Database Users

[Tutorial] How to partition your SD Card for DT: Apps2SD

A lot of custom ROMs out there for the Android utilizes Dark Tremor’s A2SD which of course enables you to store your apps and phone’s dalvik cache in the SD card and saves you more free memory for more apps.
This is good especially if you download lots of games to your phone.
Requirements:
SD card reader – since you need to connect your SD card to the PC.
A partitioning tool. – I suggest Partition Wizard by Mini-tool – http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
How to partition the SD Card:
Connect your SD card to your PC and let Partition Wizard detect it.
Delete all your current partition in the SD card. Make sure to back up your files first.
Using the partition wizard, create a Fat32 filesystem. Make sure that it’s set as primary and has a 32kb cluster. Leave space for the ext4 partition. (if your SDcard’s size is 4gb, then just allocate around 3.4gb for the Fat32 parition.)
Using partition wizard, create a ext4 filesystem on the remaining unallocated parition of the SD card. It is advisable that you allocate 512mb for your ext4 partition.
Once done, you can now flash/install your custom Android ROMs that utilizes Darktremor’s Apps2SD.
PS: I wrote this because I always see people asking everywhere on how to partition their SD cards.

And what about this tutorial..?
Just use Search Button...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=SD_card_partitioning

ingbrzy said:
And what about this tutorial..?
Just use Search Button...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=SD_card_partitioning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I admire you for searching that. I found that too. However, I'm getting tired of newbies asking around the threads and just getting that same answer.
That's why I wrote this. The intention of this is good. Don't spoil it.

Yes you are right...
For people is easier just ask a question than try to search answer by yourself...

Thanks this gonna help once i get the card reader xD
Sent from my GT-S5830 using XDA App

Thanks for this

hey bro. maybe you could add some reasons why ext4 is better than ext2 or ext3. thanks!

mine says damaged sd card. format? like that.
help!

do i really need a card reader? Is it not okay to just connect phone to PC with SD card in it?

zuheltzer said:
do i really need a card reader? Is it not okay to just connect phone to PC with SD card in it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Most SD cards will have a problem when flashed that way. So better use a card reader.

How do i know if the script is working? I've started A2SDGUI, but in the tab that should show me used and free space SD-EXT entry is the same as /cache, that is 24mb total (I've created 512mb ext4 partition).

Does the DT: Apps2SD work on gingerbread already? it has been the only thing stopping me from upgrading ever since couldn't stand that out of memory notification

Has anybody tried partioning their 2gb default sd card?
Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk

Can I have ext4 on my 8GB SDHC Card??

danish. said:
Has anybody tried partioning their 2gb default sd card?
Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be partitioned but not advisable if you use stock samsung 2gb class 2 for a2sd, yes a2sd will run but it may give you a poor phone performance. buy a class 4 atleast sd card.

AxleFolie said:
Can I have ext4 on my 8GB SDHC Card??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can partition ext4 on your 8gb sd card, i recommend 1gb for ext4 if you play heavy games. BTW you can adjust the size of partition using minitool partition home, search the forum for link.

royskeyz said:
Yes you can partition ext4 on your 8gb sd card, i recommend 1gb for ext4 if you play heavy games. BTW you can adjust the size of partition using minitool partition home, search the forum for link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh btw i got class 2 8gb sdhc card..

AxleFolie said:
Oh btw i got class 2 8gb sdhc card..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh! you can try if you observed laggy poor performance it could be due to your low class sd card.

royskeyz said:
oh! you can try if you observed laggy poor performance it could be due to your low class sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you link me on how to make ext4 im having a hard time.. Btw, im using FirstUA V1.1 Rom..

AxleFolie said:
Can you link me on how to make ext4 im having a hard time.. Btw, im using FirstUA V1.1 Rom..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you kidding me? its in the first page on this thread mate.

Getting my apps out of partition?

As above, i partitioned my SD card in the past, and now im changing my SD card.
IS there a way to get all my apps from my old SD card to my new SD card?
Thanks!

eikcihc said:
As above, i partitioned my SD card in the past, and now im changing my SD card.
IS there a way to get all my apps from my old SD card to my new SD card?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
copy to computer then paste again?

Hanakie said:
copy to computer then paste again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how to do that?

eikcihc said:
how to do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
plug usb> open mass storage of ur sd card..copy everything then..

