Develop Bugs

Un-partitioning SD card?

Hi guys,
I couldn't find anything about this (I did try searching before posting this thread, so I hope I am not repeating a common question!).... I wish to unpartition my sd card and just go back to a normal fat32 partition....
So far I have tired windows disk management and Rom Manager, which just allows you to ADD a ext partition with no luck!
Can anyone else guide me how to achieve this?
Regards!

Open Recovery Menu (green) per adb.
Partition SD Card
SWAP=0 MB
EXT=0 MB
Remainder - FAT32
good night

cargobr151 said:
Open Recovery Menu (green) per adb.
Partition SD Card
SWAP=0 MB
EXT=0 MB
Remainder - FAT32
good night
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:O Thanks, which recovery should I be using? :s
System recover? clockworkmod using the fake flash method? because I don't see the Partition SD Card menu anywhere else and i've tried both!
I know its right in front of me somewhere, I just can't see it, D'oh!

use the one from rooting folder

Bah,
I ended up using GPart live cd to undo it!!
Thanks for the responses guys, hopefully this will help someone else who needs it!

cargobr151 said:
Open Recovery Menu (green) per adb.
Partition SD Card
SWAP=0 MB
EXT=0 MB
Remainder - FAT32
good night
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for using your thread, however I don't have that Partition SD Card option on my Desire, when I go into recovery?

jacobtc said:
Sorry for using your thread, however I don't have that Partition SD Card option on my Desire, when I go into recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's fine, it's why I created the thread!
If you just want to partition you can use ROM Manager (but this requires root)
you need the recovery file (entitled 'pushfiles' or something) from the risk-free root package to partition/un-partition the card.
Else, you can use a GPart live CD, which makes it really easy!
Hope that helps buddy...

r5ingh said:
That's fine, it's why I created the thread!
If you just want to partition you can use ROM Manager (but this requires root)
you need the recovery file (entitled 'pushfiles' or something) from the risk-free root package to partition/un-partition the card.
Else, you can use a GPart live CD, which makes it really easy!
Hope that helps buddy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already partitioned my SD card via GParted, got a 16 gb card partitioned as follows:
14 gb fat32
1 gb ext2
250 gb swap
However in recovery, when I try to mount sd-ext it fails to do so Don't know why...

jacobtc said:
I already partitioned my SD card via GParted, got a 16 gb card partitioned as follows:
14 gb fat32
1 gb ext2
250 gb swap
However in recovery, when I try to mount sd-ext it fails to do so Don't know why...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're using a2sd+ then you need to change your ext2 partition to ext3, Also, I don't believe that you need a swap partition anymore...
Try that!

r5ingh said:
If you're using a2sd+ then you need to change your ext2 partition to ext3, Also, I don't believe that you need a swap partition anymore...
Try that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, now I can mount the ext partition in recovery! Thanks!

jacobtc said:
I already partitioned my SD card via GParted, got a 16 gb card partitioned as follows:
14 gb fat32
1 gb ext2
250 gb swap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was that a 16gb card or a 265gb?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

GANJDROID said:
Was that a 16gb card or a 265gb?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, lets give the guy a break.... we all know it was a 256GB Flash card!
Anywhooo, I have another question, so I think i'll hijack my own thread!
Guys, whats the most efficient way to backup/restore and move apps between roms? I've ended up manually re-installing installed apps 2/3 times now, I was going between roms that did/didn't support a2sd. Also, should there be any consideration to any specific backup options available in the various tools?
Thanks in advance!

