Root A2SD Confusssion

[spyder]

Hello.

I recently flashed to Icarus 1.1, have had NO PROBLEMS. I've been very slow about, trying to really research as I go. After it was on, I began to configure a2sd, so far:

Zipalign: Ran this to make sure it happens each boot

Now here is the big one and my question:
1. At firstI didn't but decided to try: Moving the Dalvik Cache to the SD

It freed up tons of memory (I do have a class 4 card), maybe in my head but maybe not quite as good as when I just had that on the phone?? Thoughts.


MY BIGGEST ISSUE: Every app I install still reduced the phones Memory at about the same as the size of the app.

I ran a2sd check and it all seems good, says apps are running from SD, says Dalvik is connected to the SD.

Only confusing statement IS
SWAP -[ ] Partition not present or no swap support.

BUT at the begining I clearly have EXT2 partition no problem.

Also, don't understand at the begining of check: No A2SD Flag File Not Found.

BUt the check overall seems like all is good. And to be honest, I have a TON more memory than I did before, so something is right....I'm just unsure when install new apps, what's going on? Is it the symbolic link on the phone pointing to the SD telling it that much memory is used?

Basically, I just have a weak understanding of A2SD and need some pointers on what's going on.....

Any help would really be appreciated...
Thanks...
Jeff

 

[Xyro]

(Moved to the all things root section).

A SWAP partition is a third file system, separate to EXT (apps2sd) or FAT (the normal sdcard file system). It's used for something called compache, where your phone can store data from RAM when it's not actively being used, so it's sort of an increased ammount of RAM. But it doesn't seem to be used any more by ROM devs, so don't worry that you don't have one.

The dalvick cache is a collection of temporary files used by running .apks. Apps2sd can run with the cahce still on the phone, or with it on the sdcard. And as you've found out, it takes up a significant amount of memory too.

On my phone, checking free internal memory always reports the free space left on the phone, not the sdcard. But that may not be true for your phone I suppose.

 

[Vowalla]

Hello.

I recently flashed to Icarus 1.1, have had NO PROBLEMS. I've been very slow about, trying to really research as I go. After it was on, I began to configure a2sd, so far:

Zipalign: Ran this to make sure it happens each boot

Now here is the big one and my question:
1. At firstI didn't but decided to try: Moving the Dalvik Cache to the SD

It freed up tons of memory (I do have a class 4 card), maybe in my head but maybe not quite as good as when I just had that on the phone?? Thoughts.


MY BIGGEST ISSUE: Every app I install still reduced the phones Memory at about the same as the size of the app.

I ran a2sd check and it all seems good, says apps are running from SD, says Dalvik is connected to the SD.

Only confusing statement IS
SWAP -[ ] Partition not present or no swap support.

BUT at the begining I clearly have EXT2 partition no problem.

Also, don't understand at the begining of check: No A2SD Flag File Not Found.

BUt the check overall seems like all is good. And to be honest, I have a TON more memory than I did before, so something is right....I'm just unsure when install new apps, what's going on? Is it the symbolic link on the phone pointing to the SD telling it that much memory is used?

Basically, I just have a weak understanding of A2SD and need some pointers on what's going on.....

Any help would really be appreciated...
Thanks...
Jeff

It is my understanding that only some apps have the ability to be moved to the sd card. Maybe some of the apps you're trying to download do not have this quality.
I'm sorry I wish I was of more help

 

[Xyro]

It is my understanding that only some apps have the ability to be moved to the sd card. Maybe some of the apps you're trying to download do not have this quality.
I'm sorry I wish I was of more help

Sort of. You see, there are two different forms of apps2sd. What you said is true about the official apps2sd method found in froyo/gingerbread, but in this case we're talking about the custom rom version, apps2sd+. With that method anything can be installed to the sdcard.

 

[spyder]

First off, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the input.Second, I want to point out that my phone does show the available memory for the phone and the SD card as 2 seperate things.
My question was it seems the memory is reducing when apps are installed (and I compare the size of the app to amount reduced and it is the same). I will say however, with similar amout of apps, etc, my phone has much much more free memory that it did, so something is working.
I can understand the comment, "Some apps just cant be moved to SD", ok, but I've done this with several apps and several types, therefore, no way did every app I choose fall into this category?

I realize that the memory will reduce a little due to 1. the symbolic links created to "Point" the system to SD, and any other small folders, cahe or whatever that may be installed on the phone.

