Database Develop

How to keep Storage clean and XDA fast

Free up storage:
-why
-how (simple)
-how (using utilities)
-how (advanced)
WHY
-The less files in storage, the faster your device
-Your storage is almost full and you want to install more
-summed up: your XDA is a mess and needs a good cleaning
-I believe the RAMdisk is faster than NAND ROM where storage is located
-Even the slowest SD card hardly shows any slowdown on most program starts
HOW simple
-Go to ActiveSync on your desktop PC
-Go to Tools>Add/remove software
-In Add/Remove Software uncheck "Install program into default installation folder"
-In the installed programs list uncheck a program
-Take a (mental) note of "Space available on device"
-Click OK
-Ask yourself if you really need it
-If so, check that program again
-Click OK
-Follow instructions on XDA, select \RAMdisk or \Storage Card as install path
-Check "Space available on device"
-Be happy
-Continue with the rest of the installed software in the same way
-Some programs refuse to follow your orders, most will move out of the way
HOW using utilities
There are two utilities that I know of that are able to transfer some of the files in your storage to RAMdisk or Storage Card, both commercial:
Wizcode Pocket Mechanic
SKTools
I'm not a fan of either of these. SKtools was only able to relocate 1.5MB of files that I could have easilly moved manually on a total mess that allowed much better results. Pocket Mechanic moved so much more that after a soft reset my today screen was as clean as a whisle, none of my today plugins loaded... OTOH both do have a lot of other neat tricks up their sleeves.
A neat little tool is System Path from http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Cupertino/2039/
Watch out, perhaps well documented but only in Japanese. Tips: unzip, place in \Windows, soft reset, find applet in Settings\system\system path. And never uncheck \Windows, just ADD seach paths.
There are lots of other nice tools on that page...
HOW advanced
-Copy files to their new location
-Edit their shortcuts
-Export all related registry keys, then edit them to the new path
-Rename the original files (I always add tmp to the extensions)
-Test if they work from the new locations
-If so, remove the original files
-If not, check if there are for example .cfg, .ini or other settings files you should edit
-Always use an editor for this that can handle both ASCII and Unicode!
-Have courage, luck and enough time
-Think first, blooper next...

Really appreciate your tips.
On your guide using AS to check the memory, do you mean by unchecking, the space available will change accordingly? I did not see that.
The problem is I don't install most programs on device storage but on SD card. Now cannot really decide where the programs are residing except by look at the "Program Files" in both Storage and SD Card to decide.
System Path is interesting. I will be trying it out.

Not just by unchecking, but by uninstalling programs that were first installed with default path on, then reinstalling with default path off. Of course if all your software is already on RAMdisk or Storage card to begin with, you won't notice a change because nothing changes. This thread is for people who 've used a lot of EXE installers with default path on, they run into lack of Storage and often have no idea how to solve it.

Disadvantage
A big disadvantage when you install your programs in ramdisk:
When your battery runs flat, you loose everything on the ramdisk. Ramdisk is only persistant when doing a hard reset and NOT by an empty battery.

mach2005 said:
A big disadvantage when you install your programs in ramdisk:
When your battery runs flat, you loose everything on the ramdisk. Ramdisk is only persistant when doing a hard reset and NOT by an empty battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds fair, RAM needs some power to keep its contents. But I've drained my main battery several times willingly for test purposes without loosing a single bit on RAMdisk. Obviously it needs just the backup battery. I never drained that. But I do keep a copy of my RAMdisk on my PC and advice all to follow that advice. MOBsync makes this even easier than ActiveSync.

Hi,
i cant seem to be able uncheck the box (its not available- blanked out) ..
Most of my softwares is installed in RAMDISK and storage card except for must be in storage utilies. Yet my storage space is almost full ... i cant account for it.
I am using activesync 4.5 build 5096

Where did you install the programs/applications from? Did you put .cab files in your /temp folder? If this is the case, with most if not all .cab files you can delete them after installing the program. They can take up a fair bit of room. Cheers.

mantd said:
i cant seem to be able uncheck the box (its not available- blanked out) ..
Most of my softwares is installed in RAMDISK and storage card except for must be in storage utilies. Yet my storage space is almost full ... i cant account for it.
I am using activesync 4.5 build 5096
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you expand your RAMdisk size? see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332215
Your activesync version should have no effect on the available storage.

