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Formatting SD Card...

When I format my card by putting it in the slot my laptop has it doesn't wipe the ext partition... I say this because it's showing that the 2gig card is only a 1.27gig card. This can't be right?
Any help is appreciated.

What OS are you running?

Windows 7 (64 bit)

I don't have a card reader so I can't test it but try to right click on My Computer and select manage. Then go into Disk Management.
The problem is windows can't recognize ext partitions so it won't mount them
Otherwise look up a partition manager to run under windows. I always partition under linux or with dedicated tool you boot to off a CD. I am not sure a good one to recommend to run under windows. Maybe someone else can recommend one.

If you made a 4gb ext partition on an 8gb card, windows will now only see this as a 4gb card until you reallocate the ext partition.
I'm running Windows 7 64-bit and I use Paragon Manager to modify the ext partitions. I am not sure if there is a legitimately free version of this program.

Thanks everyone. I'm downloading Paragon Manager now. I made my ext partition too big and want to put more music on there. I also feel like partitioned the card twice... I think I have an ext 2 & an ext 3 partition.
Again, thanks!

Sd Formatter
mrcharlesiv said:
When I format my card by putting it in the slot my laptop has it doesn't wipe the ext partition... I say this because it's showing that the 2gig card is only a 1.27gig card. This can't be right?
Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use SdFormatter from this link: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/

Question:
Over the last few months I (like most people here) have tried several roms. I moved from the sdcard that came with the phone to an 8gb, no problems there.
The way I backup my sdcard is I make a folder on my desktop and literally just drag and drop the whole card over, hasn't let me down yet. When I switched I formatted the 8gb card and just copied my latest sdcard backup to the 8gb and everything works great. I am at the point where I have a lot of stuff on there from from things like apps I've uninstalled, etc. and I'd like to clean it up. I have everything I would want to keep backed up on my desktop.
So here is my question:
If I reformat my sdcard will the phone copy/install anything on the clean sdcard it needs to run?
If so then I'm thinking I could just copy what I want (nand backups, pictures, music, etc.)
Thanks

nebenezer said:
Question:
Over the last few months I (like most people here) have tried several roms. I moved from the sdcard that came with the phone to an 8gb, no problems there.
The way I backup my sdcard is I make a folder on my desktop and literally just drag and drop the whole card over, hasn't let me down yet. When I switched I formatted the 8gb card and just copied my latest sdcard backup to the 8gb and everything works great. I am at the point where I have a lot of stuff on there from from things like apps I've uninstalled, etc. and I'd like to clean it up. I have everything I would want to keep backed up on my desktop.
So here is my question:
If I reformat my sdcard will the phone copy/install anything on the clean sdcard it needs to run?
If so then I'm thinking I could just copy what I want (nand backups, pictures, music, etc.)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and yes. I have cleaned house a few times by deleting everything off my 8gb card and bringing back just my pictures, music and backups.
If you are using an ext partition to store apps and want to delete this data, you will need to format this with a program that can handle this ext partition or the easiest way is through recovery (wipe ext partition). Otherwise, if you want to keep your apps on the partition you can just delete everything off the card through windows or even format it there.

Thanks Danknee!!
I thought that was the case but wanted to make sure.
I haven't had the need to use a2sd yet so that's not a problem.

One more question:
I've formatted and put everything I want to keep back. Should I just reboot or do I need to reflash DC!.0, the reason I ask is because there was literally nothing on the card after formatting (not surprising). So I put HTC Sync back in case I need it, will the phone build the file structure it needs as it needs it or should I do anything else at this point?
Thanks

You can just reboot. The SD card doesn't have anything on it that would be replaced by flashing anyway. Since you aren't using apps2sd, you could technically have two different SD cards that you swapped in and out. You would just need to unmount and remount them to prevent corruption during the swaps.
Apps save settings on the card, but these will be resaved when you use these apps again. Conversely, the apps you never use again won't be taking up any space now.

