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.

How to Partition your Sd Card??

How to partition your SD Card for us Newbies.
how can i do that? Ext2 , Ext3
i have a 8 gb sd card class 6. someone guide me please with a link
Thnx

acronis disk manager can do that but the card wouldnt boot in my phone, so i used the phones internal boot up manager to do it, unlocker.com has a video guide. i only been doing this my self passed 3 days and its been really confusing so good luck

Page 2 of the Q&A Forum
oMaRcO said:
How to partition your SD Card for us Newbies.
Thnx
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)
- "Install apps to sd" (ext) must sometimes be configured in your ROM, check the thread for your rom for infos...
- Backup your SD card before you start ! The following steps will wipe the contents !
- Ext partitions are only visible in Linux = Windows can't see it.
- Swap Partitions are no longer useful.
- 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!!!!
- If the device is plugged into a PC when you try to boot with the partitioned SDCard it never gets past the white HTC sceen & logo.
Now the tutorials:
A. 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... ;-)
- I believe Rom Manager (as of end of July) creates an ext2 partition, therefore if you want ext3 or 4, easiest is to go through Gparted, or if you have amonRa Recovery, I believe this function is present.
B. Another one is using Gparted:
(copied this from http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Apps2SD)
You can use a livecd of GParted, or use it from within Ubuntu (vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVK-t...eature=related)
+ You can do this using your phone to mount the SD card or a Card adapter directly connected to your computer.
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 (see introductory remarks)
C. Recovery Images
Some Recovery Images also have a option to format your SD card from the recovery screen. (see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=721792).
I have not tried that.
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.
D. How to check if it worked?
To check whether A2SD is working once you've flashed your ROM,
1)Download Quick System Info from the Market, and check under A2SD Storage, it should give you enough informations.
2)download the Android Terminal Emulator app from the market and use the following commands
Code:
su
ls -l /data
You should see your app directory pointing to /system/sd/app and app-private pointing to /system/sd/app-private (courtesy of ikkokusenkin)
E. Further Infos
See: http://geeks.pirillo.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-partition-an-sd-card or :
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f...rtition-14232/ or:
http://theunlockr.com/2009/10/15/ho...-android-when-using-swap-hero-and-or-apps2sd/ (With Rav Recovery...) or:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=534714 (most complicated way.... )
related thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731432&page=2
F. Open Questions:
What I don't know:
- If the size of the ext partition matters (if you have to choose 256/512 or 1024, and can't have 600mb for example?
- What ROMs require ext partitions? (all with app2sd+, basic froyo app2sd doesn't require ext partition).
- 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... (do you need any management of your ext partition?) or you have to reinstall those apps????) See here.
- How to check if you bricked your sd card...
- etc...
Good Luck

Use Rom Manager
Completely painless, took less that 2 mins to do mine
PS - It may appear to stuck at the HTC white screen after completion, I just left it and
it booted up normally after about 3 mins
50 apps installed and 132MB spare!!

The first time round the Rom manager worked for me. But I again formatted the card thinking i had not followed the right partitioning so i tried again but i get stuck on a black screen with SU request written forever which needs to be force closed.
Please advise. thanks

I recently bought a 32gb sandisk and want to get that working heres what I have done with no luck:
I inserted the new memory card and it picked up fine on the phone then I went to rom manager to partition the card, 512mb and 0 swap it reboots but only stays in clockwork mod, from here I dont know what to do.
If I connect the phone to the computer with the card mounted it displays the card as raw not fat32 but music files drag and drop and easily play.
I could format it from the computer to fat32 but I'll wait and see what you guys say.

Chan_B said:
I recently bought a 32gb sandisk and want to get that working heres what I have done with no luck:
I inserted the new memory card and it picked up fine on the phone then I went to rom manager to partition the card, 512mb and 0 swap it reboots but only stays in clockwork mod, from here I dont know what to do.
If I connect the phone to the computer with the card mounted it displays the card as raw not fat32 but music files drag and drop and easily play.
I could format it from the computer to fat32 but I'll wait and see what you guys say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to format the card back to fat32 using:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/index.html
Then check out the Windows way of using parted to partition
http://androidandme.com/2009/08/news/how-to-manually-partition-your-sd-card-for-android-apps2sd/
After partitioning I use clockworkmod to upgrade ext2 to 3.
And you can't always set a linux swap of 0 so calculate 1MB for that part.

I got it to fat32 but then the windows way of using parted to partition seems difficult. How can I tell if I have partitioned my card successfully? How can I partition using clockworkmod only, when I go to partitions menu it only says mount or format, this is frustrating...

