Ok i going to partition my sd card, im going to make a ext3 or ext4 partition. Enough guides on how to do that. But what are the differences between those two? And ewhat can i do whit this partition? What is the advantage or disadvantage?
Basically ext4 handles larger files and is generally more efficient as it's an evolution of ext 3, don't know if it makes a huge difference.
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It states it on LeedDroid's ROM thread. If it does, why are many of the newer roms only ext4 compatible?
i think ext4 and ext3 behave similarily. so it wouldn't decrease the lifespan if u only use a2sd+
i dont know whether this fits to data2sd
i wouldn't be concerned about sdcard life cause there is no really a difference between ext3 and ext4.
But there is a difference between having app2sd or other stuff that put things on sd card to only using sd card to store music or things like that.
sdcard life is mostly about how often is written to a block on it...
Hi!
Just would like to know the pros and cons of formatting into ext4 on my SD.
As far as I can find :
Pros : Supports files larger than 4GB as Fat32 cannot
That's about it I think...
Cons : Windows cannot natively detect such a partition
Why I ask this is I just saw a this post
blahbl4hblah said:
Having sd-ext partition on your sdcard will always be benefical, the phone will run so much better believe me
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I'm ready to go ext4 if there's any performance gain, who wouldn't? But what gain is there, and what would I lose in return?
ArmedandDangerous said:
Hi!
Just would like to know the pros and cons of formatting into ext4 on my SD.
As far as I can find :
Pros : Supports files larger than 4GB as Fat32 cannot
That's about it I think...
Cons : Windows cannot natively detect such a partition
Why I ask this is I just saw a this post
I'm ready to go ext4 if there's any performance gain, who wouldn't? But what gain is there, and what would I lose in return?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're mixing things up here a bit I think. Sd-ext referrs to having a partition on your sdcard to allow support for Apps2SD (basically being able to move apps to your SD card and run them from there in order to free up space); you'd basically repartition the card so that there's an ext3/4 partition for apps and a FAT32 partition for data.
As for the ext4 filesystem, it does allow for larger file sizes and is also a bit faster but you're correct in the fact that you won't be able to natively mount it on a Windows system.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
OriginalGabriel said:
You're mixing things up here a bit I think. Sd-ext referrs to having a partition on your sdcard to allow support for Apps2SD (basically being able to move apps to your SD card and run them from there in order to free up space); you'd basically repartition the card so that there's an ext3/4 partition for apps and a FAT32 partition for data.
As for the ext4 filesystem, it does allow for larger file sizes and is also a bit faster but you're correct in the fact that you won't be able to natively mount it on a Windows system.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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But don't we already have Apps2SD in GB, + all the apps that do it for you. How is this different, apart from some apps that can't natively be moved? And why is it faster? Internal memory should always load faster, should it not?
ArmedandDangerous said:
But don't we already have Apps2SD in GB, + all the apps that do it for you. How is this different, apart from some apps that can't natively be moved? And why is it faster? Internal memory should always load faster, should it not?
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GB has the ability to do Apps2SD but it requires the partitioning as, I believe, a symlink is set up so that partition on the sdcard acts as a part of the devices internal storage.
As for speed, just moving apps to your sdcard won't speed up your phone; what that poster you quoted was talking about (most likely, I'd have to see the original thread) was converting your devices partitions (/system, /data, /cache, etc.) from ext3 to ext4. ext4 is a bit faster however some ROMs do not fully support it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Ok, let's clear this up. GB has Apps2FAT32 (a2sd) natively. A2EXT is completely different but none of that is the point of the OP's question.
When it comes to our phones - there is almost no notable performance gain when using EXT4 over any other EXT format. Our phones don't utilize FAT32 internally - just on the sdcard. EXT4 is designed for use with massive file systems. A couple Gigs really doesn't access it's full potential.
While the question is interesting, I'm not really sure what you're planning on doing. Don't format your sdcard entirely in EXT format, and don't attempt to format your phones partitions as FAT32. The result would be... just don't do it.
Just read this on the portal
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...hd2-data-successfully-moved-to-ext-partition/
This has two main advantages: larger sized data partition and more speed as EXT is inherently faster for I/O purposes.
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How do I go about formatting a section of my SD into ext4, with existing SD data intact.
