Related
*There are many ways to setup an SDCARD for A2SD, but some people don't feel comfortable doing it in recovery, or their recovery doesn't support it, or they don't rely on recovery, or they are scared of the adb shell. This is a newbie friendly way that anyone can do..
What's a VERY easy way to setup your sdcard for apps 2 sd? With Linux!! (don't run in fear yet! Follow along with me!)
Some background to read first:
Backup all your stuff before hand!
Think of it just like if your repartitioning your hard drive. It's that simple.
OK! So here we go!
Setup:
Go here: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
I suggest you select the 32bit option, and 10.10(latest) version. Click download
I also suggest unless you know how to use unetbootin, or how to burn an iso image(very easy) that you read the how to from that download page on doing so.
Links: cdburnerxp (if you don't already have a cd burning utility. I HIGHLY recommend it)http://cdburnerxp.se/en/home
unetbootin: (for booting from thumb drive) http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
*Some older PC's (and I mean unless made within the last 3 years recent) have trouble booting unetbootin made live thumb drives, so if in doubt, just eat the 20cents you paid for that cd-r and get it right the first time.
1a. BACKUP EVERYTHING ON THE SDCARD!
Cannot stress this enough as the way we are doing this, you will lose EVERYTHING on your SD card. I am not responsible for your adhd!
Execute!
1.boot to ubuntu live cd *see your motherboard instructions on how to boot to cd if it does not automatically but usually when you boot it will give an option to "Change Drive Boot Order" or something similar, by pressing F8, F9,F10, or F11, but if you do not see this, and it does not automatically boot to the ubuntu live cd, go into your BIOS at startup of your computer (which varies depending on the computer/motherboard, but usually it's either the Delete key, or F1 at boot, and change your drive boot order to boot from cdrom first)
1a. Just boot into Ubuntu. It wont hurt ya! And heck you might like it! It doesn't mess with any files on the system unless you intentionally do so.
2.put sdcard in computer
3.go to System > Administration > Disc Utility
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4.
Select your sd card from the "Storage Devices" list on the left.
Select your sdcard volume
Click "Unmount Volume"
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5.
Select the volume again and select Delete Partition
***IF YOU HAVE NOT BACKED UP YOUR STUFF YOU WILL NOW LOSE IT!!!! BACK UP YOUR STUFF!!!***
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6.
Now you have a fully wiped SD Card. Congrats, not good for much at the moment
Ok, so now the magic happens. Select Create Partition
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7.
I put 512 just cause I was messing around but for a swap, I would do between 40 and 80mb. You don't have to name it, just make sure you select Swap Space from the partition type, and the size you want. Click Create. *DO NOT SELECT Encrypt underlying device. It WILL NOT WORK!* If you do that, your phone wont read it and well.. Then that would be just pointless now wouldn't it?
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8.
Notice it looks like a pie or a chart? See it's not hard at all now is it? It's pretty simple from here.
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9.
Select the "Free" partition space, and then select "Create Partition" again.
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10.
Uncheck "Take ownership of filesystem" because if you do, you probably won't have "Ownership" of the partition when you put it in your phone which would probably turn out to be a bad thing. Select type "Ext3" and select create.
You can do Ext2 or Ext4, but I have heard issues about Ext4 partitions, and Ext2 is kinda old ya know? I mean you can do it if you want, but I dunno what to say if it don't work (you can always repartition though)
As far as space, that's up to you. If you think you just need a tad of space available for downloading games and stuff, go with 40 to 100mb, but if your like me and want EVERYTHING (BUHAHAHHA!) Go with between 250 and 512mb. Keep in mind that when you activate a2sd, you may also want to copy over dalvik cache which will take up a fair amount of space. btw, I never was able to get close to 200mb taken up on this partition when I had a2sd running on my phone..
11.
Select the "Free Space" again from the Volume chart, and click create partition.
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12.
Now we are going to finish this off! For the Size, leave it be! It's the remainder of the drive, which is how much space is left after we have made the previous two partitions. Select the type as "Fat"(yes it is fat32, I don't think the disk utility handles old fat16 anymore..) and select create.
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13.
DONE! Now you have a happy sdcard ready to take on your Dalvik Cache, any programs you download AFTER setting up the card, flashing your rom, and or your swap if you activate it (different roms take different approaches to this but many activate A2SD automatically. Something else of note. 2.2/Froyo roms have built in A2SD-Like functionality that uses the fat32 partition, so the Ext partition is not needed).
