Database Users

[Q] Should I format or partition my SD card?

I rooted my Aria using Unrevoked's one-click method, and flashed ATTN's FR008 ROM. I currently have only the factory 2GB sd card. I dl'd APPS2SD from the market and have moved the apps that are eligible to the SD card. There are still many apps that are still on the internal storage. My internal storage usually hovers around 100MB free; for right now anyway.
How low can the internal storage get before performance begins to degrade? Would it benefit me to dl ROM Manager? I am not too familiar with the pros/cons and/or procedures for partitioning the sd card.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! This is a great place for support and information and THANKS to all the dev's for all their hard work!!!

Perseids said:
I rooted my Aria using Unrevoked's one-click method, and flashed ATTN's FR008 ROM. I currently have only the factory 2GB sd card. I dl'd APPS2SD from the market and have moved the apps that are eligible to the SD card. There are still many apps that are still on the internal storage. My internal storage usually hovers around 100MB free; for right now anyway.
How low can the internal storage get before performance begins to degrade? Would it benefit me to dl ROM Manager? I am not too familiar with the pros/cons and/or procedures for partitioning the sd card.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! This is a great place for support and information and THANKS to all the dev's for all their hard work!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The internal storage you're seeing is strictly for apps and doesn't affect the operating system in any way. So no performance will ever be lost due to filling this up with as apps. To see "system"memory go menu> applications> running services. That's the one that affects performance.
Sent from my cm7 Aria using XDA App

What is the deal with EXT/2 and etc...?
I haven't figured out what the deal with the EXT partition is yet. I got a new 8GB card and was gonna put it in but was gonna wait til I understood all that first.
Should I Do a nandroid backup..
copy all contents of current SD card to pc...
Insert new card...
Format/Partition new card...
Copy previous backup of SD card to new card...
I'm just a little lost as to the advantage of the partition.
Any info. is greatly appreciated!

Noob question sorry, Is there a point where the memory in the device affects its performance? Like if too much of the internal memory is used will the phone run slower? Or what is the point of this apps to SD.

Using DT's A2SD method involving an ext2, 3, or 4 partition on the SD card moves every downloaded and installed app (minus system apps) onto the SD card. The A2SD provided with Froyo only allows apps that have been updated to work with A2SD would be able to move.
Moving all of your apps to the SD card is essentially the same as Cyanogen's setting to move all apps to the SD card. However, with the partition and DT's A2SD, it mounts the SD card's partition during the boot process which allows widgets and Facebook sync to be run off the SD card directly. (ie. Facebook sync will always stay synced no matter how many times you reboot, widgets will not have a "Problem Loading Widget" bar on your homescreen after you reboot)
With the normal A2SD, the apps on the SD card will load last after your phone has already booted up ("Preparing SD Card" in the notification bar).
Plus, you would be able to move your dalvik-cache (and app data --> experimental) to the SD card's partition also freeing up more internal memory.

Perseids said:
I haven't figured out what the deal with the EXT partition is yet. I got a new 8GB card and was gonna put it in but was gonna wait til I understood all that first.
Should I Do a nandroid backup..
copy all contents of current SD card to pc...
Insert new card...
Format/Partition new card...
Copy previous backup of SD card to new card...
I'm just a little lost as to the advantage of the partition.
Any info. is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The above steps are correct. If you want an ext partition you can do that through rom manager (will wipe sd card so back up to pc).
Unless you plan to run the DT a2sd you don't need an extension partition. Froyo a2sd moves the apps to the fat32 partition, the main partition of your sd card, not an ext partition.
I personally recommend using DT a2sd.
Sent from my cm7 Aria using XDA App

vicmora5 said:
Noob question sorry, Is there a point where the memory in the device affects its performance? Like if too much of the internal memory is used will the phone run slower? Or what is the point of this apps to SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you could fill your internal memory up to the point where there was no more room for apps to cache I suppose. But that's really it.
Sent from my cm7 Aria using XDA App

Success, but need more help
Okay, I got my sd card partioned (512MB EXT, 64MB swap). I dl'd and installed DT's A2SD and the best I can tell upon reboot A2SD moved apps to SD card. The only way I can tell is using DriveWatch.
I am using GOLauncher EX and now the flipping in the tray appears to be greatly affected by the app being on the SD card. Is there a way to move selected apps back to the phone?