danknee said:
You can just reboot. The SD card doesn't have anything on it that would be replaced by flashing anyway. Since you aren't using apps2sd, you could technically have two different SD cards that you swapped in and out. You would just need to unmount and remount them to prevent corruption during the swaps.
Apps save settings on the card, but these will be resaved when you use these apps again. Conversely, the apps you never use again won't be taking up any space now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, thanks.
I totally understand what you just posted... So HTC ships these phones with SOME files that you can't get back by reflashing? (ie. HTC Sync) just curious

nebenezer said:
Awesome, thanks.
I totally understand what you just posted... So HTC ships these phones with SOME files that you can't get back by reflashing? (ie. HTC Sync) just curious
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you can flash back to a stock sense ROM with no problems. What I meant was that you could actually use your phone with no memory card and it would be fully functional except that some apps couldn't save settings and data.
The SD card is completely optional and all the system files and system apk files are stored in your phone's internal memory.

danknee said:
No, you can flash back to a stock sense ROM with no problems. What I meant was that you could actually use your phone with no memory card and it would be fully functional except that some apps couldn't save settings and data.
The SD card is completely optional and all the system files and system apk files are stored in your phone's internal memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the confusion... I understand the phone can operate sans sdcard. if I'm not mistaken I believe I installed HTC Sync on my pc from my sdcard meanin that if I deleted it without backing it up I would have to (Jeez, I just realized what a waste of time this is, but I'm in too deep to stop) get HTC Sync from another source, ie HTC's website?

LOL yeah, you are probably right about HTC sync. I downloaded sync from the HTC website anyway (to make sure I had the lastest version). Besides that, I can't think of anything else on the stock 2gb card that is irreplaceable..

[Q] MicroSD card directory

I somehow have two directories for sdcard and my Apps are only reading the one thats not even the actual card.
I have one folder that says Removable/MicroSD.... That one is exactly the correct directory
Then I have another that says sdcard and its just using the tablets storage.
Any idea what happened?

A lot of new devices that have a large amount of built-in have taken to mounting the internal storage as the SD card. If you don't, that space won't be used by apps, especially those that need to download extra files and you would -need- to buy an SD card.
So, it's functioning as designed.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Thats the way honeycomb works. You get 16 or 32 GB internal at /sdcard and your actual sd card is mounted at /Removable/MicroSD/. Get use to this because this is the way google's gonna handle storage moving forward.

Okay I'm just used to my phone. So I use titanium backup to backup my Apps, it stores them in that folder. So when I have to do a factory reset it won't touch that directory will it?

omgitswes said:
Okay I'm just used to my phone. The So I use titanium backup to backup my Apps, it stores them in that folder. So when I have to do a factory reset it won't touch that directory will it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if wiping with cwm it wont.

Yeah that's what I use. Thanks, I had no idea what was going on

That's how ASUS has it setup. Android requires an SDcard to be present to install applications and store files on. So because you either bought the 16GB or 32GB ASUS the directory is created for that reason to store your pictures, music, etc.

[Q] Apps in SD card and custom ROMs

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this has been asked before.
I'm using Virtuous Unity 1.31. Let say I have several apps installed and I move them (via manage applications) to the SD card. All works fine.
Let's say a new version comes out and I flash the new ROM, doing a full data and cache wipe in the process.
When I re-install all the apps, they'll be installed in the phone memory by default, and not the SD card. Does this mean that the app data on the SD card from the previous install is redundant, since the OS will presumably recognise the app in the phone memory. Is there any way to determine which apps were moved to the SD card and subsequently, free up the space?
Cheers,

Bump?
Any one with any ideas? Or is my original post confusing? ;p

endlesstrail said:
Hi all,
I'm not sure if this has been asked before.
I'm using Virtuous Unity 1.31. Let say I have several apps installed and I move them (via manage applications) to the SD card. All works fine.
Let's say a new version comes out and I flash the new ROM, doing a full data and cache wipe in the process.
When I re-install all the apps, they'll be installed in the phone memory by default, and not the SD card. Does this mean that the app data on the SD card from the previous install is redundant, since the OS will presumably recognise the app in the phone memory. Is there any way to determine which apps were moved to the SD card and subsequently, free up the space?
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct me if i'm wrong, but your problem is that you want to restore your data app from sd card and your are not sure cause they are already in phone memory? Or something different ? Because if you only want to put your apps from phone storage in sd-card again you can do it, you'll overwrite the older same apps..

