Develop Bugs

How to partition SD Card for Desire?

Hi! all. need to know how to partition SD Card for Desire. Any tutorials i can follow?

wolvie77 said:
Hi! all. need to know how to partition SD Card for Desire. Any tutorials i can follow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use ROM Manager from the Android Market and there's an option to Partition SD Card under utilities, just install the recovery first and it will work fine.
Also you can use AM Recovery fake-flash to avoid installing ClockworkMod Recovery, but it's easier using ROM Manager
But if you are running Linux on any computer, then you can use GParted to Partition the SD Card, ask if you want steps to use GParted

shoey-n said:
You can use ROM Manager from the Android Market and there's an option to Partition SD Card under utilities, just install the recovery first and it will work fine.
Also you can use AM Recovery fake-flash to avoid installing ClockworkMod Recovery, but it's easier using ROM Manager
But if you are running Linux on any computer, then you can use GParted to Partition the SD Card, ask if you want steps to use GParted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance we could have the GParted steps, I tried using it for creating the partitions (FAT32 then Ext2) and no matter what I did I got a Damaged SD error upon remounting it in the Desire.
I'm starting to think my card is bad!

Not in front of Linux right now, so this is off the top of my head. I'll post in the morning clear steps (better if used in card reader not using USB toggle on device)
Backup what ever is on your card first!
In the top right corner of GParted select your device and let it search for partitions on card
Unmount all partitions by right clicking on each partition and clicking unmount
Then delete those partitions by right clicking and selecting delete
(I normally apply those changes before proceeding by clicking the green tick, to make sure the partitions have cleared)
With the unpartitioned space, firstly create your FAT32 partition by right clicking and selecting FORMAT TO then FAT32 (MAKE SURE REMAINING SPACE IS IN FOLLOWING NOT PRECEEDING) then with the remaining space create your EXT2 partition exactly the same but obviously format to EXT2 and you could even add a small 32MB linux-swap partition but it's not necessary
Then apply the changes, if everything goes successfully and you are still getting remount errors, then try reflashing your ROM or a different ROM
(I'm assuming your rooted)
If you still have no luck, then your card is bad

I just found out that Clockwork can only handle ext3 partitions - at least my version (2.0.1.4). If I create partitions using ROM Manager, it creates a ext2-partition. Only after I changed it to ext3 using linux I could mount the partition in Clockwork and perform wipes and backups.
Don't know if or what I did wrong, but it certainly didn't work for me (tried with multiple versions of clockwork and several times).

shoey-n said:
You can use ROM Manager from the Android Market and there's an option to Partition SD Card under utilities, just install the recovery first and it will work fine.
d
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even after doing that, everything in the rom manager is dimmed. I mean only the flash clockworkmod recovery and the reboot into recovery are highlighted. Is there somethin'g I missed?

jondalar said:
Even after doing that, everything in the rom manager is dimmed. I mean only the flash clockworkmod recovery and the reboot into recovery are highlighted. Is there somethin'g I missed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is your phone rooted or not?

wolvie77 said:
Hi! all. need to know how to partition SD Card for Desire. Any tutorials i can follow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Introductory Remarks:
- Ext Partition is only needed if your rom uses App2SD+ (Froyo app2sd works with basic Fat32 partition)
- Ext partitions are only visible in Linux = Windows can't see it.
- You can check if you have a working ext partition with Quick system info (in app market)
- On first reboot after partition, android will move some apps to the SD, this will take a lot of time. Some people have reported a bootloop on green HTC Screen, one reported a need to Battery pull 4 times before it finally worked), so be patient!!!!
Now the tutorials:
Easiest way is to install Rom Manager:
1) install rom manager
2) choose partition sd card
- 512mb ext
- 0 swap
3) let RM do the rest... ;-)
Another one is using Gparted:
(copied this from http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Apps2SD)
For a great Linux GUI alternative, use Linux 'GParted' a GUI based partition editor. (Designed for and found standard in the GNOME desktop environment, but can also easily be install in other desktop managers such as KDE and others.) Backup your SD card before you start ! The following steps will wipe the contents !
You can use a livecd of GParted, or use it from within Ubuntu (vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVK-tJe8pXE&feature=related)
1) Connect your phone to your computer (or use an SD Card adapter...., in this case skip to 4))
2) Pull down the notification bar and mount the phone
3) Start Gparted
4) Gparted will search available drives. (Your phone should show up as a USB drive, and will be something like /dev/sdb1 or /dev/sdc1, etc..)
Warning: double-check you've not selected a hdd by mistake!
5) In the upper right corner, select the correct USB device for your phone. (i.e. check to make sure it is correct size for your SD card)
6) Right click on each partition and select 'unmount'
7) Right click on each partition and select 'delete'
If you know what you are doing, you can re-size the partitions and add a new 2nd partition formatted as ext2/3/4
8) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
9) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = fat32
Free Space Following = 512 (or whatever you want)
10) Click add
11) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
12) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = ext2/3/4 (recommend ext4)
Free Space Following = 0 (or ~32 if you want swap)
Click add
13) Click edit, then 'Apply All Operations' to write changes to disk
14) Quit GParted
15) Unmount your SD Card
16) Reboot your phone
This is what I've found so far, as the easiest method.
Another tutorial can be found under: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f9/how-to-create-ext2-partition-14232/
or
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=534714 this is one way to do it.
What I don't know for sure:
- If the size of the ext partition matters?
- What ROMs require ext partitions?
- If Class 6 SD cards really are that important (some webpages say that class 2 cards are not able to handle ext2 partitions and end up bricked.
- How to manage the contents in the ext partition when changing SD Cards...
- How to check if you bricked your sd card...
- etc...
Good Luck