NOW--SO GLAD I TRIED WHILE WRITING THIS. I tried the Google Maps update (to install), just to see if the Mem went down:
It downloaded and after attempeted installation: UNSUCCESSFUL, Insufficient Memory...WTF...Granted I have an Ascend (not alot of Mem), but on the phone I have 175MB of free, 19MB internal SD FREE, and it "SAYS" 7.2 GB of SD card free.???

What are the possibilities, I have "VERY FEW" applications installed. Actually Less than stock probably, or close, just saying NO bloatware.
Now I'm confused and really stuck??

ANY ADVICE, Would be super helpful in this case???

Thank you so much, to those of you who responded and will in the future, I will tell you I am working hard to understand on my own, I am an Engineer (mechanical unfortunatly in this case), but have some understand, and not trying to be spoon fed, just need some pushes to help me out.
Thank you.
Mean time, I may try a reboot and try to install?
Thanks you...
Jeff

 

[spyder]

OMG..Now I'm totally confused....I just tried to install the update to google Maps...."Installation failed" "Insufficient Memory". I only put Icarus on 2 weeks ago, and I can safely say, I am not the type to load up w/ apps. I would guess I have less than it had stock, maybe a little more, but I bet less than 10, like root explorer, titanium backup, terminal, etc. stuff i "Need"
BUT...example, if I get a game, stop playing it, I dump it before getting a new, so I keep the memory clean.
I have 175mb free on the phone 19MB free on interal SD and it "Says" 7.2 GB on the SD (8GB CARD).

Now, after all the panic and wtf why am I out already...I did a reboot and it installed just fine, also picked a small app (barcode reader) and installed just to see if it would take another.

So I guess a big question is: How do I check the memory on that partition, I'm sure when I look at "File manager" I'm only looking at the partition that I'll be using for me "Junk" NOT the app storage one.
So, can I check that? can I check/change that???

Again...I'll just leave it at this for now and give any updates if I get them.
Thank you so much for the replys and I hope that someone has an idea on this one...blowing my mind..Just when I thought I was gettting a handle on it...LOL..

Thanks again...Jeff

 

[Xyro]

Not sure about the gmaps one. I have had this occasionally happen one or two times to me with different apps. Is it a regular occurrence? If it's just a one off, then it's nothing to worry about.

As for the how much memory is being used up.... Do you have titanium backup installed? Amoung it's many useful features, on the first screen it shows you all three different types of memory on your phone (internal, sdcard (fat) and sdcard (ext) partition). That way you can install an app and see how much space it takes up and where (plus we can make sure we're referring to the same thing here, being that I'm not familiar with your phone's UI). If you try that, and it's still taking significant chunks out of your internal memory....

One thing that occurs to me is that maybe you've not got the dalvik cache set up to be moved to the sdcard automatically. It's possible to install apps2sd+ in a way that only the apps are moved, not the DC. That could explain why you're losing a lot of space when you install a new app and why you saw a big increase in memory when moving the dalvik cache manually. I know of a script that can determine whether the cache is being moved or not, although I'll need to hunt it down.

You just need to flash a new tiny little .zip to update your apps2sd script if that's the case.

 

[spyder]

Just to add to the thread, I had PM'ed some of this sorry to duplicate, but wanted to put it out there for others to see what they think...

Ok, I do have over 150MB free on the partition. BUT, it got me thinking and I want to resize the partition to 1-2 GB, BUT don't want to erase. I THINK I can do that with "gpart" on Ubuntu, I'm thinking move the Dalvik cache back to the phone to be safe first??

Thoughts?
Thanks..
Jeff

 

[Xyro]

Extending the partition should work as far as I know.

I'm not sure you can move the dalvik cahce back to the phone without reflashing. What I would do is make a nandroid + ext backup via your recovery (I'm not a clockwork user so the terminology may vary there) that backs up your phone's internal memory and the ext partition, so that you can just go ahead with extending the partition. If it doesn't work, then just restore the nand + ext backup.

I would also make a full titanium backup of your apps incase it doesn't work. That way you should be able to just restore them back onto your expanded ext partition.

Worst comes to worst, you can just do a fresh flash of Icarus. But with the nandroid backup your stuff will be safe

 

[moogie522]

How do I move the apps now to my sdcard? If i partition the card again through rom manager will it erase all my apps from my card?

