Metro's SD card's default file system?

[qandres12]

Were all familiar with the little 2GB sd cards that Metro phones come with when you buy them at a store. But does anyone know the default file system of those sd cards? I know it has to either be FAT or FAT32 but whenever i connect my sd card to my computer and check the file system it says RAW? Ive been a bit confused for awhile now cause of this. But Im like 99% percent sure that its FAT.

This is what I found out on some research:

FAT when you have 2GB or smaller card.
FAT32 when you have 4GB or greater card.

 

[Sepero]

I've never gotten one of the cards before but my bet would be FAT32 no matter what size it is (2GB 4GB). FAT32 has become the industry standard right now.

If you can store files on the card, then I assure you that it is not raw.

Google is working on developing a new filesystem type for sdcards, but to my knowledge it has not yet been released. This is largely in part due to patent lawsuits from Microsoft over the FAT32 filesystem. The switch from mounting USB as plain sdcard -to- mounting USB with MTP is part of preparing for the filesystem transition.

 

[new optimus]

I've never gotten one of the cards before but my bet would be FAT32 no matter what size it is (2GB 4GB). FAT32 has become the industry standard right now.

If you can store files on the card, then I assure you that it is not raw.

Google is working on developing a new filesystem type for sdcards, but to my knowledge it has not yet been released. This is largely in part due to patent lawsuits from Microsoft over the FAT32 filesystem. The switch from mounting USB as plain sdcard -to- mounting USB with MTP is part of preparing for the filesystem transition.

I believe the fat and fat32 filesystems became the standard because they have to be compatible with microsoft O/S linux and android would be happy to use ext4 all day long.

 

[Sepero]

@new optimus
You're correct. The main reason ext4 isn't used on sdcard's for android is because ext4 is an optimized design for spinning disks and not solid state disks. Ext2 would be the closest Linux equivalent of FAT32.

 

[Spec2nirvash]

Google is working on developing a new filesystem type for sdcards, but to my knowledge it has not yet been released. This is largely in part due to patent lawsuits from Microsoft over the FAT32 filesystem. The switch from mounting USB as plain sdcard -to- mounting USB with MTP is part of preparing for the filesystem transition.

Is this the reason my Premia, at times doesn't show new files right away on my 16G sd card, or takes forever to display thumbnails? I did a pull for shabby and couldn't find the file in MTP mode linked to my PC, but found it with root explorer in /sdcard/. Also, discovered there is an sdcard2 that, I guess is what opens up with MTP? ICS is confusing ......

 

[new optimus]

@new optimus
You're correct. The main reason ext4 isn't used on sdcard's for android is because ext4 is an optimized design for spinning disks and not solid state disks. Ext2 would be the closest Linux equivalent of FAT32.

Phones do not use spinning disks, they use flash memory, inside the phone not the sdcard and many if not most are using ext4 filesystems.

 

[Sepero]

@Spec2nirvash
"Is this the reason my Premia, at times doesn't show new files right away"
I don't know for certain, but I don't think that shouldn't happen. Perhaps maybe the file is in a different place than you were looking?

Slowly displaying thumbnails could be the related to several possible factors. My guess would be hardware limitations.

 

[Sepero]

Phones do not use spinning disks, they use flash memory, inside the phone not the sdcard and many if not most are using ext4 filesystems.

That's true for many newer devices. Even though Ext4 is not optimized for solid state drives, it can still be used with them.

 

[new optimus]

As an add on to my previous post, android 2.3 gingerbread was shipped with ext4

Since dec 2010 its been googles default file system.

Ext4 filesystem hits Android, no need to fear data loss | Ars Technica

 

[new optimus]

That's true for many newer devices. Even though Ext4 is not optimized for solid state drives, it can still be used with them.

I guess my original point kind of got lost on the way side
android and linux could use ext4 for the sd card but windows would never see it (at least up to windows 7) microsoft has refused to code for it so removable devices have to use microsofts fat or fat32 systems.
If google gets another one that is better optimized for flash drives I wonder if they will have trouble with microsoft.

 

[Sepero]

I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't be happy about it, but there's only so much they can do. My assumption is that Google would just release a driver that people could install on windows. After the user did that, they would see the new filesystem just like it were a regular NTFS or FAT32 filesystem.

 

[new optimus]

I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't be happy about it, but there's only so much they can do. My assumption is that Google would just release a driver that people could install on windows. After the user did that, they would see the new filesystem just like it were a regular NTFS or FAT32 filesystem.

Good point, I am fairly sure there are programs that are written for windows to allow you to work with and format linux partitions.