Develop Bugs

[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.

How to create ext3 partition on SD-Card under Windows

This post is for people scared of Linux (like me)
I finally found a way to partition a SD-Card under Windows. I tried more tools, but only one was able to work with SD-Cards. Here's what you need to do:
1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard (google it, i cant post links)
2. Resize original FAT32 partition to make room for the ext3 one. If you have enough space, the data on the card shouldn't be affected, but make a back-up just in case.
3. Create the ext3 partition on the space made available and apply changes
The first partition should be FAT32, and the second ext3, make sure you have them in this order.

Kneros said:
This post is for people scared of Linux (like me)
I finally found a way to partition a SD-Card under Windows. I tried more tools, but only one was able to work with SD-Cards. Here's what you need to do:
1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard (google it, i cant post links)
2. Resize original FAT32 partition to make room for the ext3 one. If you have enough space, the data on the card shouldn't be affected, but make a back-up just in case.
3. Create the ext3 partition on the space made available and apply changes
The first partition should be FAT32, and the second ext3, make sure you have them in this order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost all custom partition managers can do this in Windows-Partition Magic, Paragon, Or Gparted with VMWare

They can, but not on SD Card. Windows doesn't support partitions on memory cards. I tried Partition Magic, Paragon, Easeus, none of them work.
I didn't try Gparted with VMWare tho, you might be right about that.

Kneros said:
They can, but not on SD Card. Windows doesn't support partitions on memory cards. I tried Partition Magic, Paragon, Easeus, none of them work.
I didn't try Gparted with VMWare tho, you might be right about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paragon works for me on Windows..And Gparted is what I use

Strange, it didn't work for me (see attached pics).

Just install the latest ClockworkMod, or Amon-RA and do it through recovery.

Is it useful to have an ext3 partition on SD card with stock 2.2 rom ?

fblasot said:
Is it useful to have an ext3 partition on SD card with stock 2.2 rom ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's useless, you need a ROM that supports it.

quick question - if I create an ext3 partition using this method or any other way, and then move the apps I had on SD (the old way) back to internal, will it then move them to the ext3 partition automatically? I just want to make sure I have this right myself before I attempt it.
I'm using Oxygen 2.3 ROM RC-6 which supports apps2sd etc.
thanks in advance for any replies.

Kneros said:
Strange, it didn't work for me (see attached pics).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See mine..
I'm using 9.0 Pro, you're using 10.0 server, if that helps..
I still prefer Gparted though..On Vmware.

Choronzonix said:
quick question - if I create an ext3 partition using this method or any other way, and then move the apps I had on SD (the old way) back to internal, will it then move them to the ext3 partition automatically? I just want to make sure I have this right myself before I attempt it.
I'm using Oxygen 2.3 ROM RC-6 which supports apps2sd etc.
thanks in advance for any replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The a2sd+ script is built in, it executes at installation. Best way would be to use Titanium to backup ur froyo a2sd apps, wipe+install a2sd+ custom rom, use the option of Titanium, to move to sd.

and how do you want to put data on the ext3 partition ? ... you will need linux, its the best way...

Kneros said:
This post is for people scared of Linux (like me)
I finally found a way to partition a SD-Card under Windows. I tried more tools, but only one was able to work with SD-Cards. Here's what you need to do:
1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard (google it, i cant post links)
2. Resize original FAT32 partition to make room for the ext3 one. If you have enough space, the data on the card shouldn't be affected, but make a back-up just in case.
3. Create the ext3 partition on the space made available and apply changes
The first partition should be FAT32, and the second ext3, make sure you have them in this order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT:
Didn't work, SD could not be mounted under Android or Clockworkmod
Did the partitioning under Clockworkmod

partition works, but..
i tried minitool and easueus, both partiotion my 16 gb sd card, but...
I use miui rom, xpart(data2ext). the script works, but the phone is slow as ........
someone any idea?
i also have a 8 gb card, same partitions, but no problem..
any idea how i can tets my 16 gb card?

Minitool is crap. Haven't used easeus but its still under Windows, which is a no no
Gparted is the only decent tool that will nicely partition an ext partition on your sd whilst aligning it properly. This is both my personal and professional opinion.
Now because it doesn't run in windows, its a bit more long winded but so much more worth while.
Virtual machine (vmware player) is the best method. There is a link to a guide to set this up in my signature
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Kneros said:
This post is for people scared of Linux (like me)
I finally found a way to partition a SD-Card under Windows. I tried more tools, but only one was able to work with SD-Cards. Here's what you need to do:
1. Download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard (google it, i cant post links)
2. Resize original FAT32 partition to make room for the ext3 one. If you have enough space, the data on the card shouldn't be affected, but make a back-up just in case.
3. Create the ext3 partition on the space made available and apply changes
The first partition should be FAT32, and the second ext3, make sure you have them in this order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Minitool partition wizard is a wonderful and practical software. Thanks!!

