Hi all,
Just got me an Xperia T, very happy with it.
Only thing I am having trouble understanding is how the file system works, please let me try and explain.
I have a 16gb micro SD card in the device and it also has 16gb of internal storage.
When I mount the device to windows it shows two drives (Internal Storage and SD Card), now these are pretty obvious as to which each one is.
Now my quandary: When I use astro file manager to browse the phone the file system is different (in fact pretty much the opposite).
The micro SD card shows up as "ext_card" and the internal storage (I think) shows up as "sdcard" and then there is another folder called "int_storage" that is empty.
Is this correct?
Could someone please clarify this for me?
Thanks,
Dave
Yes, this is the way it's supposed to be.
When you connect to the PC using MTP, you mount SDcard and ext_card from mnt.
Sent from my elegant Xperia™ Ion using xda premium app.
Cheers for the super fast response!
I thought that was how it was working but it was just a little confusing since it swaps around the name of each drive when plugged into windows.
Thanks again.
The way the T handles internal storage is a little odd...
Older devices have the "internal SD" formatted as FAT32.
Newer Android devices have this trick called emulated storage, where a FUSE module does special permissions magic to allow /data/media (on an ext4 system) to be mounted to /sdcard
The T is a little odd in that instead of using /data/media, it has int_storage or something like that, which is then remapped via FUSE to /sdcard. It's the only device I know of to have the internal SD formatted as ext4 but not "unified" internal storage (e.g. /sdcard is just a directory under /data)
Didn't really understand any of that.
But it's nice to know that I was right and it does handle the storage a little strangely (I deduced that much from your post at least).
Related
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.
Click to expand...
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.
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.
Click to expand...
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
Is there a difference between the /mnt/sdcard and /sdcard locations on my Nook Color? I am thinking the mnt refers to the internal card, and the sdcard refers to the "external" card that we can easily insert. Any comments are welcomed to help me understand the difference, as I am prompted to save downloads to "/mnt/sdcard/". Thank you in advance.
gsutton said:
Is there a difference between the /mnt/sdcard and /sdcard locations on my Nook Color? I am thinking the mnt refers to the internal card, and the sdcard refers to the "external" card that we can easily insert. Any comments are welcomed to help me understand the difference, as I am prompted to save downloads to "/mnt/sdcard/". Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No difference. For reasons unknown to me, your sd card is mounted in two different places ("/sdcard" and "/mnt/sdcard"). Also, your internal memory is mounted in two different places ("/emmc" and "/mnt/emmc"). If you use a file manager app (I recommend File Explorer) and look at the contents of either of the duplicated mounts, you will find exactly the same content. Ditto for the usb storage (one under root, and one under /mnt).
Someone better-versed in the guts of Android will need to explain why there are two mount points for every storage location.
edit: i am also assuming you're on CM7. If you're on stock B&N software or rooted, the duplicate mounting points may be handled differently...
Thank you for the rapid reply. I am running rooted stock 1.2, but your comments extend to my device as well. Thank you again.
Really funny that the internal storage of the Note is called SDCard.
It´s definitly not an SDCard, it´s a chip. The only SDCard in a phone is always an external. Is there any possibility to change this stupid name (whatever you want:
harddisc, storage or just a letter like C:, everybody would understand)?
Thanks in advance
Are you on CM9-based ROM or Stock? Is this issue on both.
sam.wilder said:
Are you on CM9-based ROM or Stock? Is this issue on both.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be able to change the name by editing the file ect/vold.fstab in the system folder. You should read the following thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1454753
I´m using ICS TheMidTeam 1.61 with Kernel LQ3.
Thanks for the tip changing the two storages. I´ve read it already.
My question was only if it´s possible to change the stupid name of the internal storage ´cause my GS Note (and I think all Note users all over the world)
has an internal storage. The SDcard is always external. Just SDcard or external would be enough, double name is not necessary.
No other producer for example Motorola or HTC is using such a stupid name.
That´s why i´m asking if it´s possible only to change the name of the internal
storage.
Perhaps somebody has an idea.
Thanks in advance.
This is the standard for all Android devices the first storage that is mountable is always mounted to sdcard so that apps that require space to save files to can be sure there is somewhere to save it to.
Trust me its a very good reason to have it this way. Its been like this from the start as devices did used to only have external sdcards so to save every app dev changing there app it was just kept as the sdcard mount point
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Does anyone have the mount points of the internal memory and external SD swapped ?
When I installed the aokp from external SD this happened. With paranoid android I took care of install from the internal memory.
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
bitFault said:
Does anyone have the mount points of the internal memory and external SD swapped ?
When I installed the aokp from external SD this happened. With paranoid android I took care of install from the internal memory.
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The followings give the internal memory to be the sd card and the external sd card to be mnt/emmc
# internal sdcard
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard 11 /devices/platform/dw_mmc/mmc_host/mmc0/mmc0 encryptable_nonremovable
# external sdcard
dev_mount emmc /mnt/emmc auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc1
The followings give the external sd card to be the sd card and the internal memory to be mnt/emmc
# internal sdcard
dev_mount emmc /mnt/emmc 11 /devices/platform/dw_mmc/mmc_host/mmc0/mmc0 nonremovable,encryptable
# external sdcard
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc1
Remember this is only for ro ms like liquid, paranoid, or cm9. For other ICS or GB rom the mount points will be different.
