Database Users

[Q] Spoof sd card mount

I am a big fan of books. This is why I have a nook simple tablet. But after being introduced to Overdrive, which I am sure at least one of you has heard of (Googie), I want to be able to download ebooks from overdrive. The only problem is, I would need an external storage device to save these from opera mobile. This is a bit unsettling, seeing as I don't have a micro sd card. (don't ask.)
So, my question is, is there a way to fool the nook into thinking an sd card is inserted?
Thanks in advance!

Since sdcard is mounted under /sdcard directory, I believe mounting (binding) a directory under writeable partition (e.g. /data/sdcard) to /sdcard might be enough.

May need to also link to /data/sdcard as well as the /sdcard. This can be done with symlinks or mounting. Ie mount said partition to /data/sdcard then symlink from /data/sdcard to /sdcard. Though the /sdcard symlink may already be there
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

How would one do this? I just recently adopted android and I do not know much.

it might require modifications to the ram disk within the boot.img. or possibly using ln -s /data/sdcard /sdcard after boot is completed in a terminal. You may need to delete the /sdcard dir first and set proper permissions
Looking in a terminal you will need to symlink the emmc(internal memory) to /data/sdcard. ln -s <emmc dir> /data/sdcard. You may need to delete the /data/sdcard dir first.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Hmm...
I'm just going to get an sd card. Thanks anyway, it's interesting to know you can do that.

Format & Use MicroSD W/ ext4?

Hey guys, for a couple reasons I'd like to be able to format my micro SD card with the ext4 file system.
I can format my card using a computer running Ubuntu, but the card will not mount.
I'm running CM10 on my P3113.
Is there any simple way to do this?
It seems like it'd be best to use vold to mount the sdcard, but that doesn't support ext4 I guess?
Just wondering...

Ext4 support has to come from kernel.

???
Literally every other mounted filesystem on the CM10 ROM I use is ext4...
I'm gonna try mounting via an init.d script.
We'll see if that works...

Solved this one, it was easier than I expected.
You need to format the card, and then mount it at boot via a script.
CM9 and 10 support init.d scripts, so I have a script file at /system/etc/init.d/95sdcardext4
with this contents:
Code:
#!/system/xbin/sh
# Mount SD Card Ext4 Script
mount -rw -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /storage/sdcard1
This runs very early in the boot up process, and ext4 partitions mount basically instantly, so everything is working as expected so far.
More tests need to be done, but I'm fairly certain I can package this up in a flashable ZIP package.

Brilliant !
ext4 is anyways far better than fat32 except Windows/Mac compatibility.
Awaiting your stable work

It will work on a s5670 running cm10 jb4.1.1?
I just have to create a file with that lines and put it in /system/etc/init.d/95sdcardext4 ?????????
I cannot get link2sd to mount the ext4 partition.
Thx
DivinityCycle said:
Solved this one, it was easier than I expected.
You need to format the card, and then mount it at boot via a script.
CM9 and 10 support init.d scripts, so I have a script file at /system/etc/init.d/95sdcardext4
with this contents:
Code:
#!/system/xbin/sh
# Mount SD Card Ext4 Script
mount -rw -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /storage/sdcard1
This runs very early in the boot up process, and ext4 partitions mount basically instantly, so everything is working as expected so far.
More tests need to be done, but I'm fairly certain I can package this up in a flashable ZIP package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Sorry about that, I don't have one of these anymore. I had a P3113, but switched to a T869, which is a very similar device but has 4G and some different stuff going on under the hood.
My brief ext4 experiment was honestly not that big of a deal. I ended up going back to FAT32 because the benefits didn't outweigh the annoyances.
The biggest issue I had was I couldn't figure out how to make the file system permissions behave in the same highly permissive way that FAT32 does. I ran into several force closes and other things that resulted from apps not being to read / write stuff on the card that they should have been able to. I know you can CHMOD stuff, and a boot script could chmod everything on the card, but that seems like a bandaid.
Maybe there's a way to make the permissions behave a specific way via the mount parameters? I didn't investigate deeply enough because my life got busy, and during the changeover to the new tab it was just easier to go back to FAT32. Also my new tab has 16GB of internal storage, so I've been much less stressed about storage.

