Database Develop

[Q] APK's stored in internal memory but there on sdcard

As most of you do I have space problem with the N1, and there is something I dont understand
inside /mnt directoy is obb, sdcard , asec and secure.
Now to my understand my entire sdcard contents is under "sdcard" directory
however both "/mnt/asec" and "/mnt/secure" are outside that directory and they contain apk's and some other files.
Here is my delima if application gets installed on the sdcard it still dumps the apk files in the "asec" directory which mean it doesn't matter if i install the application on the sdcard it will still take alot of space.
Is this correct and if so can i create a symbolic link the directory and dump in the sdcard itself instead of wasting viable internal memory space?

No, you're wrong. /mnt/asec/ mounts on /sdcard/.android_secure. So the APKs are on SD card. And you can't properly link the /data/data/ or the /data/dalvik-cache to FAT, the apps won't work - or the phone will crash when you unmount the FAT.
This is why there is Darktremor's A2SD/XPART/Link2SD/many others.

ok.
But how come if uninstall application I get free space even though they are on the sdcard?
edit: Or rather the bigger question is that i have plenty of space on my sdcard as i install more and more application some of the application space creep into the internal memory is there a way to know what is going on and how to prevent that space from being occupied in the first place.

You can't.
Application space is split into:
1) APK. (this is the APK itself - the installation file)
2) Data. (this is the data that the app creates and/or stores between and during uses)
3) Dalvik-cache. (this is a space that system uses to run the app)
Each installed app has all 3 parts.
Whatever you do on stock or CM7 ROM, you can't get parts 2 and 3 to SD. The only way to do it is using the add-ons mentioned in my previous post - Darktremor's A2SD/XPART/Link2SD/many others. They all do the same thing - given additional EXT partition on SD card, they selectively move any of the 3 parts for any app to the EXT partition, freeing phone's internal memory. Of course, if you don't have EXT partition on your SD card - you need to create it, repartition the card, to be able to use any of those add-ons.

thanks again

[Q] Ext3.ko and Ext4.ko is for App2sd?

I'm currently using GingerCruzt 7.4
I saw Ext3.ko and Ext4.ko under /system/lib/modules/ i was wondering:
If i partition my 16GB SDcard to FAT32 and Ext3/4, would my internal memory increased like App2sd on Eclair does?
Or it's just gonna be wasted space?
Then i just repartitioned my sdcard(my sdcard was parttioned 12GB(data),1GB(Ext2),500mb(swap)) to 1GB(ext3) and the rest is FAT32 and nothing's happened, my internal memory remained 255 mb, is there any wrong steps i took?

bump bump bump

Moving apps to SD (whatever partition) frees up internal memory space as apps are installed there by default. By freeing up internal storage, your phone gets somehow faster

does it means it's doesn't show up as internal memory, but does the same thing as Eclair App2sd?

You can see the app in 'app managemet' on SD tab. The app will work the same except for widgets won't show up.
Sent from my Xperia X8 using XDA app

With GC or most of custom roms, you have only to create an ext2/3/4, then system recognizes your ext partition and installs your new apps directly there.
Then you just have to normally install apps on phone, and they'll go "silently" in the ext partition of the sd .
You can check if it works by going in the /sd-ext by a file explorer and see if there are folders inside (they should be 4). If everything is correct, you should find your apps installed in /sd-ext/app.
Please note that of course your total internal memory space won't grow up.
Apps will be simply installed in the sd-ext, leaving your internal space free

i dont know if is a bug or what , but my app2sd work's without ext partition in my sd card, my apps go to .android_secure folder in my sd card, is that normal ?

[Q] Swap Area / EXT2 partitions - Help needed.