I'm curious how do I mount the sdcard as external_sd by some configuration. Now i'm using ics sd binder.
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
bitFault said:
I'm curious how do I mount the sdcard as external_sd by some configuration. Now i'm using ics sd binder.
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should read the following thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1454753
This thread also provide the appropriate vold.fstab file for ICS rom if you want to mount the external sd card as the internal sd card. I use the file for both Rocket Rom and Kingdroid rom without problem.
It must have something more
Because in the file vold.fstab the internal memory is as /mnt/emmc and the external is as /mnt/sdcard. But they have the mount ponta swapped.:what:
"
# internal sdcard
dev_mount emmc /mnt/emmc 11 /devices/platform/dw_mmc/mmc_host/mmc0/mmc0 nonremovable,encryptable
# external sdcard
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc1
"
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
---------- Post added at 03:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------
Sorry, it's mount points.
I reinstalled the ics sd binder. And maybe it's only swapped descriptions. Can someone confirm this?
Sd card is also a chip. It's just that the other is internal and the other is external.
Zapped through server hops to XDA forums
I think what zacthespack said is the half of the truth.
My Motorola Milestone with Gingerbread is showing with root explorer the internal storage. There is one folder named "SDcard" and what´s behind: exactly how it should be: the EXTERNAL storage.
A SDcard is by definition a movable chip with a little bit of plastic around.
The internal storage never can be a SDcard because you cannot remove it of the device without damaging ist.
Since nearly 30 years I´m working with a PC. It´s soooooo!!! simple: in C:\ you find the system. If you have well programmed software you have the choice to install it where you want (d:\ for example), bad programmed software goes directly to C:\programs\???. Well done software offers you usually the possibility to put your data whereever you want.
Android stores the apps on the internal storage. With App2SD you can move them to the reel SDcard (external storage), with ICS they are moved to the root directory of the internal storage. Perhaps App2SD moves the apps there because of the stupid name SDcard for the internal storage.
Well done apps like Office Suite Pro giving you the choice to put your data wherever you want.-
I don´t want to change internal to externel (maybe also a matter of speed).
I ONLY want to change the WRONG name SDcard for internal storage to one which makes sense.
Sometimes I think there are engeneers tryin´to invent the wheel again by changing the round form to a triangle.
Poly0709 said:
I´m using ICS TheMidTeam 1.61 with Kernel LQ3.
Thanks for the tip changing the two storages. I´ve read it already.
My question was only if it´s possible to change the stupid name of the internal storage ´cause my GS Note (and I think all Note users all over the world)
has an internal storage. The SDcard is always external. Just SDcard or external would be enough, double name is not necessary.
No other producer for example Motorola or HTC is using such a stupid name.
That´s why i´m asking if it´s possible only to change the name of the internal
storage.
Perhaps somebody has an idea.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAHA. I've noticed this since the day I bought my Note. Haven't done anything about it ever since. Share your solution when you find one, okay? Thanks!
Poly0709 said:
I think what zacthespack said is the half of the truth.
My Motorola Milestone with Gingerbread is showing with root explorer the internal storage. There is one folder named "SDcard" and what´s behind: exactly how it should be: the EXTERNAL storage.
A SDcard is by definition a movable chip with a little bit of plastic around.
The internal storage never can be a SDcard because you cannot remove it of the device without damaging ist.
Since nearly 30 years I´m working with a PC. It´s soooooo!!! simple: in C:\ you find the system. If you have well programmed software you have the choice to install it where you want (d:\ for example), bad programmed software goes directly to C:\programs\???. Well done software offers you usually the possibility to put your data whereever you want.
Android stores the apps on the internal storage. With App2SD you can move them to the reel SDcard (external storage), with ICS they are moved to the root directory of the internal storage. Perhaps App2SD moves the apps there because of the stupid name SDcard for the internal storage.
Well done apps like Office Suite Pro giving you the choice to put your data wherever you want.-
I don´t want to change internal to externel (maybe also a matter of speed).
I ONLY want to change the WRONG name SDcard for internal storage to one which makes sense.
Sometimes I think there are engeneers tryin´to invent the wheel again by changing the round form to a triangle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would like to point out that the milestone doesn't haven't any internal useable storage it only has the sdcard other than what's used by the system which is completely different . This is my point the first mountable storage is called sdcard to save apps the trouble of asking the user.
And as android is based from Linux it would not use the drive lettering like windows.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Hi zacthespack,
I didn´t opened this thread for talking about the milestone which I have since 2,5 years. Also I´m not talking about its 512mb internal space, which is of course not complete usable (I have 142mb left and this space is ubable!).
I know since years that Android is based on Linux, you don´t have to tell me.
My simple question was: Is it possible to give the internal space another name?
