Database Develop

[Q] Directory for apps stored on SD Card

I am about to undertake the task of factory restoring my Moto Droid (for reasons I won't bore you with). I'm rooted, and have Rom Manager for Nandroid backups (so I flashed a new recovery), but other than that I'm running stock.
I don't want to redownload all of my apps, so I want to copy them over to my PC and push them back to the phone later using adb. My issue is, I cannot find the apps I have moved to the SD card. What is their file pathway?
I've used Astro and Terminal Emulater (with the ls command) to try to find the pathway, but I'm at a complete loss.
Before you say anything, I know Astro can backup apps; however, it does not back up apps that are stored on the SD card. And I have too many apps to move them all to internal storage to back them up with Astro.
I really need to find the file pathway so I can copy the .apk's. Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

the easy way, try titanium backup
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App

I ended up just playing 'musical chairs' with the apps on the SD card to put them on the internal storage to back them up with Astro. It worked pretty well, though was unnecessarily time consuming.
And a lot of the best features in Titanium cost; I know it's supporting the dev, but I'm an eternal cheap skate when it comes to apps...

[Q] new to cyanogenmod + Titanium Backup + Link2SD

Hey,
I have decided to give CyanogenMod a go for the first time.
I've been rooted for some time now - running a stock Gingerbread 2.3.4 rooted.
I've heard so many good things about CyanogenMod and I have had an itch for a bit of a change, that I decided now is a good time to give it a try.
I was hoping you guys might be able to help me clarify a few things first though.
I have Link2SD installed and setup. I have linked a couple of apps using and I was wondering if anyone knows how it works with Titanium Backup?
What I was hoping to be able to do was:
Code:
1)
Make a back up of some of my apps + their data using Titanium Backup - Some of these apps have been moved using Link2SD
2)
Install ClockworkMod Recovery and make a full nandroid backup.
3)
Make a backup of all the contents on my SD card - from the fat32 partition primarily.
4)
Install CyanongenMod using ROM Manager
5)
Redo the ext2 partition on my SD card and reinstall Link2SD once CyanogenMod has been installed
6)
Reinstall Titanium Backup and restore all the apps I backed up.
I was hoping that by doing the above I could hang onto all the custom settings I have in some of the apps.
For the apps that have been linked using Link2SD, will Titanium backup restore them properly as long as that ext2 partition on the SD card is there?? Or am I going to run into issues?
I have done some searching on these forums but there seems to be no clear cut answer.
Any help or advice would greatly be appreciated!
Thank you

You'll be fine - just make a full Titanium backup and a nandroid (just in case).
Do a full wipe, install CM with gapps, install your apps2sd, then restore your Titanium backup...

Titanium Backup will just restore the apps to the /data partition (or the ext if you have app2sdext enabled), but since link2sd is setting up individual symlinks for each app, those probably won't be carried over when you restore with Titanium Backup. You will have to redo those apps. But this may be time to look into a full app2sdext option. It is much simpler than link2sd and there aren't any noticeable performance hits (unless you do data2sd).

Good catch bass - I missed the Link2SD detail!

@danger-rat @bassmadrigal
Thank you guys for giving me some advice.. it is much appreciated!
So the app2sdext option can be done using dark tremor?
I was looking at dark tremor previously when I was trying to decide what method to use to relink apps.
Do you guys know of a good tutorial to go about setting it up? Is it done pre install of Cyanogen? Or post install?
My other concern about moving apps to the SD card using methods like link2sd and dark tremor is recently I had a situation where my ext2 partitions filesystem actually became corrupted. I ended up having to a 'fsck' on it to repair it ( I am pretty sure I got lucky with that ). Using the app2sdext do I still have the options to decide what I move to my SD card?

