Database Develop

post app2sd question

I have Cyanogen ROM 4.2.5 installed with auto app2sd set up but I've become a little confused. I have a root file manager and am able to see where my apps are going, but where are the files for my apps being installed? I have Aldiko, but I cannot find where it is downloading the e-books to.
Pre-app2sd they were downloaded to /sdcard/, but now as far as I can tell no apps download any files to the main SD card partition. I assume they are all going to the ext partition. Can anyone help me out here?
Also, the gallery isn't working (in the sense that it never has pictures in it, and it cant find pictures). I think this might be related to the problem I'm having with themes (When I install theme's they never install the wallpapers), which might have all been caused by my app2sd installation.
Anyone have any ideas?
When I set up app2sd I used Amon-Ra Recovery v1.3.2. I partitioned the drive, established an ext3 partition, then reflashed Cyanogen's 4.2.5 ROM. Following that I put on the Minus Theme.
Thanks in advance. Hopefully I didnt do something completely retarded. (and yes I used the search tool first)

The ebooks may be in a separate folder on the sd card. updates to the program may change the directory
Maybe there is something wrong with the SDcard itself. it is possible it did not partition correctly. If so, back up all the data on the SD + Ext and repartition

A2SD questions help please

I a rooted running Fresh 2.0d. I am now interested in running A2SD, but have a few questions. In reading thru several posts I found the below steps if you are running Fresh.
Back up sd card
Boot into recovery
Choose partition SD Fat32,EXT2,Swap
Reboot phone
Reload files onto SD card
When it says reload onto sd card, what is meant here.
I backed up the card, ran the partition and moved the data back to the card. Now what do I do, how do you get all of the apps from the phone to now run on the card.
Also, is there a big benefit to this, is it really going to make a big difference?
Final question, I have a 16gb Kingston MicroSD. I have no idea what class of card this is, All I know is that it is 16gb. What type of card do I need for this to work properly?

reload to sd, just means copy all the files from the FAT partion pack to the drive. The FAT partion being the stuff you can see in windows....more than likely Pictures, "Lost", Rosie. Few other apps that put folders there too.
EDIT:
Let me reword this.
You copied all the files off your SD card. DCIM and stuff like that. More than likely to your Windows Desktop.
Plug your phone into USB, Mount as a Drive. Copy the files you copied off initially back to the SD Card drive. (it is probably smaller now than it was before so everything might not fit if it was full)
Edit 2:
Class 6 FTW - But I used to run on a Class 2 and it was fine.
Big Benefit = More Apps/On phone storage space - HOWEVER sometimes it is just a PITA to deal with. Especially if you switch roms alot.

Did you titanium backup or something similar to back up your apps? If not start downloading your apps again. The big benefit to apps2sd is you can download many more apps since your not limit to the internal storage space. Also on some roms you can upgrade without reinstalling your apps (if your lucky)

xxwckdxx said:
Did you titanium backup or something similar to back up your apps? If not start downloading your apps again. The big benefit to apps2sd is you can download many more apps since your not limit to the internal storage space. Also on some roms you can upgrade without reinstalling your apps (if your lucky)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so let me get this straight, A2SD is for market place apps that I have downloaded? I was under the impression that it was for system apps as well. I am a noob so just want to make sure my info is correct. I have mybackup pro which backups aps. Will I have to uninstall the apps and then reinstall on card? Could you please give me the proper steps on this?

jj4201998 said:
Ok, so let me get this straight, A2SD is for market place apps that I have downloaded? I was under the impression that it was for system apps as well. I am a noob so just want to make sure my info is correct. I have mybackup pro which backups aps. Will I have to uninstall the apps and then reinstall on card? Could you please give me the proper steps on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't have to Uninstall/Reinstall anything. As I recall the move is made automagically on boot up if it detects an EXT partition. And system programs like Rosie do not get moved to the sd card TMK.

Kcarpenter said:
You won't have to Uninstall/Reinstall anything. As I recall the move is made automagically on boot up if it detects an EXT partition. And system programs like Rosie do not get moved to the sd card TMK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I do this, do I have to have a card with a certain speed, or does it not matter?

