Develop Bugs

Error when installing App2SD

Hi, i am trying to install app2sd using the Nimbu guide found here : http://nimbu.amorvi.com/2010/05/how-to-root-your-htc-desire/
However, when i follow that guide and start to flash from the sd card, i get this error:
E:Can't symlink /system/xbin/[
E:Failure at line5:
symlink busybox SYSTEM:xbin/[
The card i am using to flash the app2sd is NOT partitioned. Is this an issue?
Here is some other info on my phone
- i have an orange phone, but i reflashed to the 1.21.... generic rom
- After installing this rom, i flashed the radio back to this one: update-bravo-radio-32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11-signed.zip
If you need any more info let me know and thanks for your help

ok, just to update this...
i have now managed to install app2sd by reinstalling rootedupdate.zip
HOWEVER, now when i turn my phone on it just goes to the white HTC screen and hangs there, it doesnt ever boot up. Can anyone shed any light as to why its doing this and how i can fix it?
i have partitioned the SD card and did install it with a goldcard
in the mean time im gonna flash back to a non app2sd rom

anyone know why it might be doing this? it just hangs on the white htc splash screen straight after powering on

gyro11 said:
anyone know why it might be doing this? it just hangs on the white htc splash screen straight after powering on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are stuck in a boot loop, then like you suggested, it's most likely because you have not partitioned the SD Card.
You only need to create a Gold Card if your phone is software branded and is running a non-generic rom.

but ive rebooted the phone with a partitioned SD card and that doesnt work...Does the card i install App2sd need to be partioned?

gyro11 said:
but ive rebooted the phone with a partitioned SD card and that doesnt work...Does the card i install App2sd need to be partioned?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You replace the Gold Card sd card with your normal sd card. Then in recovery, you need to partition your SD card, this is for the benefit of allocating extra space with the ext partition, which is used specifically for the installation of App data.
That's why it is recommened to set a 0MB swap, ext2 with 512MB (for apps), and the rest of the partition to FAT32.
Make sure you wipe Factory Reset, Dalvik, Cache, SD:EXT and then flash the ROM. After you have done this and while you are still in recovery (don't reboot phone yet), install Apps2SD zip (only if you are installing a ROM that does not include Apps2SD). Power off phone and then insert your sd card into the phone (not the Gold Card). You then enter Recovery Mode again and partition the SD card accordingly.

ok, but im not sure your understanding (i might be wrong...)
I have 2 sd cards....1 which is a gold card which is NOT partitioned and contains the install file for app2sd
and 1 which is the sdcard i run in my phone under normal operation.
I am ONLY using the non partitioned card to install app2sd. As soon as it is installed i remove this card and insert the Partitioned card
Does this make sense? So i know that a partioned sd card Must be used when running the phone with apps2sd, but do i need a Partioned goldcard just to install it? i can i just use a standard goldcard for the installation (and then put in the partioned card after installation) (note...i am using a goldcard as i have an orange uk desire with a generic rom)

Ah yes i understand you now. Yep, the Gold Card should not be partitioned, only formatted as FAT32. After you have used the Gold Card to install Apps2SD, you then insert the other SD card and partition using that.
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ok, so that is how i had it, with the partioned sdcard, but i am still getting the white htc splash screen and not getting any further. Any idea why this might be happening?
im installing it on the 1.21... update

try ext3 , NOT ext2
that did it for me.

rhedgehog said:
try ext3 , NOT ext2
that did it for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean to select the option:
SD:ext2 to ext3
as i have already done that and it didnt work

Hmm... strange...
Have you tried repartitioning your sd card? Set the values for swap and ext to zero, then check to see if it boots ok.
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MasDroid said:
Hmm... strange...
Have you tried repartitioning your sd card? Set the values for swap and ext to zero, then check to see if it boots ok.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, just tried with these settings and unfortunately still no luck. I even tried it without any sdcard in there at all and still the same result.
Could the radio version have anything to do with it? as (other than the update) thats the only other thing ive flashed to it

gyro11 said:
nope, just tried with these settings and unfortunately still no luck. I even tried it without any sdcard in there at all and still the same result.
Could the radio version have anything to do with it? as (other than the update) thats the only other thing ive flashed to it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Radio version did you flash exactly? I don't think that would cause a problem unless you flashed an incompatible version. Are you running Bootloader 0.75.0000 or 0.80.0000?
I would suggest you flash back to stock Radio and then flash back to stock ROM also, as this will restore the stock Kernel. Then after that, carefully take it step by step and try again.
From the steps you have carried out, it all sounds ok to me. When you attempt this again after returning everything to stock, try a ROM that already includes Apps2SD, leaving you to just partition the SD card (after wiping and flashing the custom ROM while in Recovery).

