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partitioning sd card

hey everyone
i have rooted my phone and installed cyanongen mod7, the fact is that i followed the noobprrof tutorial, and as he stated i partitioned my sd card, i left 1 gb ( its a 4gb memory now its divided to 3 and 1 ), but i didnt know where did it go and why i did partition my sd card, i thought it would add up to internal memory but it didnt...
please can anyone tell me whats the purpose of paritioning it ?? and how can i let apps get installed on this paritioned part if its purpose is so...
thanks in advance

It's for a2sd, it doesn't add up in internal memory, if you want to check if it's there download quick sytem info from the market, it's purpose is to store apps on your sd(mainly, there's always some data left.) for example when i had stock 2.2 froyo on my desire non rooted, i couldn't have more than 165-170 apps, now i have 379 and ext is also for the rom itself, like a sense rom doesn't fit totally on the system partion, so the part which doesn't fit is on your sd
Hope you understand it

thank u, i actually understood wut ur saying
for instance, i have downloaded games and stuff, now the phone says that the phonememory is on low storage, i still have like 30 mb... i tend to move apps from phone to sd card...
incase all internal memory is used will it conitinue installing on the 1gb i have paritioned... and is it just a notification that doesnt effect anything...
i also would like to ask if i can i can automatically download & install the apps from the market on the sd card...
thanks again
ps: i checked the system info and yes it is there... a2sd 0.96gb and 0.9gb free

It's not just like that
If you install an app for instance google earth, it's around 24mb, 300-400kb will stay on your phone and the rest will go to that partition automatically, although some apps like this iBeer i installed is fully on sd, it depends, but if you're low on memory just move some apps manually to your sd(this doesn't make them move to the ext but fat32 partition(the part that windows can see). If you just insert a SD and applt android's app2sd not a lot of the app will go to the sd, on the other hand the a2sd implied in rom's doesn't give you limitless place till you sd is full. If you want that apply data2sd, that adds to the internal memory as you thought
the max apps you can put on your desire with a2sd is max 400 i think, as i can't move any app manually to sd, and i have 35mb left with 379 apps
hope u understand it even better now

ok i did move the apps 2 sdcard, but they are moved to the 3gb partition and not the 1gb partition which i cant see, i only want to know what is the purpose of this 1gb that i made due to the tutorial... since i cant move apps to it or even put files on via usb ( as music and stuff )... then why is it created... ??
ps : the 1 gb is ext4 the 3gb is the fat32
i really wish there was some thread explaining all , maybe i would have let ur life easier hehe, im sory but im new on android...
thanks again

What did you use to create the 1gb partition? Did you use something like mini partition .. under windows?
I had a hell of a time trying to get it to work this way (if you did) the solution i found was to get the gparted live cd (google it) and run the partitioning wizard on that and the auto apps2sd will work.
The point of doing it is that some roms need more space than the desire has, I'm using insert coin and it needs a proparly formatted ext3 to work to fit the whole rom onto the phone.
Have you checked using quick system info to see if the a2sd storage is being recognised?

hey amriving
actually i did divide my sd card with gparted, everythings going great, but the fact that i cant use the 1000 mb ext2 partition (app2sd) is wut im asking about... (total of 4gb memory)
i mean when i move the apps to sd card they go to the 3gb fat32 space i have, and not the 1gb i partitioned...
so what i want to know is what is the purpose of this (app2sd) 1gb ext2 partition, how can i use it
i checked the system info and i found that there is 0.96gb of the app2sd partition and there is free 0.9 gb,
i have cyanogen mod7 rom
and thanks for the reply

Don't move it to sd, i think you didn't understood me, it does it automatically, just install a app, look at it's size, then delete it, you'll see that not that size went away from your memory but much less
You can't use it through windows, only if you have linux you'll be able to see inside the ext also with root explorer( go to recovery and then mounts then press mount EXT )
And they go to the 1GB partition. There will be an android.secure in your sd with apps, but if it wouldn't work, i wouldn't have 55mb android.secure with 390 apps now! and just 100mb free on 1.4GB ext, Just don't question this anymore, download 100 apps, you'll see it very well then if you don't then you obviously have a problem

thanks everyone
android.secure is on 3gb fat32 not the 1 gb ext...
i also went to recovery its on mount sd ext...
guys what i want to know is why when moving the apps to sdcard, they are going to 3gb fat32 partition instead of 1gb ext4 partition...
is nt it supposed to go to 1gb ext4 partition ?! which is the reason every android user is doing for ... ?
i have checked the ap2sd and yes it is there
android.secure file is in 3gb partition not the 1gb ext4 partition