SDcard is definitly wrong!!
If this name is a convention it will be difficult to change it.
If somebody is able to change it the internal storage should be named in future
perhaps "zacthespack".
thanks
bitFault said:
It must have something more
Because in the file vold.fstab the internal memory is as /mnt/emmc and the external is as /mnt/sdcard. But they have the mount ponta swapped.:what:
"
# internal sdcard
dev_mount emmc /mnt/emmc 11 /devices/platform/dw_mmc/mmc_host/mmc0/mmc0 nonremovable,encryptable
# external sdcard
dev_mount sdcard /mnt/sdcard auto /devices/platform/s3c-sdhci.2/mmc_host/mmc1
"
Sent from my GT-N7000 (paranoidandroid v0.3) using xda
---------- Post added at 03:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------
Sorry, it's mount points.
I reinstalled the ics sd binder. And maybe it's only swapped descriptions. Can someone confirm this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is only for rom like liquid, cm9, or paranoid. For regular ICS rom you need to download the vold.fstab from
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1454753
Poly0709 said:
Hi zacthespack,
I didn´t opened this thread for talking about the milestone which I have since 2,5 years. Also I´m not talking about its 512mb internal space, which is of course not complete usable (I have 142mb left and this space is ubable!).
I know since years that Android is based on Linux, you don´t have to tell me.
My simple question was: Is it possible to give the internal space another name?
SDcard is definitly wrong!!
If this name is a convention it will be difficult to change it.
If somebody is able to change it the internal storage should be named in future
perhaps "zacthespack".
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its likely possible to do but I have said it will cause issues with apps if there is no sdcard mount point and as you don't need to have a external sdcard then the internel memory must be mounted to /sdcard
Is it really that big a issue? Yes really android should have changed this by now but its already far to much a issue with the fact the external SD gets mounted where ever the phone company wants it to be.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Hello Guys !
The internal SD card partition is ****ed up and it shows as "unmounted".
I tried a lot of things, including connecting the phone to computer and formating the damn internal storage, but when i plug the USB cable, the phone says that don't have SD card and don't allow full access or Mass Storage.
I tried some programs and file explorers who claimed that can format partitions. No one of them did works.
I tried from the settings of the device to format the internal storage, but i can't change or touch anything, because it shows the internal storage as "unmounted".
I flash it to the stock rom but in the process of flashing, it don't even touch anything in the partition table and after the flashing, the internal SD card is still "unmounted".
Is there any program, tool, way to repartition the partition table on the device ?
I have searched for that in google and i didn't find anything of that sort for Xperia X8.
My other phone, LG Optimus 2X for example, it have AIO toolkit and from there i can change his partition table as i want.
I doubt in that i can't do the same on Xperia X8.
What can i do in this case ?
By "Internal SD card partition" do you mean the Data partition?
Yes.
Are you sure? Does your phone boot? Are you able to install apps?
I mean... that partition where the other data like music, videos, files for apps are stored in there or the partition that file managers sees.
And now this partition is broken and unmounted. The phone show stupid errors everywhere, of the type of "Put your SD card to make photos" or "No SD card" in every app that store data...Now i can't do nothing, i can't even transfer one song and set it as default rington.
But the phone starts up successfully and i have no problem with installing apps from the old "Android Market".
Then that would be your Externel MicroSD Card. If you take the back cover off your phone it should be in the top right corner.
Try taking it out and using an MicroSD card adapter to connect it to your pc and format it.
Or use an app called "AParted" from the Play Store to format your MicroSD Card(Root access required).
No. The phone don't have inserted SD card. I am talking about the "internal SD card". As far as i know, the partition that the file managers sees is the partition left for free data storage, and that is not the whole memory, there is another partition that is hidden and is for the system files for android.
So, the phone boots up and "works" but i need to make repartitioning, but i don't know how to do it on this phone and what is the procedure if there is a way.
AtanasP said:
No. The phone don't have inserted SD card. I am talking about the "internal SD card". As far as i know, the partition that the file managers sees is the partition left for free data storage, and that is not the whole memory, there is another partition that is hidden and is for the system files for android.
So, the phone boots up and "works" but i need to make repartitioning, but i don't know how to do it on this phone and what is the procedure if there is a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone has 2 main partitions one is System(For OS related files and folders) and the other one is Data(For Apps and App Data), No File Manager can see whats in them(Unless you have Root Access). The only thing that would be visible to your File Manager would be whats in your MicroSD Card. If you don't have a MicroSD Card you will not be able to save any pictures or videos or any thing like that(Just like any other Android Phone with a MicroSD Card Slot)
So, this phone uses the whole internal memory for the system ? And its required to put a microSD card to be able to use the phone ?
All my android phones has a partition for free storage and i am suprised of that i can't storage anything without SD card.
This Phone only has 250MB of Internal Storage and it uses about 128MB for System. That leaves you with around 122MB to install Apps. The Phone is 100% Usable without a MicroSD Card, the only thing you will not be able to do is Save any type of External File(Video. Audio, ect.)