Trying to understand file system - Nexus 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I use Solid Explorer and am not rooted. When I look at ways to get to a "file" at root, I see:
Root/sdcard/file
Root/storage/sdcard0/file
Root/storage/emulated/legacy/file
Root/storage/emulated/internal memory/file
Root/mnt/sdcard/file
Why so many and what does it all mean? Can I delete any of the folders? Any of them open in my browser if the file is an html file with file:///

understand filefystem
tcat007 said:
I use Solid Explorer and am not rooted. When I look at ways to get to a "file" at root, I see:
Root/sdcard/file
Root/storage/sdcard0/file
Root/storage/emulated/legacy/file
Root/storage/emulated/internal memory/file
Root/mnt/sdcard/file
Why so many and what does it all mean? Can I delete any of the folders? Any of them open in my browser if the file is an html file with file:///
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not recommend trying to delete any of the folders; most of them are basically symlinks, and deleting them will NOT reclaim storage. As to understanding the filesystem after the move to 'multi-user android 4.2', I have problems in that aspect myself. Indeed, on my (rooted) nexus, I have difficulties in getting my folders visible for other applications (where on 4.1 they were very visible indeed).
As one of the cracks on this forum, Chainfire, who releases the StickMount app, has similar problems (he has not been able to make StickMount work yet on Android 4.2), I guess there are some real questions out there.
Chances are, within the next few days or weeks, more is known about the way the filesystem is working, and perhaps tips as how to make it better will come floating about.
For now though, I would just "sit still" if I were you, and just ignore all the other ways, and just use one of them.
(And which one? I guess I would go for /sdcard/file myself...
Kind regards,
Roel

Happy I'm not the only one. Before the update "Root/storage/sdcard0/file" seemed to be the path. Now it looks like each app chooses it's path randomly. I would guess many developers are pulling their hair out (or cursing Google)

I think I've got my head round the symbolic links but can't, along with tcat007, understand the reasoning. Another question that I hope is proper here is "How does Windows 8 (and earlier) decide what is "Internal Storage" - I've got a subdirectory that can be seen through either the sdcard or storage paths but will not display in W8.

Related

Hiding folders created by apps?

Hi guys,
I know this is an issue for many alike myself, I HATE how some android apps and the system automatically create folder on the SDcard (tmp, LOST.DIR, albumthumbs, adobe etc) and even worse have stupid names for some of them. Im quite the perfectionist so i really would like to have them gone (hidden) or at least renamed. As hiding them is the easier option I want to know if this is even possible?
I've tried mounting my SDcard and changing those files to hidden, but in Android they still display. I've tried the '.' method of hiding but this causes errors for some apps as the folders aren't being located correctly.
I've searched around with no solution as of yet so if anybody has a way please let us know.
no stupid comments about hiding your porn and **** please.
I hate to not be any help, but I would also like a way to do this.
I hate looking into my SD card and seeing a bunch of random sh!t.
so bump i guess
Even though it don't bother me i don't understand why developers don't do like linux apps and use /sdcard/.twidroid type of folder?
This drives me insane as well. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do about it. This is on the developers of the apps to fix.
Does Google actually recommend a specific folder to put these files, something like .config or .cache like in Linux?
It would have been so easier if all these folder went inside a single folder like program files .. I m too frustated bocs these app folders
They recommend /Android/data/<package_name>/files/
see: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html#filesExternal
One option is to override what the below two routines return. (AOSP code)
getExternalStorageDirectory() and
getExternalFilesDir()
i.e. set it to /sdcard/data/
ps: I remember asking this a year ago, still bugs me that nobody has done it yet.
suhas_sm said:
It would have been so easier if all these folder went inside a single folder like program files .. I m too frustated bocs these app folders
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 This would be a good idea.

Not a Developer - want a deeper understanding of the OS.

