Develop Bugs

Partitioning for CM7 and App2SD

I am using Cyanogenmod 7 and App2SD (as explained here). I want to move EVERYTHING to the SD card (including data) and use ext4. How should I partition the card (using Gparted) to have it working properly?
I tried doing it with Clockworkmod but it is very limited (only 1 partition+swap?) and does not ask me if it should be ext4.

yah its better if u use gparted live cd..cwm create by default an ext3
but be aware that any cwm recovery below 5.x will format ur ext partition in ext3 as soon u do a wipe or a restore on it! to use an ext4 u should use cwm 5.x and up (or alternative amon_ra 2.0.1)

My question was: How should partitions look on the card. What types, sizes and for what purpose. For 4gb and 8gb card. I checked the default partitioning done by CWM and it was 1.8gb fat + 1.8gb ext3 + swap. Why the division? Why fat? Can I do it differently, like 10mb fat + 3.8gb ext4?

Dont make your EXT partition over 2GB

All the data moved from the phone to SD card though app2SD - would they be kept on ext or fat partition? Is the FAT partition the one visible on the computer if the phone is connected as a USB storage?

impactor said:
All the data moved from the phone to SD card though app2SD - would they be kept on ext or fat partition? Is the FAT partition the one visible on the computer if the phone is connected as a USB storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to be clear on your definitions before we can answer that.
Do you mean:
1)apps2sd = /manage applications/<application name>/Move to sd?
2)apps2sd = App on teh market that uses the mechanism in 1) to move in bulk?
3)apps2sd = a2sd/+ script that moves apps to ext partiton?
Yes, FAT is the main data storage partition

I have installed app2sd and then done
Cache2SD
adb shell
/sd-ext/userinit.d/10cache2sdext-binds enable
Data2SD
adb shell
/sd-ext/userinit.d/11data2sdext-binds enable
Now, after reset there is not a single installed application, not even gmail. Even those installed on system partition before (not moved to SD card) are gone and I can't even access Market to reinstall them.
Is this normal? What can I do now?

gmail is not installed with cm, and if u not find it on the market mean is not available in ur country
this is not related to app2sd things..ur orignal problem was the space..with the app2sd u should have solved it now..reinstall all ur apps (leave ur apps on the internal memory, they will automatically moved on the ext) and u shouln't get anymore low space messages

How can I reinstall them if I don't even have Market anymore?

impactor said:
How can I reinstall them if I don't even have Market anymore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe u didn't read cm instructions ya?
after flash cm, u have to flash in recovery the gapps package here
this contains the market

I didn't reflash CM. I only installed App2SD

impactor said:
I didn't reflash CM. I only installed App2SD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
before u said "after reset"..what means?

I mean "after reboot".
I just tried installing gapps for CM but evne though the installation looked successful, after reboot I still cannot see any new apps, including the market.
I also cannot install any nightly build over current RM 7.1 as I am getting an ERROR during installation attempt.

After few tries, I managed to install newest nightly build (7.1 RC won't install at all as it says the zip is BAD even though md5 is correct).
Anyway, I installed google apps afterwards, but I only got google talk in the app menu. Still no Market...

[Q] Installing/activating a2sd on Mildwild 5.1 on Desire?

What the title says.
Fully rooted phone, sd card partitioned with 512mbyte ext, and CWM 4.0.1.4.
I keep running out of memory when installing apps, so I'm guessing a2sd isn't "on". What do I do?

blesavidanac said:
What the title says.
Fully rooted phone, sd card partitioned with 512mbyte ext, and CWM 4.0.1.4.
I keep running out of memory when installing apps, so I'm guessing a2sd isn't "on". What do I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
You can just install the croniccorey's INT2EXT+ from link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1716124
Good luck.

iyigit said:
Hi,
You can just install the croniccorey's INT2EXT+ from link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1716124
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my understanding, MildWild comes with a built-in a2sd feature. I just can't figure out how to activate it.

blesavidanac said:
To my understanding, MildWild comes with a built-in a2sd feature. I just can't figure out how to activate it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump.