Ok folks.. ...reviving an ancient thread....from good ol days when it 'KISS' was common for Android.
What about android 7+ onward . All this stuff is deprecated. My 128gb is cut into 3 Ext4's.
(I need a journaled FS - that story a lil later )
I can mount easily but problem is apps cant see it and its all got to do with mount space concept.
I am Su'ed via Magisk
Can someone post a step by step guide to mount ext4 on 7+

Directory Bind Working on N7105

Just a quick heads up to anyone who may be interested, directory bind works fine on the N7105.
I've just mapped the entire Android Directory from the internal SD to the External SD to save internal space.
With the 64gig Sandisk performance is unaffected.
My mapping and more into in the thread below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=36264169&postcount=1304

Lets try... :fingers-crossed:

baileyjr said:
Just a quick heads up to anyone who may be interested, directory bind works fine on the N7105.
I've just mapped the entire Android Directory from the internal SD to the External SD to save internal space.
With the 64gig Sandisk performance is unaffected.
My mapping and more into in the thread below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=36264169&postcount=1304
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. What filesystem have you used on your 64GB card?
Thanks!

mitchelln said:
Hi. What filesystem have you used on your 64GB card?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im using Exfat, but you should be fine on fat32 as well as far as Im aware.
If anyone wants to map the whole android directory the same as I've done you can import my backup config file.
Extract the csv from teh zip file and place in the backup location you have specified in the app

I used directory binding as I have a full debian image on SD card partition, so I mount mmcblkxp3 onto /data/local/debian, and then do a mount/bind of /dev onto /data/local/debian/dev, likewise for /proc and /sys.
Then a mount/bind of /storage/sdcard and /storage/extSdCard into the debian file space to /mnt/sdcard and /mnt/extSdCard.
finally I do a chroot into /data/local/debian and voila, a complete linux environment at my fingertips.

speculatrix said:
I used directory binding as I have a full debian image on SD card partition, so I mount mmcblkxp3 onto /data/local/debian, and then do a mount/bind of /dev onto /data/local/debian/dev, likewise for /proc and /sys.
Then a mount/bind of /storage/sdcard and /storage/extSdCard into the debian file space to /mnt/sdcard and /mnt/extSdCard.
finally I do a chroot into /data/local/debian and voila, a complete linux environment at my fingertips.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Straight over my head im afraid lol