Hi Maggy,
Yeah, i did.. I managed to recover 3mb + by deleting and reinstalling back some of my apps. Thanks for the tips.
I am using c_shekar WM6 AKU7.
This is my current memory config:-
Storage
Total 30.53 Mb,
In Use 26.08 Mb,
Free 4.45Mb
Programs
Total 61.28Mb,
In use 28.18,
Free 33.10
Is it normal for the storage to grow even when programs are installed in SD or Ramdisk ? Anyway to know which files were installed and where ? Then it would be easier to move it somewhere else
-mantd

All installed programs put some lines in registry, so that grows. Lots of programs create garbage in registry and often do not clean up after uninstall.
Programs that need dll's will place them in \windows, all installed programs create shortcuts (.lnk) in \windows\start menu\programs. All of this adds up to Storage In Use.
Most programs install either in \Program Files or \RAMdisk\Program Files or \Storage Card\Program Files. Often in their own subfolder. If not, then read their shortcuts to find them.
At initial installation most programs, especially those with PC exe install, will install in Storage even if you click RAMdisk or Storage Card. Today plugins have more or less valid reasons to do so, otherwise it's just plain stupid and annoying. Lots of cab installers have the same behaviour but cab's can be edited to change this behaviour (not all). By running PC exe installers without your device connected it will create a folder C:\Windows\Program Files\[app-to-install] which will most likely contain a cab...
success

"There are two utilities that I know of that are able to transfer some of the files in your storage to RAMdisk or Storage Card, both commercial:
Wizcode Pocket Mechanic
SKTools"
Found that tiny tool:
MobileAppMover
It´s freeware.
First search - than search and overwrite.

The site from the developper of MobileAppMover
http://www.iaccarino.de/silvio/ppcstuff.htm
His description:
MobileAppMover is a tool for moving all references from a specific directory to another directory. It will search and replace a given path in the whole registry and in every shortcut. You can use this to move complete program installations from memory to storage card and vice versa. The files itself won't be moved by this tool.
For use at own risk only!
So it's not a tool for noobs who do not know the difference between a program and a Today plugin or who do not know how to move the appropriate files manually. Neither of the two commercial tools are able to move every today plugin, strange things will happen if you try to move them anyway with mobileappmover. Please be sure to have a Safe Mode boot utility installed before you try this at home.
In the worst case scenario you'll need to reflash your ROM.

IE Cache size ?
Hi,
When I changed the registry key to limit cache size avoiding low memory error in Pocket IE first it's ok but after I resetting the device all device settings and registry back to old settings , how can I solve this problem ?

You were modifying this key?:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Content - CacheLimit?

yes it says 43018

each time I edited this when I reset the device this setting turns back

use schaps Advanced Config 3.0, its the best tweaking app htere is

schaps Advanced Config
ather90 said:
use schaps Advanced Config 3.0, its the best tweaking app htere is
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i used it too. Thats powerfull tool. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=317070

good

Programs in ROM - vs. installing CAB's

I hope this is not too noob'ish a question:
What is the advantage of
1. installing (most of) your programs in a ROM,
vs.
2 having a rather clean/small ROM, and installing (a lot of) CABS afterwards?
I know 1. is a bit easier.
But is there any difference in performance?

I would say that you can't install anything into the ROM
That's why they use the ROM to fill it with the "cookers" special needs

The Advantage of Rom Installed Software:
You don't have to manually install it after a Hard Reset of Flash. Enough said on that, it saves you some time.
The Disadvantages of Rom Installed Software:
Uses Rom Memory for the original copy of files and Storage memory for anything that must be moved as part of initial setup. So anything that can't simply stay in Windows folder is duplicated elsewhere. For example if you prefer to have your programs in folders under the Program Files Folder then a program that uses 1mb will use 1mb of Rom memory and then when it is copied (remember you can't really delete Rom Files) it will use 1mb of Storage Memory also for a total of 2mb of used memory.
Can't uninstall original version when an upgraded version is avaliable. Sure the Rom file can be marked as deleted so they aren't listed in File Explorer anymore but they are rom files so you don't free-up any space.
More files in your Windows Folder. While the affect this has on our devices isn't 100% clear we do know that it slows opening the windows folder and I believe that it does cause a general slowdown in the device's overall functioning. This is why I prefer to have programs installed to their own folders.
The Advantages of Manually Installed Software:
Saves Rom Memory which increases Storage Memory. Basically since you have everything in Storage Memory you aren't paying extra for anything as nothing took any Rom Memory.
Can uninstall original version when an upgraded version is avaliable. Yes, since everything was installed into Storage Memory you can actually deleted the files to upgrade thus saving Memory.
Fewer files in your Windows Folder. While the affect this has on our devices isn't 100% clear we do know that it speeds-up opening the windows folder and I believe that it does affect the device's overall functioning. This is why I prefer to have programs installed to their own folders.
The Disadvantage of Manually Installed Software:
You have to manually install it after a Hard Reset of Flash. Enough said on that, it costs you some time. UC Compliant Roms can overcome this.