I'm not sure if a2sd is enabled by default in Mildwild. You can try to install something like Quick System Info app which shows you A2SD storage if exists. If you won't see A2SD storage here, it's most probably inactive. Then download Terminal Emulator and follow those steps:
1) run Terminal Emulator
2) type 'su' a press enter
3) allow root access in the popup query
4) type 'a2sd install' and press enter
5) reply to questions in this order - y n y (dalvik to card - yes, data to card - no, reboot - yes)
6) you're done

rudiik said:
I'm not sure if a2sd is enabled by default in Mildwild. You can try to install something like Quick System Info app which shows you A2SD storage if exists. If you won't see A2SD storage here, it's most probably inactive. Then download Terminal Emulator and follow those steps:
1) run Terminal Emulator
2) type 'su' a press enter
3) allow root access in the popup query
4) type 'a2sd install' and press enter
5) reply to questions in this order - y n y (dalvik to card - yes, data to card - no, reboot - yes)
6) you're done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Quick System Info says 473mb (441mb free) A2SD storage. Terminal emulator says "a2sd not found". Is there a feature to check if it IS already enabled and working?
EDIT: Settings -> Storage -> Internal storage tells me there's only 148mb total space, so something isn't working.

blesavidanac said:
Thanks!
Quick System Info says 473mb (441mb free) A2SD storage. Terminal emulator says "a2sd not found". Is there a feature to check if it IS already enabled and working?
EDIT: Settings -> Storage -> Internal storage tells me there's only 148mb total space, so something isn't working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got the same problem and same rom it says 1750 mb a2sd is free but he cant seem to find it ...
i will try to change rom and update here i just hope its not a partition problem(i will try mildwild 5.2 first than i will try others)
Edit:mildwild 5.2 does the same problem i am going to try a diffrent rom now prbably old miui version
Edit2:the a2sd works pefect with the old miui so it is a rom problem we should notify to the developer of mildwild

blesavidanac said:
Thanks!
Quick System Info says 473mb (441mb free) A2SD storage. Terminal emulator says "a2sd not found". Is there a feature to check if it IS already enabled and working?
EDIT: Settings -> Storage -> Internal storage tells me there's only 148mb total space, so something isn't working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your A2SD appears to be working to an extent, but only used 32MB. you should use a better app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions, and check the apks are stored on the sd-ext
your internal storage only reads 148MB total because you are still on stock hboot (probably also still s-on?) this means you currently have 250MB system size, but your rom system size is only ~140MB and you're wasting 110MB.
you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space (145MB system, wastes only ~5MB, bigger 287MB internal memory)
depending on the A2SD script, your internal memory still won't appear as "internal + ext partition" or "148MB + 512MB" in your case. your internal should be used for app data and dalvik cache if it fits, and app apk's in sd-ext. you shouldnt have to manually 'move to sd' either.
recommend further reading here.
512MB partition is also quite small, i'd recommend at least 1GB, no more than 1.5GB. partition should be made with gparted or 4ext recovery only.
xzfzx said:
i got the same problem and same rom it says 1750 mb a2sd is free but he cant seem to find it ...
i will try to change rom and update here i just hope its not a partition problem(i will try mildwild 5.2 first than i will try others)
Edit:mildwild 5.2 does the same problem i am going to try a diffrent rom now prbably old miui version
Edit2:the a2sd works pefect with the old miui so it is a rom problem we should notify to the developer of mildwild
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the rom should have a built in method of A2SD, you may need to activate it, search the thread. others use different scripts like int2ext.
the same applies though, you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space. check everything using 'diskusage'

eddiehk6 said:
your A2SD appears to be working to an extent, but only used 32MB. you should use a better app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions, and check the apks are stored on the sd-ext
your internal storage only reads 148MB total because you are still on stock hboot (probably also still s-on?) this means you currently have 250MB system size, but your rom system size is only ~140MB and you're wasting 110MB.
you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space (145MB system, wastes only ~5MB, bigger 287MB internal memory)
depending on the A2SD script, your internal memory still won't appear as "internal + ext partition" or "148MB + 512MB" in your case. your internal should be used for app data and dalvik cache if it fits, and app apk's in sd-ext. you shouldnt have to manually 'move to sd' either.
recommend further reading here.
512MB partition is also quite small, i'd recommend at least 1GB, no more than 1.5GB. partition should be made with gparted or 4ext recovery only.
the rom should have a built in method of A2SD, you may need to activate it, search the thread. others use different scripts like int2ext.
the same applies though, you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space. check everything using 'diskusage'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no really need to change worlds now as i said on a old rom of miui the a2sd works fine and it does need to be activated with th terminal
in mildwild 5 it did work too but i cant download it anymore so i cant check...if i am going to the terminal in mildwild rom and do this:
$su
#a2sd check
a2sd not found
#a2sd install
a2sd not found
#exit
$exit
this is from my memory i am not sure if the output is accurate but still...
any way if i was in s on and no ext4 recovery for almost 3 years with this phone and alot of diffrent roms that used a2sd and it worked perfectly fine like the old version of miui i am using right now so i dont feel a need to change it but...i might listen to you anyway because i have a spare time XD
so can you give me a link to a guide of ext4 recovery and s off (i did look for an old guide i saw here but i cant seem to find it i am not that lazy!) i will stay with stock hboot for now...(i do use simple roms i am not going to move from GB for now because they are the most stable roms and a2sd method is good enough for my needs(i might not be so involved in pros or cons of other methods but this one is the simplest isnt it?))
(sorry for my bad english thank you for your reply)