I am computer savvy, began building PCs in the late 70's - early 80's, beginning with DOS 1.0. I know a little basic, a little UNIX, etc., but am not a programmer.
I am as psyched about my HTC Hero Android as I am about Windows 7. I love it! Like all users, I download and delete apps on a fairly regular basis. I also rooted my phone to OS 2.1. Here's my (minor) dilemma; the deleted apps (I think) leave artifacts, files and folders. When I rooted the phone, photos and other files are now in different folders. I also see twice the number of photos and wallpaper as the system seems to be creating logo sized duplicates.
I've been searching, without success, for something that will tell me what the file/folder hierarchy is. What's the structure? How to determine which apps use which folders. Which folders are used by the OS and the mobile OS? I want to be able to keep the memory and SD clean just as I do with my PCs, as well as copy files to the appropriate folders so that they will appear correctly in whatever app should be
calling them up.
I hope all this makes sense. And I hope you know of some source of information, be it a book, blog, or other, that will provide some insight in this domain.
Thanks for the help!
I rooted to Damageless' FRESH 2.1.
I have the sdk but have not opened it yet. I'll check out Android Commander.
I have sone some UNIX and did quite a bit in MTOS on large Telecom voice switches, so I can probably eek my way through.
Thanks for the direction BWBL.
Brian
basically Android is a dalvik virtual machine(stripped down java for embedded devices essentially) that is sitting on top of a Linux kernel. My understanding is that unless a program has root, it cannot access internal storage, especially write access. All prefs are saved to a database and applications are completely sandboxed, therefore no artifacts will remain on internal memory. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for your SD card. If you grant a program access to your SD card it can **** all over it and the OS doesn't. protect you. I have found that HTCs stuff is guilty of copying pictures all over.
bnbaldwin53 said:
I am computer savvy, began building PCs in the late 70's - early 80's, beginning with DOS 1.0. I know a little basic, a little UNIX, etc., but am not a programmer.
I am as psyched about my HTC Hero Android as I am about Windows 7. I love it! Like all users, I download and delete apps on a fairly regular basis. I also rooted my phone to OS 2.1. Here's my (minor) dilemma; the deleted apps (I think) leave artifacts, files and folders. When I rooted the phone, photos and other files are now in different folders. I also see twice the number of photos and wallpaper as the system seems to be creating logo sized duplicates.
I've been searching, without success, for something that will tell me what the file/folder hierarchy is. What's the structure? How to determine which apps use which folders. Which folders are used by the OS and the mobile OS? I want to be able to keep the memory and SD clean just as I do with my PCs, as well as copy files to the appropriate folders so that they will appear correctly in whatever app should be
calling them up.
I hope all this makes sense. And I hope you know of some source of information, be it a book, blog, or other, that will provide some insight in this domain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1)Backup apps with androzip.
2)Backup the entire sd to pc(you may need to format but should not).
3)Wipe(data,delvic,uid mismatches). This will get rid of those apk leftovers/uta fc's....
4)Install a fresh copy of damage
5)Now right after initial boot, back up your sd card file structure
6)Drop your pc backup folders in their corresponding freshly set-up counterparts
7)Do yourself a favor and get a good file browser and you can check out the system heirarchy for yourself. These are MY personal faves,
a)androzip-explore sd/free market
b)root explorer-explore system/paid xda
c)astro-both free/market
d)android commander-for pc free/google
e)android sdk is another invaluable tool free/google
If you need further assistance, feel free to pm. Good Luck
Awesome! Thanks Magnus.

