Increase System partition size - Desire 816 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So, lollipop finally came to our device, bringing some improvements with it, but there is one big downside : I end up having to remove my apps in order to update the system apps.
What I was wondering is, is there a way to use the whole internal sd for system and apps, and trick the system to use external sd for everything else.
This would live enough space for apps and further updates.
If someone has an idea, can he share his view upon the subject ?

Related

Partition Sizes

Curious if anyone has modified the partition table on the device? With the System taking up 4 some gigs... seems silly not to shrink it down a bit for more app usage. Any thoughts on this one or am I just thinking silly on it?
I think the same but i found nothing. I flashed a debloated rom for the 10.1 and now have 1.2GB free on system parts. I used titanium backup to transfer some app from data to system but it's boring. But it's nothing compared to my MicroSD card memory
eowindel said:
I think the same but i found nothing. I flashed a debloated rom for the 10.1 and now have 1.2GB free on system parts. I used titanium backup to transfer some app from data to system but it's boring. But it's nothing compared to my MicroSD card memory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did transfer some apps over as well, or in reality can remove them because they sit on the SD partition because of updates (really wish it would just update to system by default). I know moving some updates over just screws it up, let alone just moving screws up the icons on the desktop portion.
I don't have a de-bloated rom right now. The way I see it, its being used or wasted at this point. Apps don't seem to be slowing it down, though im sure a few are running in the background, but nothing that has hampered battery life like my previous Nexus 7 (2013). This seems to do much better at not wasting power. Guess im not being as picky as I use to with random apps chewing up space.
I would of jumped all over a 32GB edition from the get go. Paired with a 64GB SD card, its win win. Even now it is, just can't install everything I want to in 1 go since most apps still are stored locally on the main internal SD Partition and can't be transferred over. I can live with it, and im sure someone will figure it out. I know I use to do it with an old phone that had, next to no internal memory (a loong time ago). PITA to update, but well worth being able to use the phone.
You can use FolderMount [ROOT] to create a symbolic link between internal SD card and external to move your application.
For example if you want your google offline music on sdcard you can mount /sdcard/android/data/com.google.android.music on external sdcard.
It is possible to do it for every folder so it solves the problem :highfive:
eowindel said:
You can use FolderMount [ROOT] to create a symbolic link between internal SD card and external to move your application.
For example if you want your google offline music on sdcard you can mount /sdcard/android/data/com.google.android.music on external sdcard.
It is possible to do it for every folder so it solves the problem :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah just read into that. Thanks for the link so it reminds me.
Course, internal storage is always faster But for music/movies obviously SD Card just works fine with that.

[Q] Kitkat Rom with SD card fix?