eddiehk6 said:
your A2SD appears to be working to an extent, but only used 32MB. you should use a better app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions, and check the apks are stored on the sd-ext
your internal storage only reads 148MB total because you are still on stock hboot (probably also still s-on?) this means you currently have 250MB system size, but your rom system size is only ~140MB and you're wasting 110MB.
you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space (145MB system, wastes only ~5MB, bigger 287MB internal memory)
depending on the A2SD script, your internal memory still won't appear as "internal + ext partition" or "148MB + 512MB" in your case. your internal should be used for app data and dalvik cache if it fits, and app apk's in sd-ext. you shouldnt have to manually 'move to sd' either.
recommend further reading here.
512MB partition is also quite small, i'd recommend at least 1GB, no more than 1.5GB. partition should be made with gparted or 4ext recovery only.
the rom should have a built in method of A2SD, you may need to activate it, search the thread. others use different scripts like int2ext.
the same applies though, you should be s-off with cm7r2 hboot to maximise space. check everything using 'diskusage'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.
I haven't really had time to look into until now. I was s-off, but with stock hboot. Flashed cm7r2 and I now have ~280mb free! So that's step one. I'll continue searching for a solution to the sd2ext or a2sd or whatever it is, though. It should be built-in. Going to play around with it a bit, and see if there's something I can do. If not, I'll ask another question!
Thanks for helping out! It can get a little confusing, all this.

Installing CM7 with m2sd

I'm trying to install m2sd on cm7. I do a full wipe, install the Rom, gapps, and m2sd script. After starting up I enable m2sd for apps and reboot. Then I start installing software, but they take up space on internal memory. After moving them to sd they don't go to ext partition but to the fat one.
What could be the issue?

how did you partition you sd card? should be done with gparted (step 5 here) or 4ext recovery only (not minitool or clockworkmod recovery).
depending on the options chosen for m2sd, some stuff will still take space on internal, for instance app data is best left on internal for performance. use an app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions.
make sure you're also s-off and on cm7r2 hboot to maximise space (have a look for further guides if this doesnt make sense).

Try also enabling dalvik cache to sd.

Or the data + r-mount combination (which is I'm using now with no problem at all).

eddiehk6 said:
how did you partition you sd card? should be done with gparted (step 5 here) or 4ext recovery only (not minitool or clockworkmod recovery).
depending on the options chosen for m2sd, some stuff will still take space on internal, for instance app data is best left on internal for performance. use an app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions.
make sure you're also s-off and on cm7r2 hboot to maximise space (have a look for further guides if this doesnt make sense).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did it all again, to make sure I used gParted, so I'm sure I have 10gig Fat32, 4gig EXT4 and 256meg Swap. Then I did a full wipe of the phone, installed cm7, gapps, and when the system booted I installed and configured m2sd APK and rebooted. Still, in the gui section you can see "File System Type: N/A". It looks like it didn't recognise the FS but I have tried setting that to auto and EXT4
EDIT
Does anyone know what a2sd script has been used in THIS rom?

gaseki said:
I just did it all again, to make sure I used gParted, so I'm sure I have 10gig Fat32, 4gig EXT4 and 256meg Swap. Then I did a full wipe of the phone, installed cm7, gapps, and when the system booted I installed and configured m2sd APK and rebooted. Still, in the gui section you can see "File System Type: N/A". It looks like it didn't recognise the FS but I have tried setting that to auto and EXT4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
follow the guide again...
4gb ext4 partition is too much, you won't even need that much for apps! absolute maximum that i've read you should use is 2gb, personally i recommend 1.5gb.
you also don't need swap.
both partitions also need to be primary as per the guide.
EDIT
Does anyone know what a2sd script has been used in THIS rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that rom uses terminal emulator to enable A2SD. follow the guides/instructions in that thread.

[Q] Best ROM for space

Hi,
I've had to bring my Desire out of retirement until the end of my contract.
I am currently running Cyanogen Mod 10.0.0 but I am down to little space and apps don't update and I can't add new ones.
I have an SD card with 1 GB ext3 storage on it.
Which is the best configuration/ROM to allow me to have enough space to download all the apps I want without significant lag please?
Cheers

