GMail, Hotmail and Yahoo mail allow email attachments upto 10 MB in size. While this file attachment size limit is enough for most web email users, it can be limiting when we have to share huge files with our friends/clients like video clips, high resolution digital photographs, large CAD drawings, multimedia presentations, uncompressed audio files, etc.So how do you transfer Really Big Files Over Email ? There are atleast three different ways to bypass the email attachments size limit as described below:
Approach 1: Divide and Rule
Split the large file in smaller file sizes using a free utility called HJ Split. The email recipient can download all these files and then join them using HJSplit again. The software is available for Mac, Windows or Linux so practically anyone can use it.
Let's illustrate that with an example - Windows Live Mail allows attachments upto 20 MB. So if you have to send a 45 MB file over email, split that big file into three smaller files and send them to your friend in three separate emails. He then downloads them in a local folder and runs HJSplit to recreate the original file.
Approach 2: Switch to Lycos Mail
Facing stiff competition from Yahoo and GMail, Lycos has completely revamped their web email service. They now offer 3 GB of storage space and have removed all restrictions on the email attachment size.
So you can send and receive essentially unlimited file attachments of any length. My suggestion would be to continue with your existing email service, but use the free Lycos Mail on occasions when you have to send really huge files.
Approach 3: Use Free File Hosting Services
Large file hosting services like Rapidshare, Megaupload or Yousendit let you upload files on the web upto a few hundred MB in size. Gigasize is a new entrant that lets you send files upto 1 GB in size. You can again apply the splitter rule here so even if the file size exceeds the 1 GB limit, split it into smaller chunks and then upload them.
Precautions When Sending Large Files:
1. If you are sending a big file as an attachment, always make sure that the recipient has a good internet connection else you could choke his mail server or even his ISP could reject the message.
2. When you are sending a file by splitting it into multiple pieces, keep the subject line of the email as Part 1 of 6, Part 2 of 6, etc so that your friend has no problems in finding the missing parts.
3. Use services like rapidshare, megaupload with caution as your files are uploaded in a public domain. So delete the file as soon as your recipient had download the file at his end.
How to email Program Files, Virus Reports, DLLs, Batch Files using GMail
Email Etiquette, Rapidshare Tricks, Sharing Really Big Files
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/09/send-email-attachments-transfer-large.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
For Firefox users there is also an extension program just been released called Allpeers. This is a P2P concept but is restricted to other Firefox+Allpeers users who you have specifically allowed/invited to share.
It is a good concept, but there are overwhelming reservations against Allpeers making the users PC a server. Security concerns. Once these fears are put to rest, Allpeers should become popular and oh! that is if RIAA don't get them or a few of their 'sharers' before that!
Written on 2/9/06 8:30 AM
Just use Google Talk.
Written on 3/9/06 12:47 AM
@ Anonymous
Yes, indeed google talk is extremely good for this, but here again, the person you are sending to has to have google talk and that too the latest version which allows for file transfers and voicemail.
For an unrestrictive file transfer - unrestrictive meaning that neither parties need specific pieces of software - web based file transfer apps, like those Amit Agarwal writes in the entry above and extensively covered in blogs like Techcrunch and Lifehacker, such as Yousendit, Gigasize etc are ideal.
Cheers!
Written on 3/9/06 3:48 AM
Dear Amith:
Rather than using HJsplit, I suggest using File Splitter, a freeware written by Sandeep and Deepak. I have been using it since 2000 and never come across any problem. It is only 8.26 KB in size and has three options to choose, by number of files, split to flopy size, and size to split. Moreover, you don't need to have the File Splitter to combine them. Homepage of File Splitter: http://filesplitter.8m.com/.
Thanks!
Naveen Kumar
naveenkumarmt@gmail.com
Written on 3/9/06 8:44 AM
Lest we forget PANDO (http://www.pando.com). I've been using it for ages, and I find it the easiest way - especially for non-advanced users - to share files/folders up to 1GB in size per mail.
Written on 25/9/06 12:21 AM
Dear Sales Team,
I want purchase a mail id for personal use and basically requirement is file attachment. Because I want 20 mb data in attachment so please advice me.
And FYI i am using outlook express so i want configure with outlook express.
Regards
Kshitij Pandey
9910272334
Written on 29/12/06 11:34 AM
why not just use FTP?
I can't stand dealing with all these clicks and dialog boxes and stuff.
Written on 9/1/07 5:14 AM
You can also use mail/P2P application that enables to send very big attachement to your mail. See podmailing.com (still beta) for example
Written on 17/1/07 10:50 PM
thanks yarr i reckon its the best way to send large size files.thanks again
dhirendra tripathi
Written on 8/5/07 3:17 PM