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[Q] 3.2 Manta Ray - External SD-card read-only?

Hi!
I installed Honeycomb 3.2 (using this excellent tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1183416 ) and it works like a charm Thanks to all for the hard work! The only problem I encounter:
I have a FAT-formatted SDHC-Card which I inserted into my Xoom, booted into recovery, mounted it and chose "format SD-card". Everything works well and using ES-Explorer I can access this card unter /mnt/external1/ or /MicroSD/.
BUT: I can't create folders nor put any files in it, it just keeps saying "operation failed". I then enterd into ES-Explorer's settings, activated "Root Explorer" and granted superuser-rights and - voilà - I can read and write to the external SD-card... But ONLY with ES-Explorer (since it got SU).
Did I do wrong in formatting in recovery mode? How can I solve this?
Thanks a bunch!
Jake

jakeomat said:
Hi!
I installed Honeycomb 3.2 (using this excellent tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1183416 ) and it works like a charm Thanks to all for the hard work! The only problem I encounter:
I have a FAT-formatted SDHC-Card which I inserted into my Xoom, booted into recovery, mounted it and chose "format SD-card". Everything works well and using ES-Explorer I can access this card unter /mnt/external1/ or /MicroSD/.
BUT: I can't create folders nor put any files in it, it just keeps saying "operation failed". I then enterd into ES-Explorer's settings, activated "Root Explorer" and granted superuser-rights and - voilà - I can read and write to the external SD-card... But ONLY with ES-Explorer (since it got SU).
Did I do wrong in formatting in recovery mode? How can I solve this?
Thanks a bunch!
Jake
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't do anything wrong, it's working and you can access it with ES explorer. Did you check if other apps can see the files on the card? Like can Documents to Go read and edit a word file from your card?

Yepp, files are visible and can be opened with other apps but not changed and then saved :-(
I have tried to change user permissions of the SD-card (booted Kubuntu from CD on my PC, logged in as root and changed permissions to rwxrwrw) but to no avail. Still no writing permissions without SU on my Xoom.

jakeomat said:
Yepp, files are visible and can be opened with other apps but not changed and then saved :-(
I have tried to change user permissions of the SD-card (booted Kubuntu from CD on my PC, logged in as root and changed permissions to rwxrwrw) but to no avail. Still no writing permissions without SU on my Xoom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get it...you are rooted, right? I assumed so. I have all r/w permissions with rooted Xoom on Tiamat Manta Ray Rom.

Just download and run http://www.synfulgeek.com/main/images/sgmsdmm3.apk to remount your sd card as read/write easily.

champers said:
Just download and run http://www.synfulgeek.com/main/images/sgmsdmm3.apk to remount your sd card as read/write easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES, this app solved my problem also.

This app just force closes, does it need root access?
Thanks

Yes, root access is necessary.
I can start the app and it states:
Current microSD card mount status: Not mounted
Mounted for read/write: False
Independant from what I do next (mount as read-only oder remount as read/write) the app confirms the action but the status of the SD-card stays the same ("Not mounted"). Which is strange enough, because I can access the SD-card and read the data, but still no writing possible :-(

unable to write files to external sd card

I have owned a number of tablets but this is the first time I'm unable to write files to my ext. SD card. Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks

Mr Dasher said:
I have owned a number of tablets but this is the first time I'm unable to write files to my ext. SD card. Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue when using any 3rd party file manager, but doing such through the built in one works. I suspect I just need to back up and format the card through the computer, try that and see how it works.

I ran into the same issue, but reformatting the external SD have no effect. Whether the system is grabbing hold of the extSD and locking out other apps is as yet unknown. Currently I am attempting to figure out how to root the unit so I can gain access with a better FileMngr than the stock one. Still waiting for the download during the reset to finish, so don't know if it will work.

FYI - My device is rooted and I am using ES File Manager and it still does not work.

Mr Dasher said:
FYI - My device is rooted and I am using ES File Manager and it still does not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you format your sd card? I've got same problem, but now it's ok with ES File manager

gacon1000 said:
Have you format your sd card? I've got same problem, but now it's ok with ES File manager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure? Try this:
Reboot the tablet.
Before you do anything else, start ES File manager, and immediately navigate to /mnt/sdcard/extStorages/SdCard.
Menu->New->Folder (leave the default and hit 'OK')
Did it create the folder or show an error message?
(This has become a puzzle for me. Sometimes I can read/write with ES, sometimes I can't. It's damn annoying...)

Mr Dasher said:
I have owned a number of tablets but this is the first time I'm unable to write files to my ext. SD card. Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't post a link to the original post on another forum that worked for me so I will quote it:
Simple solution for external sdcard write access on Android 3.2...if you're rooted
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that access either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.

