Develop Bugs

[Q] ROM full, even with app2sd; dalvikCache

So, you are thinking 'not again the *** apps2sd n00b question', but here I am
I did some research on XDA and the rest of the internet though, but nobody seems to have this problem.
I have a rooted Desire with DeFrost 6.0. With it, it is very easy to install your apps on the SD-card. I have only 8 apps on the ROM itself, but those are widgets and apps with notifications like Facebook (notifications don't work if they are installed on de sd-card is my experience).
The rest of my applications are installed on the sd-card (around 80 apps). But the problem is that all apps also have a piece of dalvikCache on the ROM as well. You all know that of course. For instance, I installed Documents To Go (5MB) on the sd-card. It also has 5MB dalvikCache on the ROM, so thats double the price .
Now if people ask here 'is it safe to move the cache to the sd-card', most of you say 'unless you want to show off how much empty space you have on your phone, I would just keep it on the phone'. But I do not have any free space.
With DiskUsage I can see that I have around 150 MB of data: 26MB system data, 15MB free space (and he is already nagging the telephone is running out of space), and more than 100MB of applications, with most of it is dalvikCache.
So is this normal? Is 80 apps really the max you can have?
My biggets app is by the way Documents To Go (5MB), and I had to delete it. So I don't have very big apps.
Just want to know how much apps you guys have
Thanks.

How have you forced the Dalvik Cache to stay on the phone memory and why/how have you copied your widgets on your phone memory?
PS: Do you use an EXT3 Partition or the Froyo legacy A2SD?

It's not unusual to move dalvik cache as well as the app. You will need root though, and then just partition your sd-card and install a rom with a2sd+. The only /data/data will take up space on the phone.

UpSpin said:
How have you forced the Dalvik Cache to stay on the phone memory and why/how have you copied your widgets on your phone memory?
PS: Do you use an EXT3 Partition or the Froyo legacy A2SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't do anything to force the cache to stay on de phone. But it's normal the dalvikCache is on the phone memory right?
I use defrost 6.0 and in it you can go to settings > applications > manage applicatons, an you can move all your apps to the sd-card. I'm not sure what kind of A2SD that is.
I move any applications with widgets to my phone memory, because otherwise widgets don't work anymore if you reboot your phone.
@mortenmhp: But also a lot of people do not recommend to move the dalvikcache. Is it safe to do?

you're confusing a few things:
APPS2SD:
There are two methods used at the moment.
The Froyo method, made by Google, which you use at the moment. It installs the app on the phone memory and is able to outsource a small amount of data to the FAT32 partition on your SD-card. It does create failures with apps that use widgets or run in the background.
The A2SD+ method, integrated in DeFroST and almost every other custom ROM. You have to create an EXT3 partition on your SD card (use ROM manager for this) and then reflash the rom. After that it gets activated automatically. All apps and also the dalvik cache gets moved on the EXT3 partition on your SD card. You don't have to and you shouldn't move any apps around afterwards with the Froyo A2SD described above. Only some small data gets stored by the apps itself on the internal phone memory.
Moving the dalvik cache is safe. Maybe you confuse it with SWAP? Which isn't necessary on the HTC Desire.

ok, this is a little confusing
I'm running defrost
let's suppose that I installed the firefox app.
the diskusage tool tells me that it takes 13,4 MB in internal memory.
in applications settings, I have the option to move the app to sd card.
When I do this, my available memory does not change (102 mb)
Does that mean that firefox was already on the sd card ?
In that case how do I know what eats up my data storage ?
Thanks for precisions ?

