Database Users

SD Card File Disappearing

My application has a backup/restore feature that writes a csv file to a directory named after the app, in the root of the sd card. I have a user trying to move from one tablet to another. The backup feature appears to properly be creating the backup file on her SD card. When she places the SD card in her new tablet, the backup file and the directory it's stored in do not appear to be on the SD card at all. Apparently she was successful in having other data from other apps move over.
I've walked her through everything I can think, including writing a test app to verify the issue. Without a doubt, the files exist on the old device, but don't exist when installed in the new device.
I'm unsure what the original device is, but the new device is a Dell Streak 7.
Anyone seen this before? I'm leaning towards corrupt SD card, but it seems it's my burden to prove as my app is the only app she's having issues with.

The root of /sdcard is not necesarrily the SDCARD you can remove and take out.
/sdcard is usually part of the build in memory which can be accessed and used by the user.
The SDCARD you can remove is usually found at /sdcard/external_sd on Android 2.2 devices and /sdcard/sd on Android 2.1 devices.
Yes the naming is a bit confusing .

Dark3n said:
The root of /sdcard is not necesarrily the SDCARD you can remove and take out.
/sdcard is usually part of the build in memory which can be accessed and used by the user.
The SDCARD you can remove is usually found at /sdcard/external_sd on Android 2.2 devices and /sdcard/sd on Android 2.1 devices.
Yes the naming is a bit confusing .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would certainly explain some things, especially if a user is moving a SD card from one device to the next.
My app creates a folder under the path returned by the Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() function, where it creates and reads a backup file.
My documentation asks users to connect their device to a computer, mount as USB, and copy the backup file into that directory. This user is simply moving the SD card between devices. I'm wondering if there is a better method than using the getExternalStorageDirectory that I can use, so that I can have a common location on all SD cards to facilitate users moving cards between devices.

wct097 said:
My documentation asks users to connect their device to a computer, mount as USB, and copy the backup file into that directory. This user is simply moving the SD card between devices. I'm wondering if there is a better method than using the getExternalStorageDirectory that I can use, so that I can have a common location on all SD cards to facilitate users moving cards between devices.
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Click to collapse
Well it depends on the device what happens if they mount as usb,
if they get the internal sdcard or the external sdcard or both.
On my galaxy i9000, both the internal(/sdcard/) and external (/sdcard/external_sd) are shown when pluging it into my computer and mounting it as usb.
Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() will always return the path of the users storage enviroment which is in usually /sdcard . Thats fine so far.
The problem is there is no function to get the external storage (/sdcard/external_sd or /sdcard/sd).
The only option i know atm, would be to probe manually if such a directory exists. You can use Build.VERSION.SDK_INT to see which android the user has and check the right directory.
Build.VERSION.SDK_INT <= 7 would mean if he has plugged in an external sdcard it would be mounted under
Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/sd/"
Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >=8 would be
Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/external_sd/"
You could use that and maybe a "import backup" function to check for the file on an external sdcard?

Emulated external storage problem?!?!?

I am srsly pissed off with this internal storage used as external....
What can I do in order to somehow bind the two internals in order to use my 32gb sd card as external?

Berat1337 said:
I am srsly pissed off with this internal storage used as external....
What can I do in order to somehow bind the two internals in order to use my 32gb sd card as external?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use directorybind, an app http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410262, but doesn't work with google music. For that problem i used an modded version, google music+ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2140756 , where you can change the storagelocation in-app.

robhaans said:
You can use directorybind, an app http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410262, but doesn't work with google music. For that problem i used an modded version, google music+ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2140756 , where you can change the storagelocation in-app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried this app before but i failed everytime.... what EXACTLY should I do in order to bind these directories...?
On source data path goes the /sdcard thing and on mount path the target location ?
I wanna bind my internal sd to 32gb ext. card...

Berat1337 said:
Tried this app before but i failed everytime.... what EXACTLY should I do in order to bind these directories...?
On source data path goes the /sdcard thing and on mount path the target location ?
I wanna bind my internal sd to 32gb ext. card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can read it on the thread, but in short how to do it: make a folder on your external sd, for example DCIM (where photos are stored), then open directory bind. Tap settings button, then add new entry. Tap and hold source, then browse to the new folder DCIM on your external sd (real one), and tap select. Then tap and hold target source and browse to the old DCIM-folder and tap select. You can also transfer existing files, check that. Then tap "add".
On settings, check Bind on boot.
You will need to be rooted first btw...

robhaans said:
You can read it on the thread, but in short how to do it: make a folder on your external sd, for example DCIM (where photos are stored), then open directory bind. Tap settings button, then add new entry. Tap and hold source, then browse to the new folder DCIM on your external sd (real one), and tap select. Then tap and hold target source and browse to the old DCIM-folder and tap select. You can also transfer existing files, check that. Then tap "add".
On settings, check Bind on boot.
You will need to be rooted first btw...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ye I am rooted and fully unlocked. I have the v20d version, thank you for the detailed info, helped alot!