You can use Darktremor or S2E as the popular methods. S2E is a bit more intuitive (its an app in the market, with a front end GUI).
Install after you've installed CM.
As far as corrupt cards, just make sure you backup from time to time. Titanium or nandroid should do the trick. The advantage of having an ext partition is that once you have the partition, you can reformat it without losing your regular SD partition...

i would also recommend S2E, recently went from dt to
s2e and its working great.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I remember seeing you mention s2e once before! At the time though I couldn't use it since I wasn't running CyanogenMod
That sounds like a good plan.
What do you think of this
Code:
1)
Do a Titanium Backup of my apps+their data
(including ones that have been moved using link2sd)
2)
When I install CyanogenMod, setup and install s2e
3)
Install Titanium Backup and start recovering my apps.
Since Titanium Backup should restore apps linked via
link2sd back to the default /data directory, I should just
be able to relink them using the s2e method?
I was wondering something else to actually.
@danger-rat you have mentioned in the past that you do not like the most recent version of the ClockworkMod recovery due to stability and reliability issues (I have seen a few other people say this as well). If this is still the case, can you recommend a version to install? From Rom Manager itself, can you choose a different version of ClockworkMod recovery to install?
Sorry for all the questions!
EDIT ------------------------------------------------
Just after I posted this I noticed there is an option in Rom Manager "All ClockworkMod Recoveries" - It looks like this option will allow me to install older version of ClockworkMod?

I use CWM 2.5.1.4 and install via ROM Manager, just as you suggested...

Thank you sir for suggesting a version and confirming I can do it via ROM manager.
Hopefully I can try this in the next couple days. Will report back success/epic failures!
Thank you baseballfanz as well!
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

Why posting a question in general section???
Thread moved.

hey sorry I wanted to ask one more question...
Since I plan on implementing s2e I will have to reformat my ext2 partition to ext3 or 4 (I think it said ext4..)
My question is, what should I do with my fat32 partition?
After I backup all the data on it, should I reformat it as well? Then after I get CyanogenMod installed, move back only what is important - Titanium backup directory for example? Or copy everything that was on it. There will probably be a lot of useless/old files on there that aren't really useful.
EDIT ---------------------
Sorry Mr.Clown for posting in wrong section.. I'll post correctly next time!

i went from dt a2sd to s2e with no need to redo anything on my sd card. i had ext4 already.
if you use amon ra you can change ext 2 to ext 3 or ext 4.

Sorry, I was gone all day and away from a computer. Glad others chimed in. But to start, S2E and DarkTremor's a2sd both are not selective on which apps are installed to the sdcard. It is an all or nothing approach. That is the difference between app2sdext and link2sd. With S2E, you just install it and open the app. Select the checkboxes to move apps to the sdcard and then I recommend moving the dalvik cache as well (as it takes a lot of space). Reboot, and any apps you install/restore will be automagically put on the sdext partition.
And to answer your last question, if you already have an ext partition on your card, there is no reason to change it. It may say ext 3 or 4 is needed, but I am running ext2 on mine without any issues (I have been too lazy to take the time to change it). Just make sure the ext partition is wiped (which can be done in recovery under Mounts and Storage). The fat32 can be wiped, but it isn't necessary. Although, if it has been awhile, you may want to consider it, just to get rid of some of the stupid folders that devs can't figure out how to keep them out of the root of the card.

@bassmadrigal
thanks for the response man!
All or nothing eh? I will give it a try and hope for the best! At least then I will have more flexibility in the amount of apps that I can have!
I think I will just reformat the entire card since it has been a while. There is so much stuff on the card now I don't really know what is what anymore. I will keep a back up of it though juuuust in case.
I think the ext2 partition might have some files left over from link2sd so I think I might wipe it out as well and start again.
I have since removed all the apps I moved using link2sd just to calm my nerves a little bit (ha!).
I am currently trying to purchase titanium backup but it looks like maybe the market is having issues. It is stuck on "Authorizing purchase..." seems like a few people have had this.
In the mean time I will install the recovery image and do a nandroid backup!

