Develop Bugs

[Q] Managing the SD Card and External SD Card

So, this device handles storage slightly differently than my HTC EVO 4G did. That, which pretty much needed an SD card for storage, mounted it in /mnt/sdcard/. This phone however, mounts the external SD card in /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/. I am guessing this is because this guy has 16GB internal storage already, and changes are if you were to dissect the phone, you'd probably find an SD card in there too.
I am thinking I'll just move my card contents over to internal storage. Programs that backup/restore data to /mnt/sdcard/ don't realize that this path isn't actually external storage.
I am wondering how this will affect those of us that frequently reflash. Does that partition get wiped when the ROM is wiped? Or is it really just another SD card internally that isn't touched by the system kernel or ROM except for storing user data?

I also have another Q, that's not online with the OP exactly but related to the topic. I'm coming from an e4g to the et4g and plan on using my sdcard from the e4g in the et4g (at least until I buy a 32gb card). I notice that there are many system files on the sdcard from the e4g, are these gonna be an issue with the et4g?
also, I was thinking to make a backup of the card as is to a hard drive, then delete all the files and reformat the card (fresh start), then add back only those I feel are necessary (backup apks, titanium backup files, pics & vids)....is this feasible?
lastly, are there any "don't touch" files on the scard that I should be aware of.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

KaliS-Pugilist said:
I also have another Q, that's not online with the OP exactly but related to the topic. I'm coming from an e4g to the et4g an plan on using my sdcard from the e4g
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, what is your question? You should be able to move the card, but like I stated, the paths seem to be different. It may be the same for you since both devices are Samsung, but maybe not.

muzicman82 said:
So, what is your question? You should be able to move the card, but like I stated, the paths seem to be different. It may be the same for you since both devices are Samsung, but maybe not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, mistakenly hit the submit button before putting my questions (hate when that happens)....
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

KaliS-Pugilist said:
I also have another Q, that's not online with the OP exactly but related to the topic. I'm coming from an e4g to the et4g and plan on using my sdcard from the e4g in the et4g (at least until I buy a 32gb card). I notice that there are many system files on the sdcard from the e4g, are these gonna be an issue with the et4g?
also, I was thinking to make a backup of the card as is to a hard drive, then delete all the files and reformat the card (fresh start), then add back only those I feel are necessary (backup apks, titanium backup files, pics & vids)....is this feasible?
lastly, are there any "don't touch" files on the scard that I should be aware of.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There shouldn't be anything you shouldn't touch. As far as I know, I think a program like Titanium Backup will archive everything.
What I would do is use Titanium Backup to backup old phone and restore to new phone. Then start the programs you use with personalized data at least once. If you end up with paths on both the phone storage and external storage, move the external over to the phone, replacing/combining.
I ended up doing this and found that my external SD card is now empty.. Starting clean!
It's pretty amazing how far 16GB built into a phone can go. I don't use my phone for movie watching or music often, so we'll see. Maybe I will.

I just notced on the e4g that there are 2 paths that both seem to lead to the same. destination file.
one is: /mnt/sdcard
the other is: /sdcard
the content is exactly the same. not sure if that info helps you any.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

KaliS-Pugilist said:
I just notced on the e4g that there are 2 paths that both seem to lead to the same. destination file.
one is: /mnt/sdcard
the other is: /sdcard
the content is exactly the same. not sure if that info helps you any.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shouldn't make a difference. I think there are two mounts to support applications that look to just /sdcard.

May i have 3rd grade level instructions on how to move all the contents from my sd card(evo) into the internal memory please?
Thanks,
Ian B

Mr Ian B said:
May i have 3rd grade level instructions on how to move all the contents from my sd card(evo) into the internal memory please?
Thanks,
Ian B
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you move the SD Card from your EVO 4G to the Epic 4G Touch, attach a USB cable to your PC. In the notification area on the phone, you have to touch the USB Connected status and then touch the button that says "Connect USB storage".
This will mount TWO removable disks. One will be the size of your SD Card. The other will come in at around 11.5GB. The 11.5GB is the internal storage.
Just use Windows to move everything over. You may want to back up both before you make changes just in case.
If the hardware doesn't mount in Windows, you may need to install the drivers first. They are installed with Samsung Kies, which is on their site.
If you need more info, let me know.

