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So, my hard drive recently died... had to buy a new one, and since I hadn't backed up my data in over 2 months I'm having to install quite a bit. Long story short... it took forever to redownload the Witcher 2, and during the process I noticed a tip stating we could make a backup DVD of the game because there's no DRM.

I tried to compress all the files I had downloaded using WinRAR and after 2 hours... it came out compressed at the same 9.5 GB, which won't fit on one of my DVDs.

Is there a way to create a Witcher 2 Game Disk with what I've downloaded from GOG on just one DVD or do I have to use 3? Thanks in advance!
This question / problem has been solved by Kleetusimage
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Nostalgic: So, my hard drive recently died... had to buy a new one, and since I hadn't backed up my data in over 2 months I'm having to install quite a bit. Long story short... it took forever to redownload the Witcher 2, and during the process I noticed a tip stating we could make a backup DVD of the game because there's no DRM.

I tried to compress all the files I had downloaded using WinRAR and after 2 hours... it came out compressed at the same 9.5 GB, which won't fit on one of my DVDs.

Is there a way to create a Witcher 2 Game Disk with what I've downloaded from GOG on just one DVD or do I have to use 3? Thanks in advance!
It will take 3 (2 if you use double layer), no way around it. You can't get more than two of the large .bin files on one disc. Even if you wrapped the files in a multi-disc archive format, the total size is about 600 MB too large for 2 discs or one DL disc.

The downloaded files are already compressed; that is why you didn't get anywhere by trying to compress them.
Some helpful pointers...

WinRAR does allow you to compress and split images at DVD size.

This means you can take all the data files and compress them into one large file that will be split at the size that will fit a DVD. That way you might be able to fit it on two disks (or one dual layer if you are lucky and have good enough drive).

Recommendations I would have for you is to use STORE compression rather than anything more as the images are already compressed so no point doing it twice (not to mention wasting the time), and of course when you are burning the disk make sure you use verification capable software (something like Power ISO) and perhaps even calculate checksum to verify the file (that way you always have a mechanism to check files integrity).

Alternatively I would suggest simply using a USB stick to do the storage. 16GB is pretty cheap these days and is much easier to handle...

If you have any questions in regards to what settings to use with WinRAR or what software to use to calculate checksum and/or burn the disk please let me know.

Last but not least if you found this post (or any other for that matter) helpful please remember to designate that it has answered your question.
Post edited August 21, 2011 by Ebon-Hawk
Nope, if you do the math, you will see that the combined files are still too large for two single-layer DVDs or one double-layer. One double-layer and one single-layer would be enough.

DVD-R (stores a little more than DVD+R): 4,707,319,808 bytes

Sum of file sizes: 10,203,240,209 bytes

Excess over two DVD-R: 788,600,393 bytes
Post edited August 21, 2011 by cjrgreen
Your best shot is to create a set of install DVD's. I think I used three regular discs as I didn't want to waste a DL disc. The GOG installer will prompt for the next file it needs.
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Lou: Your best shot is to create a set of install DVD's. I think I used three regular discs as I didn't want to waste a DL disc. The GOG installer will prompt for the next file it needs.
How do I do that exactly?

I'm not too computer savy... when I inserted a DVD, windows asked if I wanted to put files on it and I chose yes, then named it Witcher 2... but when I tried to move the files from GOG (setup_the_witcher_2, 2-1, 2-2, etc.) it said the disk was too small.

"I know that, windows! Put some of it on this disk then I'll feed you another one when it's full!" ...that was my thought process. Durp*
If you're using a dual layer, you can fit them all but the last file which will need it's own DVD.

If you're using single layer, you'll need 3 of them.

Don't use the Windows burning app if that's what you're doing.

Get yourself ImgBurn, which is freeware:

http://www.imgburn.com/
Post edited August 22, 2011 by Kleetus
Personally I would suggest PowerISO (from www.poweriso.com) I have used many burning applications and I always come back to that one. It has a decent support, it works, it is not complicated...
Multiple DVDs is how I did it as well, but that will work fine. Just make sure that all of the files (I counted 7 files not including patches) end up on the discs and if you ever need to use them, just copy those 7 files into a folder on your hard drive and you should be good to go. And with whatever space is leftover on that final DVD you should probably put the patches on there too just for good measure. And I didn't even need to use software that didn't come with my computer. Just used Roxio and made data discs.

I deliberately uninstalled The Witcher 2 and erased all the files on my hard drive specifically to test and make sure this method works and it does.
Post edited August 23, 2011 by link1264
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link1264: just copy those 7 files into a folder on your hard drive
You don't need to do that, it will install from multiple DVD's fine, as long as you skip the file integrity checks.
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Kleetus: Get yourself ImgBurn, which is freeware:

http://www.imgburn.com/
The learning curve with ImgBurn is a bit harsh, but yes, it is the best, and it is free.

I scared my wife into thinking the monitor was on fire, because I left it running with the smoke effect that it does in Windows Aero :)
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cjrgreen: I scared my wife into thinking the monitor was on fire, because I left it running with the smoke effect that it does in Windows Aero :)
:) I've never seen that "feature".

Your wife sounds like she'd love the BSoD screensaver.
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cjrgreen: I scared my wife into thinking the monitor was on fire, because I left it running with the smoke effect that it does in Windows Aero :)
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Kleetus: :) I've never seen that "feature".

Your wife sounds like she'd love the BSoD screensaver.
On my personal experience backing up in optical media as a primary source is both a hassle and a shot in the foot. FOR RESTORE REASONS. Here's why.
1: All the reasons posted so far with the different software suites WinRar, ImageBurner, etc.
2: Optical media is very exposed to environment changes: climate, fungi, your dog, bugs, your kids, etc.
3: Optical media is very prone to errors and dependent on optical drives. If it gets dirty it won't read on some drives. There are different levels of dirty a drive can handle. You have to handle it with care. You have to clean it. And the list goes on.
4: Speed, Optical Media is Slow. Period.
Take it from someone who was backing up on CDs and DVDs for 15 years.

In reality what you have to think about is not only how are you going to backup your data but HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RESTORE IT and HOW SAFE YOUR DATA WILL BE ON THE BACKUP.

It used to be by the time all this software was developed the price per Megabyte on Hard drives didn't justify switching over to HDD back up but today THERE IS SIMPLY NO JUSTIFICATION TO USE DVDs over HDDs as a backup media.

When I downloaded TW2 I had an internal harddrive mounted on a Thermaltake SATA docking station. It took me 5 minutes to backup the entire game. No more than 60 bucks, the price of the game to have that available.
Like this:

Select, Drag, Drop, Wait.

If I need to I create a backup of a backup and I'm good to go.

I've never met a Systems administrator that prefers DVDs over other media( Tapes, HDDs) for backup purposes.
Post edited August 23, 2011 by einarabelc5
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einarabelc5: I've never met a Systems administrator that prefers DVDs over other media( Tapes, HDDs) for backup purposes.
System admins have totally different preferences and requirements to a home user.
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einarabelc5: THERE IS SIMPLY NO JUSTIFICATION TO USE DVDs over HDDs as a backup media.
$$ - Less than 1.00 for 3 DVD's is way cheaper than the initial cost of that hard drive.

I also have been backing up to CD and DVD for double digit years and have yet to encounter
any issues as long as you take care of the discs. I have had more hard drive failures duing that time frame.
Post edited August 24, 2011 by Lou