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Hi,
Do anyone knows if there is a real advantage in creating a partition in the phone sd card, [sd-ext]?
I read that it solves this error: E:can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p2
(File Exists).
But, does the phone has a real gain when you format and create a new sd-ext partition?
Thanks,
If you have a ROM that has data2ext or app2ext then you'll notice a speed increase as well as a drop in usage on your phone's internal memory. I have a MT3GS and with data2ext I went from an 1100 in quadrant to a 1600
dbzfanatic said:
If you have a ROM that has data2ext or app2ext then you'll notice a speed increase as well as a drop in usage on your phone's internal memory. I have a MT3GS and with data2ext I went from an 1100 in quadrant to a 1600
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply,
When you say, data2ext or app2ext, are you saying app's that can be installed in the ex-sd card?
Can I do that in cwm or there is a better way?
Cheers,
Data2ext and app2ext are ROM add-ons that enable you to either move the entire data partition to your sd-ext or just all of your installed apps. If you use data2ext your apps are automatically moved since they're stored in the data partition. You would flash them the same way you flash a ROM if the mods are available for your phone. Just search the forum for your phone if you want to know if you have those options.
Thanks mate,
I installed move2sd enabler.
So I can to move all the apps to the sd-ext partition I created?
I'm going to search for that.
I honestly haven't used move2sd so I'm not sure how that works. It should be a separate script like I mentioned before.
I created a new partition in clockworkmod 512mg 32mg swap.
The phone restarts, all seems ok, but when I restart again in CWM and select format sd-ext partition, it says that I don't have one.
I'm trying to find a way to fix this issue but until now nothing...
Check if you have a blocksize of 4096 (there's a command, don't know it offhand) and make sure it's actually an ext partition, it might be a different type or may be the wrong type of ext, such as ext2 when it needs ext3 or vice versa.
Already did the check,
su
sf
And there's no new partition created.
CWM erased all the data inside my card but did not create a new partition.
Do you thing it's because I have lagfix on with ext4 part type?
Honestly I have no idea. I used the parted script/command from adb to do my partitioning. Maybe try that or try converting to ext2?
Thanks,
I'm going to try and take a look in to that.
I see a lot of posts that say to use RA-Recovery with sdk adb but does it works with an SGS?
I don't know honestly, you'll need to look in the SGS forum and see if a Ra recovery is posted there. Parted works with adb and can be added to any ROM regardless of recovery menu.
From what I saw Ra-recovery is not for sgs's.
I still didn't saw any posts that explains how to do a sd-ext new partition for a Samsung Galaxy S, only for HTC's and other phones.
If you happen to find anything that explains how to do this for a SGS be a friend and tell me ok?
Thanks
A friend of mine has an SGS so I'll ask him and see what he's done with his. I know he rooted and flashed CM to it but i'm not sure if he did anything else like data2ext or anything like that.
Thanks mate,
I'll be waiting for your reply...
(For mods: Since I'm asking directly ROM developers about ROM development, I'm creating this thread in development section. Move it to Q&A section if you find it necessary.)
I was always wondering why we are using only ext partitions for storing apps, when there are many others, maybe better even, for example RFS and BTRFS. The best choice would be exFAT, but I guess Linux kernel doesn't support writing to it yet. I would test it myself, but editing A2SD script is out of my league and I'm not sure which kernels support which file systems. I believe it's worth the try, as different FS may behave differently on different SD cards.
melethron explored this with his data2whatever script. He explored the many file systems etc.
I tried RFS and whilst it was a definite performance boost, it wasn't as stable as ext4 (various issues with different things). Check it out if you want to look at it
Terepin said:
(For mods: Since I'm asking directly ROM developers about ROM development, I'm creating this thread in development section. Move it to Q&A section if you find it necessary.)
I was always wondering why we are using only ext partitions for storing apps, when there are many others, maybe better even, for example RFS and BTRFS. The best choice would be exFAT, but I guess Linux kernel doesn't support writing to it yet. I would test it myself, but editing A2SD script is out of my league and I'm not sure which kernels support which file systems. I believe it's worth the try, as different FS may behave differently on different SD cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm... I don't think that external storage is a real problem. Since we're all using deodexed ROMs, apps run from the dalvik-cache. ClassicalDude pointed this out very well in his tut: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=992176
The only problem in using a "slow" FS in external storage could happen when installing or restoring apps, but this is more than acceptable IMHO.