Drop Box/Online Storage

Not sure if you guys have used this but Ive found it pretty handy for online storage. Called drop box, you get 2Gb free and can upgrade and get more if you need it!
http://db.tt/2yz87DL
If anyone else has found simliar apps that offer more storage would love to know so just post here!
ShaunD103 said:
Not sure if you guys have used this but Ive found it pretty handy for online storage. Called drop box, you get 2Gb free and can upgrade and get more if you need it!
http://db.tt/2yz87DL
If anyone else has found simliar apps that offer more storage would love to know so just post here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. And by clicking that referral link above, both parties get a little extra space.
It's a pretty popular online storage / file sharing service and along with the DropBox Android app, a great extension for storage on tablets.
gammaRascal said:
Right. And by clicking that referral link above, both parties get a little extra space.
It's a pretty popular online storage / file sharing service and along with the DropBox Android app, a great extension for storage on tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, so far loving it!
Another online storage tool is Spideroak. It works across many platforms including Android and Linux. I am still in the process of testing it out. Not quite as intuitive as Dropbox. But I used the promo code *worldbackupday* and got a free upgrade to 5GB of storage. Not bad.
I'm using ubuntu one for my tablet and pc with ubuntu
Wysłane z Acera A500
Just trying out Asus Web Storage. It has a very cheap option for unlimited storage.... Tempting!
I personally can't think of any use for these online storage systems. It would be okay if you could mount them and then have all your applications be able to access the files there directly, but if you always have to copy stuff back and forth first then... meh.
Well the great thing about DropBox is that it integrates into windows just like a regular folder.
Once you've installed the application (which has a very small footprint) you can use the Windows 'Send To' context menu option and send anything to the DrobBox folder on your computer and it syncs with the account, making whatever you put in there available from any web-connected device. (either in a public or private folder which you can also set up)
You can also setup shared folders between people/teams which has a semi-type check-in/check-out feature that shows when others are working on them. So, say I'm working on a design doc - I can open it directly from my DropBox folder (since its a regular windows folder) make changes, edits etc, save it and it syncs the new version with anyone else I'm sharing the folder with.
As far as the tablet goes, it really is an extension to storage but only in a minimalist sense. Launching the Android App shows you all your DropBox folders and you can navigate though folders and open files or download them to your tab (without having to mount the tab to your computer or do that SD card dance). The primary point being, you can access them directly from the DropBox app and not actually have them on your tab.
I use it mainly to store books and other documents (also my bootanimations and screenshots) so when I want to access them (or give access to them) I can share the link, or open the files directly on my tab - make changes, save and it saves to DropBox.
It really is flawless and elegant.
gammaRascal said:
It really is flawless and elegant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's also entirely reliant on people and systems over which you have no control. It can fail without warning, just because something between you and their servers goes wrong, and you have zero assurance of security either.
I hate the "cloud". I think it's stupid, pointless and potentially downright dangerous. You have zero control over your data or who has access to your data.
FloatingFatMan said:
It's also entirely reliant on people and systems over which you have no control. It can fail without warning, just because something between you and their servers goes wrong, and you have zero assurance of security either.
I hate the "cloud". I think it's stupid, pointless and potentially downright dangerous. You have zero control over your data or who has access to your data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What.are.you.talking.about?
All that reads like over sensitive hyperbole and paranoia to me.
You're suggesting that just because you have files in your DropBox folder that it's unsecure?
Anything can fail without warning - that's hardly an ongoing and preventative concern of mine. I could turn on the light in my bathroom and *might* pop and yet, here we are. I'm not about to take a flashlight in with me every single time *just in case*.
Your HDD can fail. Your CPU can pop. Your MB can short... I mean, what are you expecting? Putting files on DropBox is no more unsecure than burning it to a DVD or copying it to a Flash drive or leaving it on your HDD.
There are *levels* of security and DropBox is far more secure than you give it credit. If security is a serious concern of yours, turn off the internet.
And regarding the cloud. See paragraph 2.
gammaRascal said:
Well the great thing about DropBox is that it integrates into windows just like a regular folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it does on Windows, but my tablet doesn't run Windows.
As far as the tablet goes, it really is an extension to storage but only in a minimalist sense. Launching the Android App shows you all your DropBox folders and you can navigate though folders and open files or download them to your tab (without having to mount the tab to your computer or do that SD card dance). The primary point being, you can access them directly from the DropBox app and not actually have them on your tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the whole point why I don't like these kinds of things: it's cumbersome if I always have to go through this or that application first in order to use a file. It should just be mounted on a specific directory and that's that. I can only hope someone will create something like that for Android soon.