Select "Safe Removal" and take out your sdcard and put it into your phone. Your now ready for takeoff
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***See your ROM's thread for details on how to activate swap, and move Dalvik cache to the sdcard after this is finished or if it activates automatically.***
14. If your reading this last line, your probably scratching your head thinking to yourself "How the hell do I get out of Ubuntu and back into my Windows system?!". It's simple. Click the Power Icon in the top right corner of the screen, and select "Shutdown" from the list. After it shuts down so far, it should spit the cd out. Take the disc out of the try, and press enter, and it will reboot the system, and you will wake back up in microsoft land and you can forget this ever happened
Nice guide Really good to have
is there a guide for those of us not affraid of using recovery somewhere?
Thanks for this! Also helps that i use Ubuntu anyways
xjayman said:
is there a guide for those of us not affraid of using recovery somewhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(Copied and Pasted from: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7021325&postcount=2)
A. backup your sd card to your computer. can't stress this enough, as partitioning will wipe the entire card.
B. Reboot into recovery
c. In android system recovery, select partition sdcard
d. In the partition sdcard menu, select partition sd
e. Follow the instructions on the phone to partition your sd card. You can optionally set a swap file while you are partitioning your sd card.
F. In the partition sdcard menu, select sd:ext2 to ext3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
G **skip**
h. Press the back button on the phone to go back to the main menu.
I. Put the a2sd file on the sd card (and all your other files you backed up earlier) by selecting usb-ms toggle and transfer the files to your computer.
3. In recovery, select flash zip from sdcard.
4. In flash zip from sdcard, select the a2sd package file you downloaded earlier. Press home to flash.
5. Reboot phone.
This actually seems a lot less scary then using a Live-CD! To each there own.
JusticeAA said:
(Copied and Pasted from: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7021325&postcount=2)
A. backup your sd card to your computer. can't stress this enough, as partitioning will wipe the entire card.
B. Reboot into recovery
c. In android system recovery, select partition sdcard
d. In the partition sdcard menu, select partition sd
e. Follow the instructions on the phone to partition your sd card. You can optionally set a swap file while you are partitioning your sd card.
F. In the partition sdcard menu, select sd:ext2 to ext3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
G **skip**
h. Press the back button on the phone to go back to the main menu.
I. Put the a2sd file on the sd card (and all your other files you backed up earlier) by selecting usb-ms toggle and transfer the files to your computer.
3. In recovery, select flash zip from sdcard.
4. In flash zip from sdcard, select the a2sd package file you downloaded earlier. Press home to flash.
5. Reboot phone.
This actually seems a lot less scary then using a Live-CD! To each there own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you !
Thank you so much for this!
I used Superoneclick to root, so I didn't have the same partition options needed to create the extensions as noted in the other instructions in the recovery methods.
Appreciate it!
So I did the A2SD and have used it successfully for awhile now, I recently got a new card that is larger/faster and have already set it up for A2SD as well. Is there an easy way to transfer the apps from my first card to my new one without using linux? I did my partitioning in recovery.
indiscriminant said:
So I did the A2SD and have used it successfully for awhile now, I recently got a new card that is larger/faster and have already set it up for A2SD as well. Is there an easy way to transfer the apps from my first card to my new one without using linux? I did my partitioning in recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually no. The only way you can do that in windows is by using linux explorer or some other compatibility program to use windows to see ext partitions...
Thanks, I will just redownload everything later then using App Brain.
OK, I completed all steps but when I put the card in the phone or in Windows, it shows up as RAW and says I have to reformat.
I did everything twice just to make sure I did it correctly, but no go.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
neemypeemy said:
OK, I completed all steps but when I put the card in the phone or in Windows, it shows up as RAW and says I have to reformat.
I did everything twice just to make sure I did it correctly, but no go.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In windows, because of the ext partition it wont see those, however instead it would just ignore the ext partitions and just load the fat partitions....
You can reformat the remaining fat space in windows if you would like. It won't hurt the ext3 partition, but it shouldn't come up with any errors... Go ahead and reformat the fat partition in windows, and then see if the phone sees it (and make sure it's to the size you wanted).
When I try to reformat it only will let me reformat the swap file.
Here's a screen shot.
I've done the ubuntu steps twice, so not sure what I'm doing wrong, it's pretty straight forward.
First was formatted as swap, second ast the EXT3, third as FAT in Ubuntu.
neemypeemy said:
When I try to reformat it only will let me reformat the swap file.
Here's a screen shot.
I've done the ubuntu steps twice, so not sure what I'm doing wrong, it's pretty straight forward.
