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How to use sd card ext3 partition? please help, thx

Stupid noobie question I'm sure but I need some advice:
I'm running CM 5.0.5.3 on my N1 with AmonRa 1.7 recovery-cyan version and
App2SD. I partitioned my SD card with a 500mb ext2, then converted ext2 => ext3. All is good, but when I download apps everything is put into the main partition and I have nothing in the ext3 partition. Basically its wasted space of 500 mb right now.
How do I put apps, etc into the ext3 partition instead of the main partition? ADB push I would guess, as I can't copy/paste or move using Astro FM? If ADB push, what would be the command line instructions? Sorry, but don't know the programming language well enough to do it on my own.

you hv to enable App2SD in the Application section of the Setting menu to install apps in the SD ext partition... if you want to move ur apps, u'll hv to install CM 5.0.6 [has an option to move apps]... else, u hv to uninstall the apps and reinstall...

craigacgomez said:
you hv to enable App2SD in the Application section of the Setting menu to install apps in the SD ext partition... if you want to move ur apps, u'll hv to install CM 5.0.6 [has an option to move apps]... else, u hv to uninstall the apps and reinstall...
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Click to collapse
Craig,
App2SD is enabled and presently storing ALL apps to the main partition. I understand updating to 5.0.6 to get the added functionality also. If I uninstall an app, say Pandora, how would I reinstall it on the ext3 partition? By default, wouldn't it just reinstall on the main partition with App2SD?

mtw4991 said:
Craig,
App2SD is enabled and presently storing ALL apps to the main partition. I understand updating to 5.0.6 to get the added functionality also. If I uninstall an app, say Pandora, how would I reinstall it on the ext3 partition? By default, wouldn't it just reinstall on the main partition with App2SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem and just went about getting my apps2sd working a different way. I have not been able to get of the built-in features (tethering, apps2sd) in cm to actually work so I use 3rd party solutions.

Its needs to be ext4 not ext3.
New Apps2SD method implemented mostly by Chris Soyars. Create an ext4 partition and enable it in settings->applications (wiki page coming soon)

shep211 said:
Its needs to be ext4 not ext3.
New Apps2SD method implemented mostly by Chris Soyars. Create an ext4 partition and enable it in settings->applications (wiki page coming soon)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5.0.6 is the first iteration of CM that I am able to use apps2sd natively without having to resort to the older method of achieving this.
I just wiped/flashed and for kicks, gave it another try. Finally

[Q] what is app2sd and please can you help me activate it ? ?

what exactly is app2sd??
I am using RAFDROID ROM on a TMOUS HD2
in the instructions he said that if I am using a euro HD2 with 512 rom I should partition my sd card
so I did not do that and flashed the rom on my NAND
then when I started using apps I noticed that after two weeks usage I have only 50 MB left!!!!
so I want to activate app2sd and move my apps to the sd card..
so please I need some help from the experienced users on this great forum that can advise me about what exactly is this and how to activate and use it
thanks in advance!!

Apps2sd moves your apps to the sdcard, usually to an ext 3/4 partition. I don't know about the ROM you're using, but on the one I use (mdj's Cyanogen 2.6), you can move apps to external storage like this: settings --> applications --> manage applications. Then select an app and there is an option to move to sdcard.

@freeincolorado, the method you described is not A2SD+, that method is called move2sd.
A2SD+ puts the dalvik cache as well as the applications in a EXT2/3/4 partition, usually called the sd-ext partition. This method will still show you that the application is in the ROM. However, the sd-ext is used instead, depending on the chief implementing A2SD+ in their ROM, the remaining ROM space is suppose to report the partition "sd-ext" free space, however, certain ROMs are not properly done in my view, and will report the userdata partition free space instead. Such as MDJ's Cyanomodgen 7+ Gingerbread.
How to use A2SD+
Usually, they require you to partition your SD Card into 2 primary partition. The first partition is FAT32 where you store all your extras, such as music, ebook, etc (Like how your SD card is presently used). The 2nd partition is EXT2/3/4 depending on your preference, most people do not use EXT2 anymore as it does not support Journaling, since data can be easily corrupted with a battery pull. EXT3 and EXT4 contains journaling feature, so when battery is pulled, data corruption is minimal.
NOT ALL ROMS SUPPORT EXT4. This is a kernel thing, so if the rom uses a kernel that does not use EXT4, then it will not read the partition.
A2SD+ has a nice feature as well, when you switch ROM, you do not need to re-install all the applications, since all applications are placed in the sd-ext folder, including the dalvik cache. However, this also includes the system default applications which might not be compatible with another rom build.

[Q] How can i check, if my app2sd+ is working correctly?

Hi @
using mdjs 2.6 and sucessfully created the ext4 partition for a while.
But how can I check, if the apps are installed correctly on the ext4 partition?
If I check my phone storage it seems, that the phone storage is used for the installation...cause there are "only" 100Mb free.
Removing the sd card causes all apps to stop working.
Using Root Explorer shows me a folder "sd-ext"..with all installed apks...
BUT also in data/app are all installed apks.
I'm very confused...
any suggestions?

Suggestions as to what? They're obviously in your Ext4 partition if you can see them there with Root Explorer. Don't really know about the /data thing though. Maybe delete an .apk from there and see what happens?

I use titanium backup to see how much room i've got left on my ext partition.
After installing apps it's normal for the internal memory to drop, reboot to see effect.
apps will be auto installed to ext partition if you've got and rom that supports it.

What are the partitions used for?

