Database Info

[HOW TO] format sd card with paragon partiton manager

So I decided to make this small guide, on how to partitioning your sd card with paragon partition manager… There is many different ways, including a script an xda forum member created, and ubuntu as well.. But I assume paragon partition manager might be the best for all people who don’t know how to use Linux very much..
i wrote it on my blog, if is considered spam than illtry to put the images content directly in the post
http://nitropr.us/web/2009/05/08/format-sd-card-with-paragon-partition-manager/
hope it helps some one.. i know i know there is MANY ways for this.. but well sicne paragon question keep popping up and did not see a small how to with images for new users so hope it helps least 1 person

Thanks! That will be useful for many... this should be sticky along with the sapphire/magic port (after someone starts a new thread for the newer builds. 600 pages!) Or at least a wrap stick (a thread that contains many highly used threads like in the developement and hacking section under the main thread) would be useful.

i think this is the easiest way. I did this to my card and took only a few min. def the way to go.

its a good guide, but i have a question everytime i try to format this way in paragon it says cannot create partition because all primary slots are taken, it says this when i try to resize or create new. any ideas?

Ok I resized my card using paragon my fat32 is 5gb and my EXT2 is 1.5gb. I went and tried to follow these instructions http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Haykuro_Apps_to_SD and for some reason I am not seeing the system/xbin/busybox folder.

Screenshot of my sdcard

jak33 said:
its a good guide, but i have a question everytime i try to format this way in paragon it says cannot create partition because all primary slots are taken, it says this when i try to resize or create new. any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how many partitiosn it list for the sdcard? sometimes when you use the usb cable then tend to mess up.. try creatign the FAT32 formatign it and than rezise and make teh ext2

chief2842 said:
Ok I resized my card using paragon my fat32 is 5gb and my EXT2 is 1.5gb. I went and tried to follow these instructions http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Haykuro_Apps_to_SD and for some reason I am not seeing the system/xbin/busybox folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am still using JF build haven't tried Haykuro builds... sicne my phone is smooth im kinda of lazy to be recofniguring not sure how that works mayeb some oen else can help you.

Nitro212 said:
how many partitiosn it list for the sdcard? sometimes when you use the usb cable then tend to mess up.. try creatign the FAT32 formatign it and than rezise and make teh ext2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
funny ting, my pc never reads my sd card unless its through the phone. Ive tried the card on multiple systems, and i get the same results. so im forced to modify the card while its in the phone.

chief2842 said:
Ok I resized my card using paragon my fat32 is 5gb and my EXT2 is 1.5gb. I went and tried to follow these instructions http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Haykuro_Apps_to_SD and for some reason I am not seeing the system/xbin/busybox folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few things here:
1. Unless you're planning on downloading every app ever made, you're never going to need a ext2 partition larger than 500mb, and even that is a LOT. I tried to fill my partition and managed to squeeze over 300 apps on there before I ran out of room...then I had to painfully uninstall them all cause I didnt feel like reformatting/reflashing/restoring.
2. Make sure you're using the right version of apps-to-sd. Haykuro's latest builds can be found here. The apps-to-sd versions are linked at the very top of the page.
3. The directories you're looking for are NOT on the sd card. They are only visible on the phone through adb. If you're not familiar with adb, do a quick forum search on how to set it up.

question.com said:
funny ting, my pc never reads my sd card unless its through the phone. Ive tried the card on multiple systems, and i get the same results. so im forced to modify the card while its in the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when uiu partition via usb cable the partition tend to mess up.. and not moutn o n the phone..
what you can do is, insert the sdcard check min my computer under management and assign a letter to th sdcard so the pc will read it mount it

Thanks will look into the adb issues but I am using the 5.0.2Hr apps to sd build.

Help
I been trying to format the ext2 in my SDcard with Paragon Partition Manager but it saids I can use a demo version but it will not allow me to do the ext2 it saids I have to buy the full version. could someone tell me where to get the software that will work? thanks

vicmanf said:
I been trying to format the ext2 in my SDcard with Paragon Partition Manager but it saids I can use a demo version but it will not allow me to do the ext2 it saids I have to buy the full version. could someone tell me where to get the software that will work? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Merry Christmas, get your software here.

My first post here, but I have been visiting these forums for a long time.
I will try this approach and let's see how I do.
Thanks for posting!