muzicman82 said:
There shouldn't be anything you shouldn't touch. As far as I know, I think a program like Titanium Backup will archive everything.
What I would do is use Titanium Backup to backup old phone and restore to new phone. Then start the programs you use with personalized data at least once. If you end up with paths on both the phone storage and external storage, move the external over to the phone, replacing/combining.
I ended up doing this and found that my external SD card is now empty.. Starting clean!
It's pretty amazing how far 16GB built into a phone can go. I don't use my phone for movie watching or music often, so we'll see. Maybe I will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thanks...im thinking to do this. im going to back up the entire sdcard on my PC (and ext HD) before i do anything.
also, i see about 15 files that have a "." prefix, ex) ".dataviz" are these system files for the apk's that are installed? should these be deleted or just leave and if i find it has been created on the phones storage just move it over?
anyways...my et4g just came in today, so after work i'm going in my cave to unbox and forget about the rest of the world.

[Q] Running out of Space, Symlinks and Installing Apps to SDcard

Due to size limitations (GPads only coming in 16gb varieties) I am beginning to run low on space on my Gpad (v500 running cm11). However I have a 64gb microSD card and I would like to use this as much as I can to conserve space on the internal memory.
There are a few ways to solve this but I not fully know how to do this.
Firstly, is it possible install apps to microSD card? If so, how? I know some devices support this and some do not. My phone for example does not but I have heard that some people have had success with this.
Next, there are some rather large folders on my internal storage that I would like move to my sdcard however the apps that use those folder can only read them where they are currently located (cmupdates, ebooks, etc).
I read about symlinks and managed to make a few but the only place I was able to make a symlink was to /data/media/0. But the changes to that do not show up the apps which I believe read either /sdcard or /storage/emulated/0. And for my SDcard I can get to it either in /mnt/media/sdcard1 or through /storage/sdcard1.
I tried and succeeded in making a link between /mnt/media/sdcard1/eBooks and /data/media/0/eBooks however the link does not show up in /sdcard or /storage/emulated/0 and it does not show up in the apps, leading me to believe that is where the apps read the sdcard from.
If anyone can answer the above two questions or give any other suggestions for maximizing available space on my internal card please let me know.
Thank you!

I think most of your issues could be resolved with Link2SD (under 10 posts, can't post a link to Google Play).

You can also use an app called Foldermount. It's only $.99 ( if I recall correctly) for the unlocked version. This allows you to move any folder to SD card. I like it as it guides you thru the way and will move the data for you as well. Latest version has been updated to allow apps from play store to install properly. Well worth the $1 price.

mzfckr993 said:
I think most of your issues could be resolved with Link2SD (under 10 posts, can't post a link to Google Play).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cbb77 said:
You can also use an app called Foldermount. It's only $.99 ( if I recall correctly) for the unlocked version. This allows you to move any folder to SD card. I like it as it guides you thru the way and will move the data for you as well. Latest version has been updated to allow apps from play store to install properly. Well worth the $1 price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys! Looks like using these two combined I can get exactly what I wanted. I'll use link2SD to put apps on the SD card and Foldermount to move the other folders I want moved.
Thanks again!

Can you let me know if this works for you? I can't get mine to read or write my SD card at all! I can't even move a picture from my Box cloud account to the SD card. Are you experiencing this? Or did I get a bad unit?

1barlog17 said:
Can you let me know if this works for you? I can't get mine to read or write my SD card at all! I can't even move a picture from my Box cloud account to the SD card. Are you experiencing this? Or did I get a bad unit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These solutions did work for me, I am still tweaking to get it the way I like it especially since every time I update my Rom Link2SD has to generate new scripts. I can ready and write to the SD card just fine and I could before I started using this as well. I am not sure why you aren't able to write to your sd card. Could it be a bad SD card? Try plugging it into your computer.