 

[moogie522]

help please...I posted earlier.

 

[spyder]

While in the terminal type " a2sd help " (don't type the quotes), it will slowly give you the list of all the commands you can use in a2sd, and you'll find what your looking for.....GOOD LUCK.....

Jeff
PS: as far as my extending the partitinon post, I resized the partition in gparted in Ubuntu. Put in back and restarted, Icarus started, but android.system kept force stopping every time I restarted it stopped again....no way for it to work...Started a world of problems with reinstalls, etc....I tried to reinstall, did it to the letter the same as the 1st time, BOOT LOOP EVERY TIME tried 3-4 times. Finally, I put on Icarus MOD w/o partitioning for a2sd, got it running, now I'm going to try and go back and partition and add a2sd, since alot of the original problems are the Dalvik rebuilding, etc. thought if that was outta the way, maybe I can just do it this way???
We will see?
Thanks..Jeff

 

[Xyro]

How do I move the apps now to my sdcard? If i partition the card again through rom manager will it erase all my apps from my card?

Are you currently using apps2sd with a partitioned card?

If you're not currently using apps2sd: Copy all of the files from your sdcard to your pc, partition the card, put your files back on, reboot and you're done.

If you are already using apps2sd: Then you're in a more difficult situation. Here's what you can do:

Either:
- First, make sure you've backed up your apps (with titanium backup, for example), and anything else you would want to backup if you had to do a factory reset of your phone. This is very important, so don't skip it.
- Backup your current ROM + ext partition in clockwork recovery
- Copy all your sdcard files to the pc, repartiton the card, copy your files back to the sdcard
- Restore the ROM + ext backup.

That should work in theory, but if it doesn't, you'll have to do a full wipe (factory reset) of the phone. Then you can restore all your apps and so on that you backed up in step 1

 

[Anduiril]

One thing that occurs to me is that maybe you've not got the dalvik cache set up to be moved to the sdcard automatically. It's possible to install apps2sd+ in a way that only the apps are moved, not the DC. That could explain why you're losing a lot of space when you install a new app and why you saw a big increase in memory when moving the dalvik cache manually. I know of a script that can determine whether the cache is being moved or not, although I'll need to hunt it down.

With the Apps2Sd that comes with Icarus it does not move the dalvik cache, you have to tell it to do that manually. Probably because everyone may not have a Class 4 or better SD card (which for the uninformed, like I was until today, is a speed designation of the card with the higher number the better. Which explains the different pricing for the same size cards). I lucked out that mine was a Class 4. I'll be looking for a good deal on a Class 10 for the next couple weeks.

Also you can move the Dalvik back to the phone so you can change SD cards. The command is in a2sd help.

 

[Xyro]

With the Apps2Sd that comes with Icarus it does not move the dalvik cache, you have to tell it to do that manually. Probably because everyone may not have a Class 4 or better SD card (which for the uninformed, like I was until today, is a speed designation of the card with the higher number the better. Which explains the different pricing for the same size cards). I lucked out that mine was a Class 4. I'll be looking for a good deal on a Class 10 for the next couple weeks.

Also you can move the Dalvik back to the phone so you can change SD cards. The command is in a2sd help.

Thought so Thanks for explaining that.

So spyder, that explains why you're still seeing significant space being eaten up by new app installs. And yes, if you're currently running icarus without apps2sd, you shouldn't have any problems when partitioning the card to the size you want.

 

[spyder]

Yea, I"ve gotten quite a bit more knowledgeable lately, I have it running smoothly and off the sd, Dalvik is off the SD, no probs at all.

BTW: I don't know the detail of that other post, BUT if Clock work is on and it's partitioned, you can run a2sd reinstall and it will "Move" all the apps to the SD automatically.

The problem begins like you said if i is NOT partitioned. I tried using gparted in Ubuntu to resize/partiton without erase.....DON'T TRY IT!!!

I'm not sure what exactly happened, but Icarus started up, but instantly I got android.system forced close, hit it, and it restarts and boom force close again, Had to yank the battery...UGH...

THen the reinstall of Icarus I got a boot loop, so pulling the battery bricked it (BUT somebody told me I could have tried to boot w/o the SD in, and it might have recovered???? can't comment)

I had it so bad, I had to hold the 3 buttons to flash the stock, THEN let the battey drop in, so the intant it got power it saw the buttons. If I tried to put the Batt, then hit the buttons, no time, it bricked up....LOL...I was really Jammed up.