So the quest is to keep things we need to be fast into NAND (basically DATA and dalvik). I think you know well how coolexe, baadnewz and robocik implemented this in their HD/Z ROMs by moving /system/app and /system/framework to SD-EXT (but keeping dalvik-cache on DATA).
Hello, Folks- Apologies for the questions that are to follow, but I've pored forums, how-to's, etc., and have not been able to find a clear all-in-one post that addresses the questions I have. I've been able to cobble together information from various posts, but some of the information seems to conflict and some of the information I just plain can't put together, especially when comparing older posts with newer. I have a rooted EVO 4G, use ROM Manager, Clockwordmod, and primarily CM7 daily builds although I like to play with other ROMS. I'll try to put the questions in what I consider the order of importance.
1. Is it even preferable to use sd-ext over the standard .android_secure location for apps moved to the SD card? I've noticed that Clockwordmod backs the .android_secure, data, etc. folders when doing a ROM backup and they restore just fine whenever I'm playing around with different ROMs. Also, I recall seeing that some ROMS don't support sd-ext application storage which makes me feel a bit hinky.
2. I'm a very experienced Linux user and would prefer to use GParted to resize the current fat32 partition to keep the data already existing there, and then add and ext3 partition. Just to be safe I plan to move all sd card apps back to the phone beforehand. Is it advisable to do it this way or will the data remaining on the fat32 partition screw things up once I start using the ext3 partition?
3. When using GParted (if that's advisable), do I need to specify the mount point for the new ext3 partition or would a ROM/Clockworkmod/ROM Manager automatically recognize it and mount it appropriately for SD app usage without my specifying the mount point?
4. If I do need specify a mount point in GParted, what should the mount and folder be called?
5. And finally, do I need to use a third-party app along with all this to get the app storage to sd-ext working? CM7 appears to have its own setting for using ext3, hence this question.
Once again, apologies for these basic questions, but I've run into so much old/new and conflicting/incomplete information on these topics that I can't tell what info is outdated or valid. Thanks to anyone willing to wade through this long post!
John
Worked fine, but CWM backup still says "No sd-ext found. Skipping."
Being the fiddle-monkey I am, I went ahead and did what I described above.
I did not label the partition in GParted. I used S2E and everything seems to have gone quite well. I have tons of free on-board memory now.
The only remaining question I have is this:
I did a Clockwordmod backup, and it appeared to be backing up all the apps I have installed judging from the file names that flew by. However at the end of the backup the familiar message "No sd-ext found. Skipping." appeared. I seem to recall reading something about this but did not understand why that message still comes up for some people. I know (?) that the apps have migrated because of the free space on board.
Can someone explain this? Am I headed towards trouble in the future?
Refer to Thread 1338708
I was also searching for the answers to the questions raised in your first post. I think they are well answered in the post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1338708
Not sure about the second post though :-(
I will post my results once I do a backup via CWM-recovery to see if they match.
Has anyone tried to repartition our /system and /data folders to create an /emmc partition for our phones? Seems like OE partitioning scheme is a huge waste of space and we could better utilize the extra space if it was in user mountable partition.
This should be easy to do via recovery yes?
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
unsivil_audio said:
Has anyone tried to repartition our /system and /data folders to create an /emmc partition for our phones? Seems like OE partitioning scheme is a huge waste of space and we could better utilize the extra space if it was in user mountable partition.
This should be easy to do via recovery yes?
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes both lfaber06 and I sort of do something similar, with the way we have safestrap setup, but we use the SDcard instead. The one issue I see with this is what the future brings for this phone, like what moto might do for us with ICS, and such, what may be needed in these partitions to make it work. Other that that I don't see an issue, but you will have to change a ton of start scripts if the partition numbers change.
