Split large files for backup onto CD?

Infopackets Reader Lai C. writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I have recently organized all of my critical files into 1 single folder. The rationale for organizing in this manner is so that it is easy for me to locate my files for the purpose of backing them up onto CD recordable.

My Critical File Folder contains over 5 gigabytes (GB) worth of data -- with some files being quite large in size. Ideally, I would like to store all the files 'perfectly' onto 8 CDs in order to save time and media [hint: 8 CDs x 700 megabytes each = 5.6 gigabytes, which is enough to store the backup folder]. The way things are looking, I may end up having to use 14 CDs to get the job done because some files are so large that I can't fit more than 1 file per disc. This ends up being a big waste of media (and time).

Is there a software program that I can use to split the files according to the CD capacity and burn them directly to disc? "

My response:

Normally, when a file is split for the purpose of storing it onto backup medium, it is first compressed [in order to save space] and then the data is re-written into another file format, called an "archive" (click to here see an example picture of a .ZIP archive).

The ability to split a file (or files) across an archive is referred to as "creating a multi-volume set." Similarly, the ability to save the archive onto multiple CDs so that all the written data utilizes an enire CD (resulting in minimal wasted space during a backup) is referred to as "spanning an archive."

A word of warning, however!

Not all backup programs are created equal. Many backup solutions can compress data and span an archive across multiple volumes [CDs for example] -- but even fewer will actually test the data after is written to disc. This stage of the backup is absolutely critical, as a failed volume in the archive set may result in the inability restore your backup partially, and in the worst case, none at all!

Genie Backup Manager is one of my all-time favorite backup programs that can compress data, span it across multiple volumes (seen here by the "fixed split" radio button) -- plus it can verify the data once it is written to disc (referred to as "bit level verification"). I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to make critical (or even casual!) backups of important data.

For more information, a full review of Genie Backup Manager can be found on our web site:

Genie Backup Manager Review

On a related note: if you found this article particularly enlightening, you will surely find my "Ultimate Archiving" eBook and video Ultimate Guide especially of interest:

Dennis' Archiving eBook and Video Ultimate Guide