Interesting that it requires root to fix. You would think that even the Samsung file manager would be able to handle it, but it doesn't.
thaloneus said:
I can't post a link to the original post on another forum that worked for me so I will quote it:
Simple solution for external sdcard write access on Android 3.2...if you're rooted
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that access either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

@thaloneus:
Thanks for finding and posting that procedure. Was having that excact problem and after making the edit to permissions I am now able to write to the external sd card. ES file explorer now allows writing to the external sd as well as Titanium Backup.
Interesting note: Titanium was backing up to the internal sd. Once the external became available to write to I was able to create a backup folder there and ran another batch of backups.

thaloneus said:
I can't post a link to the original post on another forum that worked for me so I will quote it:
Simple solution for external sdcard write access on Android 3.2...if you're rooted
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that access either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks worked like a charm

Please someone provide me more details or give me the picture of the edited .xml thanks.
Sent from my GT-P6200L using Tapatalk

boonhim said:
Please someone provide me more details or give me the picture of the edited .xml thanks.
Sent from my GT-P6200L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a screenshot of the edited .xml
Sent from my GT-P6210

StingerDog said:
@thaloneus:
Thanks for finding and posting that procedure. Was having that excact problem and after making the edit to permissions I am now able to write to the external sd card. ES file explorer now allows writing to the external sd as well as Titanium Backup.
Interesting note: Titanium was backing up to the internal sd. Once the external became available to write to I was able to create a backup folder there and ran another batch of backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what Ive found you need superuser access to the external sdcard to write to it. I've always been able to access the external sdcard with Titanium Backup as the location of the backup was the first thing I changed in its settings when I installed it. Root Explorer can write to it too. The only programs that can't are the ones without superuser access, ES File Explorer is one I have that I can't get its root explorer working, its not requesting superuser access, so it can't write to the sdcard.
Not sure if this has anything to do with the sdcard mounting to a pc as an MTP device instead of MSC or not but really irritated by that protocol. Not sure if this (MTP) is native to Honeycomb or if Samsung wanted the external storage accessed in this way.

Thank so much.
Sent from my GT-P6200L using Tapatalk

kzoodroid said:
From what Ive found you need superuser access to the external sdcard to write to it. I've always been able to access the external sdcard with Titanium Backup as the location of the backup was the first thing I changed in its settings when I installed it. Root Explorer can write to it too. The only programs that can't are the ones without superuser access, ES File Explorer is one I have that I can't get its root explorer working, its not requesting superuser access, so it can't write to the sdcard.
Not sure if this has anything to do with the sdcard mounting to a pc as an MTP device instead of MSC or not but really irritated by that protocol. Not sure if this (MTP) is native to Honeycomb or if Samsung wanted the external storage accessed in this way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're still having trouble with apps not writing to the external sd, you might want to edit that .xml file thaloneus had mentioned.
Once I did that I had full access to write to that card from any app. Took me all of like five minutes to edit and test it out.

I'm having some trouble with this procedure. Like everyone else, I couldn't write to my external SD card using ES Explorer or what not, although the stock Samsung My Files explorer could (and strangely, if I use a Samba mount I could write to it from my Win7 PC).
Anyway I've rooted everything, and was about to edit platform.xml, but I can't save it. I don't have the ability to write to the system folder.
I think I've done the Mount rw thing, ES File Explorer's option to do it was disabled, but on File Expert it was available. For good measure, I also used the app "mount /system (rw /ro)" but even with all these tools, I still can't write to the system directory.
I'm at my wits end, any ideas?

Mochan said:
I'm having some trouble with this procedure. Like everyone else, I couldn't write to my external SD card using ES Explorer or what not, although the stock Samsung My Files explorer could (and strangely, if I use a Samba mount I could write to it from my Win7 PC).
Anyway I've rooted everything, and was about to edit platform.xml, but I can't save it. I don't have the ability to write to the system folder.
I think I've done the Mount rw thing, ES File Explorer's option to do it was disabled, but on File Expert it was available. For good measure, I also used the app "mount /system (rw /ro)" but even with all these tools, I still can't write to the system directory.
I'm at my wits end, any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you using to edit the .xml file? It may not have root explorer functions.
I used the Root Browser from ROM Toolbox to make and save the edit.

Worked for me with Root Explorer. I have tried most of the free file managers, and Root Explorer is worth every penny to me. It is the only app I have paid for.

StingerDog said:
What are you using to edit the .xml file? It may not have root explorer functions.
I used the Root Browser from ROM Toolbox to make and save the edit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i used the free Astro File Manager to navigate to /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml. When I tapped on the platform.xml file I was given a choice of text editors to open it with. When I finished I was offered the option to save the file.

thaloneus said:
i used the free Astro File Manager to navigate to /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml. When I tapped on the platform.xml file I was given a choice of text editors to open it with. When I finished I was offered the option to save the file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There you are thaloneus!
You made the one post that helped me fix that issue, then you disappeared. Glad to see you're back.
Thanks again!

