Is it safe to remove the partition from the sd card? If so, how do I go about doing that?
As I'm sure you've seen here lots, there are not just one way to do things. The deal about that partition is that it is an EXT partition (Linux), which if you bring up in Windows, it will just say "Unknown partition"
Now-The biggest question here-"Are you prepared to lose/format all data on the card?" IF NOT-Make a back-up of the stuff you need.
OK, the problem with this is...IF the stuff you want is on the EXT partition, then Windows will not be able to read it, so I will give you my suggestion, then an alternative:
BTW: All of this assumes that you can put the card into your computer, if that is not the case, I'm writing this anyway, hopefully help somebody, if not write back and we will work around it...OK HERE WE GO:
Solution A:
1. Just do the entire thing in Linux. One of the most popular releases of Linux is Ubuntu. Now, the beauty of Ubuntu (10.10 current version, they don't follow 1,2,3, but that's the month and yr of the release).
Back on track(sorry to digress)-The beauty of Ubuntu, if you have Windows, you can Boot and run the Operating System from a CD (Notice CD not DVD, i never tried to put it on that, it's sized exactly for a CD).
OR
You can make a USB mem stick to boot from, a little faster.
2. To do this: Go to
www.ubuntu.com , click download now, pick your version of windows, and download it. Now you will have an ISO file. Use that ISO image file to make a boot disk. Win 7 just double click it with a blank in the drive, it will do it all.
3. MAKE SURE your BIOS is set to check the CD FIRST on boot (you know where you hit F12 or 7 or whatever when you first turn on, set Boot to look at the CD first, maybe USB 2nd, THEN HD), that way if you booting from CD OR USB, it will grab that first, if not, it will just go to windows.
4. OK, so now you have a bootable Ubuntu disk. Put it in and Boot
5. It will take a little bit, remember entire OS on a CD, Then you will get a screen - TRY UBUNTU or INSTALL UBUNTU
YOU WANT TO 'TRY UBUNTU' Give it a second after you see this to 'catch up' a little
6. ok, you are now in Linux.
7. On the Top Left is the Menu, I think it's the far right option, then the second or third one down, "SYSTEM" I think.
8. Just go thru those, you will find a program called " gparted "
SIDENOTE: gparted allows you to change the size of the partitions WITHOUT any erasing. PROBLEM: I tried this, it worked, but then putting back in the phone, something in the phone must know what it is supposed to be, and it just CONSTANTLY FORCE CLOSED Android.system. Had to pull battery, redo everything, big mess.
9. OK, now gparted will take a minute to come up as it scans first. You will see your main harddrives.
On the top right of the window is a drop down menu. Drop down and select your SD Card.
10 After you select it, you will see the 2 partitions.
11. Click on the one your deleting, click delete. IT DOES NOT DO IT RIGHT AWAY. It sets it as a task to do, then you click the green checkmark, and it will delete it. (DELETE THE EXT PARTITION)
12. NOW you will have an unallocated Partition
13. Now, click on the other partition, and up in the menu, towards the right, you'll see in the drop down a "Resize" option. Resize the main one (the FAT32 one), Just resize it up until you suck up all of the unallocated one.
14. Click that green thing to make it happen...
BOOM...Now you have a card with 1 FAT partition. Probably want to Format it after that. You can format from within Ubuntu, or just reboot to windows and do it there...UP TO YOU...
NOW (Gettin'' LONG sorry), but I want you to have all the info:
IN WINDOWS:
1. Hit Start, Right click COMPUTER
2. You should see "Manage"
3. It will take a few secs. give it all time to come up, remember EVERYTHING about your computer is loading up.
4. I'm not Super familiar with this but I'm almost positive I can guide you through this.
5. In the main window, double click STORAGE
6. Then Dbl. Click DISK MANAGEMENT
It will bring up a list of all the disks/partitions/etc.
7. For the EXT Linux Partion, it will probably just say "Unknown partition"
8. Here's where I'm a tiny shakey as I always use Linux for this, but just go slow, and you'll know what's happening. GO to the "unknown Partition" Right click on it.
9. You should be able to "Delete" or Delete Partition or something like that.
10. Then instead of being unknown, it will just be unallocated, just like in Linux before "Sucking it up" into the main one.
11. Go to the FAT Partition - "Resize" and "Suck up" all that unallocated space.
**JUST A NOTE: REFORMATTING IN WINDOWS without doing this, will format it, at the size not including the EXT. So if you have an 8GB card 1 GB EXT partition, Windows will format and give you a 7GB card. SO, yes you have to do this.
12. OK, you just resized and pulled all the unallocated former EXT into the FAT.
13. You can Now safely format. and your all set.
A Few notes:
* IF you want to back up something that is on the EXT partition, you will HAVE to boot to linux and back it up from there.
* Don't mess with this much, BUT from Linux, you can get to ALL of your files on the windows side, just not the other way around. (You'll see the drive, it will be a long list of numbers letters as the name, double click it will "MOUNT" and you can get to all your windows stuff, incase you need something, OR want to put something from the card over on the windows partition. Remember your running from a CD, If you back up something, it's only there till you turn off. So toss it over on windows, or a CD or something.
*UBUNTU is VERY VERY user friendly. My best suggestion is a dual boot system. You don't need much for UBUNTU, if you gave it just a couple GIGS it would run GREAT and you could go to it any time, that's what I do. Remember the entire OS is on a CD (NOT DVD, CD), so it's very condensed. plus, ANY, and I mean ANY software you can think of, you can get from a linx repository for FREE....if you play with it you'll find out how, easy as pie. and ALL the software is no cost, that is the entire point of Linux. Just givin a plug.
OK. I think I covered everything. If you have questions, ether post, PM me. Or, probably fastest would be to email me at
spyder5157@gmail.com
I promise I answer ALL my emails. It may take a day TOPS, but usually the same day. I know this can be tricky, just follow what I put, you will be fine.
**TO OTHERS: I KNOW THERE ARE EASIER WAYS, BUT, this way runs you thru all of the partition stuff and makes you totally prepared for the next time or if there are any partition issues.
Again, that gparted you will see can also resize without losing data, but that didn't work on the Android, I had a totally successful resize. PERFECT on the computer. Some little piece of data in the phone must "Think" it should be the old size and crapped the bed every try? I can't explain that.
As I said there are some ways a bit easier, but this way explains the EXT partition, and when your done, if you use UBUNTU, you will be really much more knowledgable. If your in a bit of a rush or don't want to mess with it. Do the Windows way:
BUT:
When you have some time, make your self a boot disk of Ubuntu and give it a try. (when making the boot disk, it gives you an option to make a Mem stick boot instead, just make the disk) After UBUNTU is running, you can make a Mem Stick Booter from there.
OK. I KNOW this was a Novella....bordering a full blown Novel. I hope it works.....If it does.....I never get any "thanks" posted to me for anything...cry cry poor me....but if it works....and your happy with my info...toss me a Kudos....I want to be more involved here, but it looks like I'm a tool...LOL...
GOOD LUCK, get in touch if you have problems. Today Mon 3/14 will be gone for a while but back in the late afternoon and then on, so I'll get back to you with whatever...;
GOOD LUCK HAVE FUN...
Jeff
Did you do the Dalvik cache too?