chrysochire said:
What I don't know for sure:
- If the size of the ext partition matters?
- What ROMs require ext partitions?
- If Class 6 SD cards really are that important (some webpages say that class 2 cards are not able to handle ext2 partitions and end up bricked.
- How to manage the contents in the ext partition when changing SD Cards...
- How to check if you bricked your sd card...
- etc...
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the way, if anyone reads this, I would love to make this topic a sticky, so as to answer all questions related to SD Cards...

chrysochire said:
CUT.....
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice guide. Thanks soo much for this explain.
Very cleary!

hi i am using GParted to partition ext3 for use with apps2d but i have tried several times without success
after booting up the phone, i see a blank sd card.. i.e. not mounted in my Desire..
wondering what i m doing wrong,, or is there another method to do it?
From the Clockwork Mod recovery, I cant partition the sd card too.. and have also tried without any success via the ROM Manager...

Warning! Noob question ahead:
Why wouldn't you just take the new SD card, insert it into the phone without partitioning it, and let the Desire handle the whole thing?

I'm completely new to all this (rooting, custom ROMs, A2SD etc.) but have managed to successfully root my HTC Desire (using unrevoked), install OpenDesire 2.3, and partition the SD card using ROM Manager. I rebooted and my installed apps are showing as being on the SD card in Settings > Applications > Manage Applications but with different names (e.g. instead of 'Titanium Backup' it's now 'com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup') and the icon is a default black Android/SD card rather than the app icon. When I go into the launcher my installed apps aren't there and they're not listed when I try to add a shortcut to the homescreen.
Have I done something wrong? Or is there an additional step I don't know about?

Ah, it looks like I did something in the wrong order - I'd already downloaded and installed Titanium, then moved it to the SD card under Froyo A2SD, then partitioned the SD card...
I reinstalled Titanium and everything's fine.

I am still interested in that:
mysteryfr said:
Why wouldn't you just take the new SD card, insert it into the phone without partitioning it, and let the Desire handle the whole thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hi Guys,
I need some serious help. I have rooted the desire, flashed to leedroid 1.4c rom, but have been left with no SD Card and now I am trying to mount the sd card in the desire as it no longer recognises it...
i can have rom manager loaded but it can't see the sd card..
i dont have A2SD or partitions on the sd card, i can put the card in the laptop and write to it..problem is i am on a windows lappy so no linux..i know i can make a live cd but i'm not up to that..i dont think..
is there a guide i can have to get the sd card mounted on the desire running windows...i have got android sdk on the pc but i have nfi how to use that either...
all help appreciated...

XClemX Try this: (hopefully you've backed up your SD card to your PC!)
go to Settings, Sd & Phone storage,
click on format SC card.
That should get your card recognised.

Thanks Depaor,
The SD card isn't seen in that either...i'm attempting to make a gold card now to see if i can get it to work that way...fingers crossed...

is your card visible from card reader on pc, or from other phone?
If it is, just format it in FAT32 on your pc, and it will be fine... also, always check if phone is in "charge only" mode before disconnecting usb...