[Q] Problem with file manager (cyanogenmod 10.1)

I installed cyanogen mod 10.1
and in cyanogen mod file manager there is no more my external sd card??
1:> There (in the file manager) appears a "external_sdcard" folder but when i open it just it shows only a "DCIM" folder.....
2:> So i installed "Solid explorer" in that also it shows the same....
3:>You might be knowing that when we open solid explorer on its home screen when we swipe from left to right A slide opens showing "root", "internal", "extsdcard" when i click on this ext sdcard then only this opens correctly!!
but i cant open it from step "1:>" (before cyanogen mod it was working properly)
4:> as a result it creates a huge problem because most of the apps access "extsdcard" from step "1:>"
apps like "gl to sd" are not able to mount games from extsdcard due to this....
5:>it also creates a problem while file transferring through pc because PC though shows the same step "1:>"
PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!! :crying: :crying: :crying:

In CM, /storage/sdcard1 is the external sdcard.
/storage/sdcard0 is the internal sdcard. Grant superuser access to whichever file manager you are using to gain access to the above path.

SOrry
mon_iker said:
In CM, /storage/sdcard1 is the external sdcard.
/storage/sdcard0 is the internal sdcard. Grant superuser access to whichever file manager you are using to gain access to the above path.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS FOR UR REPLY
I DELEATED THAT FILE MANAGER AND RE_INSTALLED IT AGAIN AND DELEATED THAT EXT SDCARD FILE
after re-installing ut worked perfectly
THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH FOR REPLYING !!!!!

No write access on Marshmallow USB OTG storage

I use FAT32 storage on my USB OTG storage. On lollipop i was able to delete or copy files to the storage but since I've updated to Marshmallow recently, i only have read access.
Any idea how to get around this?
I've tried the stock file manager as well as File Manager app.

I had same problem with mine when I used my mac to format usb, partition map was GUID instead of master boot once i changed that worked ok. Not sure if that's any help to you though.

neopeo said:
I use FAT32 storage on my USB OTG storage. On lollipop i was able to delete or copy files to the storage but since I've updated to Marshmallow recently, i only have read access.
Any idea how to get around this?
I've tried the stock file manager as well as File Manager app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever turned off USB debugging?

dan7four said:
I had same problem with mine when I used my mac to format usb, partition map was GUID instead of master boot once i changed that worked ok. Not sure if that's any help to you though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea what GUID or master boot is. But i did format it on Windows using 'guiformat'. Something I found on the web and have used previously many times.
bininga59 said:
Have you ever turned off USB debugging?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried that and it didn't make a difference.

Same here, having problems with OTG after updating my S6 to marshmallow, should have read this forum before updating... bummer...

neopeo said:
I use FAT32 storage on my USB OTG storage. On lollipop i was able to delete or copy files to the storage but since I've updated to Marshmallow recently, i only have read access.
Any idea how to get around this?
I've tried the stock file manager as well as File Manager app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I found the solution, I noticed that my S6 running marshmallow, when I plug my otg to the phone, I accidentally made the ES File Explorer the default, I can't access the OTG via Samsung's default File Manager. So I went to Applications, go to ES File Explorer, clear defaults... plug my OTG Again, this time don't choose ES File Explorer, if it pops out, cancel it. Then the Samsung's File Manager will now recognize the OTG, and boom, I can now use my OTG properly via Samsung's File Manager... Try it out...

It appears i HADN'T tried the file manager app (i thought i did). That app DOES allow deleting. It's just the stock samsung file explorer that doesn't allow write/delete access.
Problem solved.

Well. It looks like file manager intermittently has write access. Very odd.
It's stopped now. So i guess i did previously try it.
Very frustrating.

Writing to File on External SDCard

I'm trying to write to a file on the external SDcard with an app, but it remains with permissions of 771. (execute only for Others) In Termianl I su and chmod 777 file, but it remains at 771.
This seems to mean the OS is preventing this file from being world writeable. Each app is run by a different user so I can't know which user will try to write at a given time. As root I can 'touch' new files all day, but I can't set them world-writeable.
What is preventing me from doing this?

Quantumstate said:
I'm trying to write to a file on the external SDcard with an app, but it remains with permissions of 771. (execute only for Others) In Termianl I su and chmod 777 file, but it remains at 771.
This seems to mean the OS is preventing this file from being world writeable. Each app is run by a different user so I can't know which user will try to write at a given time. As root I can 'touch' new files all day, but I can't set them world-writeable.
What is preventing me from doing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm... your external SD card is FAT32, it doesn't support Linux file attributes and permissions.

That's well and good, but look at it with the file manager.
And why can't I write into files on the external when I can on the internal?

Quantumstate said:
That's well and good, but look at it with the file manager.
And why can't I write into files on the external when I can on the internal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your app needs to have permission to use the ext storage... I have no problems with ES File Explorer, just has to select the SD card and the first time it prompts you to select the root and go. Then it's good, apps need to be built to be compatible with Marshmallow, how it addresses the SD card is different than previous Android versions.