First was formatted as swap, second ast the EXT3, third as FAT in Ubuntu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is quite odd indeed.... Just to ask (and really JUST to ask) which version of windows are you using there? I know it had no bearing on it though... Which also is strange that it shows the rest of the partitions the way they are.. All but the last one should be shown as an "Unknown Partition". Did you use a Virtual Machine to do it? Could be the reason but I am not for sure...
Windows 7 64bit
I will give it another go!
Hello
I wanted to know what actually dalvik cache is and if i clear dalvik the phone gets into startup splash screen loop mode
Also people flashed creed's rom V2.0 I have question is dalvik cache on sd-ext working or not
Sent from my GT-S5670 using XDA-PREMIUM
Creed's V2.0
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7541281/what-is-dalivik-and-dalvik-cache
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/76110-what-dalvik-cache.html
Also, moving Dalvik Cache to sd-ext should work for all ROMs using App2SD GUI by darktremor.
But some people said that in creed's rom if they move their phone gets into loop mode
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they might be doing something incorrectly?
it's been successful for me always...
tried it on razodroid, andro-id and fitdroid.
Aspire said:
they might be doing something incorrectly?
it's been successful for me always...
tried it on razodroid, andro-id and fitdroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But in creeds v2.... u cant.... its a bug....
The dalvik cache is moved to sd card ext
when i frist moved through appp2sd gui the mobile got stuck on bootanimation so i went in recovery and reflashed the creed's rom without data reset and the cache was moved to sd card ext dont know why i had to reflash but it worked at last
the problem is now is that i cant activate swapper dont know why it not getting activated
you made a SWAP partition?
Lucas Leopoldino said:
Enter Recovery Mode by holding POWER + HOME;
With the Volume Down key (-) and High Volume (+) and navigate to the HOME key Select "advanced";
Select "partition SD Card"
In the next window you should choose the partition size.
If you have a 2GB card to advise you put 512mb 1024mb,
If you have a card with 4GB or 8GB advise putting 2048mb.
And finally select the size of the swap partition for extra memory.
If you have an urge to put 2gb card 128mb,
If you have a card with 4GB or 8GB advise putting 256mb.
enter the Market and install the program Links2SD
to open the program you should choose ext3 and press ok> then superuser permission> and after that restart your phone.
Now press the Options button to display the sub-menu of the program
Made this to take and check the settings, and automatically link-site check in'' automatically''.
Now press the Options button to display the sub-menu of the program.
Made this to take and check the settings, and automatically link-site check in'' automatically''.
Return to initial screen of the program, press the Options button to display the sub-menu and then click multiple selection, press the shutter button and select options select all, press again press the options button and click Actions, and click Create link. Press OK to start, and all your applications ready to go to memory that was created ext3.
Now we will install and configure the Swapper. Lower application, install the application by the Market, after check the Active on Boot Swap on Swap File Position sure "EXT Partition SD Card" in "Swap File Size" set a value as the size of the partition created in ext, I suggest that is a partition of 1024 put 250 if a partition of 2048 put 512 of superuser permissions and restart the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed above guide and Couldnt understand the Swapper part can You help me out with it??
I think he's referring to this app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.azasoft.free.swapper
Aspire said:
I think he's referring to this app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.azasoft.free.swapper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Following the above application I have done things accordingly
but the internal memory is still shown as 178mb and not the 2gb that i have set any idea upon this?
what i did was a little different... first i partitioned by SD card using CWM into
SD-Ext 256 and SWAP 128
then i used app2sd gui to move dalvik cache to sdcard and now i have around 150MB free on "internal memory".
FYI I'm not using SD-Ext as internal memory. to do that you need the "memory hack"
look for that in the development section.
Each time I boot up with the sdcard with the ext4 parition it shows "Encryption Unsuccessful".
I have formatted my 32GB microsd card to ext4 by using Minitool. I cannot access the micro sd via PC by using the card reader anymore because its a ext4 partition now. So I can't format and partition it again with Minitool. What should I do now?
Minitool is not recommended. Use gparted instead. Gparted is a linux utility, if you don't have linux installed you can burn linux and gparted to Cd and boot from the CD. 'Google for gparted live CD'
But now another problem is that the file system format is now RAW, and I can't format the microsd.
BlankZero said:
But now another problem is that the file system format is now RAW, and I can't format the microsd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use Gparted, you can delete and re create new partition.Stop using mini tool, it's going to brick your SDcard.
buhohitr said:
If you use Gparted, you can delete and re create new partition.Stop using mini tool, it's going to brick your SDcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying to use Gparted but it won't format the darn microsd because of it being a RAW filesystem.