Jim
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
I don't think you understand, I want the space to be user accessible, like I have on my nook. I flashed a custom repartition from cwm to resize data and media partitions. The /emmc partition is a fat32 partition I believe (on my nook anyways). I've never even come close to filling my 2gb data partition, and now I have 4gb of space for music or videos storage.
unsivil_audio said:
I don't think you understand, I want the space to be user accessible, like I have on my nook. I flashed a custom repartition from cwm to resize data and media partitions. The /emmc partition is a fat32 partition I believe (on my nook anyways). I've never even come close to filling my 2gb data partition, and now I have 4gb of space for music or videos storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't think you understand what that really does under the covers. Both lfaber06 and I have been working on this device for a while, we are the ONLY two devs currently working on this device. What I am telling you is that if you change the size of ANY of the internal partitions, It might effect the ability to update to another version of Android. Your Nook, is not a Mototrola device, and Moto has completly messed with/up android, and therefore it is not safe to do what you are saying. No matter what you can not get access to the internal partitions, yes on AOSP devices / devices that can be AOSP (the nook is one), you can do those things. The Atrix2 still has a locked bootloader, so we are stuck with their kernel, and version of android. To do what you are saying you will need to have an AOSP kernel, and have MANY init scripts updated to understand the new partition table. It is not as easy as you make it out to be.
Okay, I was under the impression with rw abilities on /system and /data partitions we also have the ability to mount, unmount; also giving us the ability to edit the partition blocks via bootstrap.
Ok how about this, there is a guy in the Nook Tablet forum (locked bootloader, like us) who had the idea of basically running a fat32 "img" that in the /data (ext4) partition to that would mount via a script and be user accessible? That would be possible I would think.
unsivil_audio said:
Okay, I was under the impression with rw abilities on /system and /data partitions we also have the ability to mount, unmount; also giving us the ability to edit the partition blocks via bootstrap.
Ok how about this, there is a guy in the Nook Tablet forum (locked bootloader, like us) who had the idea of basically running a fat32 "img" that in the /data (ext4) partition to that would mount via a script and be user accessible? That would be possible I would think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you do have access to all of those things with root, but Moto has done so much customization to this thing, that would not be safe.
Yes, that is also something that lfaber06 and I have thrown around as well, the logistics of it need to be worked out for our phone, and the proper init scripts need to be put together.
Are you up for the task? I only ask because he and I are currently working on porting cm7 and cm9 to our phone, which is a huge task. I can help you out, but I just can't take on anymore projects for this phone at the moment, since I have 5 different things I am working on for us right now.
I am definitely down to help, still going to be a bit of a learning curve for myself. Still pretty new to linux/android.
unsivil_audio said:
I am definitely down to help, still going to be a bit of a learning curve for myself. Still pretty new to linux/android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PM me, with as much info as you have about this, preferably any links that you have read, and I will help you develop a game plan, and what you will need to make this hack happen. You will have to do some research on your own, and I can help with the Linux/Android part, and help you figure out what you will need to do. I am also not sure on the what kind of speed to expect from something like this, so that will also be something to look into, since this will be a virtual disk file.
Ok in FB's kernel thread I asked is link2sd could be creating reboots when linking a app during a automatic update. FB asked why I was using link2sd.
So after some discussion Im confused. And not wanting to clutter his thread anymore Im creating this one.
My understanding is link2sd uses your current ext partition and puts apps in the sxt partition then symbolic links the app to the original location. That way you gain that much space on your internal.
FB says the built in apps2sd of android does that already. But I was told all it does is move the app from the internal to external (sdcard). This is possible even without a ext partition, I know because several people with the Optimus V do not use link2sd or anything like it. They just use the built in app mover.
When I had my Optimus V I used this data2ext but I do not think it would work for our phone since its written for CM7. WIth that my interal memory showed up as however much my ext partition was minus the apps. What it did is trick the OS into thinking the ext partition was really the internal storage.
My question is am I right in how link2sd works or am I misunderstanding?
Is there a version of the data2ext that works on the SGS4G roms we have and I just cant find it?
Here's some reading for you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=919326
bakpinar said:
How it works:
Link2SD mounts the second partition of your SD card as /data/sdext2 and makes OS mounts it at boot time.
When you select an application and press "Create Link" button you can select which files of the application will be linked and moved to SD card. Apk, dex and lib files can be moved and you can select all three or any two of three or even only one of them.
Depending on what you select, Link2SD moves apk file, dalvik-cache (.dex) file and lib files (.so) to SD card's second partition and creates symbolic links in original directories.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apps2sd does NOT require repartitioning your sdcard and it's an Android 2.2+ feature.
links2sd requires your sdcard to have at least 2 partitions + formatting your sdcard, and is a 3rd party application.