Link2SD on Amazon Fire TV

Problem statement
The Amazon Fire TV has a limited memory sotrage of less than 5GB.
FolderMount allows for moving App data/obb to a USB device. Remaining components of the App, which sometimes are the larger part of the app, can't be transfered using
These remaining components can be 100s of MB and even above 1GB (Sine Mora is 292MB, Walking Dead is 1.14GB)
Solution
Link2SD allows for moving these components to an external SD card in the phone world. Below I'll describe how to do this on the Amazon Fire TV with a USB device.
This post heavily relies on tweaking a post by sashavasko. Major kudos to him. Up to finding his post I was not successful in mounting in a way that Link2SD could see the mount. This was due to a change in Android 4.2+ where one App's mounting isn't seen by others.
Below is a step by step guide for running this. I've posted a script for automating this here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=54601505&postcount=33
Requirements: Root, Mouse, Terminal Application
Step 0 - Preparations : Format a USB device to the Ext4 File system and install Link2SD
Ext4
Link2SD refers to parititoning your SDcard to both Ext4 and FAT, this is not required on our USB device. All we need is an Ext4 partiton we can mount for Link2SD.
I had a high end USB device I used for FolderMount. For testing, I got a 16GB Lexar Jump Drive, which got decent reviews. $8 at Staples ( even less with the right coupon. Other sizes are also cheap). Both went into my Powered USB hub.
You can also partition a single FAT32 USB device to two partitons - FAT32 and Ext4. I have verified both options. Please note that for this second option, if you already have files on your FAT32 USB device, you'd have to first copy them to a backup, as the partitioning trashes your data. You will then need to restore the backed up files to the FAT partition.
Format/Partition your USB device to Ext4 using free MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition on your Desktop/Laptop. Below is a nice post on this (Refer only to step 1), you can find others. Please note that this refers to an SDCard. We will be doing this on a USB device.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=37405779&postcount=1
In partitioning, please verify the partitions are created as Primary. Also, not sure is this is required, but I didn't name my partitions.
There are also linux commands to do this - I didn't investigate these.
Stick the Ext4 partitoned USB device into your Amazon Fire TV and power it up. We will need the device in for Step 2.
Link2SD
Download Link2SD from the Google Play store, or sideload it
Make the directory Link2SD requires
Code:
su
mkdir /data/sdext2
exit
Step 1 - Fix adb localhost
Follow step 1 in sashavasko's post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=45102645&postcount=1
Note1:
You will need a terminal app for this
Note2:
This step should only be run once. Running multiple times can mess the /data/misc/adb/adb_keys file as the key values will concatenate with sashavasko's method. This will cause mounting at boot not to work. If you did this or not sure if you've done this, just erase the duplicate keys from the /data/misc/adb/adb_keys file (the end of a single key is "[email protected] ). Or, better yet, if you aren't seeing any other different keys there - simply su and copy /sdcard/.android/adbkey.pub onto this file.
Step 2 - Install scripts
Follow step 2 in sashavasko's post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=45102645&postcount=1
Note 1
Look for your Ext4 partitoned device after running:
Code:
adb shell cat /proc/partitions
You should find the Ext4 device under /device/block starting with sd.
For example: My first USB device is sda1, the Ext4 partitoned one was sdb1 (sdb2 when the Lexar drive was partitoned to FAT32 and Ext4).
You should be able to recognize the devices according to their partition sizes.
Note 2
The msd2.sh file should be changed to be:
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t ext4 [COLOR="Purple"]/dev/block/[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]sdb1[/COLOR][COLOR="purple"] /data/sdext2 [/COLOR]&& sleep 5 && /system/bin/vold
where the sdb1 device should be replaced by the device you located in Note 1.
Step 3 - Test the script and grant su permissions
Run this (no su command required, no path to the sd.sh file is required)
Code:
sd.sh
Verify you aren't seeing any errors. You will be granting SU permissions.
Run Link2SD. Go to the menu at the top right. Select "Storage Info" - Verify Link2SD recognizes the Ext4 partiton in the third line (under SD Card 2nd Part. ).
Step 4 - Auto Mount at initialization
For this I'm using the /system/etc/install-recovery.sh script which you should already have. This script loads at boot and calls /system/etc/install-recovery-2.sh (a non existent file).
Create a file at /sdcard/install-recovery-2.sh which contains
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
/system/xbin/sd.sh
Now move the file to its place:
Code:
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
cp /sdcard/install-recovery-2.sh /system/etc/
chmod 755 /system/etc/install-recovery-2.sh
mount -o ro,remount /system
exit
Now Reboot (Long press remote Select + Play)
Step 5 - Link2SD ready to go
Open Link2SD to verify (as you verified before) that after boot Link2SD sees the Ext4 partiton.
Start moving files using Link2SD :
Select an App
Go to "Create Link" - You will be asked which file types to move. Check them all (not the paid option if you haven't paid).
Link2SD will show "Creating Link...", then an advert (in the non payed version) and then: Application files linked and moved to SD card
Note the expected storage change in the Amazon Fire TV's "About" menu option will be seen after Rebooting.
"Remove Link" works properly
"Move to SD card" is not relevant
Final Words
Don't use this to move system apps, or system-like apps
Responsibly for running this is solely on you. I am only describing what works for me.

Works great thanks

I'd love to see a standalone app for installing this.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

The msd2.sh file mentioned in Step2/Note2 is used to create a fake external SD Ext4 partition for Link2SD.
You can also use it to create a fake external SD FAT partition at /storage/sdcard1 for FolderMount.
FolderMount automatically recognizes this partition and suggests this as the initial path for its destination path suggestion.
In my case - sda1 is the FAT partition (For me - a USB stick fully formatted to FAT32), and sdb1 is the ext4 formatted USB stick. The same should work with a single partitioned USB stick (but different sd* device names - see original post).
The updated msd2.sh file looks like:
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]mount -t vfat /dev/block/[COLOR="Red"]sda1[/COLOR] /storage/sdcard1[/COLOR] && mount -t ext4 [COLOR="Magenta"]/dev/block/[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]sdb1[/COLOR] [COLOR="Magenta"]/data/sdext2[/COLOR] && sleep 5 && /system/bin/vold