jj4201998 said:
Ok, so let me get this straight, A2SD is for market place apps that I have downloaded? I was under the impression that it was for system apps as well. I am a noob so just want to make sure my info is correct. I have mybackup pro which backups aps. Will I have to uninstall the apps and then reinstall on card? Could you please give me the proper steps on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my understanding just the apps you download are installed on it, i could be wrong. As for the steps....
1. Backup your apps
2. Nandroid backup
3. Paritition
4. Install a2sd
5. Boot up
6. Restore apps

jj4201998 said:
Before I do this, do I have to have a card with a certain speed, or does it not matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speed doesn't really matter a whole lot. If you have a 16gb card its likly a class 4+ card. I have never seen a class 2 16gig before at least. It would kind of defeat the purpose.
Class 6 is the standard for someone who would want to buy a new one, and they have a class 10 lurking around some sites. But you'll be fine on what you have. Again, I was on a class 2 for a while...racing thunder was the biggest issue, it was laggy from the SD card. haven't tried it with the new one.
Edit:
I stand corrected, it could be a class 2.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-microSDHC-Memory-SDSDQ-016G-Packaging/dp/B001L1H0SC

jj4201998 said:
Ok, so let me get this straight, A2SD is for market place apps that I have downloaded? I was under the impression that it was for system apps as well. I am a noob so just want to make sure my info is correct. I have mybackup pro which backups aps. Will I have to uninstall the apps and then reinstall on card? Could you please give me the proper steps on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you download apps from the marketplace (free or paid), Android will put it in one of two locations: /data/app or /data/app-private. Both of those locations are on the phone itself. The problem you run into is running out of free space on the internal storage space of the phone. A2SD, in its basic form, moves the data in /data/app and /data/app-private, to matching directories on your ext partition of your secure digital card. It also creates a symlink where /data/app and /data/app-private are located. These symlinks are nothing more than shortcuts to the directories on your SD card. Android still thinks it is storing apps in /data/app and /data/app-private, but it really is storing it on the SD card.
When the instructions say to backup the SD card, what it is talking about is the FAT32 part of the SD card. As someone said earlier, it is the part that Windows can actually see. You take all the data off of your SD card and put it on your computer. The reason you need to do this is that, when you add the ext2/ext3 and swap partition, you will repartition the entire SD card, which means you will lose your data on your FAT32 partition.
When you are restoring to SD, you are taking the contents you had previously on the Fat32 part of the SD card and putting it back onto the Far32 card.
As far as apps are concerned, the A2SD will automatically move them for you...but it is always a good idea to do a nandroid backup first to make sure that you have a way to restore an image in case something goes wrong.

tkirton said:
When you download apps from the marketplace (free or paid), Android will put it in one of two locations: /data/app or /data/app-private. Both of those locations are on the phone itself. The problem you run into is running out of free space on the internal storage space of the phone. A2SD, in its basic form, moves the data in /data/app and /data/app-private, to matching directories on your ext partition of your secure digital card. It also creates a symlink where /data/app and /data/app-private are located. These symlinks are nothing more than shortcuts to the directories on your SD card. Android still thinks it is storing apps in /data/app and /data/app-private, but it really is storing it on the SD card.
When the instructions say to backup the SD card, what it is talking about is the FAT32 part of the SD card. As someone said earlier, it is the part that Windows can actually see. You take all the data off of your SD card and put it on your computer. The reason you need to do this is that, when you add the ext2/ext3 and swap partition, you will repartition the entire SD card, which means you will lose your data on your FAT32 partition.
When you are restoring to SD, you are taking the contents you had previously on the Fat32 part of the SD card and putting it back onto the Far32 card.
As far as apps are concerned, the A2SD will automatically move them for you...but it is always a good idea to do a nandroid backup first to make sure that you have a way to restore an image in case something goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am running Fresh 2.0d. Someone mentioned to install A2SD, thought on Fresh it as already installed, am I missing somthing?

xxwckdxx said:
To my understanding just the apps you download are installed on it, i could be wrong. As for the steps....
1. Backup your apps
2. Nandroid backup
3. Paritition
4. Install a2sd
5. Boot up
6. Restore apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on Fresh 2.0d I thought on this Rom it was already installed. I formatted the sd card as told. However, I don't think it is working. ON the Recovery menu there is a place that says transfer apps to sd & delvik. Am I supposed to use that?

jj4201998 said:
I am running Fresh 2.0d. Someone mentioned to install A2SD, thought on Fresh it as already installed, am I missing somthing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You're not missing something. Fresh 2.0d has a Cyanogen version of A2SD. It's originally in the 1.5 Roms that are for the Hero.
Two other people, TrevE and myself, makes a variant of the original that is in Fresh 2.0d. TrevE works with ROM developers to put his in while I update mine in the distribution channels.
Whoever told you to install A2SD probably meant to go download the Darktremor A2SD 2.5 or 2.6.1 and flash it to your phone.
That part is optional, as Fresh 2.0d already has an A2SD installed.

