So I like to switch ROM's quite frequently, the only problem is that I seem to have to format my sdcard and set up the partitions each time I switch. I feel like nandroid either doesn't restore data to the ext4 properly or messes up the partition when I do a factory reset, since it formats the ext4 partition. Whatever the case, I am unable to move apps to the ext4 after a flash.
Whenever I want to switch to another ROM I have to backup my sdcard to my computer, format the card using diskpart, create the partition again in recovery mode, restore sdcard contents, and then finally flash the ROM I want. This can take forever and makes trying new ROM's out a huge hassle.
If I don't restore a nandroid and flash a ROM from scratch, I'll install s2e, reboot, and navigate to /sd-ext using root explorer and there will be no files.
I mainly use s2e with CM7, but I have tried a2sd with similar results. As far as I know though, they both use the same technique to move apps so it shouldn't matter.
Am I doing something wrong? I use nandroid and everything, but once I do a factory reset it refuses to restore the ext4 backup, and I get an error relating to space limitations.
Thanks a lot.
I've changed ROMs a few times, and everytime I've done so, the ext4 partition has remained fine. Although, it is seriously recommended that you flash the latest darktremor a2sd script as the incorporated ones don't seem to work well.
Flash darktremors, then enter the command line emulator on your phone and type:
su
a2sd reinstall (your phone will reboot)
su
a2sd cachesd (your phone will reboot)
su
a2sd zipalign
This should always be done after a ROM switch.
Alright, I will try that out.
Just wondering, will this restore all the apps I have on the ext4 partition? For example, if I flash MIUI for the first time, then commands the commands you gave me, will all my apps be restored? I assume no since clockworkmod wipes the ext4 partition when doing a factory reset.
The S2E and DarkTremor's a2sd apps actually use different ways of utilizing the ext partition, so the two are incompatible (although, S2E includes a way to convert from DT's to its own).
And as long as you didn't wipe the ext partition (which a Factory Reset does), using those commands should restore your apps.
But with what you are doing, it may be easier to use Titanium Backup to restore your apps back rather than nandroid. This will allow you to keep all your app settings and saved info as well. Just be careful to not back up system data. Restoring those on the same ROM can cause issues, and it would probably cause a lot more if it is between two different ROMs.
Switch your Ext 4 Partition to Ext 3 and you'll notice a lot more stability when switching roms.
Some roms don't have the correct Apps2SD or Kernel installed to support ext 4 but most, if not all, support ext 3.
I recommend using AmonRa Recovery as CWM always corrupts the ext partitions.
Re-partition your SD-Card and start again.
If This Helped please Hit THANKS
Related
So my daily build is the CM7 nightlies.
I have pretty much all my apps on my ext3 partition. However, if I want to flash another ROM (aside from another nightly) I pretty much have to wipe. Wiping also wipes the ext3 partition.
I do do a nandroid before wiping, and it does back up the ext3 partition, but when I restore it doesn't seem to restore the ext. Also for some reason, after restoring I am unable to install apps at all to the ext3 partition, and I have to format the whole sd card to fat32, then make a ext3 partition again.
I actually kept getting hotboots after restoring a nandroid whenever an app would try to install. This was after I installed dta2sd.
So how can I backup a ROM with info on an ext3 partition, and restore it after wiping the partition.
I guess you're using ROM Manager with its default recovery.
Use AmonRa's recovery.
Hi Guys,
I've posted in a couple of threads but didn't let loose for fear of hijacking it, so putting my question here for the good fellows to respond to if possible.
Basically put I have a ROM installed (Kang-o-rama SP1) and have a 1GB A2SD partition courtesy of DarkTremor.
What I want to know is what process should I go through to flash a new ROM but retain that Ext partition? I'm not sure if this is even possible? Should the wipe wipe absolutely everything and then after flashing the ROM I should rebuild the EXT partition and then use Titanium Backup (or something similar) to restore my apps to that A2SD partition?
Can somebody please just tell me what the best process is (even if that means wipe everything, and recreate from scratch each time you flash.
I was under the impression you see that I could wipe everything but retain the actual partition (albeit wiped) to restore apps to after a new Flash?
Thanks in advance
Probably your best bet is to use Titanium. When you restore, look for the setting in the app that mentions something to the effect of attempting to integrate your backup into a different ROM (Sorry don't have app in front of me).
