Database Users

SD card primer, anyone?

Hello,
I just discovered I'm even more of a ignorant farmgirl than I thought... this time it's the MiniSD card I don't know anything about.
I mean: of course you plug it in and you browse to it to add/move/remove files... but it would seem that's not enough. So, can anyone point me to a SD-on-Wiz Faq, please?
A few things I'm looking into:
- How do you get the Wiz to automatically look among SD card-based files from an app? (i.e. "Open" from Word looks into the card first)
- How do you get the camera to save pictures directly onto the SD card, so as not to waste precious device-based memory?
- What are the actual differences between installing apps onto a SD card compared to the device memory? I noticed some apps seem to behave differently according to where they are placed.
- Is there any way to create a card-based auto-multi-installer to do all the dirty work of reinstalling apps automatically after a hard reset?
I'm sure I left out several other interesting and useful things...
Thanks in advance for your contributions!

there´s some reg tweaks you can do so the wizard will store stuff on the sd-card and not in main memorey (i. e. IE cache files, Camera pics, etc.)
just search the forum you´ll find some stuff there.
For the difference between SD-Card and main storage installation. i have no idea. haven´t noticed any change in my apps. maybe just in speed of loading apps. but that´s all i noticed.
for doing backup of your apps. a lot of programms you intall on your sd card don´t need to be reinstalled after a hard reset. just need to put the shortcuts and links back in the folders.
hope i could help.
greets Freez

Making the camera save pictures to the SD card can be done by changing the settings in the camera app under options.
There is no way to automatically have all apps look on the SD card first, every app needs a change in their settings or in the registry to accomplish that.
Installing apps on the SD card has pros and cons. The pros are of course that your storage space on the device (in the ROM) gets used up less, so you can install more apps on your device. It is however not necessary to leave it as empty as possible as it was in WM 2003 SE. In WM 2003 SE (on for instance the Magician) apps were installed in RAM and the more you installed on the device, the more RAM was used up and the less RAM there was available for running apps, resulting in a slow down of the device. Furthermore running out of battery power would result in the device turning off, emptying the RAM and lossing all data and installed apps. In WM5 this is different. Since ROM is used for storage and RAM for executing only, you can fill your ROM to the max without slowing down the device. Furthermore an empty battery will mean no data loss. Concluding, there is no necessity to install as much as possible to the SD card and leave your ROM space empty.
The cons of installing to your SD card are that some apps (e.g. today-plug-ins) don't like being installed on SD card. For today plug-ins this has to do with the start-up process of the Wizard. After turing the device on or waking it from sleep, the device will first load the apps and then initialize the SD card. The device will try to load the apps on the today screen (the plug-ins that is) that are stored on the SD before the SD slot is initialized and the apps cannot be found by the device, creating glitches and problems.
Another con for me is that I like to switch between my SD with TomTom navigation maps and my SD with my mp3/movie collection. If I install most apps to SD, this means that I will have to change my SD again if during a movie or MP3 I want to use one of these apps quickly.
However, if you use only one SD for installing and not much else, this problem does of course not exist.
If your storage in ROM is not full, there is no reason to install aps to SD.

Thak you for the info so far!
Koskie: paint me 'tard... I never even saw the camera Options menu until you mentioned it...

I am about to start getting some cards and here is what I was thinking...
1. a 512 or 128MB card for everyday use. Store IE cache, ringtones, pictures, and some programs (solitaire, puzzles, monopoly etc).
2. A series of 2GB cards for music, movies and TV content when I travel. I was planing on installing TCPMP on each one to avaoid putting that in my device memory.
As far as restoring after flashing or a hard reset, I currently keep a copy of all programs, ringtones, pim backups etc on my home computer. It is organized by file type, utils, games, rings etc. so when I flash I just go through again and reinstall one by one. I've found this is easier than figuring out where to download everything all over again.

@bubism: no problem, took me a while to figure it out too, that option is well-hidden!
@dcdivenut: Good plan. Those small size cards are really cheap. Why don't you install TCPMP on your device memory? It is not too big. Or have you crammed your mem so full that you have no more place for it.
I also have all apps I ever installed still on my desktop, including a list with all the reg edits I did and all apps I have currently installed with a short explanation for most apps and installation instructions when a standard install is not good enough (e.g. TomTom 5.21)
In case a hard reset is needed,I just grab the list and install all apps again, then do all the regedits. Still a lot of work, but quicker than having to search all apps and edits online. I recommend this approach to everyone.

