Help with file structure of Android

[reinbeau]

Please help an old lady learn. I am baffled with the file structure on this phone. I don't get it.

When I start up any file manager (I've got Astro and Root Explorer), the very top is / . Then below that is:

.info (folder)
cache (folder)
config(folder)
data (folder)
dbdata (folder)

Spoiler

I've been in dbdata to enable sideloading - so I'm not totally hopeless!!

default (file)
dev (folder)
efs (folder)
etc (folder)
fota (file)
init (file)
init (file)
init.smdkc110
init.smdkc110
lib (folder)
lpm (file)
mnt (folder)
proc (folder)
recovery (file)
res (folder)
sbin (folder)
sdcard (folder)
sqlite_stmt_journals (folder)
sys (folder)
system (folder)
system (file)
tmp (folder)
userdata (folder)
void (file)

If I click on /sdcard, I'm presented with many folders that look like app folders, they contain data (Ringtones contains the ringtones I've downloaded and set for use). I'm thinking /sdcard is my internal sd card. But there's one file folder in that listing that says 'sd'. When I click on it, I'm pretty sure I'm on my external sd card, the path is /sdcard/sd. That is totally empty, except for one zip file I copied there so I could pull it out and transfer it to my computer (I've got a little converter that I slide my external sd card into). It was dumb luck that I picked the 'sd' folder, I wasn't sure where I was at all.

So, this post has been an exploration, so to speak, but my problem is, I have no idea how to make programs on my Captivate utilize the external card. I've tried, but obviously I'm missing something.

I've got Titanium Backup. I thought it was writing to the external card, obviously I'm wrong. Could someone use that program as an example and tell me, step by step, how to make TB store my data on my external card? Maybe then I'll be able to make other apps 'talk' to that card.

I've tried to change my backup directory to /sd/sdcard/Titanium Backup, now TB says Backup directory: not available. :::sigh:::

Ok, figured that one out - the path is only /sdcard/TitaniumBackup. So now my apps are backed up to the external, how/should I delete the backups from the internal card?

I guess this is a stream of consciousness exploration here, I'm still open to any help or insight you can offer!

 

[jgreetham]

Hi Ann,

Welcome to the forum. I'm also a former Palm TX user. From your post it seems like you're figuring things out pretty well. At least for a new user you're probably ahead of many who don't know directories at all. I don't use TB so I can't help you with that application but it seems like you are doing just peachy.

 

[reinbeau]

Thank you, Jim, but I really didn't figure it out, the backup didn't go to the external card. I thought it did, but no joy. I really don't get it, and it's frustrating the hell out of me. I'm not afraid to try things, I've pretty much taught myself everything I know about computers, handhelds, cell phones, etc, but this Android business is just so damned complex

 

[wayrad]

Hello, fellow PalmOS refugee! A few thoughts:

1) Are you rooted? I always thought Titanium backup required root. Perhaps this is the problem? Or maybe I'm just losing my marbles here...

2) /sdcard is the (external) microSD card on my phone. Titanium automatically backed up to its own folder there for me.

3) File systems for Linux-derived OS's do look very odd if you're used to Windows (which I am too).

4) To remove the duplicate backups perhaps you could copy your entire microSD card to your desktop (via USB), then delete all backups from within Titanium, then copy from the desktop back to your microSD card. There may be a more efficient way but that's the one that comes to my mind, and doesn't require locating the backups in a file manager. (edited to add: oops, I missed the place where you said you hadn't gotten it to back up to the external card after all).

5) you might also try the forum section devoted to your phone for advice specific to your device.

 

[reinbeau]

Thank you, wayrad, yes, I am rooted, I don't care about duplicate backups (I'm not using much of any of the storage on the device so far), I do care that I don't see any backups on the external card, even though I've pointed the backups to that card. Titanium Backup folder is set to /sdcard/TitaniumBackup. But now that I think further, are you sure sdcard is the external? Stream of consciousness below:

When I go down from /, it's sdcard that contains all of my apps, DCIM, etc. Then sdcard contains sd. So, I'm thinking sd is the external card, which makes the Titanium Backup path /sdcard/sd/TitaniumBackup. I'm testing that out right now. Also, the two files I extracted to send to someone are under /sdcard/sd. So, I guess I've just proved it to myself.....isn't it funny how just typing it all out helps to clear things up in my little mind?

YES!! I was right. The batch backup is over in TB, and it now shows I've actually used .2 gb of the card. Root Explorer shows the backup is on the card. The correct path is /sdcard/sd/TitaniumBackup. Whew. Glad that lesson is over

The reason I put this here under general Android stuff is that I was pretty sure file structure wasn't a device-specific subject. Ok, guys, I learned something new today, time for bed.

 

[baillou2]

I'm not too familiar with the Captivate, but if it's like my phone there is the sdcard which is the internal sdcard and then within that there is the sd or sometimes labeled external_sd card which is the external sd card. The linux file structure is strictly hierarchical.

In any case to back up your apps the quickest and easiest thing to do is use your root explorer and navigate to /data. You'll find a folder named "app". Long press on this and select "copy". Then go to the external sd card and select "paste". Within the app folder is where you'll find all your .apk (app) files. I don't use titanium backup myself because this is easier.

 

[reinbeau]

Well, you don't get the system settings and all the data that way. I'm happy with Titanium Backup, it's worth the price. I've had to do a full restore and it was awesome to get all my data back without a hitch.

 

[takeshi]

The reason I put this here under general Android stuff is that I was pretty sure file structure wasn't a device-specific subject.

Sounds like it is to me. /sdcard is the external SD card on my Droid. The Droid doesn't have built-in storage like your device does.

 

[reinbeau]

Ah, then I guess it is! Interesting. This Android world is strange and different! In any event, all is well now