And how do I move apps that area already in my phone's internal memory to the ext4 partition? I know there's an option in ROM Manager and CWM, but just don't want to mess anything up
ArmedandDangerous said:
Just read this on the portal
http://www.xda-developers.com/andro...hd2-data-successfully-moved-to-ext-partition/
How do I go about formatting a section of my SD into ext4, with existing SD data intact.
And how do I move apps that area already in my phone's internal memory to the ext4 partition? I know there's an option in ROM Manager and CWM, but just don't want to mess anything up
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Click to collapse
As far as I know, only two ROMs actually support the real A2SD: PyroMod and MexDroid. It's recommended you format the EXT partition to EXT4 before you actually flash either of those ROMs, and you have to rename MexDroid in order to get A2SD working.
blackknightavalon said:
As far as I know, only two ROMs actually support the real A2SD: PyroMod and MexDroid. It's recommended you format the EXT partition to EXT4 before you actually flash either of those ROMs, and you have to rename MexDroid in order to get A2SD working.
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Thankfully I am already using meXdroid~ Guess I'll just wait for the new version in the next few days to do the formatting. Can I backup all my apps with Titanium Backup, flash ROM (wipe data/cache and dalvik cache), restore with Titanium.
Or would I have to reinstall every app again so that it goes into the ext4 partition?
blackknightavalon said:
As far as I know, only two ROMs actually support the real A2SD: PyroMod and MexDroid. It's recommended you format the EXT partition to EXT4 before you actually flash either of those ROMs, and you have to rename MexDroid in order to get A2SD working.
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Click to collapse
There's a script to accomplish this on pretty much any ROM. It *should* work on current ROMs too. It's called 'darktremor a2sd'. Still find it amazing people forget about that one when this question comes up because it's one oldest methods of obtaining a2sd.
I'm still not understanding the OP's question. Are you wanting to do this for an IO performance gain or for space? I can understand doing it for space if you have a ton of apps but if you're doing it for performance it's a waste of your time. You're internal partitions should already be in EXT4 format (use 4EXT Recovery if they're not).
KCRic said:
There's a script to accomplish this on pretty much any ROM. It *should* work on current ROMs too. It's called 'darktremor a2sd'. Still find it amazing people forget about that one when this question comes up because it's one oldest methods of obtaining a2sd.
I'm still not understanding the OP's question. Are you wanting to do this for an IO performance gain or for space? I can understand doing it for space if you have a ton of apps but if you're doing it for performance it's a waste of your time. You're internal partitions should already be in EXT4 format (use 4EXT Recovery if they're not).
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I'm doing it for the performance. Have been using 4EXT for a few days and loving it. Already converted internal memory to ext4 from ext3. If further partitioning my SD card for performance is really not noticeable, then I guess I've got nothing to worry about
Hi,
I was formatting my memory card in DHD using 4EXT recovery and I keep wondering what is the use of second sd-ext partition? To be precise, I mean sd-ext2, not sd-ext (I know its used for apps2sd). Does it work like backup partition if the first one runs out of memory? But that wouldn't make sense, since you can just create one big partition. My second thought was that maybe you install linux on it if you want to have it in your smartphone (like ubuntu or debian).
And the second question is about swap. Does anyone uses it at all? I used to have it on my old HTC G1, but I don't think it makes sense to use it now. Are there any roms that take advantage of swap and does it make them work faster (particularly the new big sense 3.x roms)?
Thanks in advance for any responses,
BR, Jack.
edit: I wrote the same topic on my native polish board and I got responses, but that's not what I meant so I decided to write more precise what I mean.
I know there are such apps like ie. link2sd, which use second partition on the memory card as partition for storing applications, data etc. They use the bolded partition (numbers are numbers of partitions on memory card):
1. fat32
2. sd-ext
What I am talking about is second ext partition, like this:
1. fat32
2. sd-ext
3. sd-ext2
It surely doesnt mean format of partition (like ext2, ext3, ext4), it means there is a second ext partition. Both of them can be formatted differently, both can have different ext (like ext2, ext3, ext4). What is the use of sd-ext2 partition? Does it serve as a backup partition for first sd-ext? Or you can install linux on it?
from what i've seen reading around on this forum, swap isn't necessary on a desire HD, the phone has enough ram
not sure about a second sd-ext though sorry
For what i gather... only 4Ext has it... why not ask them?