Hello, I'm hoping someone can answer a few questions I have regarding the format of the SD Card for the Android system. - Apologies if this has already been explained on this forum, I did a search but didn't find anything too useful that answered my questions.
(I have knowledge of the linux file-system and swap drives, just unsure of the benifits of this for android).
Currently using a 16GB SanDisk Class4 SD Card.
I'm aware that you can format the SD Card to use as a swap-drive and for use of ext2 file-system.
While searching for info on this I found the following xda link which simply explains how to do this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/SD_card_partitioning
My questions are:
1. What are the benifits of having the ext2 file-system? (Would apps stored on SD Card run faster etc?)
2. Do I need to keep a FAT32 partition (as opposed to just having a swap and ext2 partitions without any FAT partition).
3. Does the swap drive greatly improve performance. And is this worth doing on a Class4 SD Card?
Thanks in advance!

Hi.
at the first I must say swat will decrease SD card life.
i recommond you to create EXT3 or EXT4 partition.
1)one of the benefit of EXT partition is your phone storage will not full and its help your phone performance.
2)yes.of course you should have fat32 partition for eg:music-movies...and other files.
3)yes.swap is a very good.and it helps your phone ram.eg:when you play plants vs zombie at the first screen game will exit because of ram and swap will use like ram and its good for gaming.

Thanks for the reply, much apprecaited.
Are you sure I need a FAT32 partition though? Videos, music etc etc can all be saved to ext2/3/4 on a linux OS so I just assumed I could just do away with FAT32 all together?
Is the following just not the same as using an App2SD app?
"1)one of the benefit of EXT partition is your phone storage will not full and its help your phone performance."
Sorry for being a bit fussy but I'd like to fully understand what the Ext/2/3/4 partition is actually used for. Is it just used purely for storage?
Thanks again!

In a short summary (and assuming you are using a Kernel and ROM supporting the features) ...
- "Swap" on a swap partition has its own own "filesystem". The data structures are actually created by "mkswap" and the partition is not directly accessible by the user. If your phone runs low on physical memory unused parts of the memory will be swapped out into the virtual memory to make room for other apps.
Note that this is no "magically increase your RAM" solution. Once swapping occurs it actually slows down the system as the swapped out memory regions need to be copied back into physical memory, sooner or later. It may only help to run "RAM hungry" applications.
- "SD-Ext" is a, most likely, ext2 formatted partition to where Apps you move to the SD (either by Android or App2SD) will go. This increases the amount of apps you can possibly install, but doesn't resolve the problem that apps having widgets or apps that are started during Android boot-up need to reside in the internal phone memory.
- The /sdcard partition where all your user data is being stored should be kept FAT32 (for the simple reason of making a backup of your data by slapping the card into card reader easier - Windows can't read Linux filesystems by default). Some ROMs will allow you to format /sdcard ext3 or ext4 ... the advantage is that ext3/4 (if the mount options are correctly set) may perform a lot better than FAT32, though your mileage may vary.
Roger? ...or do is something still unclear?

Many thanks B.Jay - I'll hit the thanks button after I post this reply! You cleared up all my questions, but just going back to the FAT32 partition;
I use linux as my main OS, so accessing the EXT format partition wouldn't be a problem; Do you know if all ROMs would work without a FAT32 partition and replace it with EXT2/3/4 partition? If you're unsure I can always find out by formatting and loading a rom.
Thanks again, you've been most helpful!

Agenty1609 said:
going back to the FAT32 partition;
I use linux as my main OS, so accessing the EXT format partition wouldn't be a problem; Do you know if all ROMs would work without a FAT32 partition and replace it with EXT2/3/4 partition? If you're unsure I can always find out by formatting and loading a rom.
Thanks again, you've been most helpful!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Linux would, of course, be able to mount a ext partition (even on a SD card put into a card reader).
As for the ROM ... it depends.
The Stock Kernel Modules AddOn of GingerDX introduces ext3 and ext4 modules for the SEMC Stock Kernel, so in theory (I didn't test it!) you should be able to access /sdcard when being formatted ext3/4 - though it could be that you might need to adjust the vold script to properly mount the partition. The modules are mainly for supporting the sd-ext partition for "Apps-to-ext3/4-partition-on-mSD".
There's also alfsamsung's Alfs Kernel which is compatible with GingerDX and some other ROMs. That would be something you could try as well.
Simply look through the ROM threads ... I think MiniCM7 (+nAa's Kernel) should be able to support it, though this could involve some tinkering.
Personally speaking, I only have a ~2GB sd-ext on the SD in my X8 and the rest is a normal FAT32 partition (/sdcard).

yes you need a FAT32 partition.
when you partition your SD card you can move moveable app and games to ext partition.
please dont move app wich they cant move to ext partition.
cause after restart app that you moved to ext will corrupted.
good luck.