Well, as some cooks report: there seems to be an extra advantage of installing into ROM: everything seems to work a little smoother and faster. Don't know how or why exactly but has to do something with the after-installing process which makes the device less stabile.
Experiments have shown that of you take a full ROM vs. a lite ROM with the extra's from the full ROM installed afterwards, the full ROM is faster and more stabile.
Kyphur: I believe the second red and green titles are wrong? (I believe yoe mean Cab Installed Software?)

One of the reason that loading windows up with files slows everything down is because the are all paged & cached, depending on the settings. Once the device catches up, it's not as noticable.
Storage card Files cannot be paged like the cooked in files. That's why some programs will add .exe & .dll resources to \windows even though themajority of the files are indeed installed to the SD card.

GSLEON3 said:
Storage card Files cannot be paged like the cooked in files. That's why some programs will add .exe & .dll resources to \windows even though themajority of the files are indeed installed to the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't install to my storage card anymore. Why would I do that when I start out with over 160mb of free Storage memory?

kyphur said:
I don't install to my storage card anymore. Why would I do that when I start out with over 160mb of free Storage memory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't either. But also with installing on the device there seems to be some (speed)difference in ROM installing and CAB-installing.

I'm with Kyphur on this one. The less I have in the ROM, the better because software is constantly changing, being upgraded, etc. Also, I find a lot of times my needs vary and I don't require so much "stuff" on my ROMs, so w/ the XDA-Live approach, I have the freedom to only install what I need. I guess it's a matter of preference really. Sure there are technical differences, both they are overcome either way, so it just comes down to what you like better.

pietrucci said:
Experiments have shown that of you take a full ROM vs. a lite ROM with the extra's from the full ROM installed afterwards, the full ROM is faster and more stabile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ... thanks!
- Do you by any chance have a link to such a benchmark?
- Does that also go for ROMs you cook yourself (with Alex' Kitchen)?

How to actually mark as deleted files in ROM?
Hello, this is an interesting thread, and I also hope you guys know more on this, since you're explaining the concept (and I also searched for a solution, but sorry, didn't find, I might have not used the proper keywords for searching):
kyphur said:
Sure the Rom file can be marked as deleted so they aren't listed in File Explorer anymore but they are rom files so you don't free-up any space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I flashed Dutty's Official WM6.1 5.2.19716 UC RTM (but which ROM it is, doesn't really matter) as my question is related to "deleting" (or at least marking as deleted) ROM files. My problem is, I want to delete \Windows\Long Send.lnk because I don't like the Comm Manager show up when holding the green Send key during a call, while I'm expecting the phone to go into speakerphone mode like used from many other phones (even my Sagem cordless at home behaves this way). The folks in this ROM's thread suggested to delete that shortcut file (which is what I think they know right if they hadn't omitted the fact that the file is in ROM), but none of the in ROM or read-only attributes can be changed with Total Commander, so I can't "delete" it. Now I understand it's supposed to be just marked as deleted as it is "in ROM", so it is supposed to survive a hard reset, but how can I mark it deleted for the time being (next ROM upgrade for example, or hard-reset)?.

pedefede said:
Ok ... thanks!
- Do you by any chance have a link to such a benchmark?
- Does that also go for ROMs you cook yourself (with Alex' Kitchen)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't have a benchmark of this. But then again: the current benchmarks (SPB and VS Benchmark) aren't that reliable.
I remember one cook from the Hermes device (maybe it was Pandora) made a ultra-lite version with an option to autorun everything afterwards with cabs.
This ROM wasn't as fast and snappy as the original full ROM. I think he quitted developing the ROM further.
Don't know if it's always true that everything's worse installing with cabs, it was just something a remembered from the past.
(by the way: I also install a lot from cabs...)