No no you didn't understand me, look normally with 160 apps would your phone memory be full, and your android.secure(on the 3gb partition) be large, now it shouldn't be very big anymore, because for example city story is 23mb, 1mb on phone memory and 22 on ext. normally this would be 5-10 mb on phone memory and remainder on the 3gb(fat32 partition) now this is most of the times divided over the 3 or just in ext and phone memory, and the main reason is a lot of the app goes on the ext

answer
F*S Even i, a noob understood it 3 times allready..
btw this answers my final question here
listen(more like read), i'll try to resimplify the answer for you, think of an android app as a windows app.
a windows app is Commonly installed in 3 - yes THREE seprate location at once!
1. Main Program Files - C:\program files\<APP NAME HERE>
this contains all the app's inner working, modules, GUI, sound, pictures and stuff - most of the app is located here so this folder is 'heavy'
2. appdata - C:\Users\<USER NAME HERE>\appdata\<Local \ Roaming>\<APP NAME HERE>
this may contain any setting, saves, projects, and temp files for the app to use.
so only some parts make it here - litewight but still takes up space..
3. Registry - run>regedit.exe
this is sort of a log file for all windows operation, installaions, apps location and sometimes even app settings
again litewight but takes place..
SAME WITH ANDROID - sort of..
an android app contains Resource Data - like program files, the 'exeutable', settings, modules, critical data for the exeutable and more..
and so when you use the traditional APPS2SD that comes Froyo+ ( settings>apps>google earth>move to SD/PHONE )
all the non-critical data and resources move to the SD fat32 patition.
all the remaining critical data, 'exeutable' and stuff remain on the internal memory which still takes up valuable internal space, that's where a2sd+ comes in, as mentioned before, a2sd+ again moves to rest of the remaining appdata to the ext, and only tiny critical part of the app remains on the internal memory - therefor you get to install many apps until you internal memory fills up or the ext fills up, this time only the absolute critical app files that cant be moved to the ext OR the fat32..
as TopGear63z said:
most of the times divided over the 3 or just in ext and phone memory, and the main reason is a lot of the app goes on the ext
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
data2sd extends your internal storage..
a2sd+ lets you install more aps
EXPERTS: Please verify my answer as i am also a noob and this is my understanding on the subject, i maybe very wrong or very right
PS: Why double post

thankyou asaf400
actually i know all this and i really appreciate ur reply
but wut i wanted is to install apps on ext, and actually i found it i downloaded simple2ext app and now i have 150mb free internal memory, see now all apps are on ext part of the memory card... this is what i wanted to know...
thanks all

or you could just flash a data2sd based custom rom like droidzone's starburst or gingerburst... you'll get upto 2gb of internal memory from the start

[Q] SD-card partitioning / storage layout on desire

Dear XDA forum,
since a few roms i always get a "low on storage" warning, even after factory reset and flashing a new rom.
So i'd want to ask for a small summery of what storage there is inside the desire and on the sdcard and how to solve this problem
My sdcard is 16GB class 10. I didnt partition it manually (i think).
according to my desire it has effective 14.2gb.about 2gb are used and 4gb are free? that doesnt sound right.
so i guess its 2 partitions?
could anyone please tell me which mountpoint is which?
and how do i solve the low storage problem? do i need some a2sd script or do i have to more the internal storage to the sdcard?
which mountpoints do the scripts actarlly move?
i have no problem with repartitioning my sdcard. i was given to understand that u usually need a fat32 partition (for apps i guess) and an ext2/3 partition afterwards. some scripts even allow a swap partition at the end of the sdcard to be used as swap space. is that a good idea?
i know its a lot of questions :/ but i hope for some good answers :>
thanks & greetings,
soomon

my advice would be to backup your sd card and (re)partition using gparted, start from scratch because I don't know what your current configuration is, step 5 here
choose ext3/ext4 partition (max ~1.5GB) depending on rom requirements, most support ext4 and should be slightly faster. most roms don't need swap partition.
in simple terms, your space will get taken up by apps (apks), dalvik cache, app cache and app data. most custom roms will automatically move apks to your sd-ext partition. there are various different scripts which move the other bits around. generally it is better to keep app data on internal (/data partition)
regardless of which rom you choose, use an app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions, so you can work out where and how all your space is being use.
to maximise space you also need to be s-off and correct hboot for the rom (again should be stated within each rom thread, or search within it)

ok so the first partition on the sdcard will become my sd-ext which will replace the /data partition on the internal storage.
I guess is hould try data2sd then?
with a class 10 it should not get that slow and i get loads of space on that partition.
thanks for your help.

