Database Users

Save app settings between builds?

With so many great builds here at XDA, I of course want to try them all. Is there a way so save the settings on all or some of my apps. I have my apps on the SD card so I don't have to reinstall all of them at least. For example, its kind of a pain to set up the app Locale with all my situations every time.
Is there some xml or something for these apps that I could back up?
As it is right now I have a Nandroid of Haykuros 1.5, The Dude's, and JF's and I can load an older ROM, the restore the Nandroid backup and update with a non-wipe update, but its not ideal.

bittermormon said:
With so many great builds here at XDA, I of course want to try them all. Is there a way so save the settings on all or some of my apps. I have my apps on the SD card so I don't have to reinstall all of them at least. For example, its kind of a pain to set up the app Locale with all my situations every time.
Is there some xml or something for these apps that I could back up?
As it is right now I have a Nandroid of Haykuros 1.5, The Dude's, and JF's and I can load an older ROM, the restore the Nandroid backup and update with a non-wipe update, but its not ideal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can copy all info of the particular app you want to save settings from by copying its folder from /data/data
you can use adb pull or the terminal to cp
then push the /data/data/? to your phone when you reinstall the app...
Did this when I wanted to keep my level in bonsai blast during a wipe...

smeyerhuky said:
You can copy all info of the particular app you want to save settings from by copying its folder from /data/data
you can use adb pull or the terminal to cp
then push the /data/data/? to your phone when you reinstall the app...
Did this when I wanted to keep my level in bonsai blast during a wipe...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would this be necessary if I'm running my apps from the SD? Does wipe remove the ln commands done to link the apps to SD?

cigar3tte said:
Would this be necessary if I'm running my apps from the SD? Does wipe remove the ln commands done to link the apps to SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, never done apps2sd, haven't really had a problem on my phone with storage. (I keep backups of the apps/data that I don't use much on my sd and install/push-data when necessary.)
I personally like the innovation but don't like the idea of apps2sd as I use my sdcard to transfer and store work files all the time and don't like what happens when you take the sdcard out/mount it.
however...
I can guestimate the answer....
Did you push the /data/data/ path to your sd also. Because if you did then you still have all that on your sd.
After doing a wipe when you link the folders again for the sd remember to keep the files that have been there already..

smeyerhuky said:
You can copy all info of the particular app you want to save settings from by copying its folder from /data/data
you can use adb pull or the terminal to cp
then push the /data/data/? to your phone when you reinstall the app...
Did this when I wanted to keep my level in bonsai blast during a wipe...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a shot next time I flash. I assume if I had put all my data on the SD card I wouldn't have this problem, but that seemed to slow stuff down last time.
cigar3tte said:
Would this be necessary if I'm running my apps from the SD? Does wipe remove the ln commands done to link the apps to SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, a wipe removes the link, but your apps are still on the SD card. Just use the AppstoSD app and it will rebuild the link (or do it manually)

smeyerhuky said:
I don't know, never done apps2sd, haven't really had a problem on my phone with storage. (I keep backups of the apps/data that I don't use much on my sd and install/push-data when necessary.)
I personally like the innovation but don't like the idea of apps2sd as I use my sdcard to transfer and store work files all the time and don't like what happens when you take the sdcard out/mount it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you partition your card and apps2sd is on the ext2 partition you can mount and unmount your sd card as much as you want to your pc and not affect the apps2sd at all
however...
I can guestimate the answer....
Did you push the /data/data/ path to your sd also. Because if you did then you still have all that on your sd.
After doing a wipe when you link the folders again for the sd remember to keep the files that have been there already..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Putting /data/data on the sd slows down your phone, and gives the possibilty of getting the STALENFS error if the phone is syncing and you reboot. if you do that you'd want a class 6 microSD for sure. Thanks for the idea of pushing and pulling the data though, I have never thought about doing that. That would have saved me so many friggin headaches

bat file
Don't know if this will help anyone, but here is a BAT file I wrote that copies files from data/data to a folder on the sd card. You could edit it with the files you want to keep.

Apps2SD for 2.1 Rom?

does anyone have any instructions for apps2Sd for the 2.1 rom? I have no idea what I'm doing with this, and Im tired of not having any space on my phone to dl apps! thanks for any help in advance.

if you are running an a2sd enabled rom,
1. backup your entire sd card to your pc
2. boot into recovery
3. select to partition sd
4. partition to ext 2 and then to ext 3
5. use the default settings of 32mb swap / 512mb data
6. reboot
7. move your previous data back to your sd from your pc
you should be good to go. if you start seeing a significant drop in system memory, go back to recovery and flash the attached zip

troyboytn said:
if you are running an a2sd enabled rom,
1. backup your entire sd card to your pc
2. boot into recovery
3. select to partition sd
4. partition to ext 2 and then to ext 3
5. use the default settings of 32mb swap / 512mb data
6. reboot
7. move your previous data back to your sd from your pc
you should be good to go. if you start seeing a significant drop in system memory, go back to recovery and flash the attached zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if is the 32mb swap & the 512mb Data sizes for? What happens if I make them bigger?