I wonder though if there is any way of mounting SSH connections, like for example as through Fuse as is possible on Linux. Then I wouldn't have to worry about these kinds of things at all as I have ample amounts of storage space on my server.
The company I work for, one of the largest IT corporations in Europe, SELLS cloud services. I know what I'm talking about.
Your files are not secure, no matter the assurances you're given, and Dropbox has had some pretty major security flaws in the quite recent past. And as a recent screwup on Amazon's cloud services recently showed, if something goes wrong or some dumbass makes a mistake, you might not even get your data back intact. That sort of thing happens a lot more often than you think, too.
Hell, we sell the bloody services to the world, but our own internal network services are down more often than a whores knickers!
FloatingFatMan said:
The company I work for, one of the largest IT corporations in Europe, SELLS cloud services. I know what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not questioning whether you know or don't know what you're talking about.
FloatingFatMan said:
Your files are not secure, no matter the assurances you're given, and Dropbox has had some pretty major security flaws in the quite recent past. And as a recent screwup on Amazon's cloud services recently showed, if something goes wrong or some dumbass makes a mistake, you might not even get your data back intact. That sort of thing happens a lot more often than you think, too.
Hell, we sell the bloody services to the world, but our own internal network services are down more often than a whores knickers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are secure. Which, as you know, is a relative term.
If you need *more* security then don't use it. I don't know how much simpler it can be.
WereCatf said:
I know it does on Windows, but my tablet doesn't run Windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why there is an Android App. The service is a ubiquitous sharing that acts like a regular Windows folder while in the Windows environment. It's not *beholden* to the Windows environment.
WereCatf said:
That's the whole point why I don't like these kinds of things: it's cumbersome if I always have to go through this or that application first in order to use a file. It should just be mounted on a specific directory and that's that. I can only hope someone will create something like that for Android soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how you can suggest it's cumbersome if you haven't tried it. Open the DropBox application, navigate to a file and select it and it opens in whatever app you have it set to open. They only different between than and opening a native application and then finding the file you want to open and opening it is that using the DropBox method, the file has to be downloaded first - which maybe is a thing for you, I don't know.
If you want it on your tab, select the file and download it - it saves to the local DropBox folder and at that point you can access it locally like any other file. The only other option is to manually put the file on your tablet - via cable, SD card, email - whatever method you see fit. To me, *that's* cumbersome.
Like I said, DropBox is more about access than storage. People use DropBox because they want access to files over the web in the same manner they would over a home network (without using bloated VNC's and multiple programs). If you have no need for such a function then DropBox doesn't sound like something you'd use.
gammaRascal said:
I'm not sure how you can suggest it's cumbersome if you haven't tried it. Open the DropBox application, navigate to a file and select it and it opens in whatever app you have it set to open. They only different between than and opening a native application and then finding the file you want to open and opening it is that using the DropBox method, the file has to be downloaded first - which maybe is a thing for you, I don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't differ at all from opening file manager, navigating to samba share and downloading a file from there. That's why I said I'd like something that allows me to mount the whole thing as a regular directory on my tablet, THEN it would be useful. Like for example, the eBook reader I have shows as a collection all the books I have. If the cloud storage was mounted on a directory I could just point the eBook reader to that directory and POOF, they'd all be visible and accessible without having to copy anything back-and-forth.
Unfortunately there seems to be no such service for Android. Atleast not yet :/
If you have no need for such a function then DropBox doesn't sound like something you'd use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look, I'm not bashing DropBox. I just voiced a wish for additional functionality. I already have DropBox-like functionality via file manager and browsing to either Samba-share or SFTP-share, with 2Tb storage, on my own server, but if I could just mount the thing on a directory it'd be a lot, LOT more useful.
gammaRascal said:
What.are.you.talking.about?
All that reads like over sensitive hyperbole and paranoia to me.
You're suggesting that just because you have files in your DropBox folder that it's unsecure?
Anything can fail without warning - that's hardly an ongoing and preventative concern of mine. I could turn on the light in my bathroom and *might* pop and yet, here we are. I'm not about to take a flashlight in with me every single time *just in case*.
Your HDD can fail. Your CPU can pop. Your MB can short... I mean, what are you expecting? Putting files on DropBox is no more unsecure than burning it to a DVD or copying it to a Flash drive or leaving it on your HDD.
There are *levels* of security and DropBox is far more secure than you give it credit. If security is a serious concern of yours, turn off the internet.
And regarding the cloud. See paragraph 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do a Google search using the terms Dropbox Security Breach and then read the article at CNET, a reliable IT information source. FloatingFatMan is right, at least about the security of Dropbox. I'm a bit leary of the Cloud for the same reasons. Do you know who is controlling your data or any of the folks who have access to it?
*yawn*
Yu huh...