You can try the app in my signature (SD Maid) to free up space.

Hanisa said:
Correct me if i'm wrong, but your problem is that you want to restore your data app from sd card and your are not sure cause they are already in phone memory? Or something different ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hanisa, my problem is that before I flash a new ROM, I usually do a wipe, which means when the new ROM is flashed in, it'll be "as stock" without any of my apps.
When I restore all my apps, either using Titanium Backup or the Android Marketplace, they'll be installed into the phone memory by default.
If for example I have Minisquadron installed and moved to the SD card before the wipe, when I re-install it, it will be in the phone memory by default. This means the data already on the SD card (before the wipe) is just wasted space.
Dark3n said:
You can try the app in my signature (SD Maid) to free up space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'll give it a shot and see if it works for me.

Low Space Problem Fix

Without root and without an unlock bootloader...my phone reads S=On and is supposedly network unlocked A108B Black model (just purchased on Ebay)...is there anyway to completely move apps to the SD? I hit "Move To SD" under manage applications and it sends some of the MB size to the SD, but part of it still remains on the internal space and I know this because the internal MB's keep getting lower and lower. It's gotten so low < 1MB that now I can't even download any more apps that can or will run on the SD because it says there's insufficient space...that and the HTC clean cache window keeps popping up...any way to prevent this from happening? AND to completely move/install apps that are SD moveable to the SD card and get them off the internal space? Or an app that will default from using internal space and move all installs and data directly onto the SD? I have 1.3 GB open on there..it's been a pain trying to get this thing to run right...any suggestions besides the "factory data reset" (which I've tried) that helps with this? Do I just need to root/unlock booter? or will that mess up my unlocked phone?
Anyway that I can install apps onto the SD from my computer and then put the SD card into my phone and it'll read them from there?
Also...all these bloatware apps that are installed..without root...is there anything I can download that will wipe them off the phone...or is there anyway I can get into a file manager and delete unnecessary files/apps off?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
This is where I purchased: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-H...76527?pt=AU_Mobile_Phones&hash=item27cc9eb0af

You should look under HTC Android developers forum for detailed guides how to root your device and how to install custom (read: CWM) recovery.
After that you should make second primary ext2 partition on your SD card (size from 512MiB to 1GiB, it's up to you) and install Link2SD from Google Play Store.
With this apk you' ll never have problems with low internal storage because it creates links of apks to SD card (data, dalvik cache...).
Sent from my HTC ChaCha A810e using xda app-developers app

1. Just Link2sd apk if it's complicated...
2. ehh, and don't install Google Currents, 'til they Fix their app, to make the cache moves to the SD instead of internal cache.
thank you.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2013376