Hanakie said:
plug usb> open mass storage of ur sd card..copy everything then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i transferred everything frm my SD card but still cant work.

eikcihc said:
i transferred everything frm my SD card but still cant work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did u copy back to ur new sd card? did u format ur new card to FAT32? used to be worked..i done it once

Hanakie said:
did u copy back to ur new sd card? used to be worked..i done it once
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
those 'phone' only apps cant be transferred...

http://androidforums.com/incredible...ard-best-way-move-data-old-card-new-card.html
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=657448
i following this instruction while doing my transfer

--First make a nandroid backup of ur rom with old sdcard inserted.
--Then insert new sdcard and partition it .
--Then copy the clockworkmod folder on the root of old sdcard to the root of new sdcard.
--Then with new sdcard inserted go to recovery and restore the nandroid backup. That's all for restoring the sd-ext apps.
(Note: U can also use advanced backup of recent CWM recoveries to backup the sd-ext alone.)
Another way is install A2SD GUI from market and move all sd-ext apps to phone. Then partition new sdcard and move apps to sd-ext. This wont work if there are lot of apps.
And u can transfer the fat partition files from one card to another using windows pc. Doing so should also restore the .android_secure folder apps.
Sent from my Blade using XDA App

Remember you cant access your ext partition form windows( inless you enable support for linux partitions dome how. Dont know if some thing like that exist). So try working with linux to access all partitions, copy every thing, pattition your new sd then copy back contents of ext and fat, as it was in old card
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App

Softwares like "linux-reader" can give u access to ext partitions on windows.
But I think u need to mount sd-ext from recovery. Since normal USB mounting as disk drive from android os will not mount sd-ext.
Sent from my Blade using XDA App

(Tutorial)How to use Swap!

This is my first first Tutorial thread in xda!
So,don't mind me and forgive me If i am done wrong something!
Swapper is simple application for "extending memory". Helps when you need some memory for non active applications (like music player + browser + maps + etc...).
Requirement: root, SD/SDHC card and custom kernel that support swap .
Warning: SD card will be used as swap space. It can (and will) shorten SD card lifespan.
1.Downlod Swapper 2 from market! Link: https://market.android.com/details?id=lv.n3o.swapper2
2.Install Swapper2 normally
3.There are 2ways to swap: first use swap by partition and another one is by none partition(But If you partition you can create more 256mb)
4.For using swap by partition u must partition your sdcard by using minitool or etc....(NOTE: partition to linux swap and primary)
5.After you partition you turn off yor phone and then back to xrecovery or cwm to clear cache partition
6.turn on n then open swapper2 normally and go to Preferences of swapper then you check safe to unmount and safe to remount
7.and then you go adavaned preferences and check the Use swap partition and Swap partition set it to /dev/block/mmcblk0p2
8.after that go back to swapper2 and turn it on (wait the process when it say All done It works)
9.Another one way is none using swap partition it easy because swap create it by itself but it can't more then 256mb
10.First Open Swapper2 then go to Preferences of swapper
11.Click on Swap size and click what number that u want to swap 32,48,64..etc
12.Then go back to Swapper2 and turn it on
13.For none using swap partition method It take a while 3minutes or more depend on class of your sd card!!!wait the process untill it say All done It mean that It works
Recommend: For me,I'm using micro sdcard 16G class10 so i partition my sdcard 1500mb for swap ^^ I alway free more ram about 90 to 120
Note: for swappiness it depend on your phone!!for me i can use swappiness 100 smoothy
If you have any question you can ask me more about this
I take my time for making this thread If you think I'm helped you Just Click THANKS for me

Remember: do it with your own risk and i don't warranthy if this method cause brick your lovely x8

the primary partition must be ext or can be fat or ntfs ?!
also do u notice real improvements ?

I never understood how to do it with terminal, so thanks for your help!

darknessx10 said:
I never understood how to do it with terminal, so thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome
Sent from my X8 using xda premium

Finally a simple and fast tutorial,thanks!

ahmedz_1991 said:
the primary partition must be ext or can be fat or ntfs ?!
also do u notice real improvements ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Second partition must be linux swap and primary
Sent from my X8 using xda premium

I have a problem,when i format my sd card and put swap partition on mini partition tool,when i place my sd card back to phone its says "damaged sd card"...

I have swap running on 2 x8's. 1 is using 7000mb fat, 400 ext2 and 4-500 linux swap, however i cannot see the ext and swap partitions when i connect to pc, even though everything is working fine i would like to know how i can reformat my 8gb sd back to 8gb.
The other x8 has a 2gb unpartioned sd using the other method where a 256mb swap file is created. It works fine and is simple to set up but i have over 90mb free ram on partition set up and 70-80mb on the simple method.
All mine were set up with trial and error and there was no way to really confirm it was set up properly so this thread has confirmed my setup. It could have saved me time a few weeks ago but i'm sure lots of users will find this thread very helpful.
@ mods, I think its time to refresh the stickies as some are obsolete and i believe this thread would be an ideal sticky.
@OP, nice job. Thanks for your contribution to our little x8 section

