Database Develop

5GB internal storage unaccessible to apps?

I'm a new nook user and successfully put nookie froyo on over the weekend. I would like to use my 5gb of internal memory for the reader apps (nook, aldiko etc) but they all only seem to look for an sdcard. I can see that media directory is there and I can see the files via ES File Explorer but can't figure out how to make the nook (or other reader apps) see this storage.
On my Samsung captivate the internal storage shows up as an sdcard and my external card is mnt under that so I was expecting a similar layout with the nook internal memory.
I'm not sure if this is just the way it is or have I done something wrong?
also when I go into SD card and Phone Storage settings it shows:
Total Space: unavailable
Available Space: unavailable
Mount and Format SD card options are greyed out
Internal Phone Storage Available Space: 513MB

WinoOutWest said:
I'm a new nook user and successfully put nookie froyo on over the weekend. I would like to use my 5gb of internal memory for the reader apps (nook, aldiko etc) but they all only seem to look for an sdcard. I can see that media directory is there and I can see the files via ES File Explorer but can't figure out how to make the nook (or other reader apps) see this storage.
On my Samsung captivate the internal storage shows up as an sdcard and my external card is mnt under that so I was expecting a similar layout with the nook internal memory.
I'm not sure if this is just the way it is or have I done something wrong?
also when I go into SD card and Phone Storage settings it shows:
Total Space: unavailable
Available Space: unavailable
Mount and Format SD card options are greyed out
Internal Phone Storage Available Space: 513MB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps would have to know to look for it at /media, and if they do, they should readily be able to access it on that path.
I just tested this myself, I copied my /sdcard/Books to /media, renamed /sdcard/Books to /sdcard/Books-bak (just to make sure I wasn't accidentally still referencing the old location) and in FBReader I changed my Library path to /Media/Books and it works fine.
So you have access to R/W the path, just the apps don't necessarily know to look there. FBReader you can change the path, but not sure about others.

thanks for mentioning FBReader. Aldiko, like many apps seems to insist on SDCard as the root and doesn't find anything. I d/l FBReader and set it to use the internal memory so thanks for that.
Many other apps are the same in wanting an SDCard for storage. It would be nice to have an app or setting that would allow us to map that directory to "SDCard"

WinoOutWest said:
thanks for mentioning FBReader. Aldiko, like many apps seems to insist on SDCard as the root and doesn't find anything. I d/l FBReader and set it to use the internal memory so thanks for that.
Many other apps are the same in wanting an SDCard for storage. It would be nice to have an app or setting that would allow us to map that directory to "SDCard"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have not tried it, but creating a symlink would accomplish that.

i had the same problem with the initial flash of honeycomb but then i reflashed with "second edition" and it seems to be working fine now

cnewsgrp said:
Have not tried it, but creating a symlink would accomplish that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except fat doesn't have symlinks Yes, it would be nice to ln -s /media /sdcard/media or something but it won't work.

Is that /media partition only good for storage? I noticed the few apps I installed so far put files on the SD card, and when the SD is removed, the apps don't work anymore. I tried copying everything on the SD to the /media and left the SD out but the apps still didn't run. Do I have to put all the .apk files under /media and install them from there? I'm trying to use SD only for media storage and no app bits if possible.

drazil22 said:
Is that /media partition only good for storage? I noticed the few apps I installed so far put files on the SD card, and when the SD is removed, the apps don't work anymore. I tried copying everything on the SD to the /media and left the SD out but the apps still didn't run. Do I have to put all the .apk files under /media and install them from there? I'm trying to use SD only for media storage and no app bits if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If an app requires an SD card, it requires an SD card. Period. It's not going to fall over to using /media magically.
You can use apps without the SD card of course, but again, if they need SD they are not going to work. Apps are installed in /data/app and typically app data in /data/data but a lot of apps, especially games, require SD storage.