[Guide] INCREASING INTERNAL MEMORY

THIS GUIDE IS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO INCREASE INTERNAL MEMORY OF ANY ANDROID DEVICE BY PARTITIONING
Note
This guide will partition your sdcard to make a part of your sdcard works like the internal memory that you can move your apps to it.
This guide will never increase the real internal memory (Storage in taskmanger) as it is impossible to be done.
First,
you have to do is to partition your SD Card and for doing this you have to: Download Mini tool Partition.
2- Install the application on your PC and connect your SD card to your PC with Card Reader.
3- Open Mini Tool Partition in your PC and when the wizards open click on your SD Card and select Delete option. !!!(Note: This will format your SD Card completely mean that it will erase your data permanently, so before doing this backup your data at any place in PC or other Storage device.) When the Formatting of your SD Card is completed then, you have whole of space of your SD Card as unallocated
4- then Right click SD Card and select create option. A popup box will open giving you options for making partition; select the partition as primary and file system as FAT if SD Card is less than 4GB or FAT32 if your SD Card is more than 4GB. Leave about 512 MB or more space (your choice) for creating the next partition.
5- Then select done and do right click on unallocated space of your SD Card and again click create option. Select Primary partition but change the file system to Ext2, Ext3 or Ext4. Note: (Ext2 is recommended as most ROMs work fine with it). Click Apply Changes and then process goes on for the few minutes and then partition is completed.
6- Install Link2sd from Google Play
On the first launch of the app, it will ask for root permissions and then, it will ask you the file system of the .ext partition that you had earlier made, choose the option as you had choose in the partitioning steps.
Sort the apps according to size and start linking them and then you have done your task.
Now you have your Phone’s Internal Memory+ Ext file size made by you in your SD Card. Now you can move your apps from your device memory to SD Card and simultaneously your device speed will also be increased.
I know there are many posts like this post but hit thanks button if you see mine first

Will this work for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Notam said:
Will this work for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Likely yes, one my friends tried it on his galaxy tab and worked
Sent from my GT-B5512 using xda premium

Nice guide.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app

andiroxu said:
Nice guide.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS
....HIT THANKS IF I HELPED....
Sent from my GT-B5512 using xda premium

I'm so gonna to try this, thx!

OP should give credits to actual OP who took pain to create screenshots.
Also guys dont select storage as "external" in auto link. Link2sd dev recommends "internal" storage to avoid conflicts. Also I see this increases space in internal in storage info.
Ext2 fills up. You see widgets for all linked apps as phone assumes app installed as internal memory.
Also linking better than native app2sd or move to sd method and it retains apps in memory even if sd card is removed!!! during usb connection according to dev.
Read link2sd FAQ very helpful. :thumbup:
God is Original Developer

But this process requires you to already have a bit of space on internal storage, and only then move the apps.

Also use FolderMount to move huge OBB and DATA files to SD card
I've been using FolderMount along with Link2SD. FolderMount allows you to also move the HUGE OBB and DATA files that large games often make you download (some up to 2 GB!!!) Link2SD does not link these large files (it links APK and other smaller files) so they work together beautifully. Together they are truly huge space savers! Just search for FolderMount on the Play store.
Cheers!!!

War10ckJ0shua
I use the Recovery-ClockWork, go to Advanced > Particion SD Card.

already I have created a partition for 512 mb and I am using Link2sd. Is this now possible to extended the partition with or without loosing the data ?

Thats a good question. There is always a possibility to lose data stored in a partition when resizing any partition file system where it be Linux EXT2,3,4 or Windows Fat and Ntfs. Backup the data in there if you can before attempting it. I personally would use gparted since its already in all my installed linux distros already, but the free Minitool partition editor for Windows looks pretty awesome! It says it easily supports resize/move of partition without data loss so its possible. Just make sure you backup the whole card IE all data on both partitions just in case. Good luck.
thegreeat said:
already I have created a partition for 512 mb and I am using Link2sd. Is this now possible to extended the partition with or without loosing the data ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Do I absolutely have to use a card reader for this? Can't I use the mount usb storage option from my phone? Either way, the card shows up as an external drive doesn't it?

AualSciaespecially
I can't wait to do this after I root my HUAWEI H881C. I got it a week ago and free internal space for apps and data is rather small at about(?) 512MB total. After factory installed apps and such I was left with about 384Mb to start with. I can be a app whore. I haven't download too many games on google play yet because of internal storage limits. Even with those limits I do have Doom, Quake 1, 2, and 3 installed off the SD card along with my dosbox, snes, sega, psx and n64 emulators and roms with no problems.