"IndexService" issue solved..(Quick battery drain & endless or error index process)

"IndexService" issue solved..(Quick battery drain & endless or error index process)
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...
Reason4444 said:
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an easy solution. Create a folder for your pdfs, drop a .nomedia file in the root of that folder, and put all of your pdfs you dont want indexed in there.
I found that the indexservice process is taking more cpu and time when I have more number of pdf files i my memory card.
So, right now either you can put less number of pdf files on your device to avoid the lag or just wait till the indexing completes.
After the indexing completes, the device works as wonderfully as it was working before inserting my memory card.
Hope I helped...Cheer!!!
Or you can just kill it in settings/apps/active...
It shuts up untill you reboot.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk
I really hope samsung pushes out an update about it. Even after indexing is done whenever I try to do something quickly it seems it will FC because of the indexer. can't really play any games on it as well because of it.
ShadowLea said:
Or you can just kill it in settings/apps/active...
It shuts up untill you reboot.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wat you mean, i don't have root, wat i need to kill ?
WandersonGD said:
Wat you mean, i don't have root, wat i need to kill ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have root either. Just go to settings > general > application manager > running, tap .com.samsung.android.strokesearch:service. (down near the bottom) Hit 'Stop' and then 'yes'.
Now it stays away until you reboot, at which point you need to do this again. Bit tedious, but it's quicker than rooting.
Screenshot attached.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk
Easy way to root ant fix this issue
You can fix this issue very easily.
1. Root your phone in under 1 minute at towelroot.com
2. download a freezing app (I paid for a really good one, $6 for titanium backup pro)
3. freeze the offending service.
I didn't know how to do any of these things an hour ago. A quick google question for any you need to learn will give you easy answers.
towelroot is insanely easy. be sure your settings allow non play store apps to be installed; go to towelroot.com; click on the red symbol thing to download the apk; run the apk and you are rooted. done.
I have most recent OS and updates as of the date of this post, sprint Note 3 with 4.4.2 and cnc5 baseband/build number
NOT SOLVEDSamsung Galaxy Tab Pro battery still drains with yesterday's KK update
Reason4444 said:
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'files' and 's search'. Do you mean that you have to uncheck each .pdf file in some way? What if we have thousands of them?
Or do you mean something else?
Someone else suggested putting all the .pdf files in a separate subdirectory and adding a .nomedia file. This hides ALL the .pdf files from every app that might search for them including the ones you use to read .pdf files.
We called Samsung this morning. Three levels, no help. They did NOT even understand the problem. "Do a factory reset." Did that, major nuisance, especially losing all the bookmarks in the .pdf files. No solution, it just started indexing again. It says it will take 5 hours to index and there are only 4 hours of battery left. If you plug it into the charger the Galaxy Tab shuts down after half an hour.
I was thinking of replacing my BLU phone (which has serious Play Store/storage problems) with a Samsung, but now I'm not so sure.
Bev999 said:
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'files' and 's search'. Do you mean that you have to uncheck each .pdf file in some way? What if we have thousands of them?
Or do you mean something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
Someone else suggested putting all the .pdf files in a separate subdirectory and adding a .nomedia file. This hides ALL the .pdf files from every app that might search for them including the ones you use to read .pdf files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
We called Samsung this morning. Three levels, no help. They did NOT even understand the problem. "Do a factory reset." Did that, major nuisance, especially losing all the bookmarks in the .pdf files. No solution, it just started indexing again. It says it will take 5 hours to index and there are only 4 hours of battery left. If you plug it into the charger the Galaxy Tab shuts down after half an hour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
ShadowLea said:
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro SM-T520 running android 4.4.2 just updated today. We also have a 12.2 Note, and I assumed things were similar. Maybe not. He just followed your instructions. Indexing is still running in the background. It won't stop. I'm reluctant to reboot, but will if it's necessary. Is it?
I don't understand how the .nomedia thing works for you and not for us. He uses ES File Explorer and EBookDroid and neither could see the files in the subdirectory containing the .nomedia file.
I would have assumed that if you persist you can find someone in the 'help' department who at least understands the problem. Apparently not.
This is extremely discouraging
Bev999 said:
We have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro SM-T520 running android 4.4.2 just updated today. We also have a 12.2 Note, and I assumed things were similar. Maybe not. He just followed your instructions. Indexing is still running in the background. It won't stop. I'm reluctant to reboot, but will if it's necessary. Is it?
I don't understand how the .nomedia thing works for you and not for us. He uses ES File Explorer and EBookDroid and neither could see the files in the subdirectory containing the .nomedia file.
I would have assumed that if you persist you can find someone in the 'help' department who at least understands the problem. Apparently not.
This is extremely discouraging
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a NotePro 12.2 too. Strange how it doesn't work on yours...
Is ES File Explorer not seeing the .nomedia files or is the folder suddenly empty?
Did he reboot after placing the files and changing the settings? Indexingservice will always run for a few minutes after a reboot.
Alright, have him hook the sdcard to a pc (preferably with a cardreader) and let explorer search it for 0kb files. It depends on your system language, in english you can search for 'size:empty'. You can also click the advanced search options and select size.
Any file it finds that isn't a nomedia file or a playlist, delete (or move to the pc.)
