Failure when compiling a big installer

Author: virtlink (talk, contrib)

Issue

Compiler error when trying to compile very large installers.

Cause

NSIS can theoretically compile installers with a size up to 2 Gb. However, the system hardware and operating system may also limit the size.

Solution

If possible, it is always better to keep large datafiles separate from the installer. This will generally improve performance. You can decompress external files using plug-ins such as ExtractDLL or ZipDLL.

If you want everything to be in one executable file, try the following:

• Use SetCompression /SOLID
• Decrease the compression level or dictionary size
• Try changing the value of FileBufSize
• Use a system with Windows 2000, XP or 2003