Coldheat1906 said:
What if is the 32mb swap & the 512mb Data sizes for? What happens if I make them bigger?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually, you can set swap at 0 (its not used anyway, unless you are gonna use the new Fresh Toast rom)
you can set data to be larger if you like (though not needed unless you are gonna install ALOT of mega mb apps)

Thanks, besides that is there anything else that I need to do or can I just start downloading apps..... Also how can I verify that they are going to my sd card?

Coldheat1906 said:
Thanks, besides that is there anything else that I need to do or can I just start downloading apps..... Also how can I verify that they are going to my sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go into your command prompt...
adb remount
adb shell
cd /data/app
pwd
if it says /system/sd/app your apps2sd is working! if it says /data/app, it's not

dec3ption said:
go into your command prompt...
adb remount
adb shell
cd /data/app
pwd
if it says /system/sd/app your apps2sd is working! if it says /data/app, it's not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok,....now I really feel like a noob.....
When I try to do a adb remount it says "device not found"
I also do have "USB Debug" selected.
Edit: Ok.... had to re-install the SDK..... I think it's working now.

Thanks
Im flashing my rom right now so I will see how this works out

I have a problem
Im using the Fresh rom with android 2.1 which should have app2sd enabled, but for some reason my apps dont go the sd card? Any help with this, I 've formatted based on the instructions, but it doesnt seem to work for me?

troyboytn said:
actually, you can set swap at 0 (its not used anyway, unless you are gonna use the new Fresh Toast rom)
you can set data to be larger if you like (though not needed unless you are gonna install ALOT of mega mb apps)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I beg to differ...the A2SD version 2.5 will activate swap if it sees the partition. That's the file you posted as part of the instructions.

amallama said:
Im using the Fresh rom with android 2.1 which should have app2sd enabled, but for some reason my apps dont go the sd card? Any help with this, I 've formatted based on the instructions, but it doesnt seem to work for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Validate by doing this:
1. At your computer (in the Android SDK Tools directory), type adb shell
2. Once you are in an adb shell, type ls -l /data
3. Look for the entries app and app-private. The two entries should look like the following:
app -> /system/sd/app
app-private -> /system/sd/app-private
If they don't, you'll need to validate you have an ext3 partition on your sd card.
If you do, download A2SD version 2.5 from http://www.darktremor.com/files/misc/a2sd-2.5-signed.zip and put it on your SD card (in the same place you put custom roms). Go into recovery and flash this file (it won't erase anything...it's just going to install a2sd version 2.5). Reboot phone and perform the same steps above.
If it still isn't working, PM me and I'll continue to help you.

tkirton said:
I beg to differ...the A2SD version 2.5 will activate swap if it sees the partition. That's the file you posted as part of the instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will it activate swap on any rom?, is it required? can it actually just be left at 0 (users choice) to not use swap?
dont mean to step on toes here, just realized this is your creation (guess you know more than I).....sorry if I spewed some misinfo

troyboytn said:
will it activate swap on any rom?, is it required? can it actually just be left at 0 (users choice) to not use swap?
dont mean to step on toes here, just realized this is your creation (guess you know more than I).....sorry if I spewed some misinfo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem...the previous version (2.0) didn't turn on swap...that was actually handled by another routine from my Darktremor kernel (never released...that's why you never seen it).
If you don't want to activate swap, you can go into the phone and type /system/bin/a2sd noswap. It will put a flag file on the system that, if present, will tell a2sd not to use swap file although one is present.
Swap is not required. If a2sd doesn't see the swap partition, it simply won't activate swap...all other functions will activate as normal.
It will activate swap on any rom provided that the swap partition is using /dev/block/mmcblk0p3 (third partition on the SD card). The sd partition feature on the RA Recovery does this automatically.

hi i have a the wildfire got it rooted but not sure how to install apps2sd,apk im on software 2.1
i did have a custom rom cyanogenmod 6.1 and that had apps2sd but the wildfire 2.1 dosent and would like some advice on how to do it please any help wud b nice thanks

Can anyone help with app2sd?