[Q] save apps,movies to ext. sd card?

could and would someone point me in the right direction on how to move apps, how to have things saved i.e. downloaded movies to the external sd card at the point of download,,, it says i can move apps to sd card.. but not the ext... any help would be great. thx

I convert my movies onto my iMac and drag them to my 64gb external
I haven't read up on it as I have a 32gb phone and have plenty of extra memory for my needs. I think only the app can be moved, not data. And not sure how it is done yet until we get the latest OTA. Thought I saw some rom that advertised it--not sure.
Try a search or Google

Well I was able to get the app I wanted to the ext card and was able to change the directory in the app so now the app is on my ext sd card and it saves right to the ext card...I used es file explorer...I tried it a few times then it finally just showed up on my ext card and not on internal....yeah me lol

dlucks80 said:
Well I was able to get the app I wanted to the ext card and was able to change the directory in the app so now the app is on my ext sd card and it saves right to the ext card...I used es file explorer...I tried it a few times then it finally just showed up on my ext card and not on internal....yeah me lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:

dlucks80 said:
could and would someone point me in the right direction on how to move apps, how to have things saved i.e. downloaded movies to the external sd card at the point of download,,, it says i can move apps to sd card.. but not the ext... any help would be great. thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything you have downloaded (files) you can move to the sd card using the built in file manager. Open file manager, internal storage, downloads folder - select the files to move, then tap the menu icon (top right) and pick move or copy, then browse to the destination.
If you are referring to movie downloads from google play or something like that, you may be restricted. I am not sure as i don't download from the play store.

alphadog00 said:
Anything you have downloaded (files) you can move to the sd card using the built in file manager. Open file manager, internal storage, downloads folder - select the files to move, then tap the menu icon (top right) and pick move or copy, then browse to the destination.
If you are referring to movie downloads from google play or something like that, you may be restricted. I am not sure as i don't download from the play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I was trying to get movies to download right to ext..ie from browser and what not havent figured that one out yet but I was also referring to an app being moved to ext card and saving data directly to ext card which I did figure out so if you have any input on the browser downloading

You say browser - I use chrome and all downloads go into the download folder in internal storage and you can move to sd card. I am not sure what stock browser does.

Yeah I read the recent update allowed you to install apps to your ext SD but I haven't seen the option to either install there and/or move them. Hmmmm
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

That update has not USA yet. Only India and Germany I think.

Foldermount is a free app in the play store. Works perfectly. It has you search your Android/data or Android/obb folders and any apps you install from the play store, you can move and mount those directories to your external SD card and it actually works. I have a ton of gameloft games, and everything i mount with this app moves to my 64GB external SD and works perfectly!

obb files to external

I did search and with the google searches I've done, can't really figure it out so thought might ask here.
When I moved applications to external sd card, i didn't realize it didn't move the application data itself (inside obb folder), which is in the android device's internal memory. So basically, I have the application (i guess equivalent to .exe for windows) on the external sd card, but the beef of it (the applicatin's data) is still on the internal memory and using up the device's memory....how can I move the data (obb folder) to external, remove it from interernal to free up space, and have it boot up / work on the android device?
i'm not advance geek so need a dummy explination

You didn't provide details of how you moved the app or even what app we are talking about. So it's impossible to give targeted advice. Which is unfortunate since you want a dumbed down, simple answer. Which can't be done without knowing those crucial details.
You can use one of the Play store apps to move the app. I'm sure that some of them would move the app data as well. Or change the app data path (folder) in the app's settings. Or reinstall the app. Or alias the current internal data location to the external card with a symbolic link. Or any number of other ways.
The simplest options there would be trying some of the Play store apps that assist in moving programs to the external data card. And if that doesn't work for some reason, then reinstall your app.
Good luck.
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fffft said:
You didn't provide details of how you moved the app or even what app we are talking about. So it's impossible to give targeted advice. Which is unfortunate since you want a dumbed down, simple answer. Which can't be done without knowing those crucial details.
You can use one of the Play store apps to move the app. I'm sure that some of them would move the app data as well. Or change the app data path (folder) in the app's settings. Or reinstall the app. Or alias the current internal data location to the external card with a symbolic link. Or any number of other ways.
The simplest options there would be trying some of the Play store apps that assist in moving programs to the external data card. And if that doesn't work for some reason, then reinstall your app.
Good luck.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only thing I've done was root it then moved the application (move to sd card) via settings >> Application Manager. i want to do it for all apps but it's mainly due to games taking up lots of space. Reinstallng won't help cause everything that's obb just direct itsself to the internal storage, nothing i installed even gives me the option to install data into external, just only has a install button and it installs to internal memory