The rom im using is the rootupdate base (1.15) with the 1.21... generic rom manually installed.
I then flashed the following radio:
update-bravo-radio-32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11-signed.zip
This is really annoying as im finding myself flashing my phone daily now to get this working. I appreciate all your help but i think now im just gonna wait for a stable release of froyo to come onto the forums and update with that

Thats the stock radio version that you re-flashed so don't see how that would cause a problem.
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

Partioning SD Card

Sorry, done a search and looked through all posts but can't seem to find a guide to partition sd card for use with apps2sd.
My phone is rooted and have rom manager installed where it looks I can perform the partition. Can someone point me to a noobs guide to partition or give us a hand. I have read about all different extensions to make the partition to but have no idea what they all are. Any help appreciated.

Swap - 0
Ext3 - as little or as much as you wish (usually 512-1024mb)
FAT31 - the rest

obviously this will wipe the sd card, what about all backups etc. Do i just copy to pc then copy them back when partition is complete?

Yes, but remember you will have less space on for data since a part of it will be taken up by Ext3 partition.

no problem, cheers for that

Make this sticky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
memphisuklf said:
Sorry, done a search and looked through all posts but can't seem to find a guide to partition sd card for use with apps2sd.
My phone is rooted and have rom manager installed where it looks I can perform the partition. Can someone point me to a noobs guide to partition or give us a hand. I have read about all different extensions to make the partition to but have no idea what they all are. Any help appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been trying to make this subject a sticky for a while.
I posted some tutorials in the Q&A Thread: See my post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=713643 (bottom of the page)....
Good luck!

does rom manager create the partition as ext 3 as default?

ok, seems I now have a problem. Did partition through manager 512mb/0 swap seemed to work fine but now phone won't boot, stuck at htc white screen. Any ideas?
Edit
Ok booted after 4th time of pulling battery. Doesn't look like it partitioned though. on windows I only have H: with 3.18gb

I used the Android Recovery Menu from Paul's old rooting tutorial which let me partion the memory card easily.

gave up for now, will have a look later on but don't want to mess with it that much as i`m using my stock sd card

I think you already have A2SD installed. I used Rom Manager to do the partition too and it was straightforward. No problems with rebooting though. If you reinstall your apps now, and if you check with a system info apps, you will find that you now have loads of internal memory.

ah, ok got 115mb free after installs(Used to have 10mb). So the defrost rom i`m using will automatically use apps 2sd when a partition is found?
Thought I had to set this up with spare parts?
How come I cant see the partition through windows?

Windows doesn't recognise linux partitions. Check with Quick System Info if A2SD is working correctly.

haha, feel stupid now. Working fine when checked with quick system info. Cheers for all the help guys, much appreciated

memphisuklf said:
ok, seems I now have a problem. Did partition through manager 512mb/0 swap seemed to work fine but now phone won't boot, stuck at htc white screen. Any ideas?
Edit
Ok booted after 4th time of pulling battery. Doesn't look like it partitioned though. on windows I only have H: with 3.18gb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u have 4Gb card and in windows you see only 3.2Gb partition, then i think you have ext partition there ok. Windows wont see your ext.
Rom Manager will make ext3 partition in the end of your sd card.
With 512Mb ext + 0Mb swap you will get fat32 partition + ext3 in your SD card.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

On a similar topic, if I install a 2.2 ROM with Google APS2SD and legacy APS2SD, do I only need to create a partition for the legacy version of APPS2SD? If I just wanted to use the Google version can I just leave the card as it is?

yep, no formatting is needed for google app2sd

Here's my experience to Partition the SD card.
1) I rooted my Desire with "UnrEVOked"
2) Flashed the phone with a ROM
3) Then I went to "Market" and download "ROM manager", which has an option to "Partition SD card".
4) Reboot

dexter9898 said:
Here's my experience to Partition the SD card.
1) I rooted my Desire with "UnrEVOked"
2) Flashed the phone with a ROM
3) Then I went to "Market" and download "ROM manager", which has an option to "Partition SD card".
4) Reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a related thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731531
I developed the most common methods of partition your SD Card, and answered some questions and asked some additional ones.
I would very much welcome it, if anyone wants to participate in assembling the infos about SD cards....

