There isn't a limit if you use external files. I take it you didn't get the plugin I showed you to work.

No, I kept getting an error - plus I shifted computer, so I will have to get NSIS again... if I could replicate that error, would you be able to understand what it meant?

Possibly. No guarantees though. :)

Ok, I just got to find the script from my old PC's hard drive...

You could look here: http://www.jrsoftware.org/ishelp/index.php?topic=setup_compression

I used Inno Setup for an installer I made and I would definitely recommend it! (The only issue I've ever had with it, is that I can't customize the uninstaller...but I don't think you can do that in any other language either.)

Alright, I have 3gb of ram so I don't think I need to worry!

So there is not any risk in doing it in lzma2/ultra64? I mean data corruption, etc. ?

I just set it up to compile now, so hopefully it will fit on a 4.7gb DVD when finished....

NSIS gives you complete control of both installer and uninstaller.

No, there is no risk. That's the entire point of a lossless compression algorithm (and a non-lossless algorithm would be completely useless in an installer, anyway).

You may still not be able to get it below 4.7GB, however; it sounds like your original data is already compressed, and it's almost always limited how much you can gain by recompressing.

Inno Setup does support the very strong LZMA2 file compression (among others). But, of course, the actual compression rate ist mainly influenced by the files you use. If they are already compressed (e.g. jpg, mp3 etc.), then the compression results after compiling your setup won't be very impressive.

I hope this explanation helps you a little. To say more i need to know which type of files your setup actually includes.

Well, I'm backing up my games, and using a custom installer, but I only have single layer DVD's so I wanted it to fit on one of them.

That specific game is TES: Oblivion (Steam version), and I have just started compiling an install now, I am pretty sure it will work if it is as good as it says it is.

EDIT: Bah, even with Ultra64 compression it is still 5.09gb, too big for a single dvd....

Any ideas people?

Well, trying to compress game files usually won't work very well, because those are already compressed to make them ready for installation. Even if the game is installed, most developers use compressed data (e.g. video-files in BIK-format, sound-files in MP3-format and so on).

The only thing you can do is to split your setup data. Any setup maker is capable of doing that, because those programs pack all installation data in packages, which you can split to release them on two or more discs.

Advanced Installer, but the customization options are not available in the free version.

Yeah I tried Advanced...but like you said the really good stuff is only in the bought version, and I don't wanna pay for it lol!

As for NSIS...how hard would it be to allow the user to select a directory on their hard drive to copy files from during installation? The installer is for a source port, and the original game files are needed, so in the installer they need to select a folder where the files reside.

You mean DiskSpanning? If so then I already have them in 512mb .bin files.

One thing though... should solid compression be on for something like this?

Yes, I am talking about disk spanning.

Solid compression increases the compression ratio, if you use many small files (e.g. 2000 files at 1 kb). Activating it will make compiling take a little longer, but it may be worth it. However, don't expect miracles! :)