Gangreless
Newbie
Also available on the Area 51 Forums
What does it do?
Allows rooted phones to place any non-system (built-in) app to the sd card. There is
even a setting to automatically install to sd card. For those apps that cannot be moved
to the sd card (apps with widgets, for example), this method will move the apk, dex,
and lib files to the sd card (including the dalvik-cache). Tl;dr: Leaves
you with a ton of internal storage.
What do you mean by "a ton of internal storage"?
I was able to install all apps I had previously, in addition to all the apps I had installed
at one point, but had to uninstall to make room for other apps. And I still have 61MB
of storage available.
How do I perform this technological miracle?
I'm glad you asked. First you will partition your sd card, then you will install Link2Sd.
That's it...basically. You'll open Link2Sd, pick some options and then you're pretty
much done.
Step-by-Step Instructions (RTFM)
Step 1 Back up your SD card
Partitioning will format your SD card so if you want to keep anything, back it up.
I just copied the files I wanted to my desktop as I wanted a fresh start with the apps,
this is what I suggest doing, but you can use Titanium Backup to do a complete
backup, if you like.
Step 2 Partition your SD card
This step can be a bit tricky. The easiest way is to just use Clockwork Recovery Mod.
If you have a custom AreaRom, you should already have Clockwork. If you have the
new Gingerbread Rom, simply hold down the power button
and choose Recovery from the menu. Otherwise, from a powered off phone, go in to
Recovery mode by holding down "volume up" + "camera" + "power" buttons until
the phone comes on.
Using the volume buttons, go down to "advanced" and click camera button to select.
Now go down to "Partition SD Card". Now you can select the size of the partition.
This is the partition that will store the apps and caches and will be inaccessible to you
for user files. I have a 4GB sd card and I chose 1024M for this partition. This will be
plenty for me and still allow me space to store personal documents on the sd card. If
you have a 2GB, you may want to choose 1024M as well, just to make sure you don't
run out of room. DO NOT choose the bottom option, which is your entire card. Click
the camera button to make your selection.
At the "Swap Size" screen, choose the first option, 0M. Warning: There's
no going back from here. Click the camera button to partition your sd card.
Now you should be back at the Advanced and Debugging Menu, click the back button
on your phone to go back to the main menu, then choose Reboot System Now.
Clockword Mod will come up again, choose Reboot System Now again.
Step 3 Install Link2SD
You can find it in the market here.
You should also read through the author's description on the market.
Step 4 Open Link2SD
Open up the Link2SD app on your phone. If your sd card is partitioned, a menu will
come up telling you to "Select the file system of your SD card's second partition"
If this menu does not come up, your sd card was not partitioned and you need to
go through Step 2 again. Now this part can be a bit annoying. It seems random which
option on the menu works. I've done this 3 times and it's been different every time.
Start with ext2 and see if that works, if not, exit Link2SD, go back in and try a
different option. Just go down the list until it works. It will then ask you to restart.
Press ok and reboot your phone.
Step 5 Customize Link2SD
With your phone rebooted, go back to Link2SD. Now when it opens you should get
the What's new? screen. Click ok. (or Donate, if you're feeling generous, it really is
an awesome app.)
Now the fun part, customizing. This is what I did and it is what will give you the most
free space with minimal effort on your part.
Link dalvik-cache files: Select the menu button on your phone and click More.
Select Link dalvik-cache files. This will move the dalvik-cache files to the sd card.
From this More menu, you can also clean up the dalvik-cache, which will delete files
you don't need, clean up the partition, and clear all app caches.
Customize ALL the things!
Click menu again and this time select settings and do the following:
1. Check "Auto link"
2. Click "Auto link settings"
- Make sure all three boxes are checked.
3. Uncheck "Auto link notification" (or leave it checked if you want
the notifications, it got annoying for me)
4. Click "Install location"
- Choose "External" - this will automatically install all new apps
that can be to the sd card. You will need to move apps that
have widgets back to the phone storage manually.
Leave everything else as is.
Customize apps
If you have any non-system apps (that is, apps that were not preinstalled),
you need to move them or link them to the sd card. Select the app from
the list in Link2SD. Move them if possible. If not possible to move, then you
will want to select "Create link". This will move the dalvik-caches, data, etc...
for this app to the sd card.
Miscellaneous Questions
What apps can I move?
Almost all of them. Widgets still will not work if you move the app to the card, but
you can still link the data files. I had no problem moving Alarm Clock Plus, even
though it says it won't work if you move it (take that!). I have my keyboard,
SwiftKey X on the sd card. I've had no issues moving things that require root.
What does it do?