I have been using link2sd since abandoning Froyo. Now on cm10.2.
One thing of which to know and be carefull: Link2sd's Achilles Heel.
When flashing a new ROM on rebuilding the dalvik cache for any reason, all the linked dalviks (dex) must fit on internal storage. If one has linked more than can fit, internal storage will run out and crash bang. I have requested of the devs to facilitate treating this within link2sd but so far, has not been implemented so the manual procedure would be:
A. Prevention! If playing with experimental ROMs often, pull the /data/sdext2/dalvik-cache folder and see how big it is. Make sure that the internal space available is say 20meg more than this. No problem.
B. If not possible or simply must have all the goodies installed now, here it what to do:
1. Show linked apps in dex-size order.
2. Multiselect enough of the largest ones to meet the 20meg condition.
3. Remove them.
After flashing, rebuilding the dalvik cache.
4. Relink current dalvik. Now have lots of room again.
5. Restore the removed apps and data, relink them. Note: Titanium is your best friend!
'Twould be nice if a future link2sd version would warn us and if need be, do this for us

FYI I just did that very same thing just leaving the card in the phone and using the minitool. It seems to have worked just fine even with resizing the fat32 partition already there and creating a Ext2 out of the room I freed up.
aashay960 said:
Do I absolutely have to use a card reader for this? Can't I use the mount usb storage option from my phone? Either way, the card shows up as an external drive doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Retro Gamer said:
FYI I just did that very same thing just leaving the card in the phone and using the minitool. It seems to have worked just fine even with resizing the fat32 partition already there and creating a Ext2 out of the room I freed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick question - If you resize the partition which is already there, making space for a new one, will you lose all the data that is there in the card?

I answered that question in my last 2 reply posts. I just did this very thing without any problems or data loss, then went on to root my phone. It all took 20mins and I did copy my sd card contents to a dir in my PC just in case.
There is a always a chance for things to go wrong, but at the very least make a folder on your PC label cellback or something, connect your phone(with card) to PC & just copy all contents from your existing card in phone to that folder you made. Then in partition editor select the drive that is your SD card, resize it leaving left over space behind it. Use that free unallocated space to create a the new PRIMARY ext2 drive. Good luck.
aashay960 said:
Quick question - If you resize the partition which is already there, making space for a new one, will you lose all the data that is there in the card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Clockwork Recovery
To partition, you don't necessarily have to use a 3rd party PC based partitioning tool.
If your phone is rooted, with Clockwork Recovery flashed, you can simply:
a)Backup your Sd Card on another device.(As warned, the process wipes the sd card clean)
b)Reboot your device into Recovery mode.
c)Select Advanced, then Partition SD Card
d)First menu lets you choose the size of the ext
e)Second menu lets you choose the size of the swap file.
When your done partitioning, you will have both an ext and a swap file, no 3rd party partitioning app needed.
You'll need an app like Swapper2 for the swap partition and the aforementioned Link2Sd for the ext
Hit thanks if this helps. :highfive::good:

Kris the wizz 15 said:
To partition, you don't necessarily have to use a 3rd party PC based partitioning tool.
If your phone is rooted, with Clockwork Recovery flashed, you can simply:
a)Backup your Sd Card on another device.(As warned, the process wipes the sd card clean)
b)Reboot your device into Recovery mode.
c)Select Advanced, then Partition SD Card
d)First menu lets you choose the size of the ext
e)Second menu lets you choose the size of the swap file.
When your done partitioning, you will have both an ext and a swap file, no 3rd party partitioning app needed.
You'll need an app like Swapper2 for the swap partition and the aforementioned Link2Sd for the ext
Hit thanks if this helps. :highfive::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. When step d) is completed... what happens with the partition that was created... is mounted on the micro sd card, as a partition on itself?
I have another question. Is there an app/way to install directly to micro sd card, as if there is no need to move the apps later, because they go where is needed to in the first place?
Is there a way to move dalvik cache as well?