Sorry for the long post, but the point is: When messing wth partitions, I can't say for sure, BUT, it seems if the A2SD dosn't know what's going on (I.e. change partition in computer at another time), then try to put it back in, you get problems. Just do the partitioning from within A2SD.

Not like it takes forever to back up the apps, or reinstall for that matter, just do that and get a nice clean install.

Good luck. Jeff

PS: XYRO: I just want to say personally-Thank you very much for your help and input on this. I'm still working with it alot, so if I can be of any assistance, let me know. I finally after 2 days, got it Perfectly partitioned, running, Dalvik off the card.

Funny going back to stock, Now I realize how much faster the Icarus stock really is.

Tak care and thanks again...Best regards, Jeff

 

[Xyro]

PS: XYRO: I just want to say personally-Thank you very much for your help and input on this. I'm still working with it alot, so if I can be of any assistance, let me know.

No problem.

The best thing you could do is to help others here do it in the future. You've actually been through the process with an Ascend whereas I haven't, so I'm sure you can explain it better than me now

 

[spyder]

Thanks for the nice words....and I def. will.......Yea, the Ascend is "The" best phone for the a2sd, because there is so little storage space on the phone itself.
Plus the Dalvik is running just fine over the SD with a class 4 8GB card..

Best regards,
Jeff

 

[Anduiril]

How do I move the apps now to my sdcard? If i partition the card again through rom manager will it erase all my apps from my card?

The apps are moved automatically when a2sd starts.
If you have Titanium Backup. The first screen shows you how much memory you have: Internal, SD card, and SD card (a2sd). The last one is where your apps are stored.

As for partitioning the card the rom manager? That I can't tell you, but my guess would be that yes it would. If you have your Dalvik cache on your SD card (you would have had to manually do that) make sure you put it back on the phone (please see earlier post, or ask about it if you aren't sure) before partitioning.

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I missed your post earlier.

 

[spyder]

Just jumping in to agree with Anduiril....But I just wanted to add, although I'm not totally familiar w/ the situation, I have a few comments that may be worth throwing out there, even if it's late now, def. worth noting, as my experience fixing stuff after partitioning, was very long and tedious, so just a few things:

1. When you mention partitioning w/ ROM Manager, is that the case or were you talking about A2SD?
2. If your talking about the A2SD in Froyo, Very sorry...I am under the impression you are questioning the use of a2sd

3. THIS IS THE BIG ONE - (I know windows has tools too, but since Linux is the dev. system, I used it to "Try" and make the most of compatibility)....
*There is a util. in Linux (I'm using Ubuntu 10.10(newest release), it's under system I think, anyway - Called " GPARTED " , now this is an excellent tool in general. (here is comes.....) ...BUT.... it got me screwed.

The thinking and still don't think it was gparted's fault, but when you open gparted, then click down to the SD card (assuming you can put it in the PC), you can "Resize" the partitions, even make them, etc. WITHOUT erasing what is on the card.

I was using a2sd, and for no reason, decided that the partition I set up for apps installation was too small, I had only done it a week before, so I figured if I have to reinstall, now is the time to try, since thre won't be as much.

So, put the card in, ran gparted. It totally successfully resized the partition without any damage to the files at all. So as far as it's job - perfect....again---BUT:
When I put the card back into the phone, when it booted, after completely loading, android.system did a "Forced Close", I would hit it, it restarted, and instantly got a "Forced Close" window again. It was totally jammed up.

Worst of all, even my CWR(Clock work recovery) somehow was gone, so I could not get a nandroid backup going. Had to start from scratch. Sorry for the long long story, but it ended up so bricked. I had to hold the 3 buttons to flash stock, have the buttons held, THEN, drop the battery in...lol...so the instant it got power it knew to flash the stock rom. If I turned it on and hit the buttons, nope....BRICK....

I ended up having to flash my custom ROM, Boot it sucessfully (so during the first boot is when the Dalvik and all sets up), then went back in to set up the partitions.

I ALWAYS did my partitions Thru Clock Work Reovery (I think that's what your talking about w/ Rom Manager). Best way to go.

4. One more point, incase....You can first run (from the terminal) "a2sd check" (don't type quotes obviously)...look thru make sure all is running ok.
You can then run a2sd reinstall (or install, same thing), and during that process it will be sure to "Move" all apps to the SD, so if you think something got left behind this way you can be sure.