Just as an FYI, if you redo your partitions (ie repartitioning your sdcard through the recovery), that will erase and format both partitions. I think by default, clockworkmod will do an ext2 partition, whereas Amon_RA gives you the option between ext3 and ext4. One thing to keep in mind, in the past, with ClockworkMod v3.x, it had been known to cause issues with partitioning cards. I don't know if that has been fixed in the v5.x, but I know it doesn't exist in v2.x and it also works properly in Amon_RA.
All or nothing really isn't a bad approach. I have a class 4 32GB Sandisk, and I don't seem to have any speed problems. Then, with some of the apps that have a large amount of data, I will move those individually with Titanium Backup. Two big ones are Google Earth (16MB of frickin data), and Firefox (I don't remember how much, but it is still a large amount). But I had to move those because I was running out of room in my internal memory (I have a lot of apps installed).

I was actually just about to update this thread!
I have been busy since my last post!
I have since installed clockworkmod recovery, done my backups, installed cyanogenmod, and am just in the process of going through it.
I FINALLY got titanium backup pro key to install.. I think there must have been something wrong between google and the titanium backup app, but after like 2 hours of trying it finally went through!
I think I am okay with the "All or nothing approach" as well. I know now that I need to start to take backups WAY more serious! So if I ever run into a situation where my ext partition dies, I won't be devastated!
I think what I will end up doing is reformatting it all tomorrow at work. I will turn the phone off, remove SD card, format using a Linux system at work, place card back in and go from there.
To restore my ROM Manager backup and my Titanium Backups I just have to copy those folders back to the SD card (after the format) from the backup I made of the SD card prior to formatting it (sorry if I am sounding repetitive, I can't tell if what I am saying will make sense to anyone other then myself lol + plus I am EXHAUSTED!)
That's awesome though its working for you. I have a class 10 8 gig kingston SDcard and so far its been great!
So when I setup s2e (I have it installed, but not configured!) I should select the check boxes "Applications, Private apps, and Dalvic Cache"?
You mentioned that you use Titanium Backup to move certain apps like Google Earth... I was just wondering in what direction you were moving them? From the phone to the SDcard, or from the SDcard to the phone? Sorry for probably another really stupid question I just wanted to make sure I was following you correctly!
Thank you again for all your help though. Things have gone smoothly so far

In S2E move applications, private apps, dalvik cache and optional too download cache.
As for moving data to sd card individually by Titanium, you are moving the data from internal memory to sd card

Yes, all you need to do is copy those folders back, but if you restore any of your nandroid backups, you will reset everything in your system back to the time before you installed S2E. So, I would only do that as a last resort. But, Titanium Backup does not have that limitation. It is just restoring the data to whatever the system is setup to do.
Once you do get everything up and running properly, it would be beneficial to do a nandroid. But as far as a lot of backups, you can set TB to run on a schedule to back up your phone every so often while you are asleep. And then, I just make sure I do a nandroid before I flash ANYTHING.
And ditto for what baseballfanz said. I never bothered with the download cache, as that is stored on a different partition within the phone (the /cache partition). Unless you resize all your partitions, it is probably pointless to move it. And yes, I am moving the data (ie the saved games/settings etc) for the app to the sdext partition with Titanium Backup, but you probably won't need to do this for a while (I have 213 user apps installed according to TB).

@bassmadrigal and @baseballfanz
Thanks guys for all your advice!
Sorry for the million's of question, I'm learning a lot from you guys though!
So.. Cheers!
Nandroid is similar to Acronis (imaging software) for PC so I definitely follow you when you say that restoring an Nandroid backup will erase anything I have done since doing that particular backup.
Good to know that moving those folders back onto the SDcard is all I have to do so now reformatting the card isn't as scary! Oh and I have to make sure I grab the Titanium Backup License file - Sorry I just read this is the old method!
I will definitely take your advice and produce a Nandroid backup once everything is up and running just in case! I have been thinking about it and I figured I could automate a backup of the Titanium Backup folder and the clockworkmod folder by using the rSync app. I could just copy everything to my NAS during the night, which would ensure I have two physical copies just incase my SD card decides to dead.
thanks for clarifying the direction of the data being moved using titanium backup. I figured it was that but wanted to be sure. I still have a lot of learning to do with that app to get fully familiar with it!
I'll be setting up my two new partition today and hopefully I can start restoring apps later this afternoon. Will report back my status.
Thanks again for the help!
cheers

[Q] Rooted X8 SD Card Memory Problem

Before I rooted my X8 my SD memory card had at least 1.3/ 1.4 GB space on it, which I am definatly sure about, but after the root it says that I have no space on it at all.
What gives, any ideas on how to fix it?