Thanks again! I think I'll follow your trend and try the 2GB SD-ext and the rest FAT32.

sd-ext missing!!
hey guys!! I've a small prob, would appreciate some tips. I normally move apps to sd card, if the app is movable by default. if the app is not movable by default, i use this app2sd by droidsail (available in the market) which force moves parts of the app 2 sd card. When I make back ups using xrecovery, i have no problem.
but when I use cwm for back ups, it gives an error saying sd-ext not found and it skips that part of the back up!! so any app I've moved by default or forced moved to sd card doesn't get backed up!! So I presume I have to create a sd-ext partition manually? How do I do it? I do have an sd-ext folder. but its not in sd card. it's in the root. (never had this prob with xrecovery though)
thanks in advance!!

neo_na said:
hey guys!! I've a small prob, would appreciate some tips. I normally move apps to sd card, if the app is movable by default. if the app is not movable by default, i use this app2sd by droidsail (available in the market) which force moves parts of the app 2 sd card. When I make back ups using xrecovery, i have no problem.
but when I use cwm for back ups, it gives an error saying sd-ext not found and it skips that part of the back up!! so any app I've moved by default or forced moved to sd card doesn't get backed up!! So I presume I have to create a sd-ext partition manually? How do I do it? I do have an sd-ext folder. but its not in sd card. it's in the root. (never had this prob with xrecovery though)
thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which version of CWM would that be?

Saipro said:
Which version of CWM would that be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's cwm 4.0.1.5

[Q] Application to sd-card

What are the applications that should not be moved on to sd-card?
&
What is the difference between "move to sd-card" and "link to sd-card"
I'm using Link2SD Script.

move 2 SD:- traditional method of moving apps to sdcard without need of anything available in froyo onward android os, app will be moved partially not full app will be moved
link2sd:- an app in Google play which allow the root user with 2nd partition of sdcard to move data and app to second partition of the sdcard
linking means it will move the app/data to sdcard and creates a symbolic link of it in /data partition and will tell the os to think that the app is in the /data partition of phone

dhlalit11 said:
move 2 SD:- traditional method of moving apps to sdcard without need of anything available in froyo onward android os, app will be moved partially not full app will be moved
link2sd:- an app in Google play which allow the root user with 2nd partition of sdcard to move data and app to second partition of the sdcard
linking means it will move the app/data to sdcard and creates a symbolic link of it in /data partition and will tell the os to think that the app is in the /data partition of phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, can I link all applications even system applications to the sd-card?

when i am using linksd i find internal memory increasing otherwise when i am using move to sd it decreasing size in internal memory

read the FAQ
mohamed_nor_eldin said:
when i am using linksd i find internal memory increasing otherwise when i am using move to sd it decreasing size in internal memory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just take some time to read this webpage
http://www.link2sd.info/faq

[Q] Some apps don't see sdcard1

I have tried to Google this issue with little success. What happens is I used to have the Xperia Ray (GB 2.3.4) where apps like ZDBox can detect my Samsung 32GB microSD and moved apps to SD without issue. Now with the SP, it cannot see the ext SD at all (but Cleanup Master still can). Another issue is that SD Tools was able to display the Samsung SD ROM data on the Ray but can't now with the SP. Also, SD Booster used to recommend 2048 for 32GB SD on the Ray, but now saying 512 is optimal? I am so confused. Is it a SP or JB 4.1.2 issue? Both are rooted BTW.