I've tried 2 different SD cards both of which I can move files to and from on my computer. So I know it's not the card. I'm thinking maybe I should exchange it out for another day one...

1barlog17 said:
I've tried 2 different SD cards both of which I can move files to and from on my computer. So I know it's not the card. I'm thinking maybe I should exchange it out for another day one...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably... That sounds like a device issue not card.

How are the cards formatted?
The ROM you are using may not support the format.
1barlog17 said:
I've tried 2 different SD cards both of which I can move files to and from on my computer. So I know it's not the card. I'm thinking maybe I should exchange it out for another day one...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

C0BRA01 said:
How are the cards formatted?
The ROM you are using may not support the format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure I just put the card in my computer and clicked format SD card. I'm not rooted or running any special ROM, it's completely stock out've the box.

Well, if you did it from your PC, it may be formatted NTFS, and you need them formatted FAT 32. Get it here; http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html Not only allows formatting almost any format xFAT, Fat32, NTFS, etc.. and you can partition them also which is not supported by Windows, but IS supported by most Android ROMs. I doubt there is anything wrong with your device.
1barlog17 said:
I'm not sure I just put the card in my computer and clicked format SD card. I'm not rooted or running any special ROM, it's completely stock out've the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

C0BRA01 said:
Well, if you did it from your PC, it may be formatted NTFS, and you need them formatted FAT 32. Get it here; http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html Not only allows formatting almost any format xFAT, Fat32, NTFS, etc.. and you can partition them also which is not supported by Windows, but IS supported by most Android ROMs. I doubt there is anything wrong with your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, this makes me feel a little better about my purchase, I'll give it a try. I'm also thinking of buying a 64gb San Disk card and hopefully it will just work with a brand new one.

These solutions did work for me, I am still tweaking to get it the way I like it especially since every time I update my Rom Link2SD has to generate new scripts. I can ready and write to the SD card just fine and I could before I started using this as well. I am not sure why you aren't able to write to your sd card. Could it be a bad SD card? Try plugging it into your computer.

Lucien2 said:
These solutions did work for me, I am still tweaking to get it the way I like it especially since every time I update my Rom Link2SD has to generate new scripts. I can ready and write to the SD card just fine and I could before I started using this as well. I am not sure why you aren't able to write to your sd card. Could it be a bad SD card? Try plugging it into your computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been trying to fix the issue with Rom updates and link2sd. You have to provide the Rom (in my case cyanogenmod) a backup script so it can back up the files. I am planning on figuring it out at some point but if you get it before I do would you mind posting your script? Thanks!
Sent from my VS870 4G using XDA Premium HD app

colwellkr said:
I have been trying to fix the issue with Rom updates and link2sd. You have to provide the Rom (in my case cyanogenmod) a backup script so it can back up the files. I am planning on figuring it out at some point but if you get it before I do would you mind posting your script? Thanks!
Sent from my VS870 4G using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So a follow up with this, I was able to get a script working. I don't know if this feature is unique to cyanogenmod or not but any script in /system/addon.d will execute itself during a rom install and be restored automatically if it was wiped. So using 50-cm.sh as an example I made a script called 11-link2sd.sh to perform the backup of the mount script for link2sd which is located in /system/etc/init.d/11link2sd.
I then had insert this script and my mount script into a cyanogenmod update and flash it in. But after that I tried flashing an update of cm11 to test it and it worked! Attached is my script which should also work for anyone who is able to flash it into their /system/addon.d folder.