Then do the same with the tablet itself. (this will take a while, mtp is agonisingly slow.)
Surely at some point this must begin to make sense.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
ShadowLea said:
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ShadowLea said:
I've got a NotePro 12.2 too. Strange how it doesn't work on yours...
Is ES File Explorer not seeing the .nomedia files or is the folder suddenly empty?
Did he reboot after placing the files and changing the settings? Indexingservice will always run for a few minutes after a reboot.
Alright, have him hook the sdcard to a pc (preferably with a cardreader) and let explorer search it for 0kb files. It depends on your system language, in english you can search for 'size:empty'. You can also click the advanced search options and select size.
Any file it finds that isn't a nomedia file or a playlist, delete (or move to the pc.)
Then do the same with the tablet itself. (this will take a while, mtp is agonisingly slow.)
Surely at some point this must begin to make sense.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 12.2 Note hasn't been updated yet. Has yours? Fear and trepidation...
There were no 0-lenth files when he read the card on the computer. Sizes of the files seemed not-abnormal and he spot checked a few, which were OK. BTW, we're using linux, not windows.
Possible misunderstanding: Previously he created a subdirectory called .nomedia and put all the pdf files in it. The subdirectory itself was invisible to ES file explorer etc.. He's now putting all the pdf and epub files in /sdcard1/pdf and adding a 0-length file called .nomedia to the subdirectory.
The index service is running and the damn thing is warming up. He's plugging it into the charger and going to bed (he keeps odd hours.) More whenever.
Google doesn't seem to be willing to offer much help unless you own a Nexus -- they just tell you to contact your manufacturer. Given that they sell android to the manufacturers, presumably at a profit, this seems at the very least cheesy and certainly not in keeping with the "Do no evil" mantra. How can the manufacturers possibly be expected to cope with the inner workings of how the OS itself operates?
Skynet baby steps...
Bev999 said:
The 12.2 Note hasn't been updated yet. Has yours? Fear and trepidation...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
There were no 0-lenth files when he read the card on the computer. Sizes of the files seemed not-abnormal and he spot checked a few, which were OK. BTW, we're using linux, not windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Possible misunderstanding: Previously he created a subdirectory called .nomedia and put all the pdf files in it. The subdirectory itself was invisible to ES file explorer etc.. He's now putting all the pdf and epub files in /sdcard1/pdf and adding a 0-length file called .nomedia to the subdirectory.
The index service is running and the damn thing is warming up. He's plugging it into the charger and going to bed (he keeps odd hours.) More whenever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
Google doesn't seem to be willing to offer much help unless you own a Nexus -- they just tell you to contact your manufacturer. Given that they sell android to the manufacturers, presumably at a profit, this seems at the very least cheesy and certainly not in keeping with the "Do no evil" mantra. How can the manufacturers possibly be expected to cope with the inner workings of how the OS itself operates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
Skynet baby steps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always thought that was EA Games...
ShadowLea said:
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
I always thought that was EA Games...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another kernel update -- same one, but from the Samsung guy at Best Buy. The sfind thing is consuming as much battery as the screen. No way to stop it. Samsung apparently doesn't give a ****. Not happy here. One more trip across the street to see if the Samsung guy can locate some internal Samsung person who may be able to help. Yeah, right...
I just cleared cache with help of Titanium backup and problem was solved.
I have to mention I am rooted.
Bev999 said:
Another kernel update -- same one, but from the Samsung guy at Best Buy. The sfind thing is consuming as much battery as the screen. No way to stop it. Samsung apparently doesn't give a ****. Not happy here. One more trip across the street to see if the Samsung guy can locate some internal Samsung person who may be able to help. Yeah, right...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm.. You can try to go to settings > Applications > All > S Finder and force stop, clear data and cache; perhaps that has an effect. Also, delete any search widget.
It's so much not that Samsung doesn't care. It's more that the service employees are all monumental idiots. :silly:
ShadowLea said:
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
I always thought that was EA Games...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ShadowLea said:
Hm.. You can try to go to settings > Applications > All > S Finder and force stop, clear data and cache; perhaps that has an effect. Also, delete any search widget.
It's so much not that Samsung doesn't care. It's more that the service employees are all monumental idiots. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BTDT, except he doesn't want to clear data/cache on the off-chance that it will delete his laboriously-recreated bookmarks in the books he's reading. It would be nice if apps would tell you exactly what they're going to delete/clear/empty.
I had a vague hope that the Samsung guy would perhaps know somebody in Samsung engineering, thereby bypassing the useless helpdroids.
http://futuremaza.com/download/91853/microsoft-tech-support-1235
Choose your size. It's a keeper.
Clearing Data/Cache on S Finder affects only the data gathered by S Finder. S Finder is nothing more than a search app. So it only clears the indexed search data.
The bookmarks made in the books he is reading are stored in the data of the reader app he is using or the files themselves. S Finder can't touch those.
I always prefer this one
I have a Note 4 and was having the same issue. The culprit in my case was the SD Card. I first used a Samsung Class 10, 64GB. "Index" was killing my battery. I formatted the card inside the phone, but it was no use. Then I exchanged the card for Sandisk Ultra 64GB, which I believe is in the same Class. Magically, "INedex" issue stopped and then I got very good battery Life! Result is: Samsung Card was not compatible with Samsung phone... Who can understand these things happenning..?!