Do you use A2SD+ together with an EXT3 partition.
If so, every app you install will get installed on the EXT3 partition on your SD-card together with the Dalvik cache, instead of your internal phone memory. If you move this app with the Froyo A2SD tool to the SD card then you'll move the app from the EXT3 partition to your FAT32 partition, stupid.
However, every app, while running, creates some temporary data files. Those files remain on the internal phone memory. And maybe Firefox mobile creates some huge data files, but the main app is installed on the EXT3 partition, now, because you moved it with Froyo A2SD, a small part is installed on the EXT3 partition and some part, the moved on the FAT32 partition. The created data remains untouched.
I had 106 MB free internal memory. Then I installed Firefox and still had 106MB free. I started Firefox, 103 MB free.
Diskusage tells me Firefox needs 2.81MB internal memory. 2.81MB of this is data.
In the Android app settings android tells me Firefox occupies 16.19 MB, 13.38 MB for the app, 2.81 MB data.
So those 13.38 MB are located on the EXT3 partition. If I move Firefox now, parts of the 13.38 MB get moved from the SD card to the SD card.

Ah, I get it now. Thank you very much. I did everything you said, so it should be ok now. So there is no need anymore to move apps, with widgets for instance, to the memory of the phone?
Thanks!

If you use app2sd with the ext partition now, then no, you don't have to move any app or widget around, and you shouldn't.
With Quick System Info you can check how much free space is left on your ext partition.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

App2sd not working properly?

Ok, here's my situation:
Wildfire s A510e
S-ON
Android 2.3.3
This thing enabled
According to app2sd, i've got no more moveable apps, on my internal memory there are just 7 apps installed (Google Maps, Facebook, Vocal Search, Youtube, Gmail, Clock Widget, 3g Watchdog), but i've got just 6mb free (out of 150mb).
The thing is, browsing my internal memory (using for example Disk Usage, which i think is very user friendly), i found out that all the apps i've installed on the sd have a lot of data on the internal storage anyway.
For example, i've got Barcode Scanner installed on my SD, But it uses 545kb on my internal memory 600kb on the SD.
And another thing: when i browse to settings- applications - manage apps, i can see Barcode Scanner installed on the SD, but it says it uses 545kb (which is the amount of data in the internal memory).
So, is all this normal? 'cause otherwise i don't see the point in installing apps on the sd if they fill up the internal memory anyways.
Any idea? Any suggestion?
Thanks in advance!

I have soff, a rooted rom. Many apps installed ans 120mb or so free memory. I think ans soff device is more flexible to tweak.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using xda premium

Ok, found out that the data not bein moved is mainly davlik cache and .apk files.
Now, although I already know the answer... Is it impossible to move those files, without root privileges, right?
Damn, I want S-OFF.

That's right, you need root access in order to move any system file on the device to another location, such as a different partition or external card.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using XDA App

Update:
I've unlocked and rooted my phone.
I've created a 1024mb ext4 partition and installed Link2SD.
Moving all the apps to the partition.
Still, i found .apk files and davlik cache in the primary partition.
Any help? I though with root all my space problems would be over easyly :S

I did a 1024mb partition and used data2sd, I don't have to move app myself, the internal memory show my 1,150 GB...
Maybe you should use data2sd :/
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using XDA App

update to rom 2.3.5 will actually free up more memory even you don't have the unlock your phone. For stock app e.g. facebook, gmail; if you happened to update it, they are unable to be moved to the SD card and occupy much of the internal memory. You can always use app2sd to move the other application to the SD card to free your internal memory once you've updated from 2.3.3 to 2.3.5, I think the HTC people have made some improvement in their latest update with regards to the internal memory issue.
After the updating, I haven't yet unlock my phone (as there was no suitable RUU for my carrier), yet I have free memory of 40 Mb on a 2.3.5 rom Vs that of 15Mb on a 2.3.3 rom.