ChaOConnor said:
I'm with Kyphur on this one. The less I have in the ROM, the better because software is constantly changing, being upgraded, etc. Also, I find a lot of times my needs vary and I don't require so much "stuff" on my ROMs, so w/ the XDA-Live approach, I have the freedom to only install what I need. I guess it's a matter of preference really. Sure there are technical differences, both they are overcome either way, so it just comes down to what you like better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the ROMs change too, and not slower than the softwares

calvinzhang said:
the ROMs change too, and not slower than the softwares
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But flashing every week a new ROM is not for everyone. The possibility to flash once in a while is cool and good enough for lots of people, but doesn't have to become the main occupation

Zoolooc said:
But flashing every week a new ROM is not for everyone. The possibility to flash once in a while is cool and good enough for lots of people, but doesn't have to become the main occupation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what "UC" is for! Auto Install all of your apps. Just remember to keep the cab files updated.

For me, one of the biggest advantage of full rom is I save a lot of time in doing backup since the files in the rom already.
Another advantage of full rom is they don't need to store any files under \Windows\AppMgr since they can't be uninstall anyway.
To overcome the bad effects of full rom. I tend to consider the following when putting programs in my full rom.
1. File can be run under \Windows
2. Programs that don't change that often, or doesn't need the latest version.

How to install Garmin if it wont install itself?

I got the latest garmin XT from the garmin site for my Tilt, and ran the installer on my pc. usually, when i put the memory card into the device, it automatically pops up with a window and asks me if i want to install it and where.
not this time though. and now i cant figure out how to actually install it. every file that i pick from the garmin files on the memory card doesnt actually install it properly. it doesnt show up in the programs screen, nore does it even come up in the manage programs screen. it works, but i have to use file explorer to actually launch the exe. its not really installed!
im using the L26 V8 lite rom.
please help!

I had the same problem on my tilt, I am using death v4 for my rom. I thought that I accidently downloaded the nokia verson or something cause nothing looked normal after it "installed". I don't know what to do either

working on dutty
Just info really...i'm on dutty's June release and Garmin installs and functions fine. You might want to consider this plus the latest SPL with being ROM being very smooth.

i have the latest hardspl. dutty's latest releases are too buggy.
just tried it with L26 V7, same.
No one knows how to properly manually install??

Did it create a folder on your storage card called 2257? If so, is there an autorun file in there?

Yeah the 2257 folder is there, tried to run the autorun file, still didnt actually install it

aphexacid said:
Yeah the 2257 folder is there, tried to run the autorun file, still didnt actually install it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm thats odd.. are you sure you have all the right files in the Garmin folder on your card?

Yeah the 2257 folder is there, tried to run the autorun file, still didnt actually install it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take your storage card out, then put it back in. Does autorun start?

Freeing up memory

I am trying to free up memory on my Tilt. I have uninstalled all unwanted apps and decided to go directly to my Windows folder to delete unwanted files. I found different cab files and Windows Media files that appear to have been from the original ROM. However, the delete option is disabled for these files. Is there a good utility I can use to delete these files, without having to flash my device with a different ROM.
Thanks in advance

Nope. Those files are in the ROM and you can't remove them from the phone.

Technically you can if you know how to cook your own ROM

Soft reset after Hard reset
Thanks. I have read the trick on how to soft reset the device after hard reset and before the "provider" apps are installed. This worked great for me prior to WM 6.1, but it did not work with the latest 6.1 update. Is there a trick to getting it to work on 6.1, or is that no longer a valid way to get rid of those applications?

atilt said:
Is there a trick to getting it to work on 6.1, or is that no longer a valid way to get rid of those applications?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still works -- you have to be quick. Have the pen in the reset hole and do it the instant after you tap the screen to continue

Installing Cab file

if i find a cab, how exactly do I install it? i do have a registry editor, rescoe. I just got my new AT&T Fuze, and there are some issues, like hte fm radio, etc, and i see where people listed cabs for fixes, but I am a newbie and not sure how to install these.

pam0566 said:
if i find a cab, how exactly do I install it? i do have a registry editor, rescoe. I just got my new AT&T Fuze, and there are some issues, like hte fm radio, etc, and i see where people listed cabs for fixes, but I am a newbie and not sure how to install these.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Pam, .cab or cabinet files are installed from within your device, just click on it and it will ask you where you want the files too be installed (device or storage card). You will find that there are .exe istaller files that can initiate the same process, but you have to be connected to your computer, which most of us don't like. It is an easy and clean way the install files directly in your device. I personally like to keep a lot of cab files in my storage card so that if I delete the cab or flash my device i can reinstall all my favorite applications again, no matter where I am