Hi, my phone got bricked using GPart live to turn my ext 2 into a 3 partition. Everything went fine using the program, turned off Usb storage, went into market and tried to download a program, when it started to install the screen when black.
Now I cant boot with sdcard in, I don't come past the white HTC screen
Without SDcard it starts loading the system but the loading is a never ending loop.
Tried to format SD with fakeflash, dosent help
Tried reflashing my rom with wipe and everything, dosent help
Any ideas?

prove said:
Hi, my phone got bricked using GPart live to turn my ext 2 into a 3 partition. Everything went fine using the program, turned off Usb storage, went into market and tried to download a program, when it started to install the screen when black.
Now I cant boot with sdcard in, I don't come past the white HTC screen
Without SDcard it starts loading the system but the loading is a never ending loop.
Tried to format SD with fakeflash, dosent help
Tried reflashing my rom with wipe and everything, dosent help
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say, firstly try to get your phone working by wiping it clean and re flashing the rom. Use a different memory card just to get up and running. Then you can concentrate on fixing you card..
Although that seems like a very strange issue, are you sure you formatted your card correctly with GPart? (eg, exactly 512 MB/1024MB?) I'm a n00b myself so I would also wait for some of the more experienced users to offer their input. lol

r5ingh said:
I would say, firstly try to get your phone working by wiping it clean and re flashing the rom. Use a different memory card just to get up and running. Then you can concentrate on fixing you card..
Although that seems like a very strange issue, are you sure you formatted your card correctly with GPart? (eg, exactly 512 MB/1024MB?) I'm a n00b myself so I would also wait for some of the more experienced users to offer their input. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solved it by using AM recovery, repair + new partition solved the problem! Gonna reflash 2.0 again since i messed up the wiping somehow and then keep this until the rooted 2.2 is out!

Partioning SD Card

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

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

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

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

no problem, cheers for that

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

yep, no formatting is needed for google app2sd

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

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

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

Formatting of the memory card.

Hi sorry if this has been answered but couldnt find it.
i recently purchased a a bigger size micro sd card for my htc desire. The phone will not turn on with the card in, nor can i format it in the recovery memory. Can someone tell me what i need to format it as on computer. GPT MBR, FAT 32. etc etc. Thank you

I used Gparted in Linux to set up the standard layout:
- 32MB SWAP
- 512MB EXT2
- Rest FAT32
You can download a livecd of Gparted, or use "Partition SD Card" within ROM Manager.

You can download GParted for Windows aswell. Google it.

Or you can flash amon ra recovery and use that to partition within the recovery.
Also rom manager allows you to partition the card as well. I personally use 0mb for swap and 768mb for ext3. Do note rom manager only allows you to use an ext partition no bigger then 512mb. I assume it only formats it in ext2. My opinion is amon ra recovery is the way to go. Use version r5 as the latest is quite buggy according to other users. Or you can use gparted as mentioned earlier.
Misunderstood your post, use gparted. I didnt read that you cant turn on the phone with the card in it.

swap is not needed

Have you got / can you borrow a card reader for your PC, you can partition it from there
(Whys this under android dev?)
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

schiznik said:
Have you got / can you borrow a card reader for your PC, you can partition it from there
(Whys this under android dev?)
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Report the thread.
It's already been done.
Can't hurt, though.

I'm also having a little problem with the partitions...
I have a 32gb card, but when i remove it from the card reader after making the partitions (or after disconnecting the phone from the computer) the only partition remaining is the FAT32...ext and swap become unloccated space :s
how can i fix this?

feelmyanger said:
I'm also having a little problem with the partitions...
I have a 32gb card, but when i remove it from the card reader after making the partitions (or after disconnecting the phone from the computer) the only partition remaining is the FAT32...ext and swap become unloccated space :s
how can i fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize that you can't use the SWAP and EXT partitions as drive-space, right?

feelmyanger said:
I'm also having a little problem with the partitions...
I have a 32gb card, but when i remove it from the card reader after making the partitions (or after disconnecting the phone from the computer) the only partition remaining is the FAT32...ext and swap become unloccated space :s
how can i fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they are not accessable within windows

i know, i used gparted. but when i remove the sd card/disconnect the phone from usb mode the partitions are gone :|

zHk3R said:
You do realize that you can't use the SWAP and EXT partitions as drive-space, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, but i'm not talking about the space...the entire partition itself dissapears. for example, if i'm going to flash a rom that need an ext partition it won't flash...the ext partition is gone

one question,
should the ext partition be in the front or at the back of the FAT32 partition?
or it doesn't matter?