Before anyone answers, no, I am not looking to simply enable write access to the external SDcard!
Q: Is there a Sense 6 based rom (for the M8 of course), that returns pre-Kitkat functionality for the external SDcard?
I hardly have any apps installed, but because I use GPS apps with offline maps, and the numerous e-books (lots of graphic novels) and such I take along to pass time, my internal memory space is already getting close to full. I've already used the supposed SDcard Fix, which does allow me to write to the external SDcard, but the apps still use the internal storage space only. If not a Sense 6 based rom, is there a alternative rom which returns functionality to the external SDcard? Or maybe some way to change or add symbolic links? It's driving me crazy that I purchased a 64GB card just so that I can carry as much as I can with me and not worry about space, yet can't really make any use out of it.
Btw, I'm looking for a Sense 6 based rom because I love the HTC camera app. Much better then the Google camera app imo, and pretty much the only app I have that actually uses the external SDCard.
Nearly all custom Roms are with sd card fix
Then I'll try one of the Sense roms on here for the M8, though I don't see any specifically mention how the external SDcard is handled.
Yea there won't be no real mention, but we have full access to sd card, and if not there is a xposed module which fixes that, but I use renovate 4.0.1 and I can do all things which I was able to do before with the one x too...deleting music , changing direction really all things, so yea the fix is inside
Even apps using the external SDcard like in previous Android versions? That is what I'm looking for. Simply making the external SDcard writable is not enough, because the apps still don't use the external SDcard when they are installed or they download the needed data for the app. For example, I want the GPS map data to install itself and the app to make use of it from the external SDcard. Me being able to move the data does nothing if the app still wont use it.
Hopefully that makes it clear what I'm looking to do, as I've seen plenty of other posts in other similar threads where no seems to understand what the question really is.
I'll look into the Xposed fix, as I already use Xposed.
Aren't you able to select yourself where to save the data? If the app won't allow it because of slower read and write speed for example you can't do anything against it...external sd are often or always slower then the internal which is nearly like a ssd
You are correct. I was expecting some of the apps to use the ext_sd to write the downloaded data automatically, but apparently only a few of my apps do as such, or give the option. My previous Android devices had much smaller internal memory, so the default action for apps was to write the app to the internal, but download data to external. I was expecting the M8 to work the same, but with 32GB of internal memory (I know its less then that after the OS/stock apps), all the apps defaulted to writing everything to the internal memory and do not use the ext_sd at all. Looks like I'll need to use Folder Mount and see if that will solve my problems.
Mpegger said:
You are correct. I was expecting some of the apps to use the ext_sd to write the downloaded data automatically, but apparently only a few of my apps do as such, or give the option. My previous Android devices had much smaller internal memory, so the default action for apps was to write the app to the internal, but download data to external. I was expecting the M8 to work the same, but with 32GB of internal memory (I know its less then that after the OS/stock apps), all the apps defaulted to writing everything to the internal memory and do not use the ext_sd at all. Looks like I'll need to use Folder Mount and see if that will solve my problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Comparatively few Android devices offer external storage and Google seems to be on a mission to discourage OEMs from implementing it (no Nexus device has it...). So my guess is, that even the guidelines for Android app development are heading the same way. I wonder if the KitKat version of your GPS app just dropped ext-SD support because of the new rules or they made a general decision that it is not worth developing for it because relatively few devices have it.
Because even under KitKat (IF I finally understood the new permissions correctly) that app should be able to create a folder on ext-SD which it can read and write to.
That is how I understand the KitKat permission system: A third party app cannot write to the ext-SD except to a folder it created itself (=owns it).
So if you create a folder in File Manager on ext-SD, drag your maps in there, File Manager owns that folder. The GPS app should still be able to open them (if it lets you browse to it), but cannot change them or save new ones to that folder.
However, if you create that storage location from within the app it should still have full r/w permissions to that location. If the app does not offer that functionality, you're out of luck.
But that's a limitation of the app - not of KitKat.
If you still have an older TiBu backup of your GPS app that allowed you to save to ext-SD, restore it to your Kitkat rom and check if that works.