SaltyCookie_OnLoan2FM_SVE said:
The msd2.sh file mentioned in Step2/Note2 is used to create a fake external SD Ext4 partition for Link2SD.
You can also use it to create a fake external SD FAT partition at /storage/sdcard1 for FolderMount.
FolderMount automatically recognizes this partition and suggests this as the initial path for its destination path suggestion.
In my case - sda1 is the FAT partition (For me - a USB stick fully formatted to FAT32), and sdb1 is the ext4 formatted USB stick. The same should work with a single partitioned USB stick (but different sd* device names - see original post).
The updated msd2.sh file looks like:
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]mount -t vfat /dev/block/[COLOR="Red"]sda1[/COLOR] /storage/sdcard1[/COLOR] && mount -t ext4 [COLOR="Magenta"]/dev/block/[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]sdb1[/COLOR] [COLOR="Magenta"]/data/sdext2[/COLOR] && sleep 5 && /system/bin/vold
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one annoying thing about this is during boot it will read the entire partition. This in turn in my case makes booting the Fire TV really slow. Lets hope I dont have to reboot much because it now takes around 2-3 minutes to boot up.

MadFlava said:
I'd love to see a standalone app for installing this.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I 2nd this. This is as close as we're gonna get to downloading Apps, ets., straight to an attached external drive but I know enough about this stuff to be somewhat intimidated by the initial instructions. Not that they're not clear, it just looks like I'd have too many avenues to brick my box.
Still...very good work OP. Thanks again.

MarkBP said:
I 2nd this. This is as close as we're gonna get to downloading Apps, ets., straight to an attached external drive but I know enough about this stuff to be somewhat intimidated by the initial instructions. Not that they're not clear, it just looks like I'd have too many avenues to brick my box.
Still...very good work OP. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Come on guys, this is XDA developers
OK, I have this brewing. Should post it by tomorrow.

awesome. how easy is it to reverse this entire process? I'd really like to know the risks before I take the plunge

I think the process can be greatly simplified. On my computer I created install-recovery-2.sh with the two lines below:
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t vfat /dev/block/sda1 /storage/sdcard1 && mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda2 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
Then I connected via adb to the fireTV from my computer.
Then an adb push of install-recovery-2.sh to /sdcard and then did an adb shell to the fireTV from my computer and su once there.
Copied from install-recovery-2.sh from /sdcard to /system/etc
Did a chmod 755 on the file to make it executable and then rebooted and all seems to be working well with partitions recognized.

tselling said:
I think the process can be greatly simplified. On my computer I created install-recovery-2.sh with the two lines below:
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t vfat /dev/block/sda1 /storage/sdcard1 && mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda2 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
Then I connected via adb to the fireTV from my computer.
Then an adb push of install-recovery-2.sh to /sdcard and then did an adb shell to the fireTV from my computer and su once there.
Copied from install-recovery-2.sh from /sdcard to /system/etc
Did a chmod 755 on the file to make it executable and then rebooted and all seems to be working well with partitions recognized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried this, didn't work for me (mount not detected).
- tselling, is Link2sd working with this ?
- If someone is working succesfully with Link2sd using tselling's method please report back. This is indeed a shorter route.

failed for me for tselling method

SaltyCookie_OnLoan2FM_SVE said:
Just tried this, didn't work for me (mount not detected).
- tselling, is Link2sd working with this ?
- If someone is working succesfully with Link2sd using tselling's method please report back. This is indeed a shorter route.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link2sd found ok and I linked sevzero without problems. Should note that I use sda1 and sda2 for fat32 in first primary partition and ext4 on second primary pzrtition of same usb flash drive. Any other setup would need to have different script to match your drive setup.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I497 using Tapatalk

why does this need more than 1 partition to work anyways? Is it just because the app requires it for some weird reason?
edit: also which partition needs to be the bigger one? do the sizes matter? and does stickmount need to be disabled for this to work?