No there isn't.
BTW you can check if your apps are on your SD card by typing
su
a2sd check
a2sd diskspace
In the terminal emulator

Perseids said:
Okay, I got my sd card partioned (512MB EXT, 64MB swap). I dl'd and installed DT's A2SD and the best I can tell upon reboot A2SD moved apps to SD card. The only way I can tell is using DriveWatch.
I am using GOLauncher EX and now the flipping in the tray appears to be greatly affected by the app being on the SD card. Is there a way to move selected apps back to the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you can do is delete go launcher then unzip the rom you flashed and put the go launcher apk into the /system/app folder and rezip it. boot into recovery, wipe cache and dalvic (don't wipe data), and then reflash your rom. DT a2sd doesn't move apps on the /system partition. This is what I do with launcherpro.
EDIT: you can try just pulling the go launcher apk via ADB and then removing it from the /data/app folder and then pushing the pulled app to the /system/app folder. This would be easier but I've had apps that FC after using this method. Some work, some don't.
Sent from my cm7 Aria using XDA App

Great advice!. Seems there is always more than one way to skin a cat. I will give one of those methods a try.

[Q] App2SD+ question

Hey,
Yh, I know: another app2sd+ question...
Tried using the search button, but did not find what I was searching for
I'm using the TyphooN CyanogenMod7 RC2 v2.5.5 ROM on my HD2 and was running low on internal memomy and used to send apps to my sd card, but some wouldn't not work and my internal memomery was low on memory.
So I decided to partition my 8GB scandisk sd card:
6.7 gb FAT32 en 800mb ext2
After I did that, I used a clean instal of TyphooN CyanogenMod ROM and everyhting works .
When I go to applications and then applications managing, I see that my internal memory is just 244 mb and my external memory 6.5 gb.
But what I don't understand :
Who do I move downloaded applications from my phone to the ext2 partition on my sd card instead on the fat32 partition ?
Does this (moving to ext2 partition) happen automatically when I download apps and move them to the SD card ?

The ext partition is considered internal, so if you manually move an app to the SD card, it will go from the ext partition to the fat partition and many wont work. When you have an ext partition you don't need to do anything. The rom will use the ext itself.
When you look at internal memory size it wont show the ext space, only the actual internal space. Say you instal a ten Meg app, that figure goes down ten even though its installed to ext, but it will go back up ten next reboot.

Thank you very much !
That was very clear, didn't find this somewhere else

games won't start from sdcard

there is some rom (like typhoon cyanogenmod) that doesn't allow to start 90% of games from sdcard
there is a solution for that? the internal memory space is so low and there are games that need 20+ mb of space

Use A2SD+ feature and move the games to the phone memory.

some games just don't work when installed on your sd card

When you use a rom that supports the ext partition, DO NOT choose to install to card, and do not use app manager to move it to the card, It all happens automatically, it will say its on the phone but will be on the SD in the ext part.

samsamuel said:
When you use a rom that supports the ext partition, DO NOT choose to install to card, and do not use app manager to move it to the card, It all happens automatically, it will say its on the phone but will be on the SD in the ext part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do it? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12433831#post12433831
for this for example?

thats the rom im using, and i never have to do anything, it automatically puts apps on the ext partition of the sd card.
If you haven't set up your sd card ext yet, you need to do that first. you can do it from within CWM, or there are several threads 'how to partition your card'. Dont forget to back up your sd card contents first, , creating teh ext partition will wipe your card.
I would recommend you perform a clean install after you have partitioned your sd card.

This problem is solved in the new version of hyperdroid cm7 ROM

it's true?

[Q] Cannot use internal sd to store applications after partitioning

Hello
I accidentaly partitioned my internal SD from the recovery console. I can see it fine, when my phone boots under cm9. The problem is that I cannot use it to store applications.
When I go to settings->storage, I can see the following storages :
1) Internal Storage total space 114MB
2) USB Storage total space 7.38GB
I tried to install google maps and I got a not enough available memory message.

Post in Q&A section please
Btw you can re-partition it again and try

Sorry. I said it was a question somewhere, though!!
I repartitioned it again a while ago, and I still get internal storage 114MB, which means I have very little space to install apps that cannot be moved to the SD.
Am I missing something else here?

divined2004 said:
Sorry. I said it was a question somewhere, though!!
I repartitioned it again a while ago, and I still get internal storage 114MB, which means I have very little space to install apps that cannot be moved to the SD.
Am I missing something else here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending on what type of partition you may have made earlier ...rfs or ext 4.. your phone may be only reading one of this partitions...best to unmount and format to your current phones format

I repartitioned and formated it under recovery mode.
Nonetheless, when I go to settings->storage, I can only see the 7.38GB of the internal SD under the USB STORAGE section.
I only have 152KB of recognizable internal storage available now, which means I can`t install anything.
I use the recovery mode to partition the internal SD. I want my internal SD, to be recognized as internal, as it used to be before I used the partition utility.
Gasp!!