insufficient Internal storage

Hello..
I have htc desire 816 with 8gb of internal storage ....when i bought it,it had about 4gb free of that storage.....which is quite normal.
After buying it, I updated to lollipop 5.1 then i got it rooted......
Lately i've noticed the insufficient internal sotrage,so I've uninsalled ALL the apps and games from internal and external memory,however,that only freed up about 2 gb of the intrrnal storage ....so what is taking all that space despite there is No apps ....I know that the system files are taking some space....but those files only took 4gb when i bought the phone
Now i don't have any apps ,However, there is only free 1.8gb
I tried using clean master,but it only cleaned about 300mb of junks and cache
This is strictly a personal opinion but you should lose Clean Master and anything else made by Cheetah Mobile.
As for your storage issues... You state you've rooted. Have you done a backup? If so, are you sure your recovery is saving backups to the external storage?
Sent from my YOGA Tablet 2-830F using Tapatalk
Ibrahim elhossiny said:
Hello..
I have htc desire 816 with 8gb of internal storage ....when i bought it,it had about 4gb free of that storage.....which is quite normal.
After buying it, I updated to lollipop 5.1 then i got it rooted......
Lately i've noticed the insufficient internal sotrage,so I've uninsalled ALL the apps and games from internal and external memory,however,that only freed up about 2 gb of the intrrnal storage ....so what is taking all that space despite there is No apps ....I know that the system files are taking some space....but those files only took 4gb when i bought the phone
Now i don't have any apps ,However, there is only free 1.8gb
I tried using clean master,but it only cleaned about 300mb of junks and cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the same issue. The firmware is in it's own partition with room for updates but some of those files fill up your internal storage as well, they did for me when I updated so the solutions are either use a root file explorer or Titanium Backup app to move some user apps to system apps , use the forum here in XDA for altering your SElinux permissions and enable write permissions to your system partition(WP.MOD_KO) so that you can use Link2SD app to move your user apps to your external SD card or pay to obtain full S off using the Sunshine app and have those permissions plus more enabled at the system level so that you can also use Link2SD app to move user apps to the external SD card.
The last 2 methods are the most used and also require you to reformat your external SD card into 2 partitions using EaseUS PARTITION MANAGER on a P.C. Instructions for doing this are easy and available on Youtube and Google if you want to read them instead. These are really the only ways to help your storage issue other than just not using very many apps. I chose the full S off method and Link2SD but the other works it just alters your SElinux permissions and has to be removed to do stock updates whereas S off doesn't affect stock updates. Only system file changes do like the mod I described.
I also echo the previous posters thoughts on Cleanmaster and most all "task killing" apps. Android has built in RAM management that does a good job on its own of managing memory and there is the on screen square button on the right that shows you open apps and tabs and allows you to quickly close them all out. You'd be better off regulating Wavelocks using Amplify app and Greenify to freeze apps from staying on . Root required and there are paid version but the basics are free in both apps.
I had a brain f**t and misread that you've uninstalled "all" of your apps so the previous poster might be onto something if you've done any TWRP nandroid backups to internal instead of micro storage. They can take up to 2 to 4 gbs just on their own even with compression enabled. If you haven't and even if you have my previous info and advice is still accurate for improved storage space.
On my phone, the .thumbnails folder in DCIM takes 1 GB...
TobiBot said:
On my phone, the .thumbnails folder in DCIM takes 1 GB...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah mine says 550 mb total in thumb data but it is not pictures from my camera like the other few kbs are. Can't open it so I wonder if it's some sort of cache for something else. Don't know all the ins and outs of the Android file structure but I do know that when I started flashing custom roms,CM in particular, my internal storage went up due to the lack of bloatware coming from my stock Rom. Good to know this though. Not going to delete it though for now till I find out what it is.
Some Facts About Thumbnails
thoctor said:
Yeah mine says 550 mb total in thumb data but it is not pictures from my camera like the other few kbs are. Can't open it so I wonder if it's some sort of cache for something else. Don't know all the ins and outs of the Android file structure but I do know that when I started flashing custom roms,CM in particular, my internal storage went up due to the lack of bloatware coming from my stock Rom. Good to know this though. Not going to delete it though for now till I find out what it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some Apps, like WhatsApp save pics in .thumbnails to work smooth, i think.
You can delete them, but they will create themselves at the next boot again, i also tried to write an init.d script which deletes them at boot, but it doesnt work.
Also if you create a file ".thumbnails" which isnt writable, the system doesnt give you the space
Ive read something about creating this file before first boot after flashing so it works, but i havent tried it...
Damn thumbnails
Sorry if my english is horrible ^^
TobiBot said:
Some Apps, like WhatsApp save pics in .thumbnails to work smooth, i think.
You can delete them, but they will create themselves at the next boot again, i also tried to write an init.d script which deletes them at boot, but it doesnt work.
Also if you create a file ".thumbnails" which isnt writable, the system doesnt give you the space
Ive read something about creating this file before first boot after flashing so it works, but i havent tried it...
Damn thumbnails
Sorry if my english is horrible ^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your English is perfectly fine. Better even than some to whom English is their "first" language. Thanks for that breakdown and I bet that's what it is. I forgot about the apps storing their stock images in your phone. I used to love using the app called Pocket until I found that it stores all the saved links and images directly on your phone. I saved almost a full gb by deleting it finally. Great app other than that and if I had a device with more storage I'd still have it on my phone instead of just my computer. This is all why it pays to be curious about your own phone storage and learn how to navigate a good root file explorer.