Partitioning MicroSD with EXT First

I have 8GB MicroSD card, when I try to partition it using GParted, and I partition it with:
FAT32: 6.5GB
EXT4: 1.00GB
It shows an error next to the EXT partition, and it happens with all EXT (ext2,3 and 4).
I read somewhere to partition the EXT first and it worked, my questions are:
1. How to move my data back to the FAT partition if I use windows? (as windows recognize the first partition only, and since it is ext, it won't recognize anything)
2. If question 1 was solved, will it work to use the partitioning that way? As I read that FAT should be first.
Thank you.

What you could do is boot into recovery and use the SD partitioning in there. That's ifyou have CWM version 3. Rom Manager will also do it. You could use that as a starting point and then just upgrade it to ext4.

Just use Rom Manager to format. Easiest way imho

[Q] help cm7 sd ext partion

I would like to increase internal memory to 1gb .......I would like to use simple2ex or data2sd...I need full detail about SD partion..I have already flashed cm7..please help

not possible
kp.nikhil said:
I would like to increase internal memory to 1gb .......I would like to use simple2ex or data2sd...I need full detail about SD partion..I have already flashed cm7..please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd have to have a [custom] hboot that had partition info set up like you wanted [to change system partition information]. Not an easy task. Doubtful it would ever come to fruition. Besides our devices have 512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM (418 MB user-available). So allocating that all to system would be unwise. Now SD card partitioning... our device supports up to 32 gigs Those two you mentioned or Darktremor's Apps2sd are great tools for moving your apps or even dalvic vm to your sd card. You can partition your sd as you wish with the unofficial cwm recovery (under advanced options). I will try to port another recovery [4ext] in the future which is great for sd partitioning (data aligns everything; supports ext4). CWM is not too shabby though; give it a whirl. Hope that helps.
Rob

I've tried to make sd-ext with Rom Manager -> Make partitions on SD. I've shoose 512Mb (of 16Gb miscroSD) and 32Mb swap file. But still have 178Mb internal memmory.
What is wrong?

I used Minitool Partition Wizard (free) to split my SD 16Gb on Fat32 & ext4 512Mb. Works Fine! Link2SD identify external partirion.

cool
congrats. Just a suggestion... change your OP from [Q] to [Answered] even though you answered your own question. May help someone else.
Rob

data2sd not installing for me after i install i get a boot loop..

you need Apps2sd or Data2sd not both
The rom has Apps2sd... You want Data2sd. You will have to remove apps2sd support, then add data2sd support. Can't have both.
Rob

Partitioning Help

I partitioned my SD card using ROM Manager a while ago, into 500 MB ext2 and the rest as fat32 (~6.5 GB).
Now, I want to repartition to increase the 500MB one to 1 GB and make it ext4. However, when I connect my phone and use Gparted, it only sees the 6.5 GB partition, not the 500 MB one (a2sd I guess).

b0ng0 said:
I partitioned my SD card using ROM Manager a while ago, into 500 MB ext2 and the rest as fat32 (~6.5 GB).
Now, I want to repartition to increase the 500MB one to 1 GB and make it ext4. However, when I connect my phone and use Gparted, it only sees the 6.5 GB partition, not the 500 MB one (a2sd I guess).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what?
Try do a full format under windows (untick "quick format")

@bortak:
As far as I understand him, he wants to repartition his SD card because he wants to increase the size of his EXT-partition. This partition should also be upgraded to EXT4.
@b0ng0:
1.) Backup all apps and system data with Titanium Backup.
2.) Boot into recovery and make a complete nandroid backup
3.) Connect phone to computer, enable USB Mass Storage (USB-MS in recovery), backup the whole data of the SD card (FAT32 partition is enough cause of your backups), disable USB-MS and disconnect phone from computer
4.) Partition your SD card either with recovery are GParted according to your needs
5.) Copy all data back on SD card (FAT32 partition)
6.) Flash rom and restore all apps (systemdata only if you did not change rom, WiFi Access Points can always be restored)

look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVK-tJe8pXE
it helps you a lot

Sorry, I should have stated the issue more clearly:
I have two partitions - 500 MB ext2 and 6.5 GB FAT32.
I want to increase my 500 MB ext2 to 1 GB ext4.
However, when I open Gparted it only sees the 6.5 GB FAT32 partition. I'm thinking this is because the 500 MB is in use by the phone (i.e. used for a2sd, although I may be wrong).
Do I need to connect my phone in any specific way?
EDIT: I used Windows Disk Manager and it saw both partitions, thanks for the help guys.

Download Gparted live, it's more easy formatting your SD. And DO A BACKUP of your sd before.