I recently bought a Desire Z and got an 8GB Micro SD Card (I believe Class 4) in the box.
I wish to upgrade to a 16GB card. Having over a 100 apps installed, I am a little skeptical about the whole transfer thing.
Can anyone provide me with a step by step method to transfer my data and apps to a new sd card without any loss.
I've done this several times -- its not that hard. All you have to do is mirror the old SD card to the new one.
I recommend using a card reader connected to the PC instead of connecting the phone directly in SD card mode.
1. shut off the phone and remove the old SDcard.
2. make sure your PC is set up to see hidden and system files -- Google this as its probably slightly different for different flavors of Windows.
3. create a folder to hold the files from the SD card, for example c:\sdcardbackup. Have this folder opened up on the Windows desktop
4. Insert the old SDcard into the card reader connected to the PC. Take a look at the files and make sure you can see some folder names preceeded by a dot -- for example: ".android_secure"
5. Now just control-a to select all the files and folders from the old SD card folder, and drag them to the backup folder c:\sdcardbackup
6. Remove the old SDcard and put it in a safe place -- you'll want to keep this as a backup for a while just in case.
7. Insert the new SDcard into the reader -- format it if it tells you that theres no format. Even if its already formatted you might want to consider formatting it anyway -- Google this is theres different options available. I format mine EXT3 32K
8. Now, in a reverse from before, just copy all the files from c:\sdcardbackup to the folder representing the new SDcard.
9. When done, remove the new SDcard and put it in the phone. Powerup and test. If you can run any apps that have been installed to the SDcard then you're good to go -- and you still have the old card and the backup c:\sdcardbackup just in case.
burtcom said:
I've done this several times -- its not that hard. All you have to do is mirror the old SD card to the new one.
......
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Click to collapse
I can confirm that this does work!
i am using the fat32 apps to sd and just did a copy paste to pc then back to new card. worked a treat!
Related
I have a rooted phone with an 8gb sd card in it where i store clockworkmod recoveries, backups, ROMs, many apps, media of course etc etc. So if ever I were to change the SD card in the phone, what is the correct procedure to do so such that I don't screw up the phone?
Has anybody else gone through this recently? Reason I ask is I am going to order a 32gb sd card (I believe up to 32 is supported) shortly.
Thanks
Nothing bad happened to me. My 8gb card no longer works so I had to replace it with my 2gb that came with it. There's no procedure with swapping sd cards in the phone, but you may wanna copy all the contents of your previous card to the desktop of your computer and transfer them to your new 1. If you reformatted your previous card to fat32 then do so with your new one. Pop it in and let it rip.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Thanks! Seems easier than I was afraid it might be!
Soo, just copy and paste and put new card in? Is that it?
Yes, 32 Gb cards are supported. Make sure the new SD is formatted FAT32.
Don't remove or install any SD while device is powered on - unmount the SD, then power down to remove/reinstall SD.
Copy contents of old SD to PC so you'll have a backup - then copy to new SD, put in device, power on.
Noteworthy is if you use an AOSP ROM, many of those interact with SD during boot, so if you simply replace old with new and it isn't formatted FAT32 and/or do not have the contents of the old card on it, you will bootloop.
Recommend making period backups of SD to PC - monthly or some frequency meaningful to you ~ so you have a backup if/when SD card fails.
My Desire originally came with a 2 GB card (yeah, sucks!) and I've ordered a 16 GB SDHC and is expected to be delivered anytime this weekend.
I do have some apps moved from phone memory to the 2 GB SD card.
How do I go about replacing the 2 GB card with the new 16 GB card WITHOUT losing any of my apps already installed?
Is there a procedure to be followed??
Thanks!
If you just used the stock FroYo A2SD, move them back to the phone and then copy the contents of the SD card to the new one and boot up...you may even be able to just copy the lot as it is but I don't know if it'll check on boot to make sure the data is correct
EddyOS said:
If you just used the stock FroYo A2SD, move them back to the phone and then copy the contents of the SD card to the new one and boot up...you may even be able to just copy the lot as it is but I don't know if it'll check on boot to make sure the data is correct
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Yup, used the stock FroYo's A2SD feature. The glitch here is I have very low memory on the Phone memory. Would copying the contents of the 2GB card and moving it to the new 16 GB card retain the apps? [Sounds pretty weird to me, but, just wanna confirm from the experts here]
Also, if I do not wish to retain anything from the older memory card, is it mandatory to copy the contents to the new memory card?
