Backing up games onto CD

[Seabody]

My computer has to be repaired due to some problem with the internal wireless receiver (or something like that). We were warned about stuff possibly being wiped from the hard drive during the process, so I've been backing up all of my files onto a USB. Pretty much everything has fit so far, but my Electronic Arts folder in Documents is "larger than 5.95 GB" because I have UC, a decent amount of Store Content, and I've done a Factory Reset to create several "The Sims 3" folders.
Now, my only option here is to burn my entire EA folder onto a CD, but I have two questions:

1. Is it safe to burn it onto a CD?
2. If I used a "Compressed (zipped) folder" to store them in and compress it, will that damage files and make a considerable difference to file size?

Thanks in advance!

[MoonsAreBlue]

I can't think of any reason why a CD wouldn't work. As far as compressing them, I'm not really sure. The extra time and CDs may be worth not risking the corruption of your files.

An alternative would be to just save certain files. For each "The Sims 3" folder you have, make one on the CD. Then for the files in the actual game file, just save your downloads and saves and userPresets.package (for saved patterns and colors). And if you use all of your custom content in all of your game files, then just save your Downloads folder once. Those are the only important things you'll need to save. Oh, and the SavedSims folder if you need to.

[Yarakisagoa]

Seabody, it's good to make a backup games onto CD (I think you mean DVD right?). And if you compressing it, and in case you're using Winrar (google it), you should put a "Recovery record" to protect your files when compressing. And of course, about your 2nd question, the answer is "NO". Here is what you need to put a "recovery record" when compressing your files (in case you're using Winrar):

1. Right click on the folder you want to compress.
2. Select "Add to archive..."
3. A Winrar window will appear, and in the "General" tab, you will see a checkbox called "Put recovery record", just check it and you're done.

In additional, if you want to split your folder, there's a box called "Split to volumes, bytes" there too. Type in number of bytes you want to split per file (rar file when complete) and you're done.

Good luck and happy simming .

[Seabody]

Thanks! In the end, just my Saves file and Downloads file of one folder were too big, let alone the whole lot, so I took the three saves I care the most about, along with my Union Cove sims3pack, and put them onto a USB.