Not the best guide but does work, you may need to adjust the figures depending on what size card you got.

help with SD card ext partitions/app2sd

Guys, I'm running DJ Droid on mine, odexed, and I've enough space given I'm using Froyo's native apps on SD option using setinstalllocation on DJ Droid.
I want to try another ROM but most are deodexed and so seem to need app2sd.
I've never used this - if I use ROM Manager from my current ROM then I can partition up to 512MB ext size, and specify swap (0?) - is this enough?
Once I've partitioned the SD card, then how do I make use of it? Does it only work when you first flash an app2sd-supporting ROM on it - i.e. the ROM notices the ext partition and automatically makes use of it? Could someone help me out here? I have searched but am struggling...
Thanks
Ric

it automatically does the job when you flash the rom with the a2sd+....just have the sdcard with ext partition inserted and it will do it all on its own

lambrospower said:
it automatically does the job when you flash the rom with the a2sd+....just have the sdcard with ext partition inserted and it will do it all on its own
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I partition the SD card (usign ROM manager) and reboot without reflashing ROM nothing will happen, but when I next flash using a new ROM like the Neophyte one it will automagically start using app2sd without any intervention on my part? Apologies for confusion but the process seems to have evolved pretty quickly and so a lot of guides are a bit out of date...
Also, seen note of ext2 and ext3 partitions?
Thanks
Ric

landwomble said:
So if I partition the SD card (usign ROM manager) and reboot without reflashing ROM nothing will happen, but when I next flash using a new ROM like the Neophyte one it will automagically start using app2sd without any intervention on my part? Apologies for confusion but the process seems to have evolved pretty quickly and so a lot of guides are a bit out of date...
Also, seen note of ext2 and ext3 partitions?
Thanks
Ric
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same question, did you manage to get the answer ?
I have already flushed the ROM and now i want to wipe and use the app2sd is it possible without flushing new ROM ?
Or i can flush the same ROM again after wipe the SD card ?

alegator23 said:
I have the same question, did you manage to get the answer ?
I have already flushed the ROM and now i want to wipe and use the app2sd is it possible without flushing new ROM ?
Or i can flush the same ROM again after wipe the SD card ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your rom has a2sd AND you have your sd card partitioned, then you should be using it automatically.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

landwomble said:
So if I partition the SD card (usign ROM manager) and reboot without reflashing ROM nothing will happen, but when I next flash using a new ROM like the Neophyte one it will automagically start using app2sd without any intervention on my part? Apologies for confusion but the process seems to have evolved pretty quickly and so a lot of guides are a bit out of date...
Also, seen note of ext2 and ext3 partitions?
Thanks
Ric
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you've flashed a ROM of your choice, download Quick System Info from the Market, this will tell you if your A2SD is working. For example, mine says A2SD storage - Total: 473mb, Free: 255mb.

Partition problem SD card with Rom Manager
Hi guys
Thanks for the replies, but currently now i have the issue with the partition the SD card.
I am using the ROM Manager to wipe the SD, (512, swap=0).
The device is rebooted with red question mark and boots again to regular state and actually nothing happens.
Thanks for assistance.

alegator23 said:
Hi guys
Thanks for the replies, but currently now i have the issue with the partition the SD card.
I am using the ROM Manager to wipe the SD, (512, swap=0).
The device is rebooted with red question mark and boots again to regular state and actually nothing happens.
Thanks for assistance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And what did you EXPECT? Your apps should be on sdcard now, congrats.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

K900 said:
And what did you EXPECT? Your apps should be on sdcard now, congrats.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok maybe i don't understand something
But i flushed the Leo ROM 2.0C without wiping my SD card and i didn't partition the SD card to ext2/3/4. During the flush of the ROM i got notification that the ext partitions weren't found so the app2sd+ will not be installed.
So the situation now is what i have the device with flushed rom but without the app2sd+ .
In Quick system Information i see A2SD : Information not available.
I would like to have the app2sd+ working, like i understand in order to do this i need to wipe the SD card and partition it properly -> this is the problem i can't do it with Rom Manager, because it's boot with Red question mark, after 3 sec boot again into regular device state without any changes.
If i success in wipe the SD then i can flush the new ROM which will install the app2sd+ properly.
Thanks for the assistance.

alegator23 said:
Ok maybe i don't understand something
But i flushed the Leo ROM 2.0C without wiping my SD card and i didn't partition the SD card to ext2/3/4. During the flush of the ROM i got notification that the ext partitions weren't found so the app2sd+ will not be installed.
So the situation now is what i have the device with flushed rom but without the app2sd+ .
In Quick system Information i see A2SD : Information not available.
I would like to have the app2sd+ working, like i understand in order to do this i need to wipe the SD card and partition it properly -> this is the problem i can't do it with Rom Manager, because it's boot with Red question mark, after 3 sec boot again into regular device state without any changes.
If i success in wipe the SD then i can flush the new ROM which will install the app2sd+ properly.
Thanks for the assistance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess your ROM doesn't install a2sd when no ext partition is found at install time. Reflash it, and it should detect stuff properly.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