Thanks!
Yes, as said, if you are using the stock A2SD all the apps will be working normally just by copy/paste.
And as for what will happen if you don't copy the contents - system apps/stuff will make their folders by themselves, in other words the phone will be working fine, but the apps that you have installed and are moved to the SD will not work.
3722 said:
Yes, as said, if you are using the stock A2SD all the apps will be working normally just by copy/paste.
And as for what will happen if you don't copy the contents - system apps/stuff will make their folders by themselves, in other words the phone will be working fine, but the apps that you have installed and are moved to the SD will not work.
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So the best option would be to move the apps from SD card to phone memory, as many as apps as possible and copy the contents of the SD card to a folder on the PC.
After replacing the SD card, move the copied folder and move all the movable apps to SD card..
Am I right there?
Thanks..
I've used Froyo A2SD before I got myself a new 16gb card and just by copy/paste I didn't get any problems. So you should be fine too, without the hassle of moving/coping/moving back.
Do this, you will need a card reader and a micro to normal sd card adapter:
1. Turn off Desire
2. Take out microSD card and put it into the card reader using the micro to normal adapter
3. Copy the contents of the card to your PC
4. Swap the old card for the new one
5. Copy the information back to the new card
6. Put new microSD card into Desire
7. Turn it on
Hopefully it will just work as normal
Hi Eddy, I'm not sure this is necessary as I've done it without readers and adopters.
I simply copied them to the pc then changed the sd card plugged the phone to the pc with the new card, run a full format (even if the OS does make folders on the card, like "LOST.DIR", ".android_secure, etc just overwrite them) and then placing my data back on the card.
Or am I missing something?
Only reason I say to do it that way Is as otherwise Android might have a hissy fit about the apps moved to the SD not being there. I've not tried to change SD cards as I've had my 16GB card from the off but if it works then fair enough!! I just prefer to do things as I highlighted so I know there's as little chance of things going wrong as possible (I'd actually wipe the phone and start everything again but that's just me )
Thanks EddyOS and 3722. I'll do this tomorrow and let you know guys..
Cheers!
Set up my new 16 GB card today.. Tried both the suggestions individually and cross checked to ensure that everything was all right.. Both the methods work just perfectly.. Direct copy & paste and using the micro to normal adapter.. Perfect!
Thanks guys!
Cheers!
Hi,
So I read the instruction about formatting SD Card to run Froyo X. If I have a gps app on storage card for windows mobile, should I buy another SD card to run Android or do I need to create a partition for windows storage card for apps and another partition for Android? I have a 8gb kingston micro sd at the moment. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!!
I have iGO as well a sa bunch of WM apps installed to my SD card as well. Here is what I do, works like a charm every time, all WM6 apps still function...
Delete ANDBOOT folder on the card
I just create an empty folder on my PC called "SD"
Go to the root of the card, select all, CUT
PASTE on the pc folder called "SD"
When the move is finished, I do a full format using the SD Formatter tool:
http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3
Put the new ANDBOOT on the card
Cut/Paste the "SD" folder from the PC back to the card
I did the same, worked for me also.
What's the best way to switch out your sd card without losing any of its contents. My best guess would be to:
1) Copy contents of old sd card onto your hard drive
2) Remove old sd card
3) Format new sd card
4) Copy contents of old sd card from hard drive to new sd card
Am I missing anything? I've read that FAT32 is recommended over exFAT? Has anyone heard different? Also, is it better to format the card using your PC or should I just format the card in my S3?
Hi,
I recently switched from an 8gb sdcard to a 16gb sdcard. I put everything from the 8gb on my computer hard drive, safely unmounted via storage in settings, then just popped the new one in, not messing with format or anything. a month later and I'm doing fine.
Hope this helps
I would recommend formatting the sdcard in a PC, if possible
If not, then do it through your phone
And yes, the procedure you have laid out is perfectly fine
I currently have a 32 gig SD card in my Samsung tablet running Lineage OS and would like to replace it with a 64gig card. How to copy the data from the 32 gig card to the new 64 gig card.
Quincofish said:
I currently have a 32 gig SD card in my Samsung tablet running Lineage OS and would like to replace it with a 64gig card. How to copy the data from the 32 gig card to the new 64 gig card.