[Q] USB OTG issue

Hello folks, long time reader first time poster here.
I was looking around on the net and I'm unable to solve a bizzare issue with USB otg. I have a rooted but stock nexus 7 2nd version, and can use USB otg fine I guess, but here's the problem.
No matter what the size of said USB pen, it's always registered as the same size as the tablet storage. I can't understand this at all and nobody seems to have had this problem so far as I can tell. Done various formatting with apps but its always 12gb like the internal SD. Any advice would be very welcome as I'd very much like to use all of my space on a USB stick haha

turbodude555 said:
Hello folks, long time reader first time poster here.
I was looking around on the net and I'm unable to solve a bizzare issue with USB otg. I have a rooted but stock nexus 7 2nd version, and can use USB otg fine I guess, but here's the problem.
No matter what the size of said USB pen, it's always registered as the same size as the tablet storage. I can't understand this at all and nobody seems to have had this problem so far as I can tell. Done various formatting with apps but its always 12gb like the internal SD. Any advice would be very welcome as I'd very much like to use all of my space on a USB stick haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are u using stickmount?

varuntis1993 said:
Are u using stickmount?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I am, is it a well known issue then, I assume from your asking? I seem to have found a way around it, so long as I move nothing more than about 3gb a go. No moving folders of many items

turbodude555 said:
Yes I am, is it a well known issue then, I assume from your asking? I seem to have found a way around it, so long as I move nothing more than about 3gb a go. No moving folders of many items
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also use stickmount app, it would not show in the storage in settings on stock rom but on a custom rom since they have enabled that feature by default and kernel should support that feature to make it native, they have it under the storage settings but when using stickmount u will see that the misc storage increases and if u click on that u will find usb storage.

varuntis1993 said:
I also use stickmount app, it would not show in the storage in settings on stock rom but on a custom rom since they have enabled that feature by default it has it under the storage settings but when using stickmount u will see that the misc storage increases and other things does increase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always says the same storage as the SD, but at least I can use the whole 64gb a couple GB at a time. Just seems to be an error in the system not detecting size beyond 12GB. So as soon as you move a folder of various videos, for example, at say a total of 6gb, it'll scream "noooo not enough space!". But if I do file by file its totally fine. Oh well

turbodude555 said:
Always says the same storage as the SD, but at least I can use the whole 64gb a couple GB at a time. Just seems to be an error in the system not detecting size beyond 12GB. So as soon as you move a folder of various videos, for example, at say a total of 6gb, it'll scream "noooo not enough space!". But if I do file by file its totally fine. Oh well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried to copy a big file such as 6gb but I use my 16gb pendrive with it and it works fine mainly I copy my nandroid backups of around 2-3 gb. Try a different file browser maybe a problem with that btw Can u tell me what is the file format and size of a single file not a folder and also have u fomatted ur sd card in ntfs or fat 32

varuntis1993 said:
I haven't tried to copy a big file such as 6gb but I use my 16gb pendrive with it and it works fine mainly I copy my nandroid backups of around 2-3 gb. Try a different file browser maybe a problem with that btw Can u tell me what is the file format and size of a single file not a folder and also have u fomatted ur sd card in ntfs or fat 32
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it was a folder of a selection of files like I said before. About 1 to 2gb videos, my USB pen is 64gb and fat32 format right now as it seems to work the best. ES file explorer is the file browser I use. Like I said at the start, so far as I can tell, I can use all 64gb just fine but only 12 is "registered" as being available, same size as the onboard SD. So long as I move things in 1 to 2gb amounts its fine. Try to do multiple files or one big file and its "No space left"

turbodude555 said:
Well it was a folder of a selection of files like I said before. About 1 to 2gb videos, my USB pen is 64gb and fat32 format right now as it seems to work the best. ES file explorer is the file browser I use. Like I said at the start, so far as I can tell, I can use all 64gb just fine but only 12 is "registered" as being available, same size as the onboard SD. So long as I move things in 1 to 2gb amounts its fine. Try to do multiple files or one big file and its "No space left"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use solid explorer, can u try with that & also a different pendrive.If even then also the problem is there
Go to this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/themes-apps/02-11-2013-stickmount-v2-30-t1400034 and report here with screen shots.

SD card and video troubles

Hi. I got my tablet not long ago. But I have some issues with sd card and video. It behaves strange. Sometimes i can't play even regular video files on sd. Even same video file. It shows cant be played, even with different players. And i cant download files from torrents on sd. What can be a problem? Thank you.
I have sd samsung pro 64gb class 10.

Have you rooted and thus full access to the sdcard?

schoofi said:
Have you rooted and thus full access to the sdcard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I didnt.