Hey Koskie:
Can you post that list and what to do? I have a new 8125 and miniSD card and have no idea what to use the card for. I won't be putting music, pictures or videos on it since it is a work phone.
Ski

@ Skijackz: I use my SD card for music, TomTom 5.21 maps and video's only, all my apps are installed in main (=device) mem. I have approx. 16 MB free of Storage mem. If you have no use for your SD card and your storage mem is sufficient to store your apps, you can take it out and replace it with the plastic dummy that came with it. In that way your card slot is protected against dust and dirt, but the SD card will not use any power, thereby lengthening your uptime. If you use your device for navigation, you have to use the card to store the maps on it, since they are too big for your device mem.
The list I made is partly in Dutch, especially the notes, so it might not be very useful to you. Furthermore the list is a mess, since it works through my personal filing system (copy and paste wherever my cursor happens to rest). It is a mostly chronological list, I mostly added everything I found at the end. I'll attach it anyway, perhaps you'll find it useful. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them here or through PM.

Thanks a lot for the tip on storing pics to the storage card!!! That's a real find! ....and much appreciated!!
This place is the BEST :!: :!:

Thanks Koskie!! This is a real help.

MicroSD Card Question.

I have a question about the MicroSD cards you can buy for the Wing. Once I realized it was a good idea to have one for the wing (didn't take me long), I had one sent to me via UPS from some website. I got a 2GB. Anyway! My question is.. if I put the card in my phone, does it act as phone memory? Can I actually install .cab's and stuff ON the card and run them like they were actually installed on the phone?
Basically what i'm asking is if putting a MicroSD card into the wing is like putting a hard drive into a computer. It's not just a card to store things on, it's a card that acts as actual memory and you can install things on it too, right?
Today I kept getting pop-ups saying I had low memory. It was annoying as hell, so I uninstalled a few programs until I get my card. They were things I used like battery status and larger start menu, but oh well. I can do without them for a few days.
I know there's "Storage" memory and then there's "Program" memory. The Storage was at 0MB free and that's why I kept getting those pop-ups. My Program is at 18.34MB free.
Thanks in advance.

itslinx said:
I have a question about the MicroSD cards you can buy for the Wing. Once I realized it was a good idea to have one for the wing (didn't take me long), I had one sent to me via UPS from some website. I got a 2GB. Anyway! My question is.. if I put the card in my phone, does it act as phone memory? Can I actually install .cab's and stuff ON the card and run them like they were actually installed on the phone?
Basically what i'm asking is if putting a MicroSD card into the wing is like putting a hard drive into a computer. It's not just a card to store things on, it's a card that acts as actual memory and you can install things on it too, right?
Today I kept getting pop-ups saying I had low memory. It was annoying as hell, so I uninstalled a few programs until I get my card. They were things I used like battery status and larger start menu, but oh well. I can do without them for a few days.
I know there's "Storage" memory and then there's "Program" memory. The Storage was at 0MB free and that's why I kept getting those pop-ups. My Program is at 18.34MB free.
Yes, to answer your question, the microsd card is just like a hard drive. That's where you will prob want to store most of you applications, music, games, etc. This frees up memory on your main drive. I also have my camera setup to put photos on it too. I also keep a backup of all my cab files on my card. Whenever you have a card present, and you install a program, you get the option of installing on the card or the main drive. I believe our phones will take up to an 8 gig. I have 4 and it works great.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, to answer your question, the microsd card is just like a hard drive. That's where you will prob want to store most of you applications, music, games, etc. This frees up memory on your main drive. I also have my camera setup to put photos on it too. I also keep a backup of all my cab files on my card. Whenever you have a card present, and you install a program, you get the option of installing on the card or the main drive. I believe our phones will take up to an 8 gig. I have 4 and it works great.

dougstoner said:
Yes, to answer your question, the microsd card is just like a hard drive. That's where you will prob want to store most of you applications, music, games, etc. This frees up memory on your main drive. I also have my camera setup to put photos on it too. I also keep a backup of all my cab files on my card. Whenever you have a card present, and you install a program, you get the option of installing on the card or the main drive. I believe our phones will take up to an 8 gig. I have 4 and it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. Thanks for the response. So I guess it would make more sense for me to uninstall everything I installed on my phone and reinstall it all on my card instead? That way most of my actual phone memory is free and it's all on the card? Any idea how much free memory there is to start off on the phone anyway? And what's the difference exactly between Storage and Program memory? I know Storage says Total: 31.44 MB and Program says Total: 47.89 MB. Is that how much the phone gives you to start with?