G2x sd configuration thread

Yes, I have searched; don't give me the whole guilt crap
I would like to know a couple of things...
1. Internal phone storage & phone memory, what is the difference and is there any mods people are doing with them as far as combining or something?
2. SD partitioning... are people still doing this and if so what are you recommending?
3. Swap... probably a thing of the past, but just would like to know.
Class 4 32gb
Running Weapon G2X
Faux stock kernels
Clockwork EXT4

alright lets make this world a better place, i'll tell you what i know
internal storage, is basically yours to use, add your music pics or whatever, just like how u use an sd card, phone memory aka application memory is reserved for apps only, no way of combining them, dont need to anyways, sd partitioning i never tried but i think its says it all, dividing your sd card into two or more partitions..make seem like you have two or more, u can reserve one just for music or pics or roms
and what do u mean by swap??
ooh yah if i helped a little hit the thxs button, imma collect now too lol

I came from from the G1 where it was standard practice to partition into fat32/ext/swap. Since moving to the G2x I have not needed it. Phone is super fast without swap and more than enough space for apps.
As for combining internal and external SD cards, I don't think I've seen that yet...
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

I've never seen them combined but don't know if you can because if you remove the microsd, it would get all screwy.
I don't even use internal unless the rom does. I have a collection of apks/walls/music and my titanium files on my SD... everything else is expendable.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

player911 said:
I've never seen them combined but don't know if you can because if you remove the microsd, it would get all screwy.
I don't even use internal unless the rom does. I have a collection of apks/walls/music and my titanium files on my SD... everything else is expendable.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and with those on the SD are you using them just anywhere on the SD or do you have an EXT 4 partition?

dylyxcore said:
Yes, I have searched; don't give me the whole guilt crap
I would like to know a couple of things...
1. Internal phone storage & phone memory, what is the difference and is there any mods people are doing with them as far as combining or something?
2. SD partitioning... are people still doing this and if so what are you recommending?
3. Swap... probably a thing of the past, but just would like to know.
Class 4 32gb
Running Weapon G2X
Faux stock kernels
Clockwork EXT4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internal phone storage is where your system files are stored. It is also where apps from the market are installed. Phone memory is utilized by the stock roms as the default "sdcard". By default this is where your photos, music, documents, etc are stored. There is also an external slot for a physical sdcard. This is actually mounted to /sdcard/_ExternalSD with a stock rom.
There is no need to partition the external sdcard. There is enough space on the phone by default and it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle to make it work.
I don't think you need swap with this phone.

phburks said:
Internal phone storage is where your system files are stored. It is also where apps from the market are installed. Phone memory is utilized by the stock roms as the default "sdcard". By default this is where your photos, music, documents, etc are stored. There is also an external slot for a physical sdcard. This is actually mounted to /sdcard/_ExternalSD with a stock rom.
There is no need to partition the external sdcard. There is enough space on the phone by default and it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle to make it work.
I don't think you need swap with this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for clearing this up, so in clockwork recovery why does it support EXT 4? Is that just the format it saves a back-up in?

dylyxcore said:
Thank you for clearing this up, so in clockwork recovery why does it support EXT 4? Is that just the format it saves a back-up in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Ext4 is a type of filesystem used commonly in Linux, just like FAT and NTFS are used with Windows setups. There are some roms that will mount your system as, or even fully format your system into a ext4 filesystem. Clockwork supports that filesystem, meaning it can be used to install ext4 roms.

phburks said:
No. Ext4 is a type of filesystem used commonly in Linux, just like FAT and NTFS are used with Windows setups. There are some roms that will mount your system as, or even fully format your system into a ext4 filesystem. Clockwork supports that filesystem, meaning it can be used to install ext4 roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help, one last thing... to run these do you need an EXT 4 partition, or is that completely different? What makes the ROM to be EXT 4?

dylyxcore said:
Thank you for your help, one last thing... to run these do you need an EXT 4 partition, or is that completely different? What makes the ROM to be EXT 4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you simply flash like you would any other rom. If the rom actually formats your drives to ext4 i beleive you will have convert back to ext3 in order to flash an ext3 rom. There is a conversion utility somewhere on here if you search around. Someone else wanna chime in to verify about the need to convert back to ext3?

phburks said:
No you simply flash like you would any other rom. If the rom actually formats your drives to ext4 i beleive you will have convert back to ext3 in order to flash an ext3 rom. There is a conversion utility somewhere on here if you search around. Someone else wanna chime in to verify about the need to convert back to ext3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I read about the EXT 3 to EXT 4 dilemma on here via CM7 when it was upgraded from an overnight build or something... I think it had to do with restoring apps or data? Really appreciate your information, this finally clears up the confusion
p.s. thanks'ed all your replies

Regarding disk space

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.