desc
meadtj said:
why does this need more than 1 partition to work anyways? Is it just because the app requires it for some weird reason?
edit: also which partition needs to be the bigger one? do the sizes matter? and does stickmount need to be disabled for this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why does this need more than 1 partition to work anyways? - Link2sd description in play store:
What you need for linking apps:
● root permission.
● a second partition on your SD card.
You should have two partitions on SD card and both should be primary.
The first FAT partition is your standard SD card storage. The second partition is used for application files and can be ext2, ext3, ext4, f2fs or FAT.
You need to use a non-FAT file system (ext2, ext3, ext4 or f2fs) on your second partition in order to link app's private data files. Because the FAT file system (FAT16, FAT32 or exFAT) does not support UNIX file ownership or permissions and will cause a security breakdown of app's private files.
Link2SD Plus can move app's private data files if you have a non-FAT partition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So we may be able to use FAT (haven't tried it) but we will lose some moving capabilities.
From my testing - FolderMount does work with the ext4 partiton, so I need two partitions (or 2 usb sticks).
also which partition needs to be the bigger one? - No restriction. Allocate as per your decision and experience with storage costs of apps.
do the sizes matter? - Don't believe her. It does.
Sorry. Uncalled for. Apologies. Not personal. I just had to.
and does stickmount need to be disabled for this to work? - No, it doesn't

983
tselling said:
Link2sd found ok and I linked sevzero without problems. Should note that I use sda1 and sda2 for fat32 in first primary partition and ext4 on second primary pzrtition of same usb flash drive. Any other setup would need to have different script to match your drive setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, let's try and minimize this. Could it be due to tselling using a single partitioned USB drive, while I'm using two drives ?
I need a report back from someone with a single USB drive who tried tselling's simpler approach. If it failed - Maybe tselling added something along that he wasn't aware of. If it passed - Maybe that's a requirement for the simpler approach.
In other news, the script to automate this is take slightly more than I thought, due to unix-android differences (I come from a unix background). That, and the fact that we may have a simpler solution is delaying me. Oh, also had to stay late at work yesterday, Oooh and the dog ate my laptop.

What about Foldermount?
What about FolderMount for Data and OBB files? Can I still use it with Link2SD on same card?

SaltyCookie_OnLoan2FM_SVE said:
Ok, let's try and minimize this. Could it be due to tselling using a single partitioned USB drive, while I'm using two drives ?
I need a report back from someone with a single USB drive who tried tselling's simpler approach. If it failed - Maybe tselling added something along that he wasn't aware of. If it passed - Maybe that's a requirement for the simpler approach.
In other news, the script to automate this is take slightly more than I thought, due to unix-android differences (I come from a unix background). That, and the fact that we may have a simpler solution is delaying me. Oh, also had to stay late at work yesterday, Oooh and the dog ate my laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it has to do with the mount points. I have the ext4 partition mounted to /data/ext2 where I think link2sd looks. I think that you could use an entire usb stick with one partition as ext4 mounted to /data/ext2 but your script would change
FROM
##############################################################################################
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t vfat /dev/block/sda1 /storage/sdcard1 && mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda2 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
#############################################################################################
TO
###################################################
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda1 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
###################################################
However, I have not tried this. I may try this later today since I have a second fireTV and usb stick arriving today.
also, I am planning to use foldermount with the first fat32 partition I created, but I haven't gotten that far as I want to use the Pro version but need the play store loaded first.

OOPS, I did forget one part "mkdir /data/sdext2" (otherwise the mount fails).
tselling said:
I think it has to do with the mount points. I have the ext4 partition mounted to /data/ext2 where I think link2sd looks. I think that you could use an entire usb stick with one partition as ext4 mounted to /data/ext2 but your script would change
FROM
##############################################################################################
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t vfat /dev/block/sda1 /storage/sdcard1 && mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda2 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
#############################################################################################
TO
###################################################
#!/system/bin/sh
mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda1 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
###################################################
However, I have not tried this. I may try this later today since I have a second fireTV and usb stick arriving today.
also, I am planning to use foldermount with the first fat32 partition I created, but I haven't gotten that far as I want to use the Pro version but need the play store loaded first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

tselling said:
OOPS, I did forget one part "mkdir /data/ext2" (otherwise the mount fails).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did that too but still didnt work, maybe bc i have 3 partitions. Fat then Ext2 then NTFS

meadtj said:
i did that too but still didnt work, maybe bc i have 3 partitions. Fat then Ext2 then NTFS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, the directory is /data/sdext2
Your mount command is:
mount -t ext4 /dev/block/sda2 /data/sdext2 && /system/bin/vold
Also I am not 100% sure that ext2 filesystem works. ext4 works for sure.