Kit Kat 4.4 and external SD cards

I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.
mangurian said:
I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..
jauger said:
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True - I only root my devices when they are out-dated.
I don't think the 8013 has reached that point yet.
I am still happy with its performance.
But what I am understanding is apps are corralled to their own folders. This implies to me that some I rely on will cease to work. Example:
I use folder sync to keep lecture notes synced between my 10.1 and S4. By my read of KitKat, folder sync will be prohibited from writing to the lecture notes folder.
What about photos? Different apps to adjust photos depending on what I want to do.
And what about ES File Explorer. Won't it become useless?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
jauger said:
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I may be asking the obvious, but in what way is KitKat a pain for root users?
starbuckk said:
But what I am understanding is apps are corralled to their own folders. This implies to me that some I rely on will cease to work. Example:
I use folder sync to keep lecture notes synced between my 10.1 and S4. By my read of KitKat, folder sync will be prohibited from writing to the lecture notes folder.
What about photos? Different apps to adjust photos depending on what I want to do.
And what about ES File Explorer. Won't it become useless?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
We don't have all the answers, but I'd bet dollars to donuts there will, at least, be work-arounds" for any on these problems.
mangurian said:
We don't have all the answers, but I'd bet dollars to donuts there will, at least, be work-arounds" for any on these problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
So, file managers won't work if stock and unrooted (read only, no writing). FolderSync doesn't work. ES doesn't work (it will tell you that it created/deleted/modified the folder, but then when you refresh, the change never happened).
A good example of how this works would be with a bare bones gallery application. If you store your photos in a random folder within the SD card, the Gallery app can view them. However, if you try to delete a picture, it will only remove from the gallery and remain on the SD card. After a device reboot, it will reappear in the gallery (this also happens with Google Photos and the stock Gallery app).
Another way to do this would be for the gallery app to copy all photos to the gallery subfolder and ignore photos outside of this folder. And if you remove the app? Photos are gone (except what was at the original location). But, this just causes duplication issues.
Lastly, applications can be given permission to read/write to VERY specific ContentProviders and folders. So eventually, you'll have a shared folder called "Pictures" that any gallery application can modify as needed. However, this function is, again, for very specific usage and still prevents file managing apps from doing what they're intended to do.
jaykresge said:
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
So, file managers won't work if stock and unrooted (read only, no writing). FolderSync doesn't work. ES doesn't work (it will tell you that it created/deleted/modified the folder, but then when you refresh, the change never happened).
A good example of how this works would be with a bare bones gallery application. If you store your photos in a random folder within the SD card, the Gallery app can view them. However, if you try to delete a picture, it will only remove from the gallery and remain on the SD card. After a device reboot, it will reappear in the gallery (this also happens with Google Photos and the stock Gallery app).
Another way to do this would be for the gallery app to copy all photos to the gallery subfolder and ignore photos outside of this folder. And if you remove the app? Photos are gone (except what was at the original location). But, this just causes duplication issues.
Lastly, applications can be given permission to read/write to VERY specific ContentProviders and folders. So eventually, you'll have a shared folder called "Pictures" that any gallery application can modify as needed. However, this function is, again, for very specific usage and still prevents file managing apps from doing what they're intended to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like the android team need to add some sort of "firewall" implementation, for apps users WANT their old ability back and still provide their users with this security for the majority of their other apps, it doesnt have to be all or nothing, .......make the most secured option as default, for basic users, while giving the power users the option to "fine tune" it, i.e. the "firewall" analogy
jaykresge said:
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear, if I write an app and want to write (not modify) to an external SD card I must write to the self contained folder.
Is that correct?
mangurian said:
I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see how you think it doesn't restrict a user's data but keeps the card organised, when I have all my data (a LOT of work PDFs and docs, plus some photos), all nicely filed away and synchronised with my NAS, and other tablets; and now I cannot do this. I cannot organise my content at all (actually I am struggling even to put it on the SD card, except by taking it out out plugging it into a USB adapter into my PC). Until now, I have never had any apps leave crapola on my SD card. I used to be able to save lecture recordings direct to a nice "recordings" file on the SD card. Now it has to put it somewhere obscure (android/data/.somthingrandomthatisapaintofind).
It seems this works on some apps and not on others. For example foldersync doesn't seem to be able to write to the external sd card anymore, nor does X-plore, however, Es file Explorer seems to be fine about it, and happily writes files to the sdcard?! So if ES can do it, why can't the others?
jenacadabra said:
I don't see how you think it doesn't restrict a user's data but keeps the card organised, when I have all my data (a LOT of work PDFs and docs, plus some photos), all nicely filed away and synchronised with my NAS, and other tablets; and now I cannot do this. I cannot organise my content at all (actually I am struggling even to put it on the SD card, except by taking it out out plugging it into a USB adapter into my PC). Until now, I have never had any apps leave crapola on my SD card. I used to be able to save lecture recordings direct to a nice "recordings" file on the SD card. Now it has to put it somewhere obscure (android/data/.somthingrandomthatisapaintofind).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on kitkat for over month now and I don't know what is big buzz about. I did not notice any different behavior from my external card. I can read and write whatever I want using pc explorer. Es works fine. Stock my files is fine too. So can somebody explain problem litte more please?
Type from KitKat bar.
norbarb said:
I'm on kitkat for over month now and I don't know what is big buzz about. I did not notice any different behavior from my external card. I can read and write whatever I want using pc explorer. Es works fine. Stock my files is fine too. So can somebody explain problem litte more please?
Type from KitKat bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see - you are just using the USB cable I assume. The functionality I have lost is to:
a) wirelessly synchronise multiple pdf/document files in multiple folders and multiple subfolders, whether edited on the Note or on PC (or both).
b) Used a file management app to organise files & folders on my home network between my PC and external SD card. It was even able to wirelessly copy my work direct from the NAS.
None of the apps I used stored any files on my SD card and because they have taken away my access to my SD card I cannot sync my files properly. I realise I could just plug the cable in, but that is not practicable when I am editing 100s of documents in 100s of different subfolders a day - an automatic sync is fantastic. Android is strongly geared towards the "leisure" side of the market and I am going to have to take another look at Windows tablets if they don't fix this (except I would miss the S Pen!)
The_mitch said:
It seems this works on some apps and not on others. For example foldersync doesn't seem to be able to write to the external sd card anymore, nor does X-plore, however, Es file Explorer seems to be fine about it, and happily writes files to the sdcard?! So if ES can do it, why can't the others?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What device are you using that can write to SD using ES? I have the Galaxy S4 GPe (i9505G) and ES cannot do anything with the SD Card.
Have you updated ES? I heard they upated to fix it.
As I understand there is something called storage access framework that is supposed to be the replacement for direct file access.
I haven't seen kitkat. FolderSync is my biggest concern.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
jaykresge said:
What device are you using that can write to SD using ES? I have the Galaxy S4 GPe (i9505G) and ES cannot do anything with the SD Card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on a Samsung galaxy note 3, with kitkat 4.4.2 and ES file Explorer 3.1.1
Yes, thanks to a post somewhere on XDA I am now using ES file manager, which as you say, will work with the ExtSD on Kitkat (though I still prefer Astro myself).
I still can't sync my content though which is the bigger problem. I used to use SyncMe. A fantastically easy to set up App that would seamlessly sync content across multiple devices (still works fine on my Note 8). I can't find anything to replace this at present.
Sent from my GT-N5100 using xda app-developers app
The_mitch said:
I'm on a Samsung galaxy note 3, with kitkat 4.4.2 and ES file Explorer 3.1.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM are you using? Are you on stock 4.4.2 OTA without root?
jaykresge said:
What ROM are you using? Are you on stock 4.4.2 OTA without root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, stock unrooted Samsung kitkat 4.2.2
The_mitch said:
Yes, stock unrooted Samsung kitkat 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my device, ES 3.1.1 allows me to create a folder but I cannot edit or delete the folder. I cannot create, edit, or delete files. If I delete folders, they will initially disappear, but will not actually delete. They reappear upon a refresh.

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