BIG files (file>300MB)

Alex.Welch
23rd December 2001 17:28 UTC

BIG files (file>300MB)
I am getting this error on compiling a script with a file of 700MB:

File: failed mmapping file "file.fff"

Is this because Win9x can't handle larger files?

Is there any way to get round this?

Hando
23rd December 2001 18:08 UTC

Limits..
From Documentation:

Installers can be as large as 2GB (theoretically -- when building on Win9x the limit seems to be around 500MB, however building on NT then installing on Win9x works with larger sizes)

If I remember correctly we have Garfield comics to thank for this discovery. That crazy cat...

If your distributing on CD you could just store your files on CD and use NSIS to copy them over to the destination folder.

Angry Weasel
23rd December 2001 21:36 UTC

How did Garfield bring about this discovery?

dbareis
23rd December 2001 22:21 UTC

Hi,

I'm not sure but under WIN9X isn't the size of virtual memory fixed, in which case the limit is controlled by the configuration.

Bye
Dennis

Alex.Welch
24th December 2001 18:48 UTC

OK, I'm getting lost here. I just posted the thread to see if anyone knew how to get round it. I can't find anyone who can so no need to reply any more. Thanks anyways.

petersa
25th December 2001 09:26 UTC

Hi Alex,

To answer your question: you will not be able to build your installer using your current operating system (assuming Win95/98/Me).

You will need to try using an NT-based OS such as WinNT/2000/XP.

If you plan to store this installer on a CD, and you do not have access to an NT operating system, you should store your files on the CD and use the CopyFiles command instead of packing them in the installer.

Alex

Alex.Welch
25th December 2001 09:39 UTC

That's what I thought. Thanks anyway.

Hando
25th December 2001 14:46 UTC

Garfield relevance
This is going on memory, I tried a search but came up with nothing.

The NSIS size limit for installers built on win9x was first discovered when some guy was having problems with a present for his brother. Basically he wanted to compress a bucketload of Garfield comics into an installer and NSIS crapped itself due to the size. Dude posted on the forum, problem was discovered, additional info was added to makensis.htm. Everyone lived happily ever after.

DuaneJeffers
26th December 2001 20:39 UTC

Hando,

Are you a former lurker ... because this is true. God Bless Garfield!!!

-Duane

prodangle
26th December 2001 22:05 UTC

Originally posted by dbareis
Hi,

I'm not sure but under WIN9X isn't the size of virtual memory fixed, in which case the limit is controlled by the configuration.

Bye
Dennis

Virtual memory size in win 9x isn't fixed by default. I'd try it out on my Win95 box, but it'd take for ever as it's only a P66 :)

Hando
27th December 2001 18:50 UTC

Lurker...
Yeah, I've been using NSIS since v1.0 and been lurking around the boards for quite some time. It was only recently that I had a feature request (which, btw, was solved with 1.90 .onNextPage & InstallOptions DLL) so decided to register.

DuaneJeffers
28th December 2001 04:13 UTC

Hando: Great!!!!

prodangle:

Originally posted by prodangle

Virtual memory size in win 9x isn't fixed by default. I'd try it out on my Win95 box, but it'd take for ever as it's only a P66 :)

That would take forever to compile an NSIS Installer at 2 GB :) :igor:

-Duane

Alex.Welch
29th December 2001 10:00 UTC

So if I manually set virtual memory up to be much bigger, that might work?

Koen van de Sande
1st January 2002 18:32 UTC

Windows 95/98 can't handle more than 768 MB of memory... I don't think it's going to work.