I am also new to the Android world but I think this is the problem. Google denies read write access to the SD card for non-Google apps, like file explorers or video players. Would be great if someone else can confirm

Sometimes i can't play even regular video files on sd. Even same video file. It shows cant be played, even with different players. And i cant download files from torrents on sd. Wh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess your video files are corrupted. that usually happens with unfinished torrent's files. double check their integrity.
you just can't dwld directly to SD without root. use internal memory instead and move files to SD when finished and you'll be fine.
Sent from my SM-T805M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I fixed my sd card read and write problems even though I dont have an sd card... I really need to get one!

aldrighi said:
I guess your video files are corrupted. that usually happens with unfinished torrent's files. double check their integrity.
you just can't dwld directly to SD without root. use internal memory instead and move files to SD when finished and you'll be fine.
I tried. I mean i downloaded a video file to internal memory, it played. When i moved to SD card it stopped playing. Even when i moved back to internal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

are you sure you have formated the sd in fat? have you tested your sd working in other device? wich size of files you're talking about? Gbs per file?
Sent from my SM-T805M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

aldrighi said:
are you sure you have formated the sd in fat? have you tested your sd working in other device? wich size of files you're talking about? Gbs per file?
I formatted it on my tablet. I hope it did in right way. I didnt check on other devices. File size from 1gb to 2.5. Btw, I downloaded straight to sd card from PC a hole show season, about 9gb, avi format, when i just bought sd, and it works. All others video files in different formats doesnt play. I tried even to download from PC straight to SD card using PC sd adapter. Nothing.
P.S. File system exFAT on sd. Checked on pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

And it looks like I cant root the tablet, because i have T807V 4G. I couldnt find any root methods for that model.

That's really very strange and I am running out of leads. last thing I would consider is to format the SD using sd format tool as regular fat. but it's just a shot.
try to get another sd just to eliminate possibility of device's fault.
hope anybody can spot what we are missing here.
I am not awared about rooting cause I'm looking for a knox 0 way. check cf-auto root thread and an expert user would help you.
Sent from my SM-T805M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Only 299MB of 299MB external storage

Hello,
I have a 3 TB external drive (seagate) and the new update from Amazon that allows you to connect via USB . I formatted my drive to Fat32 using a 3rd party Program because windows 8.1 I guess only allows you to format in exFat but I need fat32 right? no matter what though EXfat or Fat32 I only have 299MB of 299MB its not seeing 3TB. does anyone know what I am doing wrong here? Also what can I do to move the app+data to my External HDD say for a games I download from Amazon. the whole point is to be able to move game data thats what the people want....well that and downloaded content. Anyway is there an app that moves data and app or just data without root?
Thanks,

rj2763 said:
Hello,
I have a 3 TB external drive (seagate) and the new update from Amazon that allows you to connect via USB . I formatted my drive to Fat32 using a 3rd party Program because windows 8.1 I guess only allows you to format in exFat but I need fat32 right? no matter what though EXfat or Fat32 I only have 299MB of 299MB its not seeing 3TB. does anyone know what I am doing wrong here? Also what can I do to move the app+data to my External HDD say for a games I download from Amazon. the whole point is to be able to move game data thats what the people want....well that and downloaded content. Anyway is there an app that moves data and app or just data without root?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably have a hidden partition on the drive. See here for more info: http://www.aftvnews.com/what-to-do-if-the-amazon-fire-tv-only-sees-197mb-of-a-usb-drive/

AFTVnews.com said:
You probably have a hidden partition on the drive. See here for more info: http://www.aftvnews.com/what-to-do-if-the-amazon-fire-tv-only-sees-197mb-of-a-usb-drive/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did have one thank you! I ended up using a this link here witch tells you how to delete hidden partitions http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/72858.aspx but i would not have known without your help. after that I used this http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm to turn it into Fat32 but the Highest it does is 2TB witch it a lot honestly for fat32.
Now all I need to know is how to move my application data to an external drive to free up space without root???

I have a 2 TB external drive (slim) and the Fire TV formatted it by itself.