Cannot update apps, /system probably full?

Since a couple of days I am not able to update my apps anymore. Error message is that there is not enough space left in the internal memory.
The concerning phone is the HTC M8s (TMO-NL), 16 gb, SuperSU, stock recovery, Lollipop 5.0.2, SW 1.10.114.11)
Is there a way I can transfer apps to the SD card? (symlink?) All the big fish (like the facebook app, 400!!! MB, whatsapp etc) are not able to be moved to the SD card, which to put it politely, annoys me deeply. My previous phone I have used for 2,5 years (HTC One X 64 gb) and have never had this issue with a flooded system partition.
Thanks in advance for your ideas!
why not update to 6.0.1 so you cand format the sd as internal ?
Thijs_Rallye said:
Cannot update apps, /system probably full?
My previous phone I have used for 2,5 years (HTC One X 64 gb) and have never had this issue with a flooded system partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're getting your facts wrong. Apps downloaded from the Play Store and other places are not saved to the system partition. System partition is the OS, and the only system apps are the ones that can included with the OS, such as built-in Google apps or "bloatware". The exception if you specifically installed apps as system apps under root privileges, but this is not the typical situation (you'd know if you did it).
Apps are saved in the data partition, and AFAIK, there is no limit, beyond the size of the internal storage. On a 32 GB M8, you have around 25 GB of storage.
It may just be that you need to delete or move to SD some files that are not necessary.
marius88cc said:
why not update to 6.0.1 so you cand format the sd as internal ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't feel much for going through whole the installation process* again. I am glad I finally got Adblock plus working and to be honest I only want the d*mn thing to function normally.
(* Run a RUU since TWRP messed up my OS software version, having to re-root again etc etc.)
redpoint73 said:
You're getting your facts wrong. Apps downloaded from the Play Store and other places are not saved to the system partition. System partition is the OS, and the only system apps are the ones that can included with the OS, such as built-in Google apps or "bloatware". The exception if you specifically installed apps as system apps under root privileges, but this is not the typical situation (you'd know if you did it).
Apps are saved in the data partition, and AFAIK, there is no limit, beyond the size of the internal storage. On a 32 GB M8, you have around 25 GB of storage.
It may just be that you need to delete or move to SD some files that are not necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you are right, I meant the data partition indeed. I will change the OP. Anyway, the data partition is almost full and I've moved everything I can move to the SD already.
So is there a way I can increase the data storage, since most apps tend to store their information in that partition? I would like to sacrifice the emulated Sdcard0 space to increase the /userdata space.
I've attached a screenshot of "df " as additional information.
And yes, I know the Sdcard0 is already almost full, but for that Whatsapp is to blame with their ridiculous impossibility to relocate the media folder, for which I am wondering if I could make a symlink to my actual SD card.
All in all I am rather disappointed in the M8s, if I had know beforehand it would be a struggle for just loading app updates I would've bought the old M8 .
Edit: I've already deleted all the factory delivered bloatware from T-mobile, as far as the google apps (games/books/music/etc.) I am still working up the courage to remove those, because I don't know if it will render my phone with all kinds of bugs.
Thijs_Rallye said:
I am wondering if I could make a symlink to my actual SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should investigate whether there is an MM update for the M8s, and if it supports adoptable storage (its supported on the M8). Adoptable storage would allow you to use your SD card as part of internal storage, and greatly increases your data storage capacity. It sounds like exactly what you need.
Thijs_Rallye said:
Edit: I've already deleted all the factory delivered bloatware from T-mobile, as far as the google apps (games/books/music/etc.) I am still working up the courage to remove those, because I don't know if it will render my phone with all kinds of bugs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, you seem to be confused about the system partition vs. data partition. Deleting pre-installed apps isn't going to help you, as it only frees up space on the system partition.

Reducing the size of pre-installed disabled apps

Whenever a new ota update is done, some of the pre-installed disabled apps' size reduce significantly. Is there any manual way to that? If possible then please help me. I am running out of storage and I don't want to use my sd card as internal memory.

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