SavageButcher said:
Update:
I've unlocked and rooted my phone.
I've created a 1024mb ext4 partition and installed Link2SD.
Moving all the apps to the partition.
Still, i found .apk files and davlik cache in the primary partition.
Any help? I though with root all my space problems would be over easyly :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you do MOVE to SD or Link?
Move to SD is just using the built in Apps2SD support which still leaves parts of the APK, all the Dalvik Cache and Library files still on your internal Data partition.
Link is what you want... There are a few apps like Link2SD that, for obvious reasons, won't link.
You are not looking to use the Apps2SD function. Link.
Also you will see ALL the apps and Dalvik cache files listed on the Data partition still but if you look carefully they are sizeless as they are simply "links" or shortcuts if you like, to the real files on your secondard SD partition.
You will also still see the System APKS Dalvik cache files unless you integrate them into the system partition using something like Titanium Backup Pro. This is as it should be. System Dalvik will not move to an external partition.

If you're rooted and have a recovery, just install DT a2sd. Once your find the file, flash it, go to terminal emulator in the phone and type
Code:
su
A2sd reinstall
your phone will do a hot reboot. Then go back in and type
Code:
su
a2sd cachesd
There will bet another hot reboot and you're done. You'll still lose some internal memory as time goes by, but that's because the phone will store the apps cache on you're internal memory still.
Sent from my HTC_A510c using Tapatalk

d33ps1x said:
Did you do MOVE to SD or Link?
Move to SD is just using the built in Apps2SD support which still leaves parts of the APK, all the Dalvik Cache and Library files still on your internal Data partition.
Link is what you want... There are a few apps like Link2SD that, for obvious reasons, won't link.
You are not looking to use the Apps2SD function. Link.
Also you will see ALL the apps and Dalvik cache files listed on the Data partition still but if you look carefully they are sizeless as they are simply "links" or shortcuts if you like, to the real files on your secondard SD partition.
You will also still see the System APKS Dalvik cache files unless you integrate them into the system partition using something like Titanium Backup Pro. This is as it should be. System Dalvik will not move to an external partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks deepsix! That actually worked. (btw i realized that by myself just 30 secs after i wrote my previous post, i feel so noob for writing that, lol.)

[Q] a2sd problems on ICS

Hey,
I've been using ICS (beta 0.4.2.1 now, beta 0.3.9 previously) and none of the a2sd scripts seem to be working. I tried to use the one you have to activate through adb, and today when I updated to 0.4.2.1 I chose another one from the installer. My phone still reports 148 MB of internal storage...
I've had a thorough search of similar threads, but you know how difficult it is to find any meaningful information on this forum; can someone please point me in the right direction? Thank you!

I flashed ICS and installed the bundled a2sd script and it worked like the script on Insertcoin. That is the system still displayed the data partition size of my hboot but the SD ext4 partition was utilised for apps. If you have titanium backup you can see the data usage on the home screen.
I also flashed amarullz script. This script did change the reported internal memory to my SD card partition size. I did not use it long so I can't comment on how it runs on s class 4 SD card.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA

You did not understand how A2SD works. It moves all apps (with A2SD+ also dalvik-cache) you install automatically to an EXT-partition (some of their data still remain in internal memory). But it does not increase / decrease the size of internal memory.
If you want to change the size of internal memory, you have to use a script which moves the whole /data-partition to an EXT-partition. The size of this partition is then the size of your internal memory. The name of this scripts is DATA2SD / DATA2EXT.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A

Did you ever get a fix for your problem?
I have something similar. Was running 0.3.9. and decided for a couple days ago to upgrade to a newer edition. Wiped data/factory reset, wiped cached and dalvik-cache, and installed the new version.
Used stock everything, activated a2sd and tried to start and install some apps from google play. Got a message that it was not sufficient space.
Did get titanium installed, and that reports the different "drives" correctly, but I still don't get it to work as it should. If I try to install from play, it says not sufficient space, even if I try to restore from titanium, still no luck.
Anyone got any ideas?