I would then run check again to confirm.
The command Anduiril is referring to is a2sd cachesd This moves the cache of the Dalvik cache to the SD Card - BE SURE to have a class 4 or better card to have enough speed to handle.

But if your phone has plenty of space, best to just run it off the phone.

I have the Huawei Ascend. Since it's a low cost phone, I have to do all this to make it compete w/ Mid rage phones, which it does....BUT, there is VERY LITTLE storage on the phone (I think around 250 MB app storage, also for Dalvik Cache), just moving the Dalvik Cache frees like 40 MB or more. But if your phone has Gigs of space, leave it there, faster, etc.

OK, Sorry I wrote a small Novel here, But, I just went thru all this stuff and it is fresh in my mind, so if it pertains great, if not, note for the future, I'm sure someone will find some use.

Otherwise, if you have any other comments/whatever about a2sd, I've really been working it ALOT, so I would hope I can help.
FYI: My Phone is the Huawei Ascend, STILL STUCK WITH ECLAIR (android 2.1), they just will NOT put out 2.2...That would solve alot of problems.....but that's another conversation...

GOOD LUCK...let me know what your doing with a2sd or how it goes. I would be very interested.

Again. Sorry for the Novel.
Have a great day though and good luck.....
Best regards,
Jeff

 

[Anduiril]

Thanks Jeff. I know someone will make use of your knowledge and hopefully not repeat your mistake.

 

[spyder]

Thanks Jeff. I know someone will make use of your knowledge and hopefully not repeat your mistake.

Thanks for the nice words, and yes,,that is a mistake that NOBODY wants to make!

I think that even though the card was partitioned correctly and it was fine, but some little something in the MOD or A2SD "Knew" it should have been the other sizes and just got totally crazed...lol...

LOL...it happened on a night I had to get up early, and I became so so obsessed with fixing it (we all know this feeling), was up most of the night working of it.

Once I figured out that holding the buttons and letting the battery drop it worked no matter what, I was more confident, because I knew I could at least get it back to stock.


ONE LITTLE QUESTION WHILE I"M HERE....sorry, but I havn't mentioned it, and thought I'd toss it up..

When I flashed the Stock Rom, and it was up and running, everything was running just fine. BUT when I connected the USB cable from the computer, it charged the phone, but DID NOT recognize the USB, didn't say "USB Connected", etc.??? I took a pile of files from an old backed up SD and tossed them on and it worked?

So, just wondering, it happened more than 1x. Really, there should be nothing on the sd that would have anything to do with it.

One time. I didn't work. then for no apparent reason, I was charging vial wall, then plugged in USB again, and it worked outta no where?

Not a huge deal, hence I hadn't mentioned before, but just wondering if anyone would think of anything that would prevent that from acknowledging the USB?

Oh well... As far as the original intent of the post, thank you and have a great day....Sorry to slip a question in there....
If it would happen again, I would probably dedicate a thread for it or something but for now, it was just a minor blip on the radar, fixed and back on track right away.

You have a wonderful day....
Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your kind words also....thank you.
Best regards,
Jeff

 

[Anduiril]

The only thing I can think of it that the usb connection was just a hair off. I've had some strange things happen with cables being just a hair loose.

 

[spyder]

The only thing I can think of it that the usb connection was just a hair off. I've had some strange things happen with cables being just a hair loose.

I'm nearly sure your right, just one thing though, this last time I happened to have an extra cable and neither of them worked? Maybe a little quirky something in the connection area?, funny thing is that is was charging?

Oh well, chalk it up to one of those things that I may never know, but if I have to reflash or whatever and it happens again, I'll toss it out there for others see if it happened to anyone else?

Thanks again...Jeff

 

[Anduiril]

I'm nearly sure your right, just one thing though, this last time I happened to have an extra cable and neither of them worked? Maybe a little quirky something in the connection area?, funny thing is that is was charging?

Oh well, chalk it up to one of those things that I may never know, but if I have to reflash or whatever and it happens again, I'll toss it out there for others see if it happened to anyone else?

Thanks again...Jeff

I remember reading (sorry I forgot which thread) that other people were having problems with cables that weren't the ones that came with the phone.

As for why it would charge but no data it would depend on which pins are not touching or have corrosion on them. It could be the connector on the computer end as well.