Allows rooted phones to place any non-system (built-in) app to the sd card. There is
even a setting to automatically install to sd card. For those apps that cannot be moved
to the sd card (apps with widgets, for example), this method will move the apk, dex,
and lib files to the sd card (including the dalvik-cache). Tl;dr: Leaves
you with a ton of internal storage.
What do you mean by "a ton of internal storage"?
I was able to install all apps I had previously, in addition to all the apps I had installed
at one point, but had to uninstall to make room for other apps. And I still have 61MB
of storage available.
How do I perform this technological miracle?
I'm glad you asked. First you will partition your sd card, then you will install Link2Sd.
That's it...basically. You'll open Link2Sd, pick some options and then you're pretty
much done.
Step-by-Step Instructions (RTFM)
Step 1 Back up your SD card
Partitioning will format your SD card so if you want to keep anything, back it up.
I just copied the files I wanted to my desktop as I wanted a fresh start with the apps,
this is what I suggest doing, but you can use Titanium Backup to do a complete
backup, if you like.
Step 2 Partition your SD card
This step can be a bit tricky. The easiest way is to just use Clockwork Recovery Mod.
If you have a custom AreaRom, you should already have Clockwork. If you have the
new Gingerbread Rom, simply hold down the power button
and choose Recovery from the menu. Otherwise, from a powered off phone, go in to
Recovery mode by holding down "volume up" + "camera" + "power" buttons until
the phone comes on.
Using the volume buttons, go down to "advanced" and click camera button to select.
Now go down to "Partition SD Card". Now you can select the size of the partition.
This is the partition that will store the apps and caches and will be inaccessible to you
for user files. I have a 4GB sd card and I chose 1024M for this partition. This will be
plenty for me and still allow me space to store personal documents on the sd card. If
you have a 2GB, you may want to choose 1024M as well, just to make sure you don't
run out of room. DO NOT choose the bottom option, which is your entire card. Click
the camera button to make your selection.
At the "Swap Size" screen, choose the first option, 0M. Warning: There's
no going back from here. Click the camera button to partition your sd card.
Now you should be back at the Advanced and Debugging Menu, click the back button
on your phone to go back to the main menu, then choose Reboot System Now.
Clockword Mod will come up again, choose Reboot System Now again.
Step 3 Install Link2SD
You can find it in the market here.
You should also read through the author's description on the market.
Step 4 Open Link2SD
Open up the Link2SD app on your phone. If your sd card is partitioned, a menu will
come up telling you to "Select the file system of your SD card's second partition"
If this menu does not come up, your sd card was not partitioned and you need to
go through Step 2 again. Now this part can be a bit annoying. It seems random which
option on the menu works. I've done this 3 times and it's been different every time.
Start with ext2 and see if that works, if not, exit Link2SD, go back in and try a
different option. Just go down the list until it works. It will then ask you to restart.
Press ok and reboot your phone.
Step 5 Customize Link2SD
With your phone rebooted, go back to Link2SD. Now when it opens you should get
the What's new? screen. Click ok. (or Donate, if you're feeling generous, it really is
an awesome app.)
Now the fun part, customizing. This is what I did and it is what will give you the most
free space with minimal effort on your part.
Link dalvik-cache files: Select the menu button on your phone and click More.
Select Link dalvik-cache files. This will move the dalvik-cache files to the sd card.
From this More menu, you can also clean up the dalvik-cache, which will delete files
you don't need, clean up the partition, and clear all app caches.
Customize ALL the things!
Click menu again and this time select settings and do the following:
1. Check "Auto link"
2. Click "Auto link settings"
- Make sure all three boxes are checked.
3. Uncheck "Auto link notification" (or leave it checked if you want
the notifications, it got annoying for me)
4. Click "Install location"
- Choose "External" - this will automatically install all new apps
that can be to the sd card. You will need to move apps that
have widgets back to the phone storage manually.
Leave everything else as is.
Customize apps
If you have any non-system apps (that is, apps that were not preinstalled),
you need to move them or link them to the sd card. Select the app from
the list in Link2SD. Move them if possible. If not possible to move, then you
will want to select "Create link". This will move the dalvik-caches, data, etc...
for this app to the sd card.
Miscellaneous Questions
What apps can I move?
Almost all of them. Widgets still will not work if you move the app to the card, but
you can still link the data files. I had no problem moving Alarm Clock Plus, even
though it says it won't work if you move it (take that!). I have my keyboard,
SwiftKey X on the sd card. I've had no issues moving things that require root.
If you have any other questions, you can ask them here or find me in AreaRom chat room. Have fun with all your new storage space!
~ Gangreless ~
~ Gangreless ~