it will not merge with your storage
and memory is mainly what we call application mem like ram in a computer
not the harddrive
cabs should at install time ask if one wish to install to storage or sdcard

Apps or panels that HAVE TO BE installed on INTERNAL memory

My plan was to install all my apps, panels and HTC cabs onto the microSD card. This won't arrive till next week
Whilst I am waiting is there any apps, panels or HTC cabs cabs that must be installed on the internal phone memory or can everything be installed on the microSD?

Pretty much everything can be installed on the SD card although i put my today apps and panels in the internal memory. Sometimes the phone will freeze if you have your today items (rss feeds, weather etc.) on the SD and you connect to the PC. They cannot be accessed while connected, so i put them on the phone memory.
Some apps will warn you if you try to install them on the SD.

If I'm not wrong the Windows Live Panel has to be installed to device. Or at least it appears to be that for my case.

orelsi said:
Pretty much everything can be installed on the SD card although i put my today apps and panels in the internal memory. Sometimes the phone will freeze if you have your today items (rss feeds, weather etc.) on the SD and you connect to the PC. They cannot be accessed while connected, so i put them on the phone memory.
Some apps will warn you if you try to install them on the SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for giving me this idea

I install allmost everything on the phone.
Only Igo8 is running from my sd. My guess is dat using the
SD card wil cost battery life..

Installing programs on device or SD

Hi
Are there any pros/cons to installing programs on the SD versus the device memory (not including that the SD's capacity is greater).
Tried a search but could not find an answer.
Thanks

diamondp3700 said:
Hi
Are there any pros/cons to installing programs on the SD versus the device memory (not including that the SD's capacity is greater).
Tried a search but could not find an answer.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think of your phone as a pc with limited space to store apps/software/programs/games etc. Now imagine you have filled most of the space available. What would happen to your pc? It would slow down wouldn't it?
Same applies to your phone.

Fallen Spartan said:
Think of your phone as a pc with limited space to store apps/software/programs/games etc. Now imagine you have filled most of the space available. What would happen to your pc? It would slow down wouldn't it?
Same applies to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct me if i'm wrong but i've always been under the impression that certain apps works better off system memory. obviously you dont want to install everything there - stuff like games i keep on sd but system apps I (personally) keep in system memory.

imy300 said:
correct me if i'm wrong but i've always been under the impression that certain apps works better off system memory. obviously you dont want to install everything there - stuff like games i keep on sd but system apps I (personally) keep in system memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right, I had the same question myself but I noticed some apps would auto install to Device so obviously need to be there, I also follow FallenSpartens advice and try to limit what I put on device memory, I think its a personal choice thing, if you have the available memory use the device, as its faster access, however I dont use more than 50% of that memory.
There is an app called SD Tuneup that supposedly improves the SD data transfer up to 30% but I have had mixed reviews, but I installed to my device anyway lol......I install things like task bar apps to device etc all the rest on SD card, may as well mention too that I use Garmin XT this is a big GPS program which is mostly stored on the SD so there must not be a huge difference between the two.
Hope that helps

Internal Memory Full - How could that happen?

Hi i have my HTC HD2, relativly new one, i have installed stuff ofcourse to it, and always picked memory card cause i know the internal memory aint so greate, anyway when i go into remove programs there are lots of stuff but are they the ones that are installed to internal and not external? i removed little that oly gave me like 600k more but that affect the internal.
And i know that you wondering whats the problem beside my memory is full,
the problem is i always like i said before pick to install to external cause of memory, how can then my internal be full?
like 3 of 30 stuff i could pick myself where to install.
So someone plz help me? i know i neeed to like reinstall the device and install everything again.
I have like skype, tomtom, hd2 tweak, games hdwall bu i iunistall case it didt work. etc.
sorry for my english

I think your main problem is HTCAlbum cache
go to application data-->htc-->htc album and check how much space occupies the cache folder
In some cases it's larger than 10 mb
So, if it is the problem, you can cancel the cache and then try this tip
Another possible problem could be the cache (or temp files) of other programs, such as opera, internet explorer, google maps and so on
One advice for saving more space in the internal memory:
if you don't use copilot and navipanel, you can remove the copilot folder from the folder "program files": it occupies almost 14 mb
regards