Is there any major difference between an ext3 partition on one's sd card and an ext4 one? Is there any point in converting an ext3 to and ext4 (using 4ext recovery)?
Also, if I did this, can I restore a backup made from my old ext3 partition into an ext4?
Edit: This has been covered before, I only just spotted the suggested existing threads feature. Damned if I can find the way to delete this thread though.
Currently running MikG3.11 w/a2sd so have a EXT3 partition for data (I have my /cache pointing there also). I'm looking to move to a JB rom (probably Evervolv - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1961602).
How do I need to re-partition my 16G sd to make the most efficient use? It's been quite a while so a quick 'step1,2,3 howto would be great..including suggested sizes, ext3/ext4...)
Recovery is SmelkusMod..
Thanks Tons!
You may not *need* to do anything out of the ordinary.
If your ext3 partition is of a reasonable size, you might be able to just wipe everything (except 'SD card') in smelkus, flash the ROM, and proceed from there. Nandroid first of course.
'Reasonable' means about 512 to me, others may have different ideas.
How big is your ext partition?
The main reason to repartition is if you are having mystery SD card issues or you want to add or resize partitions. If these don't apply, just wipe, flash, and go.
6100 using xda app-developers app
NxNW said:
You may not *need* to do anything out of the ordinary.
If your ext3 partition is of a reasonable size, you might be able to just wipe everything (except 'SD card') in smelkus, flash the ROM, and proceed from there. Nandroid first of course.
'Reasonable' means about 512 to me, others may have different ideas.
How big is your ext partition?
The main reason to repartition is if you are having mystery SD card issues or you want to add or resize partitions. If these don't apply, just wipe, flash, and go.
6100 using xda app-developers app
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I would. Repartition, 0/1024, ext3, then ext4....i actually do this before any flash. Think about what a2sd does, and you'll realize that if you don't format, your system has to run through more dead data to get to the info it needs
Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk 2
jwitt418 said:
I would. Repartition, 0/1024, ext3, then ext4....i actually do this before any flash. Think about what a2sd does, and you'll realize that if you don't format, your system has to run through more dead data to get to the info it needs
Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk 2
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/system 318 used out of 350mb
/data 369/428mb
/cache 1.38mb/160mb
sdcard ext3 .97 used, 1.79GB total.
sdcard fat32 (rest of the 16G)
I had thought that going ext4 was typically recommended for JB. Are you saying first create a 1G ext3, then the rest as ext4? How does that work for transferring files back and forth via usb to a win7 box?
I intend on doing this fresh.. ie, install gbapps and individual app re-installs from there.
I have a lot of opinions on this but let me just try to answer your one specific question about ext4.
(going from memory here, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong..)
When creating partitions in recovery, you will be prompted to allocate space to three separate partitions, swap, sd-ext, and 'the rest'. You have to choose a specific size for the first two, the third partition gets whatever is left. If you choose a size of zero when prompted, it will skip creating that partition.
So if you follow jwitts advice above, you will answer zero for swap, then 1024 for the ext partition.
This will skip the creation of a swap partition and create a sd-ext partition with size 1024. Initially you want to format this as ext2.
The rest of the SD card will go in the main sdcard partition and will be formatted as FAT.
As a last step you convert your ext2 partition to ext3 (and if you think there would be a benefit, you can further convert it from ext3 to ext4 in a subsequent step.)
Honestly, I installed evervolv over the exact same partition scheme you have already and have seen no need to tamper with it. Obviously others do. I leave you to make whatever decision you feel most comfortable with.
Partitioning is destructive: you lose all the contents of the entire SD card in the process so you need to make a backup first, and I don't mean nandroid. To me it's a bit more inconvenience plus the risk of losing irreplaceable data (ie pictures, music, etc).
By contrast, wiping partitions is routine and doesn't touch the main FAT partition. If you use smelkus to wipe your sd-ext partition (as implied in the oft-repeated advice to "wipe everything except 'SD card'") you should be starting with a pretty clean slate.
Maybe I've had the wrong understanding all this time, but I have been working under the assumption that "wiping" has the effect of deleting all the files below certain mount point.
The contents of your sd-ext folder are just as gone as if you "formatted". There may be other benefits to additional formatting or partitioning, and when you are planning to start from scratch, that can be a good time to do this sort of "preventive maintenance", but I was just pointing out that under normal conditions it is not strictly necessary.