Because the Sp has internal memory mounted as SD card you won't be able to move apps to SD card.
To move apps and data a lot of people use link2sd to move apps to ext SD card and apps like folder mount to move game data/obb files to ext SD card.
Only works if rooted.
Sent from my C5303 using xda premium

zolaisugly said:
To move apps and data a lot of people use link2sd to move apps to ext SD card and apps like folder mount to move game data/obb files to ext SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that link2SD din't move the /data/data/x folder to the ext2 Sd partition, then if you have a lot of files there (like music temporal files of Google Music) the benefits are poor.

themacboy said:
The problem is that link2SD din't move the /data/data/x folder to the ext2 Sd partition, then if you have a lot of files there (like music temporal files of Google Music) the benefits are poor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will not move it. It will mount it in this point.
Link2SD can move data to other partition. But. You have to had two partitions on sd card. First one in FAT on wich you hold any files (music, movies...) and second on wich you will move app data. With new version you can have on second partition ext2, ext3, or fat filesystem.
You need to have root of course. You can try make only one partition in sdcard, but in this case you have to make ext2 or ext3 partition on SDCard and I really dont know if it work. I didnt see option in link2SD where you can set your data partition so it will try to find second partition on sdcard.
I use 32GB sd card with 16GB with FAT filesystem and 16 in ext3 to move app data there.

To create 2nd partition you need to use PC and a partition creating tool I use easeus maker.
You need to create partition and make it primary,if you use fat32 it will be supported by stock ROM.
Once done put card back in phone start link2sd and it will find new partition and ask how to handle select format that matches yours.
Then you can link all the apps you want apart from system apps.
Sent from my C5303 using xda premium

I usually use AParted to format all my partitions on SD card from my phone.
As I said before, in my phone link2SD din't manage /data/data/x folder on second partition (ext2, ext3, ...), only manage /data/app/x and probably others.
Then if you try to move to ext2 partition (link) any app with a lot of data files stored, alll this files din't point to ext2, will remain in internal memory.
For exmaple:
Try to download Google Music app, link this app to ext2 partition. Now in app make ready a lot of file in offline mode. It will store all this temp song files in /data/data/com.google.andorid.music folder.
Now check in Link2SD and with any filebrowser, you will see that this files are always in internal memory because link2SD din't manage /data/data/x to link it to second partition on external sd.

Sorry I can't help any more as I dont use that app you said. I do use link2sd and have no issues when linking the app to the ext SD card.
Remember you may see info still on data/app but the contents are sym linked.
But if you are sure you have set 2nd partition correct to primary and using fat32( stock supports this)
I can't help you further sorry
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

I ended up just using Clean Master moving 19 apps to SD. There are many can't be moved but not too bad consider it is far more convenience than Folder Mount. I also removed SD booster which was tested to offer no speed advantage. Next will be battery drain problem. Boy I feel I have spent more time tweaking the android than actually utilizing it.

themacboy said:
I usually use AParted to format all my partitions on SD card from my phone.
As I said before, in my phone link2SD din't manage /data/data/x folder on second partition (ext2, ext3, ...), only manage /data/app/x and probably others.
Then if you try to move to ext2 partition (link) any app with a lot of data files stored, alll this files din't point to ext2, will remain in internal memory.
For exmaple:
Try to download Google Music app, link this app to ext2 partition. Now in app make ready a lot of file in offline mode. It will store all this temp song files in /data/data/com.google.andorid.music folder.
Now check in Link2SD and with any filebrowser, you will see that this files are always in internal memory because link2SD din't manage /data/data/x to link it to second partition on external sd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I'll check that once again (I had to buy new SD Card) and you have right. Link2SD move only:
APK File - /data/app/*.apk
Dex files - /data/dalvik-cache/[email protected]*.dex
Libraries - /data/data/*/lib/app_libraries
And other things from /data/data/ stays there. Only libraries are moved from this folder ((
But Its a solution. Just use FolderMount from Google Play It works awesome.