jj4201998 said:
I am on Fresh 2.0d I thought on this Rom it was already installed. I formatted the sd card as told. However, I don't think it is working. ON the Recovery menu there is a place that says transfer apps to sd & delvik. Am I supposed to use that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does it automatically.
What makes you think it isn't working? Since you rooted, I presume you have ADB. If so, enter a console session on the phone by typing adb shell
Once you have done that, type the following:
cd /data/app
pwd
If pwd returns /data/app, it isn't working.
If pwd returns /system/sd/app, A2SD is working normally.
Do the same for app-private:
cd /data/app-private
pwd
If pwd returns /data/app-private, it isn't working
if pwd returns /system/sd/app, A2SD is working normally.

tkirton said:
No. You're not missing something. Fresh 2.0d has a Cyanogen version of A2SD. It's originally in the 1.5 Roms that are for the Hero.
Two other people, TrevE and myself, makes a variant of the original that is in Fresh 2.0d. TrevE works with ROM developers to put his in while I update mine in the distribution channels.
Whoever told you to install A2SD probably meant to go download the Darktremor A2SD 2.5 or 2.6.1 and flash it to your phone.
That part is optional, as Fresh 2.0d already has an A2SD installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could not figure out how to get the version on Fresh d to work. I downloeaded the 2.5 version and it is working fine for me. This minor change has made all of the difference on the phone. I have asked on several posts how to speed up the hero and this truley made the difference. Thanks for the help.

[Q] Lost apps on SD

After installing CM6 RC3 I have lost all my apps on the SD card, they did come back for a short time after a reboot but then disappeared again after another reboot. I cannot even uninstall them or reload them from the market as they just hang when I try to uninstall or re-install from the market.
When I look at application info, the apps on the SD just show "Computing" and nothing ever shows up.
Also, I am unable to mount the SD over USB.
I have gone back to stock ROM but I still have the issue.
I was using apps2SD but I made sure not to move any widgets or running apps.
I've tried booting into recovery to wipe data and cache but of course my recovery is broken.
If I missed this in the forums please give me a search that will give me results that are not too numerous to parse.
Thanks for any help.

There is no apps2SD support in CM6 or the stock rom, that's why you can't see them.
CM6 only support the FroYo apps on SD method right now, and they are working on a newer better apps2sd for future versions.
If you flash back to CM5, you might be able to see them, but I am not familiar with the old apps2SD method.

Then why did my apps show up in CM6? They were there and functioning fine, I think I must have messed with a setting somewhere.

FYI, I was able to restore my apps by deleting .android_secure from the SD card and then re-install Ti Backup and restore my apps.
Can someone explain how the app location setting in CM6 affects apps? I am thinking when I enabled this it screwed things up.

The .android_secure directory on the SD card is the 2.2 official apps to SD. So you probably were using that all along and something screwed up. That's why you could use them for a bit.

[Q] Corrupted filesystem or what?

Recently I have problem with apps/games that become corrupted after a while and dont know whats going on with the phone.
In Manage Applications some of the apps/games become greyed out and displayed 0 kb. Even I uninstalled all those greyed out apps and after a reboot. They come back again in manage applications.
What can causing those corrupted apps/games?
Mine phone are rooted + cwm and stock Nordic ROM.

had you used anything like apps2sd to move the apps to/from the sd card?
ive had it happen on my old hd2 but this was due to a failed retore from a backup and apps not being linked in correctly

Richy99 said:
had you used anything like apps2sd to move the apps to/from the sd card?
ive had it happen on my old hd2 but this was due to a failed retore from a backup and apps not being linked in correctly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, never used any app2sd before and never move any app/game to mine external sd either.
Even I reinstalled all those greyed out at manage applications and uninstall it directly. After reboot, it still there and I just dont know whats happening.
Ex, I installed tip off basketball game from market, play it for few minutes and after a moment. The game get corrupted and displayed as 0kb greyed out.
That apps dispalyed as SD in screenshot means, thay are installed on internal memory SD and not external_sd location.
Any got a clue whats going on?

possibly a corrupt system, might want to back it up and wipe it clean

[Q] Internal SD card not recognized CyanogenMod 7 nightly

I've just now flashed the latest Cyanogenmod 7 nightly on my O2X, and I'm experiencing a problem with my internal SD card.
Any app that want to use the internal SD card is unable to do so because supposedly the card is not mounted, while under Settings - Storage - Internal SD Card, it gives me an option to unmount the card. I've tried unmounting and mounting again, but that didn't do anything.
When I connect my phone to my laptop using USB, the only option I get is the USB Debugging (if I have that on). The only way to get the option to turn on USB storage is if I power off the phone, connect the USB and then power up the phone. That way I get the option to turn on USB storage, but when I do that, nothing happens on the computer or the phone.
If I reboot the phone in recovery mode, then I can select instal zip from internal sd card and then see the different folders on the card, but I have not dared to see if can actually flash Cyanogenmod again in fear of not being able to get any kind of contact with my sd card.
Now I realize that there are ways of fixing this issue, but is there a way that will help me keep the data I have on my internal sd card? I have a lot of information on it that I don't want to lose at all.
Even ideas of how I could backup the internal sd card so that I can just go crazy and format the card would highly appreciated! I've tried the Software Data Cable app, but that didn't work either.
Any help you can give me would be a major relief as I have been struggling with this problem through the night without much results.
Some info:
Before flash: Stock Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4)
Flashed ROM: CyanogenMod-7-20120313-NIGHTLY-p990 (Android 2.3.7)
Phone: LG Optimus 2X p990
No external SD card