So, I see that different roms needs different size of the partition layout of the built in drive.
But what is it actually used for?
I use my freespace app to look up how much space I got left. Since it is very limited space on the blade, and I want a couple of apps I need to learn more about this.
These are mine running on ColdfusionX latest release.
Cache 37mb (1 used)
Data 162mb (131 used)
System 220mb (202 used)
Where are the gapps installed? I flashed normal ICS gapps. Are these put in system or data? Both partitions used more space after installation?
Is cache just for the apps running? And like temporarly downloaded files from google play?
How come my data is used up so much? I thought this was all the space for my downloaded+installed apps? I have installed just a few, maybe 15mb worth of apps.
What about system? I was using like 179mb just after install. But now its up to 202 used. Are the 18 remaining MB wasted space?
Also, if I uninstall apps that came with the systems. would the system be more unused and more unused space would be wasted on that partition?
Need a clarification please

sliddjur said:
So, I see that different roms needs different size of the partition layout of the built in drive.
But what is it actually used for?
I use my freespace app to look up how much space I got left. Since it is very limited space on the blade, and I want a couple of apps I need to learn more about this.
These are mine running on ColdfusionX latest release.
Cache 37mb (1 used)
Data 162mb (131 used)
System 220mb (202 used)
Where are the gapps installed? I flashed normal ICS gapps. Are these put in system or data? Both partitions used more space after installation?
Is cache just for the apps running? And like temporarly downloaded files from google play?
How come my data is used up so much? I thought this was all the space for my downloaded+installed apps? I have installed just a few, maybe 15mb worth of apps.
What about system? I was using like 179mb just after install. But now its up to 202 used. Are the 18 remaining MB wasted space?
Also, if I uninstall apps that came with the systems. would the system be more unused and more unused space would be wasted on that partition?
Need a clarification please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cache is where temp play store downloads go, but most roms now redirect it to the data partition so it's safe to have a 2mb cache partition like most of us do. The data partition stores the app itself plus all data created by the app. The system partition stores the rom itself, the files needed for the phone to run, the system! Most gingerbread roms you'll be safe to have a 150-160mb system partition and 2mb cache, aloowing a much larger data partition for your apps. your 162mb data partition is very small! so no wonder you're running out of space. To create more data partition space you can install your apps on the sd card, either directly and to .android_secure or to an sd-ext partition so you can mount your phone to the PC and the apps will still run. gapps are installed in the system partition although some you can uninstall and download through the play store and then would be on your data partition. To make best use of your internal memory if you're on a gingerbread rom create a 150-160mb partition and if you're on an ICS rom then 200-210mb is best, so be prepared to give up a bit of data/app space. Also 2mb for cache will always be fine

hi guys, what if i want to re partition my sd card what would happened to my installed app on my sdcard. i mean what is the safest way to clean up my sd card then repartion it.

raizor6th said:
hi guys, what if i want to re partition my sd card what would happened to my installed app on my sdcard. i mean what is the safest way to clean up my sd card then repartion it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup all your apps+data using titanium or go backup.
Partitioning WILL FORMAT YOUR SD CARD

QuantumFoam said:
Backup all your apps+data using titanium or go backup.
Partitioning WILL FORMAT YOUR SD CARD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks mate , but will ultimate backup do the same as titanium backup? i dunno how to use those backup tools, after the partition will i just install titanium backup then restore all my apps? how about my mp3s, image and videos?

I recommend go backup. Run the backup, partition the card then reinstall go backup and click the restore button

QuantumFoam said:
I recommend go backup. Run the backup, partition the card then reinstall go backup and click the restore button
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Click to collapse
I see, how about the backup I made earlier using ultimate backup? this way I don't have to reflash a rom?
thanks a lot mate.

raizor6th said:
I see, how about the backup I made earlier using ultimate backup? this way I don't have to reflash a rom?
thanks a lot mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U don't need tto reflash a rom to partition SD card

QuantumFoam said:
U don't need tto reflash a rom to partition SD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, well I uh.. got the problem solved using the application called SDmaid, my Sdcard has a free space now. thanks again.

Any script to move part of the internal data to SD ext in Lollipop 5.1.1?

I am looking for a script that basically covers the Link2SD functionalities. But using mounts instead of links. I actually made one for GB that worked up to KK, but now Lollipop is behaving in some weird ways regarding binding mounts. I also tried Mounts2SD (the apk) and I get the same results.
To make things a bit more clear, I'd like to be able to at least mount /sd-ext/dalvik-cache over /data/dalvik-cache, where /sd-ext is the mount point for the second partition (in ext4 format) of the external SD card. Does anyone use/know about a working script for 5.1.1?

I'm using FolderMount from the PlayStore. Didn't try the dalvik cache but for normal sdcard -> ext-sdcard its working perfectly.

Well, yes, FolderMount helps with games or any other app with large obb data. I use it indeed. But I need to move stuff from /data to the external 2nd partition because 5GB with Lollipop 5.1.1 are not really much. Especially considering that after 3.70GB one starts to get the annoying notification about low internal memory.

Yes my comment is stupid, you need a script which is doing this before any app startup because dalvik is the optimization for these.
Just an idea not sure if init.d is executed in the right time. But if your rom has init.d enabled (not emulation, real init.d) then you can put a script in /etc/init.d which does the mount job.

That's what I need. As I wrote I made that script already on GB and recovered it for KK. Just a couple of modifications and it was up and running again.
The problem is that with Lollipop Android keeps an hold of the original /data and all its subdirectories. So whatever I mount doesn't matter to it, it still keeps using the /data folders as if nothing happened. So I wondered if anyone had found a solution for it and made a new script 5.1.1 ready.

Ok, it's probably impossible to do (unless of having access to the kernel RAM disk). I've found out that the issue could be related to the separated mount namespaces. There is an option in SUperSU and I disabled it. After mounting the directory and starting ART it crashes badly, rebooting the phone (kernel included I believe).