BlankZero said:
I'm trying to use Gparted but it won't format the darn microsd because of it being a RAW filesystem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have to try to delete it first?
When right clicking it, the delete button is greyed out. The only button that isn't is the New button.
BlankZero said:
When right clicking it, the delete button is greyed out. The only button that isn't is the New button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New is to create new partition, go for it.
Alright so after clicking New, it says there is no partition table on the device. After that I tried creating a partition table as "msdos" and nothing happen.
BlankZero said:
Alright so after clicking New, it says there is no partition table on the device. After that I tried creating a partition table as "msdos" and nothing happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, this is how you do it.
1. select new, then resize your first partition by drag the space to the left,until what ever size you want for the first partion, just say you set to 2gb. then select fat32, then give it a name called fat32, hit ok
2. click on the second RAW space, then select new again, this time just select ext4, then give it a name called ext4, hit ok
3. now on the top tab on "apply", Gparted will creating 2 partitions for you.
4. Once done, right click on the ext4 partition, then select flag, then select boot hit ok then you're done. Take the card out and put into your device.
buhohitr said:
Nope, this is how you do it.
1. select new, then resize your first partition by drag the space to the left,until what ever size you want for the first partion, just say you set to 2gb. then select fat32, then give it a name called fat32, hit ok
2. click on the second RAW space, then select new again, this time just select ext4, then give it a name called ext4, hit ok
3. now on the top tab on "apply", Gparted will creating 2 partitions for you.
4. Once done, right click on the ext4 partition, then select flag, then select boot hit ok then you're done. Take the card out and put into your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't let me access that point because each time I press new it keep saying "No partition table on device /dev/mmcblk0" "A partition table is required before partitions can be added. To create a new partition table choose the menu item: Device --> Create Partition Table.
BlankZero said:
It won't let me access that point because each time I press new it keep saying "No partition table on device /dev/mmcblk0" "A partition table is required before partitions can be added. To create a new partition table choose the menu item: Device --> Create Partition Table.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like you brick the sdcard with minitool, try this, on the top select the partition recovery. Run it, it may reported that it's not find any, but some cases it may repair the partition table.
buhohitr said:
Seems like you brick the sdcard with minitool, try this, on the top select the partition recovery. Run it, it may reported that it's not find any, but some cases it may repair the partition table.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The option is Partition Recovery Wizard? If it is, I just tried that and It didn't find anything. In the end I don't think it fix the partition table.
BlankZero said:
It won't let me access that point because each time I press new it keep saying "No partition table on device /dev/mmcblk0" "A partition table is required before partitions can be added. To create a new partition table choose the menu item: Device --> Create Partition Table.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, then do that. You need to create an "msdos" partition table, then you can create partitions.
_that said:
Well, then do that. You need to create an "msdos" partition table, then you can create partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I tried that but after that nothing happen. So looks like this microsd is bricked now huh.
BlankZero said:
Well I tried that but after that nothing happen. So looks like this microsd is bricked now huh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After creating a partition table you should be able to create partitions.
It wasn't able to create any partition tables. When I clicked that it just paused for a bit and refreshed.
BlankZero said:
It wasn't able to create any partition tables. When I clicked that it just paused for a bit and refreshed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What happens if you create a partition after that?
It will ask to make a create table. Basically a endless cycle.
BlankZero said:
It will ask to make a create table. Basically a endless cycle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's strange. Normally, after creating the partition table, the yellow triangle near "unallocated" goes away and then on "New Partition" you should get the "Create new Partition" dialog where you can define size, location and filesystem of the new partition.
To help diagnose your issue, please open a root shell and check the output of
hexdump -C /dev/sdX -s 510 -n 2
(replace X with whatever letter your card is shown in gparted)
You should get
Code:
000001fe 55 aa |U.|
which is the marker for the "msdos" partition table.
This is my experience when I was trying to change or exchange my internal over external storage. I just used a modified volt.fstab from a user here and used also a script and was successful but my mistake was I formatted the internal and external and it ended up unable to mount the internal(now external due to swap). And after turning off the phone, it never turned on again. No life signs like led, vibrate. I am also unable to enter flashmode or fastboot. tried combination of power and volume +/- but still no avail. Tried charging it for more than 10 hours but still no signs of life. So I returned the unit because it is only 7 days old and sony replaced it with a new one at the same day.