How would I use adb to push a file to /media? I'm trying to store some movies in here and it gives me an error that media is read-only.
jv

I've got a question. Since I got a 16 GB mSD card, is there a way to resize /media (if there is a reason to) so that I have more room for applications?

johnnyv5 said:
How would I use adb to push a file to /media? I'm trying to store some movies in here and it gives me an error that media is read-only.
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Click to collapse
While I have not tried it, I would imagine that you could use Root Explorer to change the folder from R/O to R/W
You could alternately do an adb command "adb shell" and then use Unix commands to do that.

Issue with file managers on the driod bionic

So far I have tried linda, astro, and root explorer.
When I try and click on the sd card it is showing me the 8gig partition share on the phone that is set up for app installs.
None of the file manager programs, besides the stock one on the phone, are properly showing the sd card.
Anyone else notice this?

Working fine for me. Root explorer included
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium

The internal drive is 16GB
Once formatted to FAT, is gets reduced to just over 15GB
Then the OS is placed on the drive in a separate partition which takes up roughly about 4GB bringing that once 16GB drive down again to about 11GB
The remaining partition is partitioned once again to create an internal storage area similar to the SDCARD partition on the XOOM, as well an an application area where programs are pre-installed to.
That is why your internal storage area says only 8GB
The numbers I used are not exact but are rough estimates.

you just have to look around in it. both sd cards are there. its just not as simple as the stock one. my xoom is the same way.

dellenrules said:
The internal drive is 16GB
Once formatted to FAT, is gets reduced to just over 15GB
Then the OS is placed on the drive in a separate partition which takes up roughly about 4GB bringing that once 16GB drive down again to about 11GB
The remaining partition is partitioned once again to create an internal storage area similar to the SDCARD partition on the XOOM, as well an an application area where programs are pre-installed to.
That is why your internal storage area says only 8GB
The numbers I used are not exact but are rough estimates.
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Click to collapse
This is exactly right. Is there a way to use any file managers then? They are all being fooled into thinking the internal storage is the sd card when it obviously isnt.
I have found no setting or way thus far to point the file manager apps to the actual sd card instead of the internal partition.

its a messed up sytem if they gave us more memory then it wouldnt b so bad.

not at the moment. either devoplers will have to modify there apps or a custom rom is needed to remap the memory.
strunker said:
This is exactly right. Is there a way to use any file managers then? They are all being fooled into thinking the internal storage is the sd card when it obviously isnt.
I have found no setting or way thus far to point the file manager apps to the actual sd card instead of the internal partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I actually found a temporary solution to this.. If you are rooted of course since you need to be to do anything useful on this thing.
I used root explorer for this.
For whatever reason they decided to name the internal memory application partition, to sdcard... This is why the file manager apps are getting confused.
The real sdcard is named sdcard-ext...
So All I did was rename sdcard (which is the internal partition), then I renamed sdcard-ext to sdcard. The file manager programs then pointed towards the actual sdcard..
However, upon reboot the folders renamed themselves back to the way they were... Not sure why they are doing that but they are...
If the folders would stop renaming themselves back the above method would be a solution for this prob.

In addition to the above, I dont know if astro has this feature, but on linda you can create a shortcut to the card and place it as a shortcut directly to the folder.
Wish it was possible to get the source to these apps. Could likely edit it and point it towards the proper folder.

Root explorer will allow you to view everything. If your phone is rooted you could edit them with this app as well.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium

The SD Card is actually sd-ext in file managers sdcard is the internal

How can i increase the rom size?