You can also use ADB to pull your sd-ext to your computer. Push it back when you have the new ROM set up with ext
adb pull /sd-ext c:\whateveryouwanttocallit
I use Amon Ra's Recovery but I think Clockwork Mod has an option to backup just your sd-ext.
Apps disappear on reboot (A2SD, miui.us ICS 2.2.24, Ext3)
I have installed ICS v2.2.24, activated a2sd (a2sd install in terminal emulator)
I can install apps, and everythin seems fine. I se that free space on the ext3 partition goes down as I install apps (so they end up on ext3 partition).
When I reboot however, all the installed apps are gone, only system apps remain, in the Launcher.
If I go to Settings, Applications, all the apps are in the list, but show as beeing moved to SD-card, and unavailable. the list shows the package names, not the app names, and no icons. If i press an app from the app list, it says App: 0B USB storage app: 0B, Data:25KB (for example)
After reinstall, i can install apps again, but they disappear every reboot. Settings do not disappear, Icon arrangement is remembered, stock widgets stay where they were....
i have tried running a2sd install several times. Also a2sd cachesd, a2sd align, a2sd fixapk. a2sd diskspace shows that ext3 has data (100mb)
I have not tried a2sd xdata (as i want to keep rest of data on phone)
I have tried all this while using CWM as my recovery as well as while having 4ext as my recovery. Rom was flashed with 4ext
Anyone else have this issue? Anyone been able to fix it?
Ps. have wiped dalvik and ext3 to start over a few times... No difference.
Also, does anyone know what a2sd script is being used in miui now?
In gingerbred it was Darktremors a2sd, but this appears to be a different script.
I have experienced this several months ago with different rom. As long as I remember, it was caused by bad partition.
Try to repartition your sd card via 4ext recovery, ext4 should be ok. Back up your sd first.
Sent from my Nexus One
Ah, forgot to mention, did that allready. Several times even. Today i also tried formatting from ext3 to ext4, just to see what happened. No change
Did you ever solve the problem?
I'm about to flash a similar set up and would hate to have the same issue.
Yes, I downloaded and installed Darktremors A2SD. Works great now?
hi,
i'm usin ra passion 2.2.1 and wan't to use a2sd from ics 4.0.3 evervolv. how can i create a part ext4?
Google:
"a2sd partition sd card".
Enjoy.
Try 4EXT recovery www.4ext.net
I think its the easiest way to create partition.
Or else you can do it in pc via partition managers(i use minitool partition wizard)
You can google it and also can search in youtube for video tutorials.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
thanks for your help, i've done it in recovery.
one question is left:
what happen if i format the partioned sd-card under windows and do a full wipe in preparation for installing a new rom. i've read sd-ext even survive a full wipe? what does that mean? stays the partition untouched when i format the sd-card with windows? and what about the apps in the partition? are they still there even after a full wipe and can i use them after flashing a new rom out of the box?
Glad u succeeded in partitioning
Now if you format the fat32 partition in windows using those partition tools doesnt affect ur ext. Ext stays untouched but all the data on fat32 will be wiped(so backup first to pc)
If u want to merge there is an option called merge for that.
There is an free windows software called sdformatter, that formats the entire sdcard(fat32+ext)
Hope i helped a bit :thumbup:
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
ok. i wan't to format it with the windows internal function via right click. is it the same and the ext4 stays untouched?
Full wipe in recovery wipes SD-EXT too.
heinz gruber said:
ok. i wan't to format it with the windows internal function via right click. is it the same and the ext4 stays untouched?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i do beleive that it should be untouched, cos normally windows cannot see the ext partition and hence only fat32 will be formatted
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
ok. when ext4 stay untouched and i flash a new rom the apps are still in the launcher after flashing?
Jack_R1 said:
Full wipe in recovery wipes SD-EXT too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i flash a new rom i use the format.zip form the xda user temasek which wipes system, boot, data and cache. so is sd-ext untouched when i use this file?
You insist on not listening and/or not understanding.
When you select "wipe data/factory reset" in custom recovery, EXT partition IS WIPED COMPLETELY. It doesn't stay.
I believe the same happens when using temasek's script, never bothered using it, so I can't say with 100% certainty.
If you don't wipe your phone and install a new ROM - be prepared for crashes of anything to everything, unless you install a ROM which is 100% compatible with what you have already - the next generation of the same ROM, usually.
