk becomes damaged in any way (physically) if its zipped or heavily compressed its unlikely that you'd be able to recover any of the data from the disk. Whereas if it was stored on a larger number of disks you would have a higher likelyhood of being able to recover the data should the worst happen. Just a word of cuation.

And if it is really important stuff then another part of a good backup strategy is producing multiple copies (at least one more) for added security and even locking that one(s) in the cupboard away from harm. Anyway i think you'll be aware of that now!

There are plenty of good compression systems around and I remember hearing years ago about some ridiculous (non lossy) compression ratios (correct me if i'm wrong but i heard of something like 10Mb on 1.4Mb floppy).

Winrar is a fairly effective all rounder if your gonna be compressing but maybe in this day and age there is better but its still used by just about everyone. Check it out and good luck

Oh and I almost forgot. Time. Time is a definite factor here too. It can take considerable time to compress a file and when it comes to decompression that takes some time too. Plus split the files up into a number of smaller files becuase OS's tend not to get on with BIG BIG files

Answer 3

if your burner is dual layer get some dual layer discs