corsav6 said:
I have swap running on 2 x8's. 1 is using 7000mb fat, 400 ext2 and 4-500 linux swap, however i cannot see the ext and swap partitions when i connect to pc, even though everything is working fine i would like to know how i can reformat my 8gb sd back to 8gb.
The other x8 has a 2gb unpartioned sd using the other method where a 256mb swap file is created. It works fine and is simple to set up but i have over 90mb free ram on partition set up and 70-80mb on the simple method.
All mine were set up with trial and error and there was no way to really confirm it was set up properly so this thread has confirmed my setup. It could have saved me time a few weeks ago but i'm sure lots of users will find this thread very helpful.
@ mods, I think its time to refresh the stickies as some are obsolete and i believe this thread would be an ideal sticky.
@OP, nice job. Thanks for your contribution to our little x8 section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want to know how to format your sd card with 7000mb fat32 400 ext3 linux swap 500mb
If you format it,it will back to 8Gb sd card
Sent from my X8 using xda premium

RodrigoOgasawara said:
I have a problem,when i format my sd card and put swap partition on mini partition tool,when i place my sd card back to phone its says "damaged sd card"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let partition by this method:
1.connect your sd card to pc
2.open minitool partition
3.right click on your fat32 sd card and choose the word resize
4.after you resize u will see your partition
5.right click on your new partition and choose word create
6.partition it to linux swap and primary
7.apply it and wait the process
7.Done and Cheers
Sent from my X8 using xda premium

what i do wrong?

its working only for custom kernels?

Well i have a 4gb class 4 sd card.I;ve made'it 3.2 gb fat32 128linux swap and the rest ext 3.And i have min 90 mb free mem ,max 120.

RodrigoOgasawara said:
I have a problem,when i format my sd card and put swap partition on mini partition tool,when i place my sd card back to phone its says "damaged sd card"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget to format after partitioning!
And with minitool for working swap and ext you must connect sd as phone's mass storage->not CWM mount usb storage, booted ROM and connect phone to PC.
Then you'll able to partition your sd. After all FORMAT and all will work.
+1 When you have a 4gb sd you must create FAT, when you have above 4 gb create FAT32. Create first a primary FAT(32), then a primary SWAP/EXT

I partitioned my SD card (4gb class 4) with this propieties
Primary: 3.4GB
Logical: 313MB
But when I put the sd card into the phone, it doesn't recognizes the SDCard.
It's weird because when I browse in my SD card via cwm it shows my files and folders :Z
Anyone knows what the hell i'm doing wrong?

junghyun01 said:
You want to know how to format your sd card with 7000mb fat32 400 ext3 linux swap 500mb
If you format it,it will back to 8Gb sd card
Sent from my X8 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is only showing as 7gb. When I format it stays at 7gb and I can't see the other 2 partitions on the PC. They work with links2sd and swapper. Do I need to remove anything from the rom connected with apps2sd, I'm using kuyadroid with alfs kernel. I have removed everything from the modules folder but my phone storage is low and links2sd says only 2% of ext2 been used even though it successfully links my apps, or so it claims. Sorry for all the questions but if I know then I can help others thanks for your reply
Sent from my E15 using XDA App

darknessx10 said:
I partitioned my SD card (4gb class 4) with this propieties
Primary: 3.4GB
Logical: 313MB
But when I put the sd card into the phone, it doesn't recognizes the SDCard.
It's weird because when I browse in my SD card via cwm it shows my files and folders :Z
Anyone knows what the hell i'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all partition MUST set in PRIMARY no LOGICAL... For me let swapper2 make your sdcard partition is the safest & easiest way,@author 1question do i need to format my sdcard when i let swapper2 partition my sdcard...

Here is a easy tutorial for partition !
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/SD_card_partitioning

corsav6 said:
No, it is only showing as 7gb. When I format it stays at 7gb and I can't see the other 2 partitions on the PC. They work with links2sd and swapper. Do I need to remove anything from the rom connected with apps2sd, I'm using kuyadroid with alfs kernel. I have removed everything from the modules folder but my phone storage is low and links2sd says only 2% of ext2 been used even though it successfully links my apps, or so it claims. Sorry for all the questions but if I know then I can help others thanks for your reply
Sent from my E15 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cannot see the others partition because the card reader or phone shows the 1st partition,you can see the other partition by using partition tool,coz the 1st partition is only mounted which is fat32...

SD card problem

I have as follows problem:
When I use my Kingston 4GB sd card about 3 times of 5 when i wake my phone my sd card is unmount itself so all apps which is in sd card its not installed.
So i need everytime when this happened reboot the device and then all apps work normally its really annoying.
I tried on stock 2GB sd card and this not happened it works normally.
Why this happened? Kingston 4GB sd card should work normally but it doesnt.

Niquel97 said:
I have as follows problem:
When I use my Kingston 4GB sd card about 3 times of 5 when i wake my phone my sd card is unmount itself so all apps which is in sd card its not installed.
So i need everytime when this happened reboot the device and then all apps work normally its really annoying.
I tried on stock 2GB sd card and this not happened it works normally.
Why this happened? Kingston 4GB sd card should work normally but it doesnt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which rom ?

andreas__ said:
which rom ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use now miros 4.0.4 RC2 and tried also Devswift aokp and this happened both roms.
I also tried format sd card with no help .

