Using IC to copy thousands of files from CD to HD

[mmcap]

I have a clip art CD that contains thousands of graphics files. There is no software or executable on the CD. It is just a data CD of files.

To date, when I have sent the CD, I told people to just copy the CD to their hard drive.

However, when I found Install Creator, I thought it would be a better end-user experience to allow them to "install the files" to their computer.

I created a test CD and added an autorun.inf to start the executable that was created by IC (500 MB file).

It takes several minutes for the executable to launch and several more for it to copy the files from the CD to the hard drive.

Is there a more efficient and better way to do this?

Thanks.

mmcap

[mmcap]

I just did some more testing and other computer seem to install much quicker. So here is an updated question..

Is there a way to make the CD so that it either allows the person to install to the hard drive OR the files are in a directory structure that people can navigate to using Windows Explorer.

Would I have to use ICP to keep these files external?

Thanks.

mmcap

[Steven]

I would create a front-end in MMF that copies the files automatically and auto-runs. With IC the files are compressed and need to be decompressed in order to be copied over, which will increase the copying time.

If you need a hand i'm always available for hire.

Steve

[Yves]

It takes several minutes for the executable to launch

I think this issue happens with Vista, it must scan the whole EXE file before running it.

To solve it we have added a "Separate data from EXE" option in the Build tab. Check this option and build the installer, it will generate 2 files, a small EXE and a big data file.

[mmcap]

Yves,

Thank you. I will test that.

Question - is there a way I can create a directory structure on the CD that contains the thousands of graphic files (for people who just want to leave them on the CD and copy them as they need them)

AND

Create an install for people who actually want to copy them all to their hard drive?

mmcap

[Joshtek]

I believe that Install Creator Pro has a 'Keep Files External' option which means it copies files from the same folder as the installer instead of compressing them. However, I don't think regular Install Creator has this functionality.

[Yves]

Correct, only the Pro version has this feature.

Also, just for info, copying individual files from the CD is usually slower than extracting them from the EXE file, so if there is enough space on the disk you should include them both in the EXE file and as individual files.