I have followed a few guides for app2sd.
But i cannot understand them. The english doesn't make much sense.
Can anybody that speaks GOOD english help me with this?
Thanks

I can give u a much better tut for App2SD for Eclair:
Here we go.
1. Connect ur phone via debbuging, connect ur SDcard Backup all data from ur SDcard to PC.
2. Download this 'Home' edition.
3. Install programm and search for ur SDcard.
4. Rightclick on ur partition, click remove. Be careful: check twice if its ur SDcard from Phone
5. Rightclick on ur new partition, select 'create" and create a new partition with these settings:
FAT32, primiary and ca 70% of space from ur card.
Now u got 70% (1,70 GB from 2 GB SD storage) and a 30% none format partition.
Repeat step 5 with those 30% but choose Ext2.
6. Click on "Apply" on the corner to the topper left.
7. Reboot ur Phone and check if ur Phone starts with SD card.
8. Check for installed BusyBox partition. If there is none: install BusyBox
9. Download the App2sd.zip, extract on ur SD file
example path: X:\App2SD\app2sd.sh
10. Download from market 'ScriptMe' and install on ur Phone.
11. Open ScriptMe, choose 'app2sd.sh', check "with root privilege" and "Execute script"
12. wait a long time for reboot. WARNING: dont forcequit ScriptMe while extract the script. if u do it, ur SDcard will **** bricks. Choose "Wait for programm" if there is any PopUp.
13. Done.
Edit: tested on 2.1 Quarx, Europe Open, Baltic Black

other alternative 2 partition ur sdcard: (assume u have clockwork recovery)
-backup ur sdcard
-install rom manager
-choose manual override
-reboot phone (sometimes u need to reinstall the rom manager)
-in rom manager, choose Partition SD Card (the max partition is 512 mb, but i thing it's more than enough), u can also make swap partition (i chose 32 mb just in case)
adv: faster, no need to connect to pc, ext3 partition (for those with more than class 4 sdcard, i think and with the newest kernel)
dis: u need to backup ur sdcard, max size only 512 mb..
cmiiw

do i wipe, delete or format particion?

pri3s7 said:
do i wipe, delete or format particion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Delete. After this u should have a gray bar with none information but the size of ur SDcard.

sorry for bad english ... i stoped on step 8. Check for installed BusyBox partition. If there is none: install BusyBox, i have titanium backup do i need to instal busybox ? if i must vher do i install it, or how to instalit? on phone or comp? if on phon where?

pri3s7 said:
i have titanium backup do i need to instal busybox ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the end of all things u did u should restore your datas to your sdcard.
So... this sentence explain itself: u should install BusyBox _before_ u restore your data.
In fact: u need an installed version BusyBox on your device. Doesn't matter if u got a titanium backup or not. U can check for an installed BusyBox when u open the programm BusyBox

i did it and it reboted my phon anda al app were deleted and it says loading widgets on one screen and it doesent see sd card wtf is that

pri3s7 said:
i did it and it reboted my phon anda al app were deleted and it says loading widgets on one screen and it doesent see sd card wtf is that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First: Its normal that all homescreensettings are gone.
Second: Did u seriously delete your SDcard without any backup on your PC?

i did the backup but my mobile cant find sd card, i rebooted my mobile
can u help me or my card is fuc.ed

pri3s7 said:
i did the backup but my mobile cant find sd card, i rebooted my mobile
can u help me or my card is fuc.ed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, i think u have to reflash ur device. Some people got this error, but dunno why. Maybe u got a ROM wich is not supported yet.

so no help

As i said: i don't know why this just happens to some people. I can't help you does not mean 'i don't like to help u'. Sorry

pri3s7 said:
so no help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm, did u use card reader, or from your phone to make the partition?
if u use or phone, try read the sdcard from pc/laptop via card reader. if it's readable, make sure u put drive letter in fat32 partition, and no drive letter in ext2/3 partition.
i made partitions from my phone, in my very first time of trying, i've got the sdcard error (or something like that), i chose to restore factory default, n it said that my sdcard is not formatted, so i formatted, then it back to normal (with no data of course)...
hope this can help you.

i did it from my phone, the prob is that i dont have adapter so i cant put my card intoo my laptop
i went to titanium and all i see overview
root access-- OK( busybox 1.16.0 from app)
.
.
.
data directory :/data
external storage : not mounted
backup directory : not avaible
internal: 146 MB
SD card: 0 B
SD card(a2sd: 256mb (19.3MB free)
i thought i dont have bussy box but i have, but before i could use titanium for uninstaling my apps now i cant i dont get it, adn my phone dont reed my sd card

pri3s7 said:
data directory :/data
external storage : not mounted
backup directory : not avaible
internal: 146 MB
SD card: 0 B
SD card(a2sd: 256mb (19.3MB free)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a stupid question: could it be that u forgot to disconnect ur SDcard from PC?
'Not mounted' is the standard message for a stable USB-connection between ur PC and SDcard (device).

i just used my card in other phone and it is working, i dont get it. my phone cant read it, can i do smtg in my mobile so it can read it? and when i use phone with usb it dont connect, it cant find device

All drivers are installed?
Just reflash ur device and take a look whats happen.

how to flash this mobile? what doese it means to flash?

pri3s7 said:
how to flash this mobile? what doese it means to flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude... is it possible that ur device is not rooted and u dont have Android 2.1?