[Q] Can't make apps move to SD card

Heya,
Today I flashed a fresh Defrost 6.1a (Which is said to support A2SD+), Flashed Gapps. So far so good.
I took my 8GB SD card and partitioned it in Ubuntu using Gpareted. I set the FAT32 partition first, then a ext3 partition (512MB) second.
Ubuntu read both with accurate sizes.
I put the card back into the phone and looked "SD card & phone storage", it no said my SD card is only 6.89GB, but the Internal phone storage was still low.
I decided to check a little more with Titanium Backup, which surprisingly said that my ext3 partition is only 256MB and is half full (talking about a fresh ROM here).
Can someone point me to where I did wrong?
Maybe format using ext4?
Put the ext partition first?
Reflash ROM after partitioning?
TNX

I have never got A2SD working either. I think you need to install a script or something. Here is a post about A2SD. Also, Android 2.2+ supports moving apps to SD anyway.
If you want more space to install apps, you can install one of AlphaRev's HBoot templates which can increase the /data partition, that's if you have S-Off.
I couldn't be bothered farting around with A2SD and so I did that instead.

CoreOxide said:
Maybe format using ext4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it will not make it work and will only increase your memory card's wear.
CoreOxide said:
Reflash ROM after partitioning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you flashed the a2sd enabled ROM on the device which didn't have memory card prepared? I always thought such enterprises would end in a boot loop. Flash it again if this is the case.
GoogleJelly said:
Also, Android 2.2+ supports moving apps to SD anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not teh same thing!
erklat said:
How do you inspect if a2sd is working? Coz I think u r doing it wrong. Install Quick system info and check what it says under a2sd storage and if it slowly decreases when you install apps, which means it is working. You don't have to set default install location anywhere, the script does that for you.
What you are referring to here, is Froyo's built-in a2sd which requires the app to be optimized for app2sd, that's why only some of your apps seem to be on the SD card. Furthermore, it will transfer the apps to FAT32 partition, that you don't want for it to do since Android first loads apps which need to be loaded at startup, and afterwards it mounts the SD card, which will lead to some apps failing to start after boot.
a2sd tricks the phone into thinking that ext partition is it's internal memory. Froyo app2sd != a2sd script, don't confuse those two, they are not the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[Q] Is there a noob guide to data2ext

Hi,
currently running InSertcoin 2.0 using apps2sd but I see lots complementing data2ext.
I read lots about it but I can't fathom it out, lots of recommends but no guides on how to do it.
I have an 8Gb Class 6 card
When I try to do it I keep getting boot loops and hangs, market not working etc.
Does anyone have a proper nooby guide to partitioning the SD Card?
Many thanks for any replies. My searches seem to round in circles.

the simplistic way is to use mini tool partition wizard
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
back up anything you want to save on your sd card to your computer, backup apps with titanium backup and move the files to your computer..
you might want to download and use the insertcoin 2.0.1 as it has an updated data2sd script
boot in to recovery on your phone and mount the sd card.
connect phone to computer using your usb cable
open mini tool partition wizard
delete all existing partitions, this completely wipes your card, thats why backups moved to your computer are needed.
then click create
then make your fat32 partition say 6gb choose primary in the first drop down menu, use up all the space but leave 1.4gb free
then click create again
make an ext3 partition of 1gb make primary
then make an ext3 partition of 100mb make primary
then make a linux swap partition of 100mb
then click apply and let it make your partitions
thats it, move your rom on to your sd card
unmount your sd card
and flash the rom

^^ Now THAT!! Is exactly what I was looking for.
All partitioned and Insertcoin 2.0.1 installed, just syncing now.
Many thanks, appreciate your time.

chr15gb said:
^^ Now THAT!! Is exactly what I was looking for.
All partitioned and Insertcoin 2.0.1 installed, just syncing now.
Many thanks, appreciate your time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks SnakeyEyes, I've added this to the InsertCopinWiki: hope you're OK with that.