also use links2d,very usefull.....

hi again,
as i see in a terminal emulator by typing "df -h"
my data is 150mb and has 15mb left, so i guess i better moe the whole partition to the sdcard as i'd have to move all the apps to the sdcard anyway sooner or later.
my /system has only 5mb of 250mb left. is that a problem?

soomon said:
hi again,
as i see in a terminal emulator by typing "df -h"
my data is 150mb and has 15mb left, so i guess i better moe the whole partition to the sdcard as i'd have to move all the apps to the sdcard anyway sooner or later.
my /system has only 5mb of 250mb left. is that a problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depends entirely what rom you're running if any, and what scripts it uses. basically you should be able to find some way to install many apps without running out of space (one of the main reasons for rooting in the first place ).
with your current setup, you could try something like link2sd to just move apps and dalvik to sd, see if you have enough space that way. you shouldnt have to manually 'move to sd', keeping them on 'internal' tricks them to sd-ext. (you can use something like 'diskusage' to check they're actually on the sd-ext)
the system partition is meant to be mostly full. free space on /system is wasted space.
you're still on stock hboot, which is why your data partition is so small.
if you install another rom, many of them have a smaller system size, so if you're s-off you can flash a different hboot to repartition your internal memory layout: your system size will reduce to roughly match your rom, and the saved space is converted into extra data space, see alpharev.nl for hboots.
e.g. if your rom system is 140MB, will fit nicely into cm7r2 hboot with 145MB system, and you get 287MB of data instead of 150MB. 287MB can be enough to store app data and dalvik cache if you don't have too many apps.
i refer you to these sets of guides for further reading, should explain a lot more, and better than i have...

thanks eddie,
i'm still s-on and stock hboot, but i use a custom rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766550
i guess the problem is that LBE gues 4 and lookout together need over 22mb of space :/
i'll try link2sd then.
thanks!

hm.. when i try to install link2sd i get "insufficient storage available". that program is not even 1MB in size and i have 15mb of free space on the internal storage.. what can i do?
edit: i'll try to install it at home with an adb tool. maybe i have more luck with that.

follow instructions for a2sd with that rom (scroll down). this will move apps and dalvik to sd-ext automatically. or follow/search the thread for other methods, it's regularly discussed...
[not used link2sd, it should in theory do the same thing, but my advice would be to stick with the instructions as that's the recommended way if you really need/want to install link2sd...uninstall something else to make more space ]

ofc removing apps might help (althrough i only installed 2 or 3). but 15mb should be enough to install a 800kb software
gonna try to install some apps later after running a2sd.
thanks a lot man didnt see that information.

[Q] Questions about the script int2ext

I use the PA 6.0 rom.And it only has less than 100mb internal.I study the thread of int2ext.It said that 100mb internal is needed for every 500mb sd-ext.Does it mean i can only use less than 500mb ext until my internal memory is full? So why? Is it because the script only mount some data to ext? I would like to have lots of apps.I have 1.5G ext and my tf is class 6.So which scipt should i use?

fzy139 said:
I use the PA 6.0 rom.And it only has less than 100mb internal.I study the thread of int2ext.It said that 100mb internal is needed for every 500mb sd-ext.Does it mean i can only use less than 500mb ext until my internal memory is full? So why? Is it because the script only mount some data to ext? I would like to have lots of apps.I have 1.5G ext and my tf is class 6.So which scipt should i use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"100MB is needed for every 500MB sd-ext" is just a rough ratio to give you an estimate of how big to make your sd-ext. How everything fills up is all dependent on how many apps you install.
1.5GB sd-ext should be plenty. As long as it is created properly in gparted or 4EXT recovery will work fine, keep it.
Search the rom thread to see other users' experience of int2ext, should work. You should start fresh to get best results.
- titanium backup user apps and nandroid backup
- full wipe
- reflash rom, reboot
- reboot to recovery, flash int2ext script
- reboot and restore apps again
- use an app like 'diskusage' to browse all your partitions, see how they're filling up.