Niquel97 said:
I use now miros 4.0.4 RC2 and tried also Devswift aokp and this happened both roms.
I also tried format sd card with no help .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to re-partiton your SD card using CWM
but save your important data first

andreas__ said:
try to re-partiton your SD card using CWM
but save your important data first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean that I format sd and wipe partition and then partition sd 512mb fat 32 using cvm??
If you mean that I've tried that but still happened that 'unmount' problem

Niquel97 said:
Do you mean that I format sd and wipe partition and then partition sd 512mb fat 32 using cvm??
If you mean that I've tried that but still happened that 'unmount' problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just create a little ext and swap partition and the rest fat32

andreas__ said:
just create a little ext and swap partition and the rest fat32
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So which sizes I choose 512mb ext and swap 64 and fat32?

Niquel97 said:
So which sizes I choose 512mb ext and swap 64 and fat32?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it asks for ext and swap
first ext - if you want link2SD /app2SD give it some space, else the lowest value.
second swap - i'm using 64 mb swap, for very heavy games you need 256 mb

andreas__ said:
it asks for ext and swap
first ext - if you want link2SD /app2SD give it some space, else the lowest value.
second swap - i'm using 64 mb swap, for very heavy games you need 256 mb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help I'm tested now 1day with 4Gb sd card and its worked normally without unmount problem

[HELP]Can't read SD Card after formating

Guys help me please. I partition my sd card. few months ago. last night i formatted my SD card. after that. SD card can't mount. please help me. what to do ? also my computer can't read it please help me how to fix it . thanks in advanced.

first backup any data you have on your sd card
remove all partitions with minitool and create a new partition of fat32 and format it with minitool
next boot up your phone with the sd card in
goto
settings
storage
unmount sd card
erase/format sd card
now go into cwm - you sd card will now be mountable
for the 2nd partition create it in cwm
cant remember exactly where the option is from memory but its under something like partitions
just create a 2nd partition of 1024mb with 0 swap
you can then copy any backups back to sd card

marcussmith2626 said:
first backup any data you have on your sd card
remove all partitions with minitool and create a new partition of fat32 and format it with minitool
next boot up your phone with the sd card in
goto
settings
storage
unmount sd card
erase/format sd card
now go into cwm - you sd card will now be mountable
for the 2nd partition create it in cwm
cant remember exactly where the option is from memory but its under something like partitions
just create a 2nd partition of 1024mb with 0 swap
you can then copy any backups back to sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't have any backups i format my sd card by using my phone. in the settings. after that. i put some files in my sd card. then a day after. my phone can't mount my sd card. even my computer can't read my sd card so minitool will not work on this what to do. my sd card is not readable.

ChristianMonteon said:
i don't have any backups i format my sd card by using my phone. in the settings. after that. i put some files in my sd card. then a day after. my phone can't mount my sd card. even my computer can't read my sd card so minitool will not work on this what to do. my sd card is not readable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are unable to read your sd card via a card reader on a pc (not via phone usb cable) in order to delete partitions and recreate them, its best you get a new sd card

marcussmith2626 said:
if you are unable to read your sd card via a card reader on a pc (not via phone usb cable) in order to delete partitions and recreate them, its best you get a new sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how sad. btw. Thanks :good:

My computer also once was not able to read my sd card but minitool partition wizard detected it.... What i did then was that i deleted all the partitions and created a new one with
Label--Android-SD
Type - Primary
File type -- Fat32
After i did this .. My phone and computer both read the sd card...
Hope this helps for u too..
Press thanx if it helps you
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2

Tanuj Chandolia said:
My computer also once was not able to read my sd card but minitool partition wizard detected it.... What i did then was that i deleted all the partitions and created a new one with
Label--Android-SD
Type - Primary
File type -- Fat32
After i did this .. My phone and computer both read the sd card...
Hope this helps for u too..
Press thanx if it helps you
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
minitool partition wizard cant read my memory card too

ChristianMonteon said:
minitool partition wizard cant read my memory card too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are using card reader or usb cable..?
U have to use card reader..
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2

Tanuj Chandolia said:
You are using card reader or usb cable..?
U have to use card reader..
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that's not the problem, i use a MP3 player with USB
If you plug your sdcard on linux-based using anything it should be /dev/sdc
Do a dd if=/dev/sdc of=/home/[your user]/Desktop/sdcard.img
After that install WinImage http://www.winimage.com/
Open the img with winimage it will tell you where to connect,
choose first primary fat32 partition open menu -> extract all with subdirectories, :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best way to recover files but for the sdcard i think it will be better to buy a new one