Do you understand current configuration first to understand why you're low on space?
- Have you run the A2SD commands from terminal emulator i.e. moved apps and dalvik to sd-ext?
- Is your /data (internal memory) partition full, or is it your 1GB sd-ext? Could you create a bigger partition?
- Check your /data partition with an app like 'DiskUsage', you may have some updated system apps like Play Store on /data which you could move back to /system.
If you have genuinely run out of space on that ROM, the limiting issue is stock hboot which I assume you are running. Even with apps and dalvik moved to sd-ext, you only have 147MB space for app data which can still run out.
Switch to a different hboot (requires s-off) with smaller system, and a ROM which moves apps and dalvik to sd-ext. I recommend one of Mildwild's, MW10 based on redux will fit onto OxygenR2 hboot with 332MB /data partition for instance.
I also recommend to repartition your sdcard with max 2GB ext4 partition if you have enough spare sd space. ext4 is also slightly faster than ext3.

eddiehk6 said:
Do you understand current configuration first to understand why you're low on space?
- Have you run the A2SD commands from terminal emulator i.e. moved apps and dalvik to sd-ext?
- Is your /data (internal memory) partition full, or is it your 1GB sd-ext? Could you create a bigger partition?
- Check your /data partition with an app like 'DiskUsage', you may have some updated system apps like Play Store on /data which you could move back to /system.
If you have genuinely run out of space on that ROM, the limiting issue is stock hboot which I assume you are running. Even with apps and dalvik moved to sd-ext, you only have 147MB space for app data which can still run out.
Switch to a different hboot (requires s-off) with smaller system, and a ROM which moves apps and dalvik to sd-ext. I recommend one of Mildwild's, MW10 based on redux will fit onto OxygenR2 hboot with 332MB /data partition for instance.
I also recommend to repartition your sdcard with max 2GB ext4 partition if you have enough spare sd space. ext4 is also slightly faster than ext3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks,
I'll try to deal with everything.
apps and dalvik have been moved using terminal emulator and yes, it's the 147MB that is the issue, not the ext3.
I have s-on
So if I have the s-off can I incorporate my ext3 or ext4 with internal storage to create a much bigger internal storage?
Cheers

PoshCat1 said:
Thanks,
I'll try to deal with everything.
apps and dalvik have been moved using terminal emulator and yes, it's the 147MB that is the issue, not the ext3.
I have s-on
So if I have the s-off can I incorporate my ext3 or ext4 with internal storage to create a much bigger internal storage?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite
S-OFF is merely an enabler, in this case it allows you to change hboot.
It has nothing to do with your sd-ext partition. This is handled by the A2SD script. Your internal memory still won't read 'internal + sd-ext' like it is currently, but the sd-ext is still doing its job.
What I would recommend:
- Titanium backup all user apps, backup contacts to Google, SMS with SMS backup and restore if you want
- Flash 2.3.3. RUU from here, put PB99IMG.zip on root of sd card and boot to bootloader, accept it when found
- Run Revolutionary to gain s-off (search for guides)
- Flash 4EXT recovery (see my sig, use fastboot or 4EXT app)
- Switch hboot using fastboot (to OxygenR2 if using Mildwild 10)
- Reboot to recovery, full wipe ("wipe all partitions except sd card" option)
- Flash ROM.zip
- Restore

eddiehk6 said:
Not quite
S-OFF is merely an enabler, in this case it allows you to change hboot.
It has nothing to do with your sd-ext partition. This is handled by the A2SD script. Your internal memory still won't read 'internal + sd-ext' like it is currently, but the sd-ext is still doing its job.
What I would recommend:
- Titanium backup all user apps, backup contacts to Google, SMS with SMS backup and restore if you want
- Flash 2.3.3. RUU from here, put PB99IMG.zip on root of sd card and boot to bootloader, accept it when found
- Run Revolutionary to gain s-off (search for guides)
- Flash 4EXT recovery (see my sig, use fastboot or 4EXT app)
- Switch hboot using fastboot (to OxygenR2 if using Mildwild 10)
- Reboot to recovery, full wipe ("wipe all partitions except sd card" option)
- Flash ROM.zip
- Restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks,
I will try that when I get some time.

[Q] app2sd not working on MildWild rom

hi,
I'm new to the forum and not sure if this is the right place for my question. I installed [Nov 25 2013] MildWild ROM but app2sd seems not working. Is there any way to configure it?
Thanks

This is the right place
App2sd should be working by default, it should move apps and dalvik automatically. just keep apps on 'internal' to trick them to sd-ext, so do not 'move to SD'
Make sure you have:
- correctly partitioned sd card using 4EXT recovery or gparted, no swap. you should have a maximum 2GB ext4 partition, see here
- (optional but recommended): cm7r2 hboot to maximise internal memory, requires s-off
- your internal memory will not read "internal + sd-ext", but partition is still working, use an app like DiskUsage to browse your partitions, check sd-ext is filling up as it should.

I realize that I missed the ext4 partition. Once created the part, it works fine. Thanks for you notes. Much appreciated.