[Q] problem with wildpuzzle - posting it gere coz no one is replying in the therad

Im using the wild puzzle rom v0.7 and im having this prob.... i posted it twice in the thread bt no one replied to that...
ok i did the entire procedure stated by danne_jo... got my 160 mb free... then installed all the apps required by me(installed apps using iAPK 0.3) and rebooted the phone... now only 3 out of 60 apps(those 60 apps that i had installed) are shown in the apps drawer... and under the "manage applications" it shows all the apps bt as 0 kb in size
also the internal memory went from 160 to 105 after the reboot
so after that i reinstalled all the apps and now the internal memory is only 70 MB
i dont understand???
what should i do??

i think the sd ext partiton doesn't mount coerrectly.
you can type "adb shell /system/bin/a2sd check"
that will show you message to check ext partition mounted?
if not, you can type "adb shell /system/bin/a2sd reinstall" to correct the Apps2SD.

ww231 said:
i think the sd ext partiton doesn't mount coerrectly.
you can type "adb shell /system/bin/a2sd check"
that will show you message to check ext partition mounted?
if not, you can type "adb shell /system/bin/a2sd reinstall" to correct the Apps2SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all thnx
bt
can u plz explain in a bit elaborated way... im a noob!!!

if not familiar with adb,
you can use "root explorer" to check the directory of /system.
if ext partition mounted , we can find /system/sd.
under /system/sd/app ,we can find the apps had been installed.(See the attachment)
my propose to partition sd_card first,(1 fat32 , 1 ext)
then copy ROM to sd_card
wipe
reinstall
You can find the step by step procedure at danne's post.

If it is your ext partition not being mounted on boot, flash this. http://db.tt/G5OrCYD

ww231 said:
if not familiar with adb,
you can use "root explorer" to check the directory of /system.
if ext partition mounted , we can find /system/sd.
under /system/sd/app ,we can find the apps had been installed.(See the attachment)
my propose to partition sd_card first,(1 fat32 , 1 ext)
then copy ROM to sd_card
wipe
reinstall
You can find the step by step procedure at danne's post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Post by danne_jo are u talking bout??

One Final Question
I've got everything working perfectly now...
so if i take a nandroid backup now... will it also backup the app data that is stored on the EXT partition of the card or not??
coz if not then the nanroid backup is usless...
or is there any other way to take the backup of the app data on the EXT??

the answer is yes,
nandroid backup everything.
you don't care where is the apps located.

[Q] App2SD in 2.1 questions

Hello All,
First of all I would like to say a big thank you to everyone contributing in this forum as it is very helpful and makes your life with gadgets interesting
I have some questions concerning App2SD
I have rooted my X8 using the modded superoneclick that uses the newer exploit for android 2.1 and after that used the Xrecovery way to install app2sd.
So here come the questions:
After the installation most of the applications needed to be reinstalled, has anyone else experienced the same thing?
I also saw that the phone was working much faster and 90Mbytes of free memory where being shown right after the hack.
Now after installing loads of applications the free memory shown is ~60Mbytes, does that mean that many of the apps dont get installed to the sdcard?
If I rerun the app2sd zip from Xrecovery will that move those apps or it will mess up everything?
Thanks in advance

try install titanium backup.. if there is a2sd, so your app2sd is working.
i never get such problem
i use SOC 1.3.0 and script for app2sd2.1 mod (dalvik-cache to sd)
(not from xrecovery)

well, a2sd exists but the available internal memory keeps going down..

parisstc said:
well, a2sd exists but the available internal memory keeps going down..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmm.. lets check again,
try install terminal / shell
than :
$ cd /data/app
$ pwd
if the result is /system/sd/app
than your app2sd.sh script is right,
if still on /data/app ,, you must reistall app2sd, but uninstall it first.

thanks for the reply
The result is /system/sd/app
so I wonder why the available internal memory keeps going down..

when i type
cd/adb
it always show "not regconized internal promp.....bla..bla..."
what wrong???
i already copy all app2sd in memory card, and also make partisions ext3 and fat32

parisstc said:
thanks for the reply
The result is /system/sd/app
so I wonder why the available internal memory keeps going down..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now I'm wondering too.
what apps did u install btw.
if the a2sd is working, maybe data app is too big, coz app2sd didn't mount that dir into sd.

evilteater said:
when i type
cd/adb
it always show "not regconized internal promp.....bla..bla..."
what wrong???
i already copy all app2sd in memory card, and also make partisions ext3 and fat32
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you 'cd' to 'adb tool' folder in your windows? using cmd right?
if you did, type : adb shell
if adb works., continue with your app2sd manual.
there's another tread deep about this btw