Accessing internal storage
Go to settings - CyanogenMod Settings - Application
And check the Internal storage box.
If you have issues with some apps check the "allow moving.." as well
AND change the install location to internal. On automatic this should work anyway since you are not using an externalSD.
--- REMEMBER TO REBOOT---
If you are still having problems fix permissions and reflash the same nightly or a newer one. (data is not lost... dont wipe)
Dont think this applies to you.. but just in case.
If you still have issues with any apps and their settings. Delete the app data at the Application Manager. Then before opening/running the app, delete its associated folders on the sd. (You should be able to mount by now.) Reboot and things should be working fine. Dont worry about this last paragraph if you are not having issues with apps not saving data/starting/cant find sd card etc. Since you dont have a external SD.

Yeah, I found this out just two minutes ago, and now everything works! Thanks a lot elkhawkes!
Woah, I'm happy now!
I don't see why this isn't standard in CyanogenMod though. What are the benefits of "hiding" the internal SD card like that? Is it considered that people who flash CyanogenMod doesn't have anything useful on their internal SD, but rather the external one? At least for me, I had a lot of application data, pictures and text files I needed on the internal SD card.
Well, anyways, all is well for me now, so far...

Ok, I've noticed a problem.
You were right about some apps having problems. It seems like Whatsapp and SwiftKey is unable to save their stats. Message count and keystroke count returns to 0 every time I reboot. Its not the biggest problem, but it might be a symptom of a bigger problem, so I want to fix it.
I have tried all the different suggestions you mention for solving problems with apps, but none of them work. Even when I delete the Whatsapp folder on the internal SD card, the app still has problems saving its stats. I guess that might be because there are more Whatsapp files in one of the android folders on the card.
I was thinking that I might be able to do this sequence of things to fix it, but I'd like to get some confirmation that it might work and I won't brick my phone or will be having to buy and external SD card:
1. Copy everything on the internal SD card to my computer. (Already done!)
2. Re-flash the latest CyanogenMod nightly (and Google Apps) from the internal SD card using ROM Manager and delete all data cache, dalvik and so on.
3. Before installing any apps I go to Settings - CyanogenMod settings - Application and check Use internal storage. That way my internal SD card will be "visible".
4. Go to Settings - Storage and then selecting Erase SD card (note this is the internal SD card, I do not have an external card).
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Any help with this matter would be highly appreciated!

Testing7 said:
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: No properly made Android version should depend on certain files being present on the SD-card. CM7 is a "proper" version.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should in most cases be able to do that, yes. You may run into trouble if you copy the data back after installing the app if it is running at the time. You may want to mount USB storage/copy data while in CWM to be sure that does not happen.
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should be able to do this. (Be aware that a factory reset, whether built-on or CWM, does not delete anything on the SDcard.) Some apps may initialize their external storage on the first start, some apps may find inconsistencies in the external data, especially if they use som kind of secure or encrypted storage, but that is probably not very common

Fix for apps
... Follow the steps in my post above and then uninstall the effected app, reboot and install again.
If you have backed up the whatsapp folder. Put it back on the sdcard before running the newly installed whatsapp and it should ask to import the backed up files.
- I think it only works if you place the files back before running the freshly installed app.
I`m guessing you might have tried this already. Hope this helps
Like Testing7 said, the files visible on the sd card are safe to delete but erasing the sd and factory resetting is probably not necessary. Personally I backup my important folders.. whatsapp etc on the pc regularly and erase the sd all the time. Its not really neccessary and I do this because I like to keep it clean and its just a "bad" habit from testing out different roms. The folders there are generally just clutter and also use a minimum amount of space, so really it is up to you. They do build up again pretty fast so dont worry about it.
- If you are still having problems... Just start from scratch again
# Backup - SMS and apps... I use Sms/app backup and restore... 2 separate apps on market (both free).
# Copy necessary folders and files to pc - then erase SD
# Recovery - Wipe cache, factory reset, Dalvik, battery stats ... on full battery
# Reflash nightly cm7
# Change all settings like in my first post and then reinstall all apps and backup files.
# And remember to restore files first before running the apps for the first time