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Depends on sd card usage. If you installed it as portable storage, you can slmply remove it, copy the files to your pc's disk and from there to the new sd.
Adopted storage: better use usb cable from phone to pc.
Painfully copied to what appears to be the SD card only now looks like it all went to the internal storage and the SD card is almost empty? How can I move data from internal storage to SD card? SD card is NOT set as portable storage.
Quincofish said:
Painfully copied to what appears to be the SD card only now looks like it all went to the internal storage and the SD card is almost empty? How can I move data from internal storage to SD card? SD card is NOT set as portable storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the option to eject sd card in storage settings?
Yes, but found in storage an option to move stuff to SD card, which I did. This partly fixes my problem. But, I still can't "get to it" via explorer. It is a mystery to me how this works between internal storage and SD card.
@Quincofish "I currently have a 32 gig SD card in my Samsung tablet running Lineage OS and would like to replace it with a 64gig card. How to copy the data from the 32 gig card to the new 64 gig card."
This is probably too late for you but I had a similar problem this week transferring from a 128Gb to a 256Gb card. I sorted it quite simply (in the end!). Here's what I did - with detailed instructions!!
MSDOS ROBOCOPY can effectively 'CLONE' SD CARD
ROBOCOPY [source] [destination] /MIR
This command copies everything, including system and other hidden files even those with very long filenames. The following instructions enable you to transfer an exact copy of the contents of your old micro SD card to your new, larger, micro SD card.
Using MS Windows: in the search window, type: Command Prompt — and then press the Enter key to open the Command Prompt window then navigate to the root directory e.g. Drive C:
1) Make a directory in the root of the C: Drive
Enter the following commands (pressing the Enter key at the end of each line):
cd /
md sd-card
cd sd-card
The first command above changes the current directory to your root drive.
The second command creates a new folder (directory) in your root drive named “sd-card”. (You can use any legal file name here, but you must remember to substitute that name in place of “sd-card” in the code below. If you use spaces in your new name, then you must put double-quote marks around the new name.)
NB ENSURE THE NEW FOLDER "SD_CARD" HAS WRITE PRIVILEGES: in the folder's Properties in Windows Explorer, UNCHECK the READ-ONLY box. (If you cannot see the folder in Windows Explorer, go to the C:\ display and in the View Tab, click on the Options button on the far right and then 'Change folder and search options' and go to the 'View' tab and uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files'. For security, you should to revert to hiding these once the copy operation is completed).
The third command changes the current directory to “sd-card”.
2) Insert your micro SD card into a USB Adapter and plug it into your computer. Check what Drive letter has been assigned to it - either by looking at the pop-up message or checking the drive letter in Windows explorer or in other ways. The following instruction assumes the SD Card is in Drive F:
3) Then, in the MSDOS screen, enter:
robocopy F:\ c:\sd-card /MIR
This is the key line. Make sure you type exactly as shown. In this line, I have used the drive letter F, if your system assigned a different drive letter for your card, use that letter instead of the F. (Remember also, if you used a different name than “sd-card” for your folder, you must use the new name here - with quote marks if you have spaces in the name).The letters at the end this line are called switches and tell the system to mirror copy all your files, including system and other hidden files on your SD card.
It may take many minutes to copy the files from your current card into the sd-card folder (or whatever you have named it).
When the copying is complete the system will tell you how many files you have copied.
Eject your micro SD card adapter from the computer and then carefully remove the micro card from the adapter.
4) Now insert your new micro SD card into the adapter and insert the adapter into your computer's USB port. The system will assign it a drive letter (almost always the same letter as before — but it could be different, so check to be sure).
In the Command Prompt window, type in the following, hitting the Enter key at the end of each line:
cd /
cd sd-card
robocopy c:\sd-card F:\ /MIR
As you are typing the above, make the necessary substitutions if you are using a different name for the folder, or if your drive letter is different.
After the files have been copied onto your new card, eject the card and remove the adapter from your computer, and then carefully remove you new card from the adapter.
Carefully insert your new card into your phone, replace the cover, and start your phone.
You will find all your files (including apps, pictures, movies, text messages as well as system and other hidden files) that were stored on your old card are now on your new card.
5) Delete the sd-card folder and its contents from your computer (if you need the space) and Check 'Hide protected operating system files' in the C: drive's root folder, as advised above.
Hope it works for you and others!!