divined2004 said:
I repartitioned and formated it under recovery mode.
Nonetheless, when I go to settings->storage, I can only see the 7.38GB of the internal SD under the USB STORAGE section.
I only have 152KB of recognizable internal storage available now, which means I can`t install anything.
I use the recovery mode to partition the internal SD. I want my internal SD, to be recognized as internal, as it used to be before I used the partition utility.
Gasp!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
undo your lagfix FIRST ..than use menu > settings> storage> unmount and format to recover full SD card space

I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=733343
where someone gives a script that removes the lagfix, or so he claims. Can I copy it over to my phone and then use the terminal to execute it?

divined2004 said:
I found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=733343
where someone gives a script that removes the lagfix, or so he claims. Can I copy it over to my phone and then use the terminal to execute it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pretty old thread, not sure as to what kernel that script is for .
Why not try to undo partition in recovery as that option should be there...the same way you were able to partition .

Sorry pal for being so persistive but I cannot find any undo partition in the recovery.
Do I really need to lagfix before I try what you suggested before? What does the lagfix do anyway?
One important thing I just noticed. I cannot unmount it, under settings->storage because it ain`t recognized under the SD CARD section but under USB STORAGE.
Ain`t that odd?

divined2004 said:
Do I really need to lagfix before I try what you suggested before? What does the lagfix do anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
one and the same thing lagfix changes rfs (original samsung format) to ext 2 or ext 4 formats
the partitioning you have done... I assume is to ext 4 or is it ext 2?
divined2004 said:
One important thing I just noticed. I cannot unmount it, under settings->storage because it ain`t recognized under the SD CARD section but under USB STORAGE. Ain`t that odd?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, this would be case, because, you have two different partitions and your system cannot read one because its is using the other.
In storage you can unmount and format using your PC, as that would be the only option for you now (so best you use this option, but first copy the entire contents of SD card to your PC) after format you can copy what you need back to your SD card
or you can use this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1709398
but be careful which drive you format

Help. No internal sd

My milestone 2 a953 gets the insufficient memory error even if storage shows 6.5 gb free. Using xplore app, I see there is nothing in internal sd I can not even copy files to it. I suspect I must have messed up the partitions somehow. Everything works except that I can not access or use the internal sd. I can only install up to 2gb of files before I get out of memory. Is there a way to reflash the partitions? Tia.

reflash your rom or system nand. that will rebuild the partition table. did you try to use your sd in a pc to check if it works? did you format your sd to check if thats the problem? did you try to mount your sd in your recovery, to check if that will work?

lulli1 said:
reflash your rom or system nand. that will rebuild the partition table. did you try to use your sd in a pc to check if it works? did you format your sd to check if thats the problem? did you try to mount your sd in your recovery, to check if that will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your reply. yes my external sd card works in all the suggestions you mentioned. my problem is with my internal sd. it does not show up in my explorer programs. i can only install apps up to 2 gb before it says i got insufficient memory. i could not even download anything to the internal sd. i can only use the external sd for it. when i remove my external sd card, the camera does not save pics to internal sd it says i need to put in an external sd card to take photos. all custom roms i flashed give me the same result. is there a specific sbf file i need to flash that will rebuild the partition table?

siakgayyem said:
thanks for your reply. yes my external sd card works in all the suggestions you mentioned. my problem is with my internal sd. it does not show up in my explorer programs. i can only install apps up to 2 gb before it says i got insufficient memory. i could not even download anything to the internal sd. i can only use the external sd for it. when i remove my external sd card, the camera does not save pics to internal sd it says i need to put in an external sd card to take photos. all custom roms i flashed give me the same result. is there a specific sbf file i need to flash that will rebuild the partition table?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say "internal sd", do you mean the /data partition? Because the MS2 can't use the internal memory for user data like a regular (or an internal, for this matter) sd card.
In this case, it seems to me like a rom issue. Since the moto defy has only 2gb on it's /data partition, and most of the milestone 2's development derives from the defy, it would make sense. Which rom are you in currently?

Lean946 said:
When you say "internal sd", do you mean the /data partition? Because the MS2 can't use the internal memory for user data like a regular (or an internal, for this matter) sd card.
In this case, it seems to me like a rom issue. Since the moto defy has only 2gb on it's /data partition, and most of the milestone 2's development derives from the defy, it would make sense. Which rom are you in currently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I mean the /data partition. I am currently using aokp. Does that mean I am unable to use the 6.5gb free space of my internal memory.

siakgayyem said:
Yes I mean the /data partition. I am currently using aokp. Does that mean I am unable to use the 6.5gb free space of my internal memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would ask in the rom thread, maybe the dev can help you out.

Thank you.