Ok i will try but it seems as the internal memry goes full everytim i insall stuff even i i pick memory card, i will soon reset it and do it over again and check + do the things you advice me to.
just questions about it
if i cancel the cache does it make album slower?
ty in advance

if i cancel the cache does it make album slower?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe a little bit...but I don't notice this problem with the mod I adviced you.
...and for your problem...
Before you think to Hard-reset your device, You have to know that when you install a program, even if you install to the microsd, a piece of the install information goes on the internal memory anyway (and occupies some memory space, obviously)
regards

ok, here is what to do;
1. install total commander to phone memory (not sd card)
2. eject sd card
3. on total commander file>find files then find files greater than the default 64k or or 1mb if you want the search to be quicker
4. click on 'size' to sort files into descending order
5. delete or copy any unwanted files
in my case i had some videos that were already on my pc, so i deleted them.

Ok i will try i have movies and pic but are they by default placed on sd card? anyway i think mine are but they arenot taking upp space on the intern? like installed programs.
forgat to quote but i answerd you xboxdevil

qllkevuoi said:
maybe a little bit...but I don't notice this problem with the mod I adviced you.
...and for your problem...
Before you think to Hard-reset your device, You have to know that when you install a program, even if you install to the microsd, a piece of the install information goes on the internal memory anyway (and occupies some memory space, obviously)
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok same as on computers, but that means they are limited stuff you can have on your phones and i mean i dont have so much, standard win 6.5 sense and changed icons, installs tweaks and some games like 10 :S thats bad, i want the at&t version wtf thanks anyway for the answers

toxicstone said:
Hi i have my HTC HD2, relativly new one, i have installed stuff ofcourse to it, and always picked memory card cause i know the internal memory aint so greate, anyway when i go into remove programs there are lots of stuff but are they the ones that are installed to internal and not external? i removed little that oly gave me like 600k more but that affect the internal.
And i know that you wondering whats the problem beside my memory is full,
the problem is i always like i said before pick to install to external cause of memory, how can then my internal be full?
like 3 of 30 stuff i could pick myself where to install.
So someone plz help me? i know i neeed to like reinstall the device and install everything again.
I have like skype, tomtom, hd2 tweak, games hdwall bu i iunistall case it
didt work. etc.
sorry for my english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never been able to understand why people won't use internal storage!
I have 27 apps installed and this leaves me with 127Mb free which would allow a further minimum of 20 more that I could install assuming an average size.
Why would I want to install to mem card?
It's slower, causes difficulties of all sorts and the internal mem was designed to be used for your apps in the first place.

Although I understand what you are saying pa49 I personally install on my sd card so that
A) I can move from one to another phone if needed or
B) If I have to hard reset then I dont have to load the apps up again when I restore a backup
C) makes backing up and restoring the phone faster and smaller
D) I make a backup of my sd card so that if somthing goes wrong its all there.
I think its a personal preference. I dont fine that my phone is slower or faster one way or the other.

InRBigness said:
Although I understand what you are saying pa49 I personally install on my sd card so that
A) I can move from one to another phone if needed or
B) If I have to hard reset then I dont have to load the apps up again when I restore a backup
C) makes backing up and restoring the phone faster and smaller
D) I make a backup of my sd card so that if somthing goes wrong its all there.
I think its a personal preference. I dont fine that my phone is slower or faster one way or the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know all these arguments.
But we don't (as a rule) use our PCs this way.
It would not be good practise to install all your PC apps on an external hard drive.
If you applied your four points you'd end up with a mess and I don't see our phones as any different.
We expect our phones to function robustly and then we go out of our way to destabalise the whole thing.
I just don't get it.
This thread
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google Mobile/thread?tid=1163588d699c01d4&hl=en
is just one example of what can happen and the problems were solved by installing on the phone mem!
"Sounds like for at least some folks, installing on phone memory successfully works around this. If you'd prefer to not use phone memory, I'd also try borrowing or buying another memory card as it is potentially due to a portion of your old memory card being corrupted." Quote from Google employee.
What should be most allarming, to those who install to mem card, is the statement, "it is potentially due to a portion of your old memory card being corrupted".
This is the very reason why I always install to phone mem, reinstall all apps after a ROM flash or hard reset and limit my mem cards to only storage of data.
It's not a personal preference.
It just makes sense.