How to rename file in boot partition of sdcard

This may not be possible, but it would be good if it were
Attached below is the output of the "mount" command. The sdcard has four partitions:
(root--contains the boot information, u-boot.bin, uImage, mlo, etc.)--FAT32
system--ext3
cache--ext3
userdata--ext3
When the device boots from the card, the root or boot partition is invisible. I'd like to mount that partition while the ROM is running (if possible) and rename u-boot.bin to something else like u-boot.bin.bak. Or maybe the partition is already mounted and I just need to know how to access it.
I can't see in the mount output where to try this.
Is it possible?

nmyshkin said:
This may not be possible, but it would be good if it were
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Why would you want to do that?
Code:
# mount -o rw,remount rootfs /
# mkdir /boot
# mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /boot
# ls -l boot

Renate NST said:
Huh? Why would you want to do that?
Code:
# mount -o rw,remount rootfs /
# mkdir /boot
# mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /boot
# ls -l boot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh so excellent! A simple mv command and the device will boot into the stock OS instead of the sd ROM!!! And from the stock OS, a simple rename of the u-boot.bin.bak file and the device will reboot into the sd ROM. A crude "boot menu" of sorts without removing the sdcard to effect the change. To be done by two little apps, one for each ROM.
That's why I would want to do that. Thank you!!
Hmm...is there any reason to unmount the rootfs before rebooting? And is the mkdir /boot permanent or does it need to be executed each time?
Edit: the answer to my second question seems to be "no" as after a reboot I had to execute the mkdir /boot command again.
But the desired effect is not achieved. After supposedly renaming u-boot.bin to u-boot.bin.bak a reboot resulted in the sdcard ROM booting up again. A check of the files in the boot partition (as above) shows u-boot.bin.bak so it should not have been able to find the file to boot from and therefore should have booted from the internal OS.
So...after powering down completely and removing the sdcard to take a look at the active (boot) partition, I find that u-boot.bin has NOT been renamed, even though the file listing showed it as such. That explains the reboot back into the sdcard ROM, but not much else.
Edit2: I see that a "boot" folder has been created in the root directory of the sdcard and it contains the files that are in the boot partition, plus a few I've not seen before. Even after a reboot this folder contains the renamed u-boot.bin file but it doesn't do me any good there.

So, I'm confused.
You have an SD card and the NST is booting from there, right?
You want to make it so you can select between SD card and internal?
The instructions I gave were for mounting the internal u-boot.bin
Since the SD card is preferred by the loader you want to rename the u-boot.bin on the SD card.
And you probably don't even want to do that.
The mlo is the first thing loaded, you probably want to incapacitate that instead.
This is for the SD card:
Code:
# mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /boot

Renate NST said:
The mlo is the first thing loaded, you probably want to incapacitate that instead.
This is for the SD card:
Code:
# mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /boot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes! Things were a little dicey at first because I had inadvertently incapacitated the stock OS during my fumbling around by renaming the internal u-boot.bin (oops). Fortunately the device was forgiving and allowed me to remove the sdcard without any apparent bad effects, rename u-boot.bin.bak again, reinsert the card and patiently try to force the power key to do it's stuff. I finally got a reboot to the card, fixed the internal boot issue and tried again.
It works!!!! But you knew it would
I agree, renaming MLO makes more sense (and works). I knew that was first in line but became a little fixated on u-boot.bin because my original search began with a dual boot scheme used for the Nook Color which involved patching a menu system into u-boot.bin. Way out of my league, but my mostly fruitless reading eventually led me to my rather more pedestrian idea.
In a way, it makes more sense in the context of the NST which most people don't turn off. As long as there is a way to move back and forth between the emmc and sdcard OSes without swapping cards or shutting down completely, that's what I was hoping for at a minimum. I think this will do nicely.
Thanks again for your help. Now back to work on this beast...