Will a non-rooted Android phone read a card formatted as ext3 or ext4? Just curious.

[Q]How to ext partition a formatted SD card?

Hi,
Im having this problem for a couple of days-
I bought a new 16gb micro sdhc card and dying to use it.
Unfortunately- RCMixHD rom uses the ext partition as it loads, and i dont have that kind of partition in my new 16gb card so the device wont even load!
Ive tried some ways to create the ext partition-
Tried formatting it via the clockwork from the HBOOT-
it tells me that the a2sd doesnt show or something.
Tried to flash the amnora recovery- cant get that to work yet:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=9644805#post9644805
Is there any way to do that via windows?
Why is that so hard?
Thanks ahead...

I think it's best with gparted or some other linux distro.
You also have more control on the process.
You can download a live cd from here.
Backup your SD card before you start.
chrysochire said:
1) Connect your phone to your computer (or use an SD Card adapter...., in this case skip to 4))
2) Pull down the notification bar and mount the phone
3) Start Gparted
4) Gparted will search available drives. (Your phone should show up as a USB drive, and will be something like /dev/sdb1 or /dev/sdc1, etc..)
Warning: double-check you've not selected a hdd by mistake!
5) In the upper right corner, select the correct USB device for your phone. (i.e. check to make sure it is correct size for your SD card)
6) Right click on each partition and select 'unmount'
7) Right click on each partition and select 'delete'
If you know what you are doing, you can re-size the partitions and add a new 2nd partition formatted as ext2/3/4
8) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
9) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = fat32
Free Space Following = 512 (or whatever you want)
10) Click add
11) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
12) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = ext3 or 4 (recommend ext4)
Free Space Following = 0
Click add
13) [CHECK AGAIN you are working on your SD card and not your Hard Drive!!!!] Click edit, then 'Apply All Operations' to write changes to disk
14) Quit GParted
15) Unmount your SD Card
16) Reboot your phone and wait (On first reboot after partition, android will move some apps to the SD, this will take a lot of time. Some people have reported a bootloop on green HTC Screen, one reported a need to Battery pull 4 times before it finally worked), so be patient!
As long as you have an ext2/3/4 partition and the ROM you're flashing has A2SD support (check before you download the ROM), you are not required to do anything more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you need a more detailed guide you can find many with google but they are more complicated and you'll have to read more.

3722 said:
I think it's best with gparted or some other linux distro.
You also have more control on the process.
You can download a live cd from here.
Backup your SD card before you start.
If you need a more detailed guide you can find many with google but they are more complicated and you'll have to read more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many many thanks!

AmonRA can format/partition with no issues, I always use it

3722 said:
I think it's best with gparted or some other linux distro.
You also have more control on the process.
You can download a live cd from here.
Backup your SD card before you start.
If you need a more detailed guide you can find many with google but they are more complicated and you'll have to read more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im really new at linux and just finding my feet. Do i need an ext2/3 and 4 partitions ?
I have 8gb card 6gb fat32 1gb ext3 and 1gb ext 4
should i make a 2/3/4 partition with 1gb each and 5gb fat32 ?
sorry for the daft questions but I have just installed linux for the 1st time

You should only have one ext partition (ext3 type I recommend) and the other should be FAT32.
FAT32 should be the first and ext3 the second.
1GB ext3 should be okay for you.
Just follow the instructions above and you'll be alright .

Thanks so it should look like this ?

sorry duff pic

I've not done it with the native utility but from what I can see it looks okay.
Just backup your stuff and try it.

3722 said:
I've not done it with the native utility but from what I can see it looks okay.
Just backup your stuff and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i cant find gpart or is it something i need to d/load and install?
ok found it lol love this linux already better than windows

3722 said:
I think it's best with gparted or some other linux distro.
You also have more control on the process.
You can download a live cd from here.
Backup your SD card before you start.
If you need a more detailed guide you can find many with google but they are more complicated and you'll have to read more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very much

[Q] Help creating ext3

hi guys,
i'm having troubles to make an ext3 partition on my SD card. I've recently bought a desire which i successfully rooted. I also have flashed a custom rom (leedroid).
I would like to try other roms like MIUI and non-sense but i read these require an ext3.
Ive been searching for this for 2 days now without succes. Ive found many guides but they have all failed in a way...
NOT TO BE LAZY, like i said ive been strugling with this for 2 days.
But could anyone give me some guidelines on how to do this ?. There is just so much info out there that its very confusing.
Thx in advance guys !

