Disassembling a large file, moving it, and reassembling it on another machine
July 9, 2009 12:06 PM Subscribe
I have a large .iso file to transport. If I split the file and burn it onto two DVDs, can I combine them again once they're on the target machine? How?
I have a large (8.55 GB) .iso of program files which I'd like to burn for transport and installation onto another computer. I gather this requires splitting the file into two parts so it will fit onto two DVDs. I'm in the process of splitting and burning it now (using winrar), but I am not sure what to do with the data to make it installable once I get it onto the target machine. Is there a way to recombine the two parts into the original huge .iso file? If so, I could probably mount it with daemon tools or something and install it this way... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
[side note: I am asking this question on behalf of a friend. Not that I'd be embarrassed to ask the same question myself!]
I have a large (8.55 GB) .iso of program files which I'd like to burn for transport and installation onto another computer. I gather this requires splitting the file into two parts so it will fit onto two DVDs. I'm in the process of splitting and burning it now (using winrar), but I am not sure what to do with the data to make it installable once I get it onto the target machine. Is there a way to recombine the two parts into the original huge .iso file? If so, I could probably mount it with daemon tools or something and install it this way... Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
[side note: I am asking this question on behalf of a friend. Not that I'd be embarrassed to ask the same question myself!]
winRAR on the other end does this. If it doesn't mount on the other end then it's not mountable.
posted by jessamyn at 12:27 PM on July 9, 2009
posted by jessamyn at 12:27 PM on July 9, 2009
If you can burn double layer DVD on your computer then it will probably save you some trouble. Double Layer DVD (DVD+R DL) holds about 8.55 GB worth of data.
posted by jstarlee at 12:43 PM on July 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by jstarlee at 12:43 PM on July 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Likes like the image file may be just a smidge too big. The wikipedia article on DVD+R DL is rather informative. WinRAR may be the best bet for file segmentation and re-assembly. DVD+R DL holds just under 8.55 GB of data.
posted by PROD_TPSL at 1:07 PM on July 9, 2009
posted by PROD_TPSL at 1:07 PM on July 9, 2009
I'd burn the image directly to a dual layer disc. Files over 2 gig aren't always visible on a DVD - I know it's fine on Linux, but not on OSX.
posted by Pronoiac at 2:08 PM on July 9, 2009
posted by Pronoiac at 2:08 PM on July 9, 2009
I would never, ever use compression for this.
You want some sort of concat software. If you're on a Mac, I'd recommend Split and Concat; if you're on a PC, I'm sure someone else around here can help you out.
What this program will do is take a file—say, BIG.iso (8 GB)—and split it into two files: BIG.iso.001 (4 GB) and BIG.iso.002 (4 GB). There are settings, depending on the program, for how big each chunk is. Just burn each part onto its own DVD, copy the parts onto the destination computer, and presto.
The only catch is, you'll need a similar program on the destination computer as well. (A flash drive, or even one of the DVDs, should easily hold an application like that.)
posted by reductiondesign at 2:09 PM on July 9, 2009
You want some sort of concat software. If you're on a Mac, I'd recommend Split and Concat; if you're on a PC, I'm sure someone else around here can help you out.
What this program will do is take a file—say, BIG.iso (8 GB)—and split it into two files: BIG.iso.001 (4 GB) and BIG.iso.002 (4 GB). There are settings, depending on the program, for how big each chunk is. Just burn each part onto its own DVD, copy the parts onto the destination computer, and presto.
The only catch is, you'll need a similar program on the destination computer as well. (A flash drive, or even one of the DVDs, should easily hold an application like that.)
posted by reductiondesign at 2:09 PM on July 9, 2009
Just noticed the install part, sorry. Once you've got the full intact .iso on the computer, either open it with Daemon Tools (PC) or something like Toast (Mac).
posted by reductiondesign at 2:11 PM on July 9, 2009
posted by reductiondesign at 2:11 PM on July 9, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you all for your helpful answers. My friend the asker figured out how to get her LAN to recognize the two computers, and they each other; presto!
posted by not_on_display at 3:18 PM on July 9, 2009
posted by not_on_display at 3:18 PM on July 9, 2009
Response by poster: Original asker adds: "Thanks for the advice here. As not_on_display said, I was able to solve my immediate problem by transferring the iso in one lump via LAN, but I would still like to burn a disk backup, so this information is very useful to me.
"I'm curious as to why reductiondesign says not to use compression for this? Is it an issue of degradation? I'm on a PC, by the way."
posted by not_on_display at 12:49 PM on July 10, 2009
"I'm curious as to why reductiondesign says not to use compression for this? Is it an issue of degradation? I'm on a PC, by the way."
posted by not_on_display at 12:49 PM on July 10, 2009
I was avoiding compression simply because that's a huge amount of data to compress and could take a while. No other reason, really.
posted by reductiondesign at 1:01 PM on July 10, 2009
posted by reductiondesign at 1:01 PM on July 10, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Phire at 12:08 PM on July 9, 2009