[Q] partition sd card

sorry for noob post but i havnt been able to understand all this with all the posts iv read
Iv been looking into installing apps on the external sd card and i came across "partitioning sd card" and a whole bunch of other vocabulary, so iv got a couple of questions.
1. can someone explain to me the basics of this?
2. define ext2, ext3, ext4, fat32, swap size, (there might be a bit more i jsut cant think of any right now)
3. do u reccomend doing this with cwm? iv come across a few posts where people have been saying thing could brick your phone
4. apperntly cwm has some built in partition? i dont really know..
5. how would I do this this with cwm?

Boot into recovery and look for partition sd option, follow instructions.
NVIDIA NEVER AGAIN!

fcisco13 said:
Boot into recovery and look for partition sd option, follow instructions.
NVIDIA NEVER AGAIN!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks but is it safe? and what do i put for each option?

Make sure you backup your sdcard before you partition or you'll lose your important files.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

maxesxp said:
thanks but is it safe? and what do i put for each option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it safe?
Don't know i have 20 apps installed so dont need more space, it was safe on n1.
NVIDIA NEVER AGAIN!

d12unk13astard said:
Make sure you backup your sdcard before you partition or you'll lose your important files.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes iv already done that I just wanna know what the procedure is
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

maxesxp said:
sorry for noob post but i havnt been able to understand all this with all the posts iv read
Iv been looking into installing apps on the external sd card and i came across "partitioning sd card" and a whole bunch of other vocabulary, so iv got a couple of questions.
1. can someone explain to me the basics of this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this link. Very simple.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=SD_card_partitioning

jcbofkc said:
Try this link. Very simple.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=SD_card_partitioning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you but iv come across ext4? whats that? and what is swap? theres some vocabulary words in there i dont sorry for all the questions lol

maxesxp said:
thank you but iv come across ext4? whats that? and what is swap? theres some vocabulary words in there i dont sorry for all the questions lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXT4 is the file system (like FAT or NTFS but for Linux based). Swap is the partition used sort of like ram (just slower) in the way that temporary files are stored there for quick access.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

redmonke255 said:
EXT4 is the file system (like FAT or NTFS but for Linux based). Swap is the partition used sort of like ram (just slower) in the way that temporary files are stored there for quick access.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay thanks can you give me a procedure to how to partition you sd card? Thanks in advance
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

I think people mentioned to do it through clockword mod? I think I've seen an option down there.
I have no idea why you'd want to, though. I can't really see any benefit and it would only complicate things.

Only reason to partition sdcard to have an ext partition is for people like me that have way too many apps to install that normally wouldn't fit on the g2x's internal storage. Even putting apps to SD wouldn't allow my setup of over 600 apps to my phone without an app called link2sd, currently rocking a 12gb ext3 partition on my 32gb class 10 Lexar sdcard. Call me crazy but I love having all my apps available any time I need, my phone is a beast I tell ya, with all the stress I put in it its still blazingly quick!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

redmonke255 said:
I think people mentioned to do it through clockword mod? I think I've seen an option down there.
I have no idea why you'd want to, though. I can't really see any benefit and it would only complicate things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yupp thats what i wanted to do lol but it says swag size and stuff and i got confused... and ppl hav said clockworkmod is ddangourous when it comes to partitioning soo im a bit scared

d12unk13astard said:
Only reason to partition sdcard to have an ext partition is for people like me that have way too many apps to install that normally wouldn't fit on the g2x's internal storage. Even putting apps to SD wouldn't allow my setup of over 600 apps to my phone without an app called link2sd, currently rocking a 12gb ext3 partition on my 32gb class 10 Lexar sdcard. Call me crazy but I love having all my apps available any time I need, my phone is a beast I tell ya, with all the stress I put in it its still blazingly quick!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yupp lol iv filled my sd card up so thats how i stumbles across this

[Q] Can't move apps with Link2SD

I have tried to move apps to sdcard with Link2SD and other similar apps. It fails and says that I can't move them because my device has a primary external storage which is emulated from the internal storage.

Here is a screenshot of the message

Howdy!
as far as I have found out (and been following this problem on and off since I got my plus a few months ago) there is no proper way to move apps to your SD card. Best solution (and the one I am using) is to partition your SD Card then use Link2SD to link apps on your SD. You can set it up to do so automatically for every new app you install. As for partitioning I found this guide the best since I'd never attempted it before but it works really well.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2126363
Good luck and hope this helps a little!