You can try this using MiniTool Partition Wizard
You could also try you using an Ubuntu live cd of GParted by either burning it to a cd or boot it from a usb stick: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download.
Or, you use it from within Ubuntu (vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVK-tJe8pXE&feature=related)
1) Connect your phone to your computer (or use an SD Card adapter...., in this case skip to 4)
2) Pull down the notification bar and mount the phone
3) Start Gparted
4) Gparted will search available drives. (Your phone should show up as a USB drive, and will be something like /dev/sdb1 or /dev/sdc1, etc..)
Warning: double-check you've not selected a hdd by mistake!
5) In the upper right corner, select the correct USB device for your phone. (i.e. check to make sure it is correct size for your SD card)
6) Right click on each partition and select 'unmount'
7) Right click on each partition and select 'delete'
If you know what you are doing, you can re-size the partitions and add a new 2nd partition formatted as ext2/3/4
8) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
9) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = fat32
Free Space Following = 512 (or whatever you want)
10) Click add
11) Right click on the big gray bar (should say unallocated x.xx gb) and click 'new'
12) Enter configurations
Free Space preceding = 0
Create as = Primary
New size = [don't touch]
File system = ext2/3/4 (recommend ext4)
Free Space Following = 0 (or ~32 if you want swap)
Click add
13) Click edit, then 'Apply All Operations' to write changes to disk
14) Quit GParted
15) Unmount your SD Card
16) Reboot your phone
Another method via Windows using Pushfiles:
1) Turn on your phone while holding the volume down button.
2) You will see HBOOT on the screen.
3) Use the volume buttons to move up and down and power button to select the RECOVERY option.
4) You will now see a red triangle on the screen, at this point plug your phone into your PC via your microUSB cable and wait for 10-15 seconds.
5) Unzip the file pushfiles_windows.zip that you downloaded earlier, and double click on recovery-windows.bat inside this unzipped folder.
6) Once you run it you will notice, the screen of your device change to a green recovery image menu.
7) In the recovery image, select the Partition SD card option, convert ext2 to ext3. Done!
Pushfiles attached below.

Thx for your reply.
I have installed "MiniTool Partition Wizard " and came to the conclusion that my SD card has an EXT3 partition :s. So some of the things i've tried must have worked...
But i got another question.
I have installed "Quick system information".
A2SD storage is total 458MB with 319MB free.
My internal storage is 148MB with 98,98MB free. (THIS WAS 138MB right after rom install)
System storage is total 250MB with 26,46MB free.
Memory is 416 with 124MB free, idle 34,28MB.
I thought that with a A2SD rom + an EXT3 partition everything would be placed on this ext3 partition on my sd card.
How does it come that my internal/system storage is decreasing?
I'm on leedroid v2.3b
thx in advance guys

That is because only your apps are moved to your SD card. Not the Data of the apps. If you want that, than you must install a data2sd rom.
An easy way to make an ext3 partition or transforming an ext2 to an ext3 partition is using amon ra recovery. You can find it in the android development. You install it using unrevoked (the same way that you rooted)

Ah so there is a difference between a data2sd rom and a app2sd rom?

Staicy said:
Ah so there is a difference between a data2sd rom and a app2sd rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way A2SD works is that it moves the /data/app/ directory to the SD-EXT (moves app data to the SD card partition)... however, it doesn't move the data/data directory, as this remains on the internal storage.
The main difference between A2SD and Data2SD is that /data/data is moved to SD-EXT with Data2SD, and with A2SD, it remains in internal storage.

[Question] SD Card formatting/partitioning guide

I can only assume this has been asked and answered, but I have searched and not been able to fine a suitable post yet...
I want to find a guide to format and partition my (16GB in my case) SD card in the best way for the current/future Desire ROMs

eesmm said:
I can only assume this has been asked and answered, but I have searched and not been able to fine a suitable post yet...
I want to find a guide to format and partition my (16GB in my case) SD card in the best way for the current/future Desire ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Windows to format the sd card to Fat32, after which you can then use Rom Manager (download from market) to create a ext partition (it will shrink the Fat32 partition to make room for the ext partition)
Alternatively, you can do it all in linux and it's pretty straight forward.
For example, Ubuntu (you can download a live version of ubuntu which you can burn to cd or copy to a bootable usb stick) can read the sd card (I just connect the phone whilst in clockworkmod recovery, select mount usb, and voila) and then you can use 'Disk Utility' located in the administrative tools area of Ubuntu to delete the stock partition that comes with most pre-formatted memory cards, create a Fat32 partition (Eg: 15GB) and then create an ext4 partition with the remaining space.
Using Linux is handy for backing up the contents of your ext partition - particularly useful when upgrading from a smaller sd card to a larger one but wanting to keep all your data.
I'm not the greatest at writing instructions and I have no idea if any of the above helps you in any way, but I hope it does!