K900 said:
I guess your ROM doesn't install a2sd when no ext partition is found at install time. Reflash it, and it should detect stuff properly.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to reflash the rom but it's the same.
I have only the option to move the app to the SD card Applications -> Manage Applications -> Move to SD.
In additional i have checked some replies which still telling to use the Rom Manager (for me it's not exactly working -> red question mark).
In additional i saw some places where it says go to recovery -> partition SD ext2/swap. I don't have this option in the recovery.
Still don't have idea how to partition my SD.
Thanks

alegator23 said:
I tried to reflash the rom but it's the same.
I have only the option to move the app to the SD card Applications -> Manage Applications -> Move to SD.
In additional i have checked some replies which still telling to use the Rom Manager (for me it's not exactly working -> red question mark).
In additional i saw some places where it says go to recovery -> partition SD ext2/swap. I don't have this option in the recovery.
Still don't have idea how to partition my SD.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, then you have probably partitioned your card wrong. Try GParted, and make sure that the ext partition goes AFTER the fat one.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

[Q] Moving to a new sd card

hello,
first of all i would like to point out that i have searched for this topic and have tried a few solutions, but it didnt work..
here it goes..
so im switching to a new sd, and just tried to swap the cards but when i do that im either stuck in bootloop,
or if i reflash i have nothing installed on the phone (and i dont mean apps, bcs there isnt a lot of them and i dont mind reinstalling),
for example when i press settings it says it is not installed lol..
there is also nothing on the homescreens, and when the screen locks i cannot unlock it bcs there are no buttons..
Its a 16GB class 6 card with a fat 32, and ext3 (1024mb), and a ext4 (768mb), as is requred by some roms (feel free to correct me if im wrong)
The formatting was done by minitool, as i cannot go into disk drive mode to do it with gparted (with the new card inserted almost nothing works)
the old one is a 4gig with a etx3(1024mb) and works normally when i put it back, although sometimes it needs reflashing..
i have tried mirroring the old cards folder to the new one, via sd card reader, but it doesnt solve the problem...it stays the same..
any and all help is appreciated

You should do a nandroid backup of your rom, copy entire FAT32 over to the new card and then do a nandroid restore.
dusty_m said:
Its a 16GB class 6 card with a fat 32, and ext3 (1024mb), and a ext4 (768mb), as is requred by some roms (feel free to correct me if im wrong)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was used by scripts which are not developed for about a year and thus obsolete. No mainstream script requires that.

Thx (hvala
will try it later on today....do i need any ext partitions?
is ext3 enough?

dusty_m said:
Thx (hvala
will try it later on today....do i need any ext partitions?
is ext3 enough?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is enough, but the question remains whether it will work if you used that same dual ext partitions setup on your old 4GB card. I'm not sure, but maybe someone could clarify that. Ext partition is needed, otherwise you'll end in a bootloop - especially if some vital parts of the rom were symlinked there.

I presume you have cwm recovery installed.
If so format your card with SDformatter V 3.1. TO FAT 32 with size adjustment on.
This will format all your card to fat32,
Put the card back in phone and partition the card from within cwm recovery,
Select size of ext partition (1024kb is usually big enough) select 0 for swap.
Ext partitions are used to save on internal memory by moving apps ( (and sometimes data and dalvik cache aswell) to the ext partition and using it as if it was internal memory.
Hope this helps...

i have used only ext3 on my old card...so i guess the same would work on the new one....
so if i got this right, i can restore the old rom via nandroid...and i guess flashing something else in the future should also work...

CWM Recovery is at version 5.0.2.6 at the moment this partitions sdext with ext3 which works fine on nearly all roms. There is a 4Ext Recovery available which can convert ext3 to ext4 if required, just do a search for it if you need it, but you should be fine with ext3.

i have AmonRA
edit: am i able to to the same with it?
i remember it has the format option in the menu...
also 1024kb?
i have 1024mb lol

Yea I presume so, I use cwm!. Just follow the instructions for your rom..and create the partition if required

The restore thingy didnt help, ima still stuck at boot logo, or if i try another restore, i manage to boot, but again nothing is installed (settings and stuff)
will try the reformat and see how it goes...
why cant i just flash a brand new rom to this empty card?