Copy all files to PC, format it in fat16 and copy files back.
Probably you have some errors on card.

Thanks! Hope that, that's the case.

It wasn't the case :L Something has taken up all the space... Could it have been the backup that Titanium Backup did? And how do I get rid of it?
The backup that is.

Just browse SD and delete you thing is unnecessary. Just make backup first
I don`t think that TB can make so big backup.

Don't take this the wrong way, but, rooting has nothing to do with the SDCard. Can you tell us exactly what is it you did until you've discovered that you lost the space on the SD?
beacuse, my theory is that after you rooted, you went and tried to install a new ROM, and consequently made a backup of the previous ROM. that's around 200MB, add the ROM you were planning to install plus another backup...

I havent changed the ROM on my phone yet. I havent got the confidence to yet. All I have done is rooted my phone using superoneclick, downloaded and installed titanium backup and apttek app manager, and then did a full backup using TB. After that I then noticed I had no space left on my sd card.
It doesnt matter as such now as I just bought a 4Gb card.

That is strange. Try exploring the card in windows. Might find out what's taking up space.
Sent from my TI99 4A

Did you select "charge phone" when prompted to plug the phone in super one click? You may have mounted the SD card and that might be the problem.

Yes, I did everything the tutorial told me to do :L

Move from one Milestone to another (different ROM & SD-Card)

So, I finally have got my hands on another Milestone which means that I can play around with different ROMs as much as I like and still be able to be sure that people can call me on my stable phone. But, installing ~20 apps by hand and restore of messages every time is a pain in the as and therefore I would like to simply make a backup on the SD card and apply all the apps.
I thought that I could simply make a backup via Titanium Backup to SD-Card 1, copy that content to SD-Card 2, install TB on my other Milestone (which uses SD-Card 2) and just restore that way as you do every time you install a new ROM but no, TB can't find anything to restore.
Any thoughts how I should do?
*Milestone 1 uses CM 7.1.5 and Milestone 2 uses CM 9 4.0.4

TB allows you to change to change the directory on the SD card it uses for backups. Make sure it's looking in right one on the 2nd Milestone.

Dave Lister said:
TB allows you to change to change the directory on the SD card it uses for backups. Make sure it's looking in right one on the 2nd Milestone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx man, turned out the folder with the backup was inside the TB folder (sd/TitaniumBackup/TitaniumBackup/"all backup files").
Well, TB manages to restore some of the apps but not all of em...hmmm...
Think I'm going for installing all the apps by hand insted, takes longer but at least works. Hehe.

As my understanding is with app2ext (default with Kabaldan's CM ROMs) to install all apps you need only copy them from MM1's ext into MM2's ext. During restart all apps should get installed. Obviously its just apps no data, but here the TB may help...
One command, if moving from one ROM to an other do not copy the lib dir from the ext partition.

Changing internal SD to portable storage for root

I want to flash Xposed Framework and some other things to my phone, but I figured out that TWRP cannot find my zips in the internal SD card. I think I need to change my internal SD card back to portable storage in order to flash things. I backed up my data (Nandroid) so when I do change my SD card to portable, I can recover everything. Will changing my SD card affect SuperSU or anything on my phone?