I would use ROM Manager, but the Max partition size seems to be 512 and i want to make a 2GB partition. I am also unsure of whether the EXT partition (is EXT 3 or EXT4 best) should be primary or secondary, and will the Desire automatically start putting APPs there?
...and and what point do I turn the card back into a Goldcard, if at all necessary?

eesmm said:
I would use ROM Manager, but the Max partition size seems to be 512 and i want to make a 2GB partition. I am also unsure of whether the EXT partition (is EXT 3 or EXT4 best) should be primary or secondary, and will the Desire automatically start putting APPs there?
...and and what point do I turn the card back into a Goldcard, if at all necessary?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Gparted is the best partition tool ;-) It can be used as a live CD - which can be booted in virtual box.
2) You'll never need a goldcard, unless you want to go back to stock RUU (ie to send your phone back to get fixed).
3) EXT4 Primary partition
4) The desire will put apps there if the rom has Apps2sd enabled. Most roms these days do, but some require you to install the script yourself. 2gb seems a lot for just apps though.

Simple is better.
I myself have an 8gb sd card and used rom manager to partition it. I did not format my sd card beforehand, just took out the card from the package and put it into my phone.
Checking my appbrain list, i currently have 132 apps with a total size of 344MB.
Using the app Quick System Info:
A2SD storage-- Total: 458MB, Free: 110 MB
Internal storage-- Total: 148MB, Free:63.34 MB
I personally think 512 MB partition is more than enough.

friedkimchi said:
I personally think 512 MB partition is more than enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'd agree with this. I had a 512MB partition - extended it using gparted to 1GB but it really was a pointless activity as I was nowhere near using the 512MB in the first place
Oh well - future proof I guess!
@ OP... What would you need 2GB for? Seems, well, excessive...
BTW, the latest clockworkmod supports partitioning directly in the recovery menu and I believe it will give you the size you want.

Help me fix my SD Card

Hi there,
A couple days ago, I had a usb brick. I quickly fixed it, everything got back to normal except for my sd card : I think it's corrupted. Why do I say this ? Because I've got another sd card, and it's working perfectly. I can't get to format it via Gparted. It says the procedure failed, there was an issue and i couldn't format it. In addition, even though it's a 4GB card, it's recognized as a 3gb card.
When I try to use it in recovery mode, it says :
Code:
E:Can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 (or /dev/block/mmcblk0)
But when I use the other card, nothing weird happens.
I'd like you guys to help me repair my SD card.

kev94 said:
Hi there,
A couple days ago, I had a usb brick. I quickly fixed it, everything got back to normal except for my sd card : I think it's corrupted. Why do I say this ? Because I've got another sd card, and it's working perfectly. I can't get to format it via Gparted. It says the procedure failed, there was an issue and i couldn't format it. In addition, even though it's a 4GB card, it's recognized as a 3gb card.
When I try to use it in recovery mode, it says :
Code:
E:Can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 (or /dev/block/mmcblk0)
But when I use the other card, nothing weird happens.
I'd like you guys to help me repair my SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Googled and found this: http://www.ehow.com/how_4850280_repair-corrupt-sd-card.html

1. link your desire with pc
2. enter "FASTBOOT Mode", it will display "HBOOT USB PLUG"
3. open dos windows and type adb shell
4. type fastboot oem rebootRUU
5. type fastboot oem enableqxdm 0
and retry

I already tried this, but it didn't work out ! I'm out of ideas...