SD card reverts to unallocated space after a while

I have a new Kingmax microsd, 16 gb, class 10. After receiving it I did an error search and found none. I then installed Sandvold's ICS v0.5.0.1 from his thread and after a while every app crashed and the phone reboots and never returns to normal meaning it continually boots (not a bootloop, it just keeps loading forever not finding the sd card). When I go into recovery (4ext recovery touch) it tells me it can't mount the sd card and then the recovery boots without the sd. When I take out the sd card and put it in my laptop I see that the whole sd card has lost all partitions ( the first one FAT32 of 13 gb, the second one ext4 of 1gb and the swap of 256) and has becomed unallocated. This has happened 3 times (twice after installing the above mentioned ROM and one time without any ROM installed- just rebooted recovery after formatting the sd according to how I said before). I would like to know if the problem is with the sd card or my phones hardware. Thank you for helping me.

Co.Tibi said:
I have a new Kingmax microsd, 16 gb, class 10. After receiving it I did an error search and found none. I then installed Sandvold's ICS v0.5.0.1 from his thread and after a while every app crashed and the phone reboots and never returns to normal meaning it continually boots (not a bootloop, it just keeps loading forever not finding the sd card). When I go into recovery (4ext recovery touch) it tells me it can't mount the sd card and then the recovery boots without the sd. When I take out the sd card and put it in my laptop I see that the whole sd card has lost all partitions ( the first one FAT32 of 13 gb, the second one ext4 of 1gb and the swap of 256) and has becomed unallocated. This has happened 3 times (twice after installing the above mentioned ROM and one time without any ROM installed- just rebooted recovery after formatting the sd according to how I said before). I would like to know if the problem is with the sd card or my phones hardware. Thank you for helping me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Minitool partition wizard. There's a partition recovery function. Or format into fat32 via computer, then boot into recovery and allocate your SD.
Good luck!
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app

panpjp said:
Use Minitool partition wizard. There's a partition recovery function. Or format into fat32 via computer, then boot into recovery and allocate your SD.
Good luck!
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
minitool doesnt partition ur sdcard very good. best way is to partition with 4ext recovery or gparted
Sent from my HTC Desire

I partitioned my card with 4ext recovery (before that I also tried doing it with minitool but didn't work that well). The problem, as i see it, is that at some point for some unknown reason to me, all partitions vanish, so android no longer sees my sd card, everything crashes and the phone reboots and loads forever (because it no longer senses my sd). When I enter recovery afterwards, the recovery says it can't mount the SD card. When I insert it in my PC I notice that all partitions are gone and all the space on it is unallocated. Maybe now I have explained things a little better. What is it that wipes everything like that living the sd with unallocated space?

jmcclue said:
minitool doesnt partition ur sdcard very good. best way is to partition with 4ext recovery or gparted
Sent from my HTC Desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any ideas?

i really dont know but if it were me i would try partitioning my sdcard (with 4ext) to ALL fat32 (no ext4 or swap) and see if recovery recognises it.
Sent from my HTC Desire

jmcclue said:
i really dont know but if it were me i would try partitioning my sdcard (with 4ext) to ALL fat32 (no ext4 or swap) and see if recovery recognises it.
Sent from my HTC Desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try and then get back here.

i was just having a read at some post on sandvolds ics thread and it seems to be full of issuses. (not surprised) lol. if i were u id just try a different rom, something simple like MildWild Oxygen with a 1gb (1024) ext4 partition with NO swap and see how u get on with that, then ul have a better idea what the problem is
Sent from my HTC Desire

Now I'm on sebastian's sense 3.5 gb. And nothing happened so far. I just hope it's not the sd card.
jmcclue said:
i was just having a read at some post on sandvolds ics thread and it seems to be full of issuses. (not surprised) lol. if i were u id just try a different rom, something simple like MildWild Oxygen with a 1gb (1024) ext4 partition with NO swap and see how u get on with that, then ul have a better idea what the problem is
Sent from my HTC Desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

good choice my personal fav rom even tho im not using it at the mo lol. just fancied something a bit smaller n lighter on my phone. i have it stored on my other sdcard tho fully set up and ready to go god bless nandroid lol
Sent from my HTC Desire

I'm on Sandvold's ICS v0.14 since yesterday (about 30 hours). Nothing happened so far. I've installed about 30 apps too and tried to stress the SD as much as I could. So basically I'm still waiting.
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium

I'm at about 48 h since my last install and things are ok. Just a minor indigestion last night but nothing serious and completely unrelated to this thread.
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium

It happened again. This time 7 days after the last install... I'm beginning to think the sd is broken.