Is there any way to repartition the size of rom?
i want to combine all internal sd card space to the rom and make the external sd card as for the only one of sd card.
Can i edit the pit file to do that? and how?
thanks for your help

tommyhui said:
Is there any way to repartition the size of rom?
i want to combine all internal sd card space to the rom and make the external sd card as for the only one of sd card.
Can i edit the pit file to do that? and how?
thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want to combine the internal storage and the usb storage into one storage space and the internal and external sd storage become just sd storage?

tknguyencsu said:
You want to combine the internal storage and the usb storage into one storage space and the internal and external sd storage become just sd storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes

I would like to do this too, I know it is possible because my Motorola Xoom does this. I was surprised that the ICS update didn't reformat the internal storage to work this way.
The internal "/data" partition stores both application and "user" data and it is done by having a subfolder of the data partition mounted as the "internal sdcard" (/mnt/sdcard) by a special filesystem that strips all user permissions from the files.
That way as far as the OS is concerned all the data is on one unified partition so I could install 20G worth of apps if I liked, yet all the applications that download data or expect music to be on the sdcard have everything in the right place.
The extra sd card shows up as /mnt/external1

Mokubai said:
I would like to do this too, I know it is possible because my Motorola Xoom does this. I was surprised that the ICS update didn't reformat the internal storage to work this way.
The internal "/data" partition stores both application and "user" data and it is done by having a subfolder of the data partition mounted as the "internal sdcard" (/mnt/sdcard) by a special filesystem that strips all user permissions from the files.
That way as far as the OS is concerned all the data is on one unified partition so I could install 20G worth of apps if I liked, yet all the applications that download data or expect music to be on the sdcard have everything in the right place.
The extra sd card shows up as /mnt/external1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried to do this by editing the "vold.fstab" file in the etc folder. However I have not been successful. I can only switch between the internal and external sdcard.
Each time I failed I have to recopy the original vold.fstab file before the Note working again if I am lucky. Most of the time I have to reflash the rom again. You can get some information from the following thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1454753

[Q] Applications to external sd

Hi, everyone.
I have a question if somebody is able to copy or move applications to external sd card either with rooted stock or custom rom. What applications or mods did you do to enable such option?

tsokh said:
Hi, everyone.
I have a question if somebody is able to copy or move applications to external sd card either with rooted stock or custom rom. What applications or mods did you do to enable such option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im having the same problem as well. my Internal storage is half way getting there and None of the apps that I installed does not have the option to be transferred to ext_SD

Ok, after 2 days of searching over the web and forums I found a workaround for moving apps on external SD (working only on rooted phones).
1) Download and install FolderMount program from Google Play store.
2) Open the program, tap on "+", enter name (any alias), source folder of the app, and destination (external sd with the same folder already created or choose automatic method), then tap on check mark.
3) Wait till the program copies the application to external sd and creates link. After you need to tap on pin icon and it'll turn to green.
If you get some notification, just click "Yes".
P.S.
Don't delete the folder with the moved app in your internal memory, as it'll also delete the app from external SD. If you want to check if the program moved, unpin the program and browse to the app folder in your internal memory and you won't see the files there. FolderMount creates the link to the application in internal memory to trick Android. Every time Android requests the application, it passes the request to its internal memory and after goes via the link to external SD. That is the only trick that worked for me.

I read on the butterfly 901s/e forum thread and it said something about fat32

I have Kingston 64gb formated in FAT32, don't know if Android works properly with exFAT or ext format. You can't format 64gb SD card in FAT32 with Windows, but you can install other partition wizards like Minitool Partition Wizard to format it.

Does the old setinstalllocation trick work here?

SquareBare said:
Does the old setinstalllocation trick work here?
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Click to collapse
If you mean "set pm install location" command, then no. I tried that trick, however programs didn't even install on internal memory after I used the command. I left it as default "0".

tsokh said:
If you mean "set pm install location" command, then no. I tried that trick, however programs didn't even install on internal memory after I used the command. I left it as default "0".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. I think I can do everything I need to do with foldermount so it should all work out.
Also got a 70mbps read SD card! Phone comes in later today!

Does the micro SDXC work in the butterfly s
Sent from my HTC Butterfly using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Yes, works with microSDXC up to 64gb in FAT32, couldn't manage to use external sd card in other formats like exFAT or NTFS.

[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.