Thanks a lot

lance2355 said:
Howdy!
as far as I have found out (and been following this problem on and off since I got my plus a few months ago) there is no proper way to move apps to your SD card. Best solution (and the one I am using) is to partition your SD Card then use Link2SD to link apps on your SD. You can set it up to do so automatically for every new app you install. As for partitioning I found this guide the best since I'd never attempted it before but it works really well.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2126363
Good luck and hope this helps a little!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do we need to root phone for that?
If yes then what's the point of making partitions.
Sent from my GT-I9105 using xda app-developers app

fayez107 said:
Do we need to root phone for that?
If yes then what's the point of making partitions.
Sent from my GT-I9105 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, my phone was rooted anyway but I think Link2SD needs it. As to why exactly it needs to be partitioned I can only tell you that when my card wasn't partitioned as suggested in the guide I linked then Link2SD wouldn't even offer to link the apps. I am no expert as I pointed out but this was a solution that worked for me. It may well be someone else found something better that doesn't require partitioning. To my knowledge doing things this way requires root AND the partitioned SD card.

lance2355 said:
Well, my phone was rooted anyway but I think Link2SD needs it. As to why exactly it needs to be partitioned I can only tell you that when my card wasn't partitioned as suggested in the guide I linked then Link2SD wouldn't even offer to link the apps. I am no expert as I pointed out but this was a solution that worked for me. It may well be someone else found something better that doesn't require partitioning. To my knowledge doing things this way requires root AND the partitioned SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try Apps to SD? Ill be rooting very soon and see what happens. If none works then last stop would be to make partition.
Okay I did root my phone successfully. Still cant move apps. Now going to do this partition system. Hope it works !

fayez107 said:
Did you try Apps to SD? Ill be rooting very soon and see what happens. If none works then last stop would be to make partition.
Okay I did root my phone successfully. Still cant move apps. Now going to do this partition system. Hope it works !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I tried Apps to SD as well but without success. You get exactly the message as the OP said here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42863865&postcount=2
Same goes for Link2SD however once you partitioned it at least offers you to link the apps. But like I said that only happened after I did the partitioning. Beforehand it would not even offer that.
I am not entirely sure what or why Samsung did what they did in kinda blocking the moving of apps to an external card but it it really blows considering that you only get a somewhat limited amount of storage to begin with.

lance2355 said:
Yeah, I tried Apps to SD as well but without success. You get exactly the message as the OP said here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=42863865&postcount=2
Same goes for Link2SD however once you partitioned it at least offers you to link the apps. But like I said that only happened after I did the partitioning. Beforehand it would not even offer that.
I am not entirely sure what or why Samsung did what they did in kinda blocking the moving of apps to an external card but it it really blows considering that you only get a somewhat limited amount of storage to begin with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello again brother. Same here. Before partitioning there was not any option to create link even.
I did the partitioning stuff did work. I can successfully transfer my apps into the ext2 partition i created. (Btw which partition format did you go with?)
How ever I believe folder mount is still a better option as it does not require you to create partitions and works directly such as you enter a brand new card without partition and move apps into card and then it links it. But the only drawback is you need to purchase the app :

fayez107 said:
Hello again brother. Same here. Before partitioning there was not any option to create link even.
I did the partitioning stuff did work. I can successfully transfer my apps into the ext2 partition i created. (Btw which partition format did you go with?)
How ever I believe folder mount is still a better option as it does not require you to create partitions and works directly such as you enter a brand new card without partition and move apps into card and then it links it. But the only drawback is you need to purchase the app :
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used ext4 for my partition. And I hadn't heard of Folder Mount until you mentioned it. Will have to check it out. Can you actually move stuff if you use that?

lance2355 said:
I used ext4 for my partition. And I hadn't heard of Folder Mount until you mentioned it. Will have to check it out. Can you actually move stuff if you use that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well ext4 didn't work for me idky though ext2 did and it worked. But creating partitions is pure junk and it would reduce the life and speed of your card (its something i believe) so I deleted the partitions and brought my card into original format.
And yes man Folder Mount is something we need ! It does exactly what both of us want. Simply move all the app data from internal memory to external memory and as soon as you move you have empty space on your internal storage and external storage is occupied. Its simple and very clear and easy to use. Just 3 clicks i believe and its done. And another good stuff is it will show you how much an app is occupying internal space and then moves it into SD card and also doesn't show important system apps to move as moving them creates problem.
There's a free version to try which would allow you to move 3 apps only and if you want more then buy the app for 2 Dollars.
Its developed by @madmack. Do check it out. The sad part for me is I dont have a credit card nor Paypal is available in my country
And i need this app badly !