How do I share a file over 5GB?

[Haloman800]

I'm installing Windows 7 on my friend's computer, all his stuff is around 5GB compressed, which I need to back up.

His USB drives are broke, so I can't put it on an HDD.


How do I backup a 5GB file?

 

[caster62003]

Well instead of just cramming everything into a single zip/rar/7zip/... file, you can compress the stuff across multiple smaller compressed file types, and then burning said files to DVD/CD if available. Otherwise, seen as you now have multiple smaller files, you can upload these files to a free file sharing/storage site, can't think of one at this time.

There is also Microsoft's free SkyDrive account, go and get your friend a free Live account, then look for SkyDrive, upload the files, restore, enjoy.

You could also take the computer to a repair shop and get a professional backup performed, but seen as the files are so small, and I don't think the benefits will outweigh the cost.

There are many more routes you can take, so if none of these work, Google can surely help you out.

 

[Stevetry]

split it and the re split them back

 

[Lacius]

Assuming you aren't formatting the drive, a fresh installation of Windows 7 will take all of your friend's files and put them in a folder called "Windows.old".

 

[pocchama1996]

make a .torrent
send to yourself and open it on the other computer.
The file will begin sending.
once done just do whatever you need to do
Fast
Easy
Effective

 

[megafanzero]

You don't need to transfer his stuff.

When you install windows 7, it moves ALL of the old files into a folder located in C:\Windows.old



Just to give you a little hint that has nothing to do with this question, you can install windows by running setup.exe from the iso file itself, no need for dvds or usb.

 

[Heran Bago]

FTP or Torrent

 

[megafanzero]

Alternatively, if you have another computer, you could use DropBox to transfer the files seamlessly.


Or you could just make another partition and just stick the files there.

 

[hatredg0d]

bit-torrent is unrealistic because you would have t o set up the torrent. go to your house, download his files and leave them running. go to his house do the windows thing, then re-download them. i recommend having 7zip (or whatever you use) split the archive into 700mb parts, or 4gig parts. then burning onto cd/dvd. a free file hosting website would also work (megaupload) however you would also need to slpit the archive, and depending on your upload speed it may take a LONG time to upload them.

second thought, just barrow a flash drive from someone. you can pick up an 8gig for like 15 bucks.

 

[chemistryfreak]

Just create a partition and transfer the 5GB of files into that newly created partition. Then do a fresh installation of Windows 7.

Important: Do not install Windows 7 over the newly created partition with the backup-ed files.

 

[TheTwoR's]

I cannot believe no one has recommended simply using 2 DVD's. It's the easiest and it doesn't require any of that partition garbage or torrents or software or anything.
Good luck!
(Btw, Win7 sucks)

 

[pistone]

try transferring them over Ethernet or create a partition with partition magic and copy the file to that partition and then just format the partition that has the file system