fairnightzz said:
I want to flash Xposed Framework and some other things to my phone, but I figured out that TWRP cannot find my zips in the internal SD card. I think I need to change my internal SD card back to portable storage in order to flash things. I backed up my data (Nandroid) so when I do change my SD card to portable, I can recover everything. Will changing my SD card affect SuperSU or anything on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that few days ago, I rooted 7 days ago , and find out that in MM you can format sd card as internal memory. Wasn't with android for the last 2 years and i am learning every day about new features that i missed.
I formatted sdcard to internal and coudn't flash enything, however if you copy that zip to /data folder you can see it. Huge problem is that nandroid cannot be performed, I usually have 2 backups always and with 5GB of availabole memory, and 2-3 gigs are already taken it is impossible to backup my system which takes around 3 GB of data, even more .
I was thinking about getting USB OTG cable and external flash for nandroid and dflashing things, but still I am looking for some news about TWRP support for internal memory in some new editions.
When I switched back to normal mode ( sdcard as portable storage ) I didn't lost anything, only thing that you want to take care of is that when you are ready to switch back your sdcard as a portable, to perform migrate option and leave phone to do it ( 5 minutes ), to free sdcard and move back data to internal ( if there is a space enoough on internal so that is one more problem to care about.
I also asked this question and got no answers, but I really do like to know how other members manage their free space with this MM stuff, which is good but very limiting so far.

dejson said:
I did that few days ago, I rooted 7 days ago , and find out that in MM you can format sd card as internal memory. Wasn't with android for the last 2 years and i am learning every day about new features that i missed.
I formatted sdcard to internal and coudn't flash enything, however if you copy that zip to /data folder you can see it. Huge problem is that nandroid cannot be performed, I usually have 2 backups always and with 5GB of availabole memory, and 2-3 gigs are already taken it is impossible to backup my system which takes around 3 GB of data, even more .
I was thinking about getting USB OTG cable and external flash for nandroid and dflashing things, but still I am looking for some news about TWRP support for internal memory in some new editions.
When I switched back to normal mode ( sdcard as portable storage ) I didn't lost anything, only thing that you want to take care of is that when you are ready to switch back your sdcard as a portable, to perform migrate option and leave phone to do it ( 5 minutes ), to free sdcard and move back data to internal ( if there is a space enoough on internal so that is one more problem to care about.
I also asked this question and got no answers, but I really do like to know how other members manage their free space with this MM stuff, which is good but very limiting so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I move the zip to the data folder, I can flash? If so, could you show me step by step, because I tried but it wouldn't let me copy or paste anything. If not, I could just backup my photos (all other data not important), redownload the apps from the playstore, then just use link2sd to move the apps to portable SD card.

fairnightzz said:
So if I move the zip to the data folder, I can flash? If so, could you show me step by step, because I tried but it wouldn't let me copy or paste anything. If not, I could just backup my photos (all other data not important), redownload the apps from the playstore, then just use link2sd to move the apps to portable SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wll actually i found that here post #6, you have to use root explorer or similar app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/help/internal-storage-twrp-external-sd-card-t3242540
You can save apks with titanium backup and restore it with update.zip option ( to save a lot of time of redownloading apps.
link2sd doesn't work with MM, requires that micro sd is formatted as internal.
There is workaround and I will maybe test this tonight and will let you know if it works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=65411424&postcount=19

Thanks, dejson! I figured out that I wasn't using a root explorer, so I downloaded Solid Explorer and moved the zip to data/media and it worked! Thanks a lot for helping me!

fairnightzz said:
Thanks, dejson! I figured out that I wasn't using a root explorer, so I downloaded Solid Explorer and moved the zip to data/media and it worked! Thanks a lot for helping me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm, there is a thank you button also available .
Glad you did it mate, I tested everything with sdcard formatted as internal, but losing option to perform nandroid is not the compromise that I am able to consider.
I was very tired last night and accidentally deleted a lot of things from sdcard which was formatted as internal, I forgot to migrate data, but luckily fresh nandroid backup was taken just before testing and saved to laptop.
I can confirm that after installing apps2sd from playstore, and after that I installed link2sd and boom, the app is working good. This kernel supposedly doesn't have init.d enabled [decypher] so I need to test even more because even when it was working every few minutes i was receiving message from system that sdcard is corrupted and some minor errors.
This idea about first installing apps2sd is something that I found somewhere, and it is not my invention. So I think that after some more testing I week find a way to finally utilize my big sdcard.