large files (W98)

[bjb5555]

I'm not sure if this is the correct area, but I have a question about decerasing or sorting files. I do not have a burner or disk drive on either my protable or desktop. If I download a program on the lap top that is larger than 1.44 MG (home) I don't have any way to transporte it to the desktop (work). Is there software that will allow large programs to be placed on several 1.44 types and the rejoined when downloaded on another machine??

Thank you in advance.

[Andy-S]

Winzip will allow you to do this.

WinZip® makes it easy to create Zip files that “span” multiple disks. This is useful if the files you are working with will not fit on one disk.

To make a Zip file that spans multiple disks, simply create a Zip file on a removable disk, then add files to the Zip as you normally would. If the disk fills during Add operation, you will be prompted for another disk. Simply insert the next disk and click the OK button.
Important: disk spanning is not available when adding files to an existing archive; it is only available while creating a new archive. Also note that you cannot add or remove files from a Zip file that spans disks. WinZip requires pre-formatted disks (you can format disks using My Computer or Windows Explorer).

Example:
To zip the files in your c:\data folder to a Zip file called A:\DATA.ZIP:

1. Start WinZip.
2. Drag and drop the c:\data folder from My Computer or Windows Explorer to the WinZip window.
3. In the Add dialog box, type the filename of the Zip file (A:\DATA.ZIP).
4. Click the Add button.

If more than one disk is needed, you will be prompted for additional disks.

You can download the evaluation version from <a target="_blank" href=http://www.winzip.com>www.winzip.com</a>

Cheers
Andy

[jdharm]

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,10615,66455,00.html>Try File Splitter</a>. It is a small, simple, reliable program that will do just what you are asking. It will split your file into as many pieces as you want, from 2 to 99, all the same size. To use the minimum number of disks just turn up the number of pieces till the size of each piece (calculated and shown on the interface) drops just below your disk size. I love it and use it all the time. Gets 5 out of 5 starts on the ZDNet downloads rating system. Freeware.

The following is from the Read Me file:
____________________

· What This Program Does ·

This program lets you split up files into smaller pieces (from 2 to 99).

· What This Program Does NOT Do ·

This program does not install any files into "c:\windows", or "c:\windows\system", nor does it create any annoying desktop shortcuts, start menu shortcuts, registry entries, or shell enhancements!!

· Why? ·

I wrote this program because I was bored, and, I found myself still using a similar program I made in QBASIC a long time ago.

My home page is at:

http://www.rit.edu/~jst3290

... so check it out, because it has other cool stuff I made (usually with the source code included).
- Joe Testa
jst3290@cs.rit.edu

P.S. If my program crashes and burns, and it takes your business along with it, don't bother suing me because I'm just a poor college student. =P

Josh

" If you can't be funny, be interesting."

[bjb5555]

Thanks much Andy and jdharm

[gangsta]

I know you are looking for a software fix; but none of these software solutions are going to be really worth it with grand dad's 3.5" 1.44 drive.
I recommend you invset $150 in the LS240 external laser floppy which can take STANDARD a 3.5" floppy & turn it into a whopping 32MB diskette ... cheaper than CDR!.
Unlike the Zip Drive it requires no drivers & no power supply of you use Win98 + USB . And no IRQ.

Plus if you buy LS240/120 laser media you can store 240 MB / or 120 MB on each floppy.
There is an application to record DVD movies on these things, and it works great with most backup software.
The BIOS can use LS as a boot drive as well.

I think this is the best advice I can give you.

I've been using LS120 for years ...

[jdharm]

Questions:

I've never messed with Superdisk drives. You say they can use standard 1.44MB floppies and write 32MB to them?

Are they as bad as 1.44 floppy drives about speed?

Are the Superdisk cartridges as reliable /images/forums/icons/tongue.gif as 1.44 floppies?

Given their performance, would you think the LS-240 is worth the extra $100 over the price of a LS-120? <a target="_blank" href=http://queen.pricewatch.com/search/search.idq?CiBookMark=N-1d3d730-59bb06-1&CiBookmarkSkipCount=15&cr=ls-120&l=37406&qc=%22LS%22*+AND+%22120%22*&ne=37452&r=15>Pricewatch</a>

Josh

" If you can't be funny, be interesting."

[gangsta]

You make some good points there.

I have the Internal EIDE version of LS120. I was able to convert it to USB & PCMCIA external using EIDE off market external drive enclosure kits.

I used to have the Zip Drive, and was one of the first people to buy that piece of junk. It stopped working and I made up my mind about Iomega.
With LS drives, it was to the contrary, I've never had any problems unless you consider 2 drive letters a problem (this had been resolved in newer BIOSes like Award 4.51 and newer. they show 1 letter for both modes provided you configure the floppies in the bios correctly).

The 32 MB format feature converts any 1.44 MB floppy into 32MB ; but of course it can only be read by LS. The application that does this is SuperWriter.

I cannot judge about speed, which is faster when using LS media as opposed to normal floppies, but there exists several versions as far as that is concerned.
EIDE
USB (22x)
USB 2.0 (used by LS240)
some specs give 600KB/s which is 4x .. it depends on the manufacturer I guess.

As far as reliability, the LS media are laser diskettes so in that regard they are like MO media. In my opinion they are better /cheaper / thiner than Zip drive media. Although not as colorful in their marketing schemes as Iomegas'.

I am not an expert on prices, but the page you listed has some very good deals.
I'd think the main deciding factor in getting LS240 rather than 120 is the D2D encoding for those who like to transfer DV movies on LS floppies and take them to watch on a notebook PC or something like that .. on a flight / train for example. This by the way gives you an idea about the speed you are asking about, at least they are fast enough to play movies. The drive is small enough and some notebooks have LS240 internally as an option (IBM).

Now if you use Drive Space or a Zipped files then you can store even more than 240 MBs/120MBs depending on what model you have.

I bought my LS120 close to $80 five years ago...
Now, that $37 they are asking on pricewatch is 3 times the price of a floppy drive but in return it can store the contents of 80 floppies on one LS120 disk, or 160 floppies on 240.
How much does it cost to buy 80 floppies vs 1 LS120 media in your neck of the woods ... decide based on that factor.

[jdharm]

Thanks for the info. I was only peripherally aware of Superdisks before now. I've been using a Zip and hauling it around in a camera bag with the parallel cable and install disk. Kind of a drag, but I didn't think to look into anything else. I wish I had known the details sooner. Now usb flash drives are so cheap that I think I'm going right to them next.

Josh

"A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on."

[gangsta]

by coincidence today while looking thru some site I came across these user reviews of the LS120

I thought you might want to take a look
http://www.sysopt.com/userreviews/remove/reviewhtml/Imation_LS120.html

but what I find funny is that companies like NEC, Compaq, & IBM were selling some notebook models with these drives installed and most likly they've never told the customers using their brand about the floppy's 120MB capacity.

I imagine there were some of those customers went and bought zip drives ...