I'm not going to sort all of that out. It can be done if you look into the details.
The best advice that I can offer is to consider installing a custom S5 ROM like Phoenix. It has a setup option to swap the SD cards. That would mean that all of your apps that automatically install and live on the internal memory.. would actually end up on the external card. And it works perfectly.. because the apps think that they are on the internal card even though they aren't.
The source script could also be applied to your existing configuration, but doing so would not fit inside your stipulation for a simple answer.
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by the way...
fffft said:
I'm not going to sort all of that out. It can be done if you look into the details.
The best advice that I can offer is to consider installing a custom S5 ROM like Phoenix. It has a setup option to swap the SD cards. That would mean that all of your apps that automatically install and live on the internal memory.. would actually end up on the external card. And it works perfectly.. because the apps think that they are on the internal card even though they aren't.
The source script could also be applied to your existing configuration, but doing so would not fit inside your stipulation for a simple answer.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fffft, one question here: Would it be possible to format the whole external SD card with ext4? So it would be quite simple to copy such files manually within a shell and set a softlink to the moved files? I don't understand why android stays with that fat drived file systems were softlinks are not working. Is there any reason for? So all data2SD apps have to work with specific *mounts*. I can't believe that this is fast and stable.

brachypelma said:
fffft, one question here: Would it be possible to format the whole external SD card with ext4? So it would be quite simple to copy such files manually within a shell and set a softlink to the moved files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't work unless you do a lot more prep work. The file system isn't invisible, the OS would have to interact differently with ext4 than ExFAT. The OS would balk the first time it tried to follow a symbolic link and didn't find the ExFAT structure it expects.
To make that work, you'd need to mount the card yourself, manage permissions and hide the file attributes i.e. permissions from the void manager and other housekeeping tasks. Android expects to find a case insensitive and permissionless FS. Otherwise, void will report errors to the volume manager and the OS won't recognize your card. All of which is to say that this is a more distant outlier to the requirement for a simple solution. So you'd be generating fatal errors the first time the OS tried to follow a symbolic link to your ext4 files.
So yeah you can shoehorn an ext4 card into the system with enough work. But it isn't as simple as you believe. So back to my suggestions that the OP either install a custom ROM that does what he wants or that he looks at the script that I linked him to. Or perhaps migrate to CM 11, where native support for ext4 and NTFS have been added.
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I can't properly write on my SD

Ok, I have had many phones and this problem is a little bit weird for me.
I'm using Poweramp as my daily driver for music. I tried deleting some songs I stored on my SD and it said my files were write protected. I then used Root Browser just to see, that most of my music and photos I have on my SD card were not located in /sdcard but in /storage/57EF-B920, a directory I never created. When I put the SD card into my PC, I can see all my files normally and r/w without any issues.
I figured I could only alter files using the stock file browser and gallery app, but why? And why are my SD card stored media files showing up in /storage/57EF-B920 instead of their actual path? Is that a security feature?
My phone is 100% stock and not rooted.
Thanks for your help!

This is how it has always been on MM. The days of /sdcard, or /storage/extSDcard for your external SD card folder are long gone with LP/KK/JB I'm afraid.
The directory for external sd is unique to your SD card. Put in another SD card, and a new directory name will get generated for it, and it alone.
The ability for an app to write to SD card is down to the app's developer. It will need to have the updated methods that MM uses. Usually, if an app can write correctly, it will prompt you to browse to the root of your external sd card the first time it attempts to access it. Even then, some apps may need extra tweaking. Titanium Backup for example requires the storage type for the external SD card to be changed to Document Storage/Provider in its settings. I used to use Nandroid Manager on my rooted S4 on CM MM, and this could never update external SD card....I had to use Root Explorer to delete/rename my TWRP backups.
You can also double check specific apps for permission through Application Manager.
Go into the specific app in application manager, click on Permissions, and make sure Storage is turned on.
Even when turned on, some apps might still fail, as I've explained.

hawkerpaul said:
This is how it has always been on MM. The days of /sdcard, or /storage/extSDcard for your external SD card folder are long gone with LP/KK/JB I'm afraid.
The directory for external sd is unique to your SD card. Put in another SD card, and a new directory name will get generated for it, and it alone.
The ability for an app to write to SD card is down to the app's developer. It will need to have the updated methods that MM uses. Usually, if an app can write correctly, it will prompt you to browse to the root of your external sd card the first time it attempts to access it. Even then, some apps may need extra tweaking. Titanium Backup for example requires the storage type for the external SD card to be changed to Document Storage/Provider in its settings. I used to use Nandroid Manager on my rooted S4 on CM MM, and this could never update external SD card....I had to use Root Explorer to delete/rename my TWRP backups.
You can also double check specific apps for permission through Application Manager.
Go into the specific app in application manager, click on Permissions, and make sure Storage is turned on.
Even when turned on, some apps might still fail, as I've explained.
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Click to collapse
Sorry for the late reply, but thanks for the explanation! So it's because how MM works vs how Lollipop did and Poweramp not being uptodate with that? I'll try out the permission thing and even if I fail, it's good to know why it won't work. Thank for your help!