Ok I understand that. Don't we need a ext partition anyway? IM trying to wrap my head around this but I'm still confused how the built in moves the app to the ext partition.
I'll read more of that thread tomorrow stupid ISP OS doing maintenance and my net is crapping out.
Vroom Vroom
First of all, what do you mean by "ext partition"?
FBis251 said:
First of all, what do you mean by "ext partition"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what eollie is looking for is what we had on Froyo. Remember dsexton's ext4 guide? We could create a second (ext4) partition on our EXTERNAL Sdcard and use Link2sd to move apps there..
On Froyo I had a second 1.5 GB ext4 partition on my EXTERNAL sdcard and used Link2sd app to move my apps to that partition. It worked Great and I miss having it on Gingerbread. I could not get dsexton's guide to work on Gingerbread at all. It caused me all kinds of problems. Even soft bricks..
Sorry if I'm wrong eollie.
On my old Milestone xt720 I used link2sd primarily before 2.2 was available for the phone. It involved setting up an ext4 partition as well as a linuxswap partition.
At this point ... seeing as we have gingerbread which already moves most apps to sd card ... the only advantage I can really see is that when you use links2sd you can move absolutely any app to sdcard (keyboards, alarm clock, ect) that would not normally be moved.
Now one thing to be cautious about when using links2sd is some apps will not work properly when on the sd card. This is especially true with apps that have widgets. For example - if you move your digital clock to sd card the clock widget will not display.
I don't know if this will be helpful but I just thought I would offer my input.
Jerry D said:
I think what eollie is looking for is what we had on Froyo. Remember dsexton's ext4 guide? We could create a second (ext4) partition on our EXTERNAL Sdcard and use Link2sd to move apps there..
Sorry if I'm wrong eollie.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct.
The link I posted is what I used on my Optimus V. It tricked the phone into thinking that partition was the internal memory.
Like jiggleynuts (that name kills me) said you have to be careful with what apps you put on the sdcard. I was using that but when I update apps it would move them to the sdcard if they could be. And my apps that have widgets I use were breaking cause of it.
Again if we can use something like the data2ext I linked to then I would scrap link2sd faster than you could blink. I hate having to use a app when there is a alternative like the data2ext stuff.
Am I wrong in thinking the ext support we have is the same as what the op in the thread I linked is talking about?
eollie said:
Ok in FB's kernel thread I asked is link2sd could be creating reboots when linking a app during a automatic update. FB asked why I was using link2sd.
So after some discussion Im confused. And not wanting to clutter his thread anymore Im creating this one.
My understanding is link2sd uses your current ext partition and puts apps in the sxt partition then symbolic links the app to the original location. That way you gain that much space on your internal.
FB says the built in apps2sd of android does that already. But I was told all it does is move the app from the internal to external (sdcard). This is possible even without a ext partition, I know because several people with the Optimus V do not use link2sd or anything like it. They just use the built in app mover.
When I had my Optimus V I used this data2ext but I do not think it would work for our phone since its written for CM7. WIth that my interal memory showed up as however much my ext partition was minus the apps. What it did is trick the OS into thinking the ext partition was really the internal storage.
My question is am I right in how link2sd works or am I misunderstanding?
Is there a version of the data2ext that works on the SGS4G roms we have and I just cant find it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eollie -
did you ever get the data2ext mod working for the t959v?
i remember you from the optimus v forums last year.
correct me if i'm wrong but we used the data2ext mod with bumblebee and harmonia? i'm considering trying that data2ext v7 mod on this device. i'm actually really surprised that mod isn't being used with this device like it was with the O-V. Both have limited internal memory. maybe i've not learned enough about this device and it isn't capable of utilizing the mod. i'm kinda curious why darktremors app2sd mod isn't used either. its an easy option in the kitchen. either way i'm curious what you've found out or experienced with these mods. i do know link2sd works with this device, so i'm assuming data2ext and darktremor app2sd would too.
I replied to your pm. But Ill answer here too, I never found a conclusive answer. So I just move apps using the built in android app2sd function. If there happens to be a app that needs images loaded at boot like launcher themes or the such I just move it to internal memory.
ok cool. i may try it. i dunno.
thanks for your response.