Start Terminal. Type:
su
a2sd install
yes (move dalvik-cache)
no (don't move appdata) (yes will make device slower)
yes (restart)
After reboot you have more space, but don't see it.
Start terminal
su
a2sd diskspace
gives the size of your sd-ext and how much is used

arsvendg said:
If I try to install from play, it says not sufficient space, even if I try to restore from titanium, still no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem here. I tried to wipe caches and even recreated the partitions but still no luck with the stock a2sd.

robla1000 said:
Start Terminal. Type:
su
a2sd install
yes (move dalvik-cache)
no (don't move appdata) (yes will make device slower)
yes (restart)
After reboot you have more space, but don't see it.
Start terminal
su
a2sd diskspace
gives the size of your sd-ext and how much is used
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering. Isn't the whole idea with the as2d to move the appdata to the sd-card?

arsvendg said:
Just wondering. Isn't the whole idea with the as2d to move the appdata to the sd-card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App and appdata are different things:
The App it's the "core" and are loaded in the RAM when you start them, so if you move them to sdcard you get a slowdown only on the boot of the app itself
The Appdata it's the data created and used by the program to run, likes databases and so; if you move it to the sdcard you get a slowdown 'cause the program continuosly try to access it.
someone correct me if I'm wrong, i'm still learning the stuff
Long story short: normal A2SD+ methods (like DarkTremor or m2sd) only move a part of /data, linking the files; you will NOT see the increased space but your Apps will occupy less memory.
Data2sd method like data2sd or Amarullz A2SDX will "swap" the ext space with the internal data memory, giving you a visible increase in your internal space.
TL;DR if you have a fast SD card you can go for the latter, else stick to m2sd wich is a new and good method to move application!
For partitioning, I suggest you to use 4ext touch recovery, you can install it on your phone from 4ext.net and flash your new recovery directly from your phone (you need to have S-OFF!); after you have your new recovery flashed:
make a backup of your SD card data (you have to format it)
Reboot in recovery
Go to "Tools"
"partition sd card ->"
"Remove all partitions and start from scratch"
Now you have to set, in order, you primary ext dimension, your secondary ext dimension and the swap dimension
I usually go for - 1st ext: 1024 -2nd ext: 0 - swap: 0
Select ext4 for your first ext partition
Now you are ready to use wathever a2sd method you want.
Hope this will help you!
Regards,
Ryther

Ahh I'm just going to leave this here.
All the ICS Devs have done a great job - Kudos to them.
But if you want a bugfree ROM which works well, for now - GIVE UP on ICS.
Go back to CM7 - it'll do you good.

Don't give up on ICS because SOME people have issues. I've ran an ICS build with a2sd working just fine no bugs whatsoever. I have not tried a data2ext script on an ICS build though so I don't know about that.

[Qext4 partition problem

hi everyone,
i just rooted and installed the Cyanogen 7.2.0.1-bravo rom and partitionned my sdcard 16gb to a FAT32 partion and ext4 partition with 1gb.
the problem is the intern memory !! ( lack of space ), idk if i missed something or didn't installed a script ... i have app2sd already installed and i moved the most of the apps to my sdcard but the ext4 partion is not used and can't see it .
so what do i have to do ?
ps: i just istalled a2sdFroyo, but doesn't help or i didn't used it right ...
pls help

when you say "i have app2sd already installed" how have you done it?
how did you partition your sd card, should be done with gparted or 4ext recovery only. if you used something else, backup your sd and repartition.
to maximise space, s-off and change hboot to cm7r2, recommend guides here (read them slowly and several times to help your understanding)
then full wipe, install rom.zip again from scratch
to enable the A2SD, one method is to install an app like S2E which can move apps automatically to sd-ext, no need to 'move to sd'. you can keep dalvik cache on internal, and move it to sd-ext if you still run out of space. internal memory will always go down as stuff builds up on internal (data partition)
whatever rom you use, install an app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions in future, that way you can actually see where and how your space is being used

i followed the MiniTool Partition tuto to make partitions and then i installed normaly app2sd
why do i have to reistall the rom again ?