[Q] plants vs zombies2 install problem

I wanted to install p. vs z 2 but it has 168 MB. And our Desire 151MB system partitionn :crying:
Of cause i have an ext partition. There are 754 free Mb of 1,41 GB. (quick system info)
But my intern memory just have 33,44MB of 151 free.
So on the ext i could install it 4 times but the store first download to intern. Is there a way to install? Maybe if someone uploads the apk and i flash it in the recovery directly to ext4?
An other question. When i startet my phone there where just 5,6MB free. When moves the a2sd script things to the partition and when moves it it back?

HandyBesitzer said:
I wanted to install p. vs z 2 but it has 168 MB. And our Desire 151MB system partitionn :crying:
Of cause i have an ext partition. There are 754 free Mb of 1,41 GB. (quick system info)
But my intern memory just have 33,44MB of 151 free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your /data partition is 151MB, not your /system partition. Your /system partition is 250MB as you are on stock hboot.
So on the ext i could install it 4 times but the store first download to intern. Is there a way to install? Maybe if someone uploads the apk and i flash it in the recovery directly to ext4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When installing apps, as far as I know it doesn't actually install it to internal (/data), and then move it to ext4. It should install it directly to ext4.
However, depending on the ROM, it needs to see the available space on the internal. The apk is then tricked to your ext4 partition.
One way to install it which might work (not tried it)
- Find and download the apk
- Copy and paste it to your /sd-ext partition using a file browser
- Change file permissions to match your other apps
- Reboot
An other question. When i startet my phone there where just 5,6MB free. When moves the a2sd script things to the partition and when moves it it back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM are you using, and are you using the built in A2SD script or something else? Any A2SD script should move apps (and maybe dalvik cache) automatically to your ext4 partition. I does not move it to internal and back to ext4.
It looks like your memory usage is not very efficient. You may benefit from changing hboot if your ROM /system size is a lot smaller than 250MB. Your dalvik cache might also be on internal, when you could move it to sd-ext where there is plenty of free space.

eddiehk6 said:
Your /data partition is 151MB, not your /system partition. Your /system partition is 250MB as you are on stock hboot.
When installing apps, as far as I know it doesn't actually install it to internal (/data), and then move it to ext4. It should install it directly to ext4.
However, depending on the ROM, it needs to see the available space on the internal. The apk is then tricked to your ext4 partition.
One way to install it which might work (not tried it)
- Find and download the apk
- Copy and paste it to your /sd-ext partition using a file browser
- Change file permissions to match your other apps
- Reboot
What ROM are you using, and are you using the built in A2SD script or something else? Any A2SD script should move apps (and maybe dalvik cache) automatically to your ext4 partition. I does not move it to internal and back to ext4.
It looks like your memory usage is not very efficient. You may benefit from changing hboot if your ROM /system size is a lot smaller than 250MB. Your dalvik cache might also be on internal, when you could move it to sd-ext where there is plenty of free space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm using RSK Sattelite ROM.
but if the apps are installed to ext how comes that the data sometimes has about 10MB free and after i installed an update there are 15MB free??

HandyBesitzer said:
i'm using RSK Sattelite ROM.
but if the apps are installed to ext how comes that the data sometimes has about 10MB free and after i installed an update there are 15MB free??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends a bit on how your script works. Reading the ROM OP it has some sort of "a2sdx" built it, I'm not familiar with exactly how it works. You need to understand this script first before wondering about anything internal memory related.
Think about it logically though...the script is meant to move things to the ext. That's its purpose. Generally they move at least the whole app apk to ext.
So
- If you have an app installed, it should already be on the ext.
- When you update the app, it will overwrite the existing apk on ext.
- There are other things along with an app such as app libs, app data and dalvik cache, which may be on internal or ext depending on the script. These can change on app updates as well.
Have a look at an app like 'DiskUsage', use it to browse your /data partition. See what's using the space. Often you may have some stray /system apps on /data, and you need to move them back to /system.

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.