Lesson learned:
1. Never mess up with vold.fstab unless you really know what you are doing
2. Just in case you really need to mess with it, never reformat the storages
I spend the same problem
rafitcu said:
I spend the same problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently there is no fix except bring it to service center
amnher said:
Currently there is no fix except bring it to service center
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I've read, I'm going to send today.
rafitcu said:
If I've read, I'm going to send today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys I have an Xperia L and i am sucessful in swapping the external to internal by an app called "External 2 Internal". If anybody is interested then you can comment below my phone is running smooth and one more thing this app mounts your sd card as an internal memory:angel:.
You only have to go through few steps i will upload screen shots with the steps if anybody is interested then you can comment below.:good::good:
neville20_dabreo said:
Guys I have an Xperia L and i am sucessful in swapping the external to internal by an app called "External 2 Internal". If anybody is interested then you can comment below my phone is running smooth and one more thing this app mounts your sd card as an internal memory:angel:.
You only have to go through few steps i will upload screen shots with the steps if anybody is interested then you can comment below.:good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
be careful not to reformat the storages or your phone will be toasted.
neville20_dabreo said:
Guys I have an Xperia L and i am sucessful in swapping the external to internal by an app called "External 2 Internal". If anybody is interested then you can comment below my phone is running smooth and one more thing this app mounts your sd card as an internal memory:angel:.
You only have to go through few steps i will upload screen shots with the steps if anybody is interested then you can comment below.:good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interested a lot,please continue
How to Swap your Memory
nakulp said:
Interested a lot,please continue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a step by step guide to Swap your external to internal
Your Phone Should Be rooted ,To root your phone Go to this Link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307983 credit goes to the developer :good::good:
Warning :- I am not responsible if Your Phone is F****d !!!!! :angel::angel:
Download this app on your phone External 2 Internal Click Here
Here are the screen shots in the attachments of what should be done
Step 1) Open the app External 2 Internal and On the top right Corner Click On settings
Step 2) Then Check the Box which is besides use per default
Step 3) Scroll down to the end and click on View the different devices
Step 4) Scroll down and search for /dev/block/vold/179:33 (Caution this is Very Important that you search for the right one because you will find two commands of the same name click on the one that appears first )
Step 5) Then click on the download symbol on the top right corner which will look like a green arrow and a line below it
Step 6 ) Once you have done this you will have to click on the logo which will be on the left top corner and this will take you to the start screen
Step7) The Click on External > Internal and viola your job is done if you are confused then Feel free to ask any questions
Ps:- Forgot to upload the screen shots to show my phones internel storage.
A Thanks Will be appreciated :good: Hit the thanks button If i have helped you
amnher said:
be careful not to reformat the storages or your phone will be toasted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks For reporting this,I wont let my phone die,:good:
neville20_dabreo said:
Here is a step by step guide to Swap your external to internal
Your Phone Should Be rooted ,To root your phone Go to this Link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307983 credit goes to the developer :good::good:
Warning :- I am not responsible if Your Phone is F****d !!!!! :angel::angel:
Download this app on your phone External 2 Internal Click Here
Here are the screen shots in the attachments of what should be done
Step 1) Open the app External 2 Internal and On the top right Corner Click On settings
Step 2) Then Check the Box which is besides use per default
Step 3) Scroll down to the end and click on View the different devices
Step 4) Scroll down and search for /dev/block/vold/179:33 (Caution this is Very Important that you search for the right one because you will find two commands of the same name click on the one that appears first )
Step 5) Then click on the download symbol on the top right corner which will look like a green arrow and a line below it
Step 6 ) Once you have done this you will have to click on the logo which will be on the left top corner and this will take you to the start screen
Step7) The Click on External > Internal and viola your job is done if you are confused then Feel free to ask any questions
Ps:- Forgot to upload the screen shots to show my phones internel storage.
A Thanks Will be appreciated :good: Hit the thanks button If i have helped you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is /dev/block/vold/179:33 sdcard block or extsdcard block??
Hi, I should move an app to system. I wanted to do it through Link2SD, but the problem is that the system partition is full ("USB disk").
so my question is how do i do it? is there an alternative way or do i have to do a partition resize? if so, how do i do it?
Gigi534 said:
Hi, I should move an app to system. I wanted to do it through Link2SD, but the problem is that the system partition is full ("USB disk").
so my question is how do i do it? is there an alternative way or do i have to do a partition resize? if so, how do i do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't system protected from writing anyways, regardless of root?
You could write a magisk module to avoid installing the app on /data
Begin -> Right-click Computer -> Manage. Locate Disk Management under Store on the left, and click to select Disk Management. Right-click the partition you want to cut and choose to Shrink Volume. Tune a size on the right of entering the amount of space to shrink. you can also check out mining fleet management systems,