Chan_B said:
I got it to fat32 but then the windows way of using parted to partition seems difficult. How can I tell if I have partitioned my card successfully? How can I partition using clockworkmod only, when I go to partitions menu it only says mount or format, this is frustrating...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gparted has a live cd to partition your sd card
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php

Hi, i see you all set swap as 0 does that mean its using phone internal storage as swap how fast is read/write of phone ram ? i have class2 32gb card i used the phone boot with the r5 windows.bat to get into it and i set 256 swap/512 ext2/ rest 32bit all seems to work fine.
i note that writing to the sd card is about 2MBps and read is 10MBps.
i have a class4 8gb that writes at 10MBps reads about 17MBps i have had both in the phone and i cant say that i notice lag on the 32GB but i havent had it more than a few days and coming from xda orbit its a big difference.
if i use the card as storage the phone becomes very lag but maybe thats cause in that mode it would have no swap file? might change that when i finally flash to froyo.
gparted kept saying it was unformatted when windows said it was formatted so i gave up with it.

gianton said:
gparted has a live cd to partition your sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I think I sorted it. Fingers crossed.

Just rooted my htc desire and used rom manager to partition my sd card (the one I got when I bought the phone). Everything fine.
then I bought a new Transcend micro sdhc 8GB... this memory card is not recognize by windows if using card reader. So..:
- I inserted into blackberry and connected using usb cable. My windows (Windows xp) can see and access it.
- formatted the new memory card to Fat32
- copy Open Desire and and Official Sense Froyo ROMs, both by Adam
- flashed to Sense Froyo ROM, and when it rebooted, it freezed.. cant get into the system
- flashed to OpenDesire, it worked.
- Download ROM Manager
- choose "Partition SD Card"
- Swap 0, Ext 512mb
- ERROR...
what should I do?

Did you download Clockworkmod recovery through ROM Manager before that?

If you create a partition using rom manager do you lose all your apps and settings that you already have in use.
thanks

jankos said:
Did you download Clockworkmod recovery through ROM Manager before that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes.. cos when i clicked partition sd card, it asked me to download clockworkmod first.
it goes to recovery screen but with "unsucsessfull" message. cant find sdcard/cache/update.zip ...
the funny thing is, if I copied update.zip from my old memory card into new one. and run update.zip from recovery screen... then it worked.
but when I checked with quick system info, app2sd only shows around 400mb. is that rite?

aoisora said:
yes.. cos when i clicked partition sd card, it asked me to download clockworkmod first.
it goes to recovery screen but with "unsucsessfull" message. cant find sdcard/cache/update.zip ...
the funny thing is, if I copied update.zip from my old memory card into new one. and run update.zip from recovery screen... then it worked.
but when I checked with quick system info, app2sd only shows around 400mb. is that rite?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its showing around 400mb for me aswell, but how exactly can I tell if it is working. If I go to manage applications and click on sd card I have a couple that I moved over i.e rom manager but some apps are unmovable to sd card. Are these apps unmovable by design. I hope I haven't done it wrong.
BTW neophyte is the best rom I've used yet.

I made partition with Rom Manager.
Do I need now to "swap" ext2 to ext3?
If so, how do I do it?!

mattan said:
I made partition with Rom Manager.
Do I need now to "swap" ext2 to ext3?
If so, how do I do it?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think rom manager does that as ext3.

mattan said:
I made partition with Rom Manager.
Do I need now to "swap" ext2 to ext3?
If so, how do I do it?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM Manager makes directly ext3 format. Do not worry about that

jankos said:
ROM Manager makes directly ext3 format. Do not worry about that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it doesn't it makes a ext2 partition, you have to format to ext3... I have used gparted live cd to do this.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

[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/Advice regarding partitioning

Hello bros, i just want advice on partitioning. i have a 8 gb SD card and i want to do 3 partitions. one for swap (ram) one for internal (move fixed apps like facebook to sd) and the last one for my normal use pics, music etc. i just want to know that is this possible ?

talalz94 said:
Hello bros, i just want advice on partitioning. i have a 8 gb SD card and i want to do 3 partitions. one for swap (ram) one for internal (move fixed apps like facebook to sd) and the last one for my normal use pics, music etc. i just want to know that is this possible ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest way to partition SD card (at least for me) is with twrp recovery: http://techerrata.com/file/twrp2/primou/openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.0-primou.img
You find "Partition SD" under Advanced
However:
- for swap use Turbo Boost: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2145133 or SwapItOn: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2359182 - so you don't need a partition for swap :highfive:
- best (and fastest) is to leave all apps where they are. Specially if you still have free space. If you're running out of space, OK, move some to SD. Read here: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...all-apps-internal-memory-external-memory.html and http://forums.androidcentral.com/ge...r-store-my-apps-my-phones-memory-sd-card.html - so, actually, you don't need that partition too :highfive:

bratusm said:
Easiest way to partition SD card (at least for me) is with twrp recovery: http://techerrata.com/file/twrp2/primou/openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.0-primou.img
You find "Partition SD" under Advanced
However:
- for swap use Turbo Boost: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2145133 or SwapItOn: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2359182 - so you don't need a partition for swap :highfive:
- best (and fastest) is to leave all apps where they are. Specially if you still have free space. If you're running out of space, OK, move some to SD. Read here: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...all-apps-internal-memory-external-memory.html and http://forums.androidcentral.com/ge...r-store-my-apps-my-phones-memory-sd-card.html - so, actually, you don't need that partition too :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright thanks bro.
so heres what i have decided, i will make partition on sd (for some big apps like games cuz internal is only 800 mb to begin with) using TWRP ...
and use the turbo mod to increase ram (it expands on internal right ?)
what do you say ?

talalz94 said:
alright thanks bro.
so heres what i have decided, i will make partition on sd (for some big apps like games cuz internal is only 800 mb to begin with) using TWRP ...
and use the turbo mod to increase ram (it expands on internal right ?)
what do you say ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I would say, go ahead and try...
If you don't like it, you can uninstall it, change it and do whatever you like... :fingers-crossed:

bratusm said:
Well, I would say, go ahead and try...
If you don't like it, you can uninstall it, change it and do whatever you like... :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey so partition did not worked.
first i tried the twrp recovery method and it showed partition failed several times
then i tried mini tool partition from pc through sd card reader. i could create the first partition the one with out problem. but when attempted the second partition for my internal storaga, it said windows do not support the second partition, i continued never the less but again when i opened link2sd, it did not read my second (ext2) partition instead it read my main one fat32 and it said that it could not link my sd with ext2/3/4 only fat 32 .... any idea whats happening ? and i could not get turbo boost mod, instructions arent clear enough ..
does it have something to do with my custom rom/ kernel ?

talalz94 said:
hey so partition did not worked.
first i tried the twrp recovery method and it showed partition failed several times
then i tried mini tool partition from pc through sd card reader. i could create the first partition the one with out problem. but when attempted the second partition for my internal storaga, it said windows do not support the second partition, i continued never the less but again when i opened link2sd, it did not read my second (ext2) partition instead it read my main one fat32 and it said that it could not link my sd with ext2/3/4 only fat 32 .... any idea whats happening ? and i could not get turbo boost mod, instructions arent clear enough ..
does it have something to do with my custom rom/ kernel ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, like it said on Link2SD app description: You should have two partitions on SD card and both should be primary.
The first FAT partition is your standard SD card storage. The second partition is used for application files and can be ext2, ext3, ext4 or FAT32.
Some phones lack the ext2, ext3 or ext4 file system support and you may get mount errors like "no such device", "invalid argument". These phones need ext2.ko or ext3.ko modules and even some additional modules to be able to mount. Using FAT32 on the second partition will eleminate such problems, because FAT32 is supported on all phones.
Try partitioning on pc using: http://www.easeus.com/partition-manager/ or http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html or some other program, just make partition FAT32
Regarding Turbo Boost: just put zip file on your SD card, install it through TWRP and follow on screen instructions... :fingers-crossed:

bratusm said:
Well, like it said on Link2SD app description: You should have two partitions on SD card and both should be primary.
The first FAT partition is your standard SD card storage. The second partition is used for application files and can be ext2, ext3, ext4 or FAT32.
Some phones lack the ext2, ext3 or ext4 file system support and you may get mount errors like "no such device", "invalid argument". These phones need ext2.ko or ext3.ko modules and even some additional modules to be able to mount. Using FAT32 on the second partition will eleminate such problems, because FAT32 is supported on all phones.
Try partitioning on pc using: http://www.easeus.com/partition-manager/ or http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html or some other program, just make partition FAT32
Regarding Turbo Boost: just put zip file on your SD card, install it through TWRP and follow on screen instructions... :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so i will partition using fat32 for both but how can i link link2sd to one of my partition which i will use for moving apps ( as both will be fat 32 )

talalz94 said:
ok so i will partition using fat32 for both but how can i link link2sd to one of my partition which i will use for moving apps ( as both will be fat 32 )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't make both the same size
You can also try partitioning with (just found that app): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sylkat.AParted

mind the volume screen
bratusm said:
Don't make both the same size
You can also try partitioning with (just found that app): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sylkat.AParted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please see the attached file

talalz94 said:
please see the attached file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use settings in link2sd to pick partition that you want. I don't have any other idea, sorry...