If you're using A2SD and don't wipe EXT partition - you'll have crashes as soon as you boot, since system apps' data will be there (and wrong).
To keep your apps and their data, use one of the backup apps available in the Market, like Titanium Backup.
as Jack_R1 explained its always better to wipe everything(system,cache,dalvik n sdext) to be on safer side to avoid crashes n FCs.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
Temasek's Extreme Wipe does Data/System/Boot partitions but don't remember seeing ext in the list
However, as alluded too, I would format all outside phone with sdformatter or I think gparted, although never used that one
I thought I read a long time ago Windows formatter not recommended and do a full wipe not partial with whatever you use
Back up sdcard first
also, I believe you can use the Alignment Cool zip to get ext 4 from 3 on Amon and not lose anything--still backup
you do know MeDroid uses Ia2sd and different from a2sd on implementation
You don't need to wipe the regular FAT partition on SD card between flashes, because there's nothing there that loads automatically. And "wipe data/factory reset" option in recovery also wipes /sdcard/.android_secure.
hey guys, thanks for your answers i will keep them in mind.
edit:
one more question:
if i uses temaseks script and the sd-ext is untouched and i flash a newer version of my rom, are the apps then still there after flashing and booting the updated system? or is there another step i've to do?
No, the apps aren't there anymore - or to be correct, the apps are there, their data is gone (because the app data doesn't reside on EXT partition, unless you use specific mounting methods).
When you flash an updated version of your ROM, just don't wipe anything at all unless the instructions specifically mention having to wipe before installing that version. That means - don't execute temasek's script at all.
On the stock GB ROM, Link2SD requires a FAT32 partition to move the App and DalvikCache to the SD.
EDIT: Actually requires FAT32 OR EXT2 for stock...
Titanium backup requires an ext2/3/4 partition to use the Data2SD feature.
Is it possible to do both of these on a stock rom? Or use some other method to get the App, DalvikCache and app data to the SD without flashing another ROM?
I will be doing this for 3 of my family's phones and would much prefer to not have to flash ROMS and them have to put in extra effort afterwards.
I promise I've searched so apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, the closest I could find was http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1605006 which didn't answer the question...
Thanks in advance!
Tim
I have created two partitions, one FAT32 and one EXT2 using MiniTool Partition Wizard
Link2SD is correctly setup and working.
Titanium Backup has this to say:
The supported mount points for the ext2/3/4 partition are:
/system/sd/ (“classic” sd-ext)
/sd-ext/ (“Cyanogen” sd-ext)
/data/sd/ (“MIUI” sd-ext)
However none of these mount points are present (it appears to mount under /data/sdext2/) so I'm unable to use the Data2SD functionality as yet.
So the question now becomes, can I create multiple mount points for a single EXT2 partition on a Stock ROM (ideally easily!).
Install a custom kernel with init.d support.
Cf-root is the most common since it's based on stock, and preserves baseband.
After that, there's many choices:
-link2sd as you've beeb using
-cronmod or amarullz scripts (int2ext+) which mount sd partition as extention to internal memory (every app on internal gets installed to the partition).
-s2e has the option to also move data to the partition.
Keep in mind that having data on the partition will lower performance and smoothness as compared to having data on internal.
dxppxd said:
Install a custom kernel with init.d support.
...
...
Keep in mind that having data on the partition will lower performance and smoothness as compared to having data on internal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice.
I have a class 10 card that I was hoping would help mitigate the problem, am I just being naive?
I was hoping I'd be able to avoid a custom Kernel (haven't researched them enough yet)
I will try and find an S5830 Stock + init.d kernel tomorrow and see how that goes, I'm still planning on Titanium Backup to do the Data2SD.
Does this init.d script mount the partition somewhere that Titanium Backup can get hold of it then?
KingTimus said:
Does this init.d script mount the partition somewhere that Titanium Backup can get hold of it then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really can't say about titanium backups' data2sd function since i've never used it before.
The init.d script (i found cronmods' int2ext to be the most convenient) mounts the sd partition as part of /data. When making backups of apps+data titanium backup had 0 problems finding and backing up all apps. The problem might arise if the data2sd function tries to move /data (in which the partition is already mounted) to the partition.
Someone in the forum might know more details. You can always make a nandroid backup and see what happens. Good luk.