So it says it's a 3GB card? You had an 1GB Ext partiton before?
If yes, that's where your 1GB's gone.
Recommended is to repartition your card again from scratch - Using Either GParted, EASEUS or MiniTool partiton.
Backup everything from it, then delete all partitions - and re-create them.

davebugyi said:
So it says it's a 3GB card? You had an 1GB Ext partiton before?
If yes, that's where your 1GB's gone.
Recommended is to repartition your card again from scratch - Using Either GParted, EASEUS or MiniTool partiton.
Backup everything from it, then delete all partitions - and re-create them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, it's 3.7 GB and not 4GB (I guess it's normal though). And yes, the missing space was from the ext partition. Thanks god, the first thing I did was a backup of my SD card. Yet, I tried to format the card with Gparted (I'm currently running Ubuntu 10.10) but as I said above the procedure fails.
Then, I formatted in Windows, and I managed to create a 3Gb fat32 partition recognized in Gparted.
But how am I supposed to get my missing space back if this space isn't recognized in Gparted ?

I'm using Ubuntu 11.04 (natty) - and i'm able to mount my EXT partiton of the SD Card.
As I said, don't just format the card, but delete all partitions and re-create them, then format them.
Also, if your card is messed up badly, maybe you have to use the termina with commands to recover the ext partition.

Always format SD cards with the "SD Formatter 3.0" from the SD Association: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
This little programs formats the whole card (full capacity, erasing all other partitions) in FAT32 meeting all SD specifications.
Furthermore it alligns the LBA parameters (virtual heads, cylinders etc) and the fat32 parameters with the internal structures of the flash memory (eraseblocks), so that fat32 clusters never overlap eraseblocks. This speeds up write performance (in my case about 50%! ).
There is no better tool to format SD cards.
After that you can resize (But don't move it, just trim the end. The free space in front of the FAT32 partition is part of the alignment) the FAT 32 partition with gparted and generate an ext partition in the free space.
Finally one should run the ext alignment script (it's a zip for recovery mode) from baadnwz homepage (http://www.baadnwz.eu/2011/05/align-your-sdcard-fat-and-ext-partiton_16.html) to align also the ext4 partition to the flash cells.

boot up into android (with any ROM) and go to settings > storage > format SD card
this should restore whole SD as FAT32
funny enough Android could do it, while Gparted could not (gparted didnt see my whole sd, it didnt see the ext partition)

davebugyi said:
I'm using Ubuntu 11.04 (natty) - and i'm able to mount my EXT partiton of the SD Card.
As I said, don't just format the card, but delete all partitions and re-create them, then format them.
Also, if your card is messed up badly, maybe you have to use the termina with commands to recover the ext partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---> As I said too , Gparted fails to create partitions. It displays a "warning" icon by the sd icon. Unless I'm a fool, I can't get any further there.
hypophysis said:
Always format SD cards with the "SD Formatter 3.0" from the SD Association: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
This little programs formats the whole card (full capacity, erasing all other partitions) in FAT32 meeting all SD specifications.
Furthermore it alligns the LBA parameters (virtual heads, cylinders etc) and the fat32 parameters with the internal structures of the flash memory (eraseblocks), so that fat32 clusters never overlap eraseblocks. This speeds up write performance (in my case about 50%! ).
There is no better tool to format SD cards.
After that you can resize (But don't move it, just trim the end. The free space in front of the FAT32 partition is part of the alignment) the FAT 32 partition with gparted and generate an ext partition in the free space.
Finally one should run the ext alignment script (it's a zip for recovery mode) from baadnwz homepage (http://www.baadnwz.eu/2011/05/align-your-sdcard-fat-and-ext-partiton_16.html) to align also the ext4 partition to the flash cells.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---> Sounds great and geeky, gonna give it a try tomorrow afternoon (CET +2 here)
dzumagos said:
boot up into android (with any ROM) and go to settings > storage > format SD card
this should restore whole SD as FAT32
funny enough Android could do it, while Gparted could not (gparted didnt see my whole sd, it didnt see the ext partition)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---> Yeah, Gparted is a bit lazy here.... Gonna try it if hypophysis's method doesn't work out. I gotta admit this kinda problem is pretty disturbing and pisses me off so much.... Waiting forward to get it over with.
Anyway, thanks a lot for helping me, you're good people here !

Well, I tried hypophysis's method. It formatted successfuly. But as you said, I had to run Gparted again in order to create an Ext partition next to the fat 32 one. But I couldn't --> It says it couldn't find the "first sector" I guess, and it couldn't determine the device specifications, it wasn't able to perform everything he wanted. Actually it recognized the whole sd card, but wasn't able to do anything with it. I couldn't unmount it or mount it....
I'm stuck at square 1 Gonna try to perform dzumagos's method later.