darko1x said:
i followed the MiniTool Partition tuto to make partitions and then i installed normaly app2sd
why do i have to reistall the rom again ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do not use minitool, this may be the reason why you cannot use the partition at all.
backup your sd card to pc first, then use gparted, there's a video guide from the link i posted
(make sure you have a nandroid backup, titanium backup of apps and backup contacts to google)
i am advising a full wipe because i don't know how you "installed normally app2sd". if you reinstall the rom from scratch without anything else, there is less chance of things going wrong. using S2E afterwards is easy.
if you want to set up this rom or any rom properly so you don't run out of space, you should understand where all your apks, data and dalvik are stored, and what the different hboot partition tables are. it's all in the guides i linked.

i installed app2sd after i finished with the rom and the partitioning of the sdcard, and it works without any problem
i istalled now S2E and i transfered the apps to the ext folder now i have 140Mb free space and i think it's working now becuase i sync with skype and facebook and i still have the same space in my internal memory ...
what do you think ?

darko1x said:
i installed app2sd after i finished with the rom and the partitioning of the sdcard, and it works without any problem
i istalled now S2E and i transfered the apps to the ext folder now i have 140Mb free space and i think it's working now becuase i sync with skype and facebook and i still have the same space in my internal memory ...
what do you think ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you install something like 'diskusage' you can KNOW if it is working...
i would still recommend s-off and change hboot to cm7r2. this will use space more efficiently, and you can install many more apps. just read the guides i linked. you can still learn a lot more

Hi. I think its working, from 1Gb i still have 700 Gb in green color.
Am i right ?
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app

write down your free sd-ext space then install an app from the play store. Check the space again. If it had gone down your sorted.

darko1x said:
Hi. I think its working, from 1Gb i still have 700 Gb in green color.
Am i right ?
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looks like it is working
with diskusage you can just zoom in on all your partitions including sd-ext, so if you see your app apk's there the script is working.
open diskusage again and select /system. i'm willing to bet that you're still on stock hboot. you will see a lot of free space on system partition, which is useless...
therefore still recommend (for the last time) to s-off and change to cm7r2 hboot. you seem to keep ignoring this and the guides...

Help with storage please.

I've tried the several of the 4.4.4 CM11, ominrom, and currently the carbonrom. All of them I'm having trouble getting several, if any, apps to the sd card.
The only apps that will go are messenger and terminal. The rest stay on the internal drive. However, even after flashing, I'm only left with 100mb to install apps on. After I run the gapps, there's not enough space to install more than one or two apps and the phone is pretty slow. It seems to be a common problem but I've done a ton of reading and believe I've followed all the instructions.
-partitioned exactly how the guide says using 4ext. no problems. ( my card is 64GB)
-a2sd via terminal also works
-my sd card shows in storage
Any help would be appreciated.

- How big is the partition, should be max 2GB.
- Install diskusage app, enable root and browse to your sd-ext partition, check that it is being used, should see /app and /dalvik-cache folders if setup correctly
- your internal memory won't read 'internal + sd-ext'. Keep apps on internal to trick them to sd-ext, so do not 'move to sd'

Thanks... I did a 1GB partition and re: your suggestion, it looks like I have everything is in order.
Does that mean the internal memory is just full with the ROM installation? Should I look at using an older/smaller rom?

rspear said:
Thanks... I did a 1GB partition and re: your suggestion, it looks like I have everything is in order.
Does that mean the internal memory is just full with the ROM installation? Should I look at using an older/smaller rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have ~1GB space for apps and dalvik-cache.
When it says 100MB remaining, this does not mean you have 100MB left for apps. This will be used for app data like app settings / saved game data, and app caches. It will still fill up the more you install, but more slowly. Again you can use the diskusage app to browse your /data partition.
The limiting factor is that your are still on stock hboot with only ~147MB actual internal memory (the same as before you rooted)
You can flash a different hboot (requires S-OFF), then flash a corresponding older ROM with smaller /system size like CM7 or Oxygen. That along with equivalent a2sd script will give you more app space. You will always eventually run out of space though

Awesome! Thanks for your time.