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Insufficient Storage Available?

B

Bucadyz

Newbie
Hello all. So I was having problems moving information from my internal storage to my SD card, which can be read more about here:

http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-f3/852662-moving-internal-storage-sd-card.html

In a shortened summary, the I finally figured out how to root my phone, use AParted, split my SD card, and "create link" (which doesn't seem to have an actual effect, the linked app is still stored in internal storage, unless I just have the wrong idea about linking.)

The main problem I have now (besides the two stated at the bottom of the link I gave (missing 4GB and apps not moving) is that whenever i try updating an app or downloading an app or whatever I get "insufficient storage available, even though i still have at least 500mb of internal storage.

I did my research before coming here, I tried clearing the cache, deleting useless apps, etc. One suggestion was downloading an app to delete the useless stock apps. BUT ALAS. I couldn't as nothing was working. I would always get the message "insufficient storage". Even with apps half a megabyte small.

Here's the twist:somewhere in the dark corners of the internet I heard about an app called ROM toolbox and i was like "it cant hurt to try" and so i tried. And it downloaded(Rom toolbox lite is about 10mb large). So i tried updating and downloading other things. And i got "insufficient storage."

I tried this with other apps and a handful of root-based apps would download, but most others (like Root App Delete) won't. It's the strangest thing and makes me think this isn't just a cache problem.

I could use some help. This is far more than I was bargaining for. :smokingsomb:
 
Bucadyz said:
Hello all. So I was having problems moving information from my internal storage to my SD card, which can be read more about here:

http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-f3/852662-moving-internal-storage-sd-card.html

In a shortened summary, the I finally figured out how to root my phone, use AParted, split my SD card, and "create link" (which doesn't seem to have an actual effect, the linked app is still stored in internal storage, unless I just have the wrong idea about linking.)

The main problem I have now (besides the two stated at the bottom of the link I gave (missing 4GB and apps not moving) is that whenever i try updating an app or downloading an app or whatever I get "insufficient storage available, even though i still have at least 500mb of internal storage.

I did my research before coming here, I tried clearing the cache, deleting useless apps, etc. One suggestion was downloading an app to delete the useless stock apps. BUT ALAS. I couldn't as nothing was working. I would always get the message "insufficient storage". Even with apps half a megabyte small.

Here's the twist:somewhere in the dark corners of the internet I heard about an app called ROM toolbox and i was like "it cant hurt to try" and so i tried. And it downloaded(Rom toolbox lite is about 10mb large). So i tried updating and downloading other things. And i got "insufficient storage."

I tried this with other apps and a handful of root-based apps would download, but most others (like Root App Delete) won't. It's the strangest thing and makes me think this isn't just a cache problem.

I could use some help. This is far more than I was bargaining for. :smokingsomb:
Click to expand...

Since you are rooted, have you installed the CWM recovery?

http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...very-zv6-cwm-6-0-4-8-touch-lg-optimus-f3.html

Install an do a nandroid backup if you have not already done so. Be sure to select backup to external SD

Do you have a backup app on your phone (ex. helium, titanium, etc.) If so try to backup your data to external card.

Since you are having space issues this part may not work, but if possible unlink all apps/data before proceeding. If not possible just be aware you may need to fully reinstall apps and that some data loss may occur.

Assuming you now have things backed up.

1. Hopefully you have access to a PC
2. If you only have a single microSD then use an adapter to move/copy all files on SD to a PC.
3. Download mini-tool partition wizard.
4. Use mini-tool to format your SD card (all information/data will be lost) Do not use mini-tool with microcard still in your phone.
5. Format as others have suggested. Fat 32 primary partition then for second format as ext4 primary. Ensure both partitions are primary.
6. Move/copy all data back to micro card.
7. Place micro card back into phone and boot

8. Uninstall Link2SD. Then redownload from play store and reinstall
9. Run link2Sd being sure to allow superuser rights and to mount ext4 partition will then need to reboot.

This should get you to a phone in a state you can work with. You will then need to go through the process of relinking apps/files. Also may need to restore data.

Here is generic Link2SD info that may help

How To Use Link2SD On Android Device?
 
Update: i just downloaded 2 games from the app store. It actually seems to ONLY be with root-based apps that i get the "insufficient storage" message, which is a problem because then i cant delete root apps and free up more space and i still am bewildered on how to move apps to the SD card. I will try your method next, bkttk2.

And im not the most technologic person in the world so i dont exactly know how to enact a "nandroid backup" or a backup on the titanium app.
 
Bucadyz said:
Update: i just downloaded 2 games from the app store. It actually seems to ONLY be with root-based apps that i get the "insufficient storage" message, which is a problem because then i cant delete root apps and free up more space and i still am bewildered on how to move apps to the SD card. I will try your method next, bkttk2.

And im not the most technologic person in the world so i dont exactly know how to enact a "nandroid backup" or a backup on the titanium app.
Click to expand...

Follow the cwm recovery link. Once you boot to custom recovery there is an option to create backup (nandroid). Follow guidance in recovery thread. Ask questions as needed
 
Am i supposed to download it on pc or do it straight onto my phone?
Update:woops never mind, it said so right in the installer. Windows.
 
I can't get the reboot to work. I guess I just need more practice pressing the button though. I think I'm letting it go too early. Once I get that down, though, is that it or what is the next step?
 
Step 3 of installing through Windows is to "reboot by using the key combo to enter recovery". This reboot/combo thing is whats throwing me off.
 
Bucadyz said:
Step 3 of installing through Windows is to "reboot by using the key combo to enter recovery". This reboot/combo thing is whats throwing me off.
Click to expand...
Press and hold power button until pop-up menu appears. select "power off and reboot". Wait for the back light on the screen to go out. It's very faint but you will see it wink out after a few seconds. Start holding key combo as soon as it does, until you see the prompt to release them on the screen.
 
My wife is using the Optimus F3, Metro PCS. 4Gb micro SD. Any time she downloads an app or game, she get the insufficient storage message. Her old phone ran numerous games and apps, and is an entry level phone. Currently she is running a Weight Watcher app, map my fitness app, spotify, zedge, and 1 other app. No games will load. all data has been moved to SD card that phone will move.
I am really not that into rooting and such, as right now we dont have extra funds to repair/replace a phone if I mess it up! But are there any other solutions for this error? I just dont believe that 5 apps are taking up all of the storage.
 
Some apps can have very large apk and/or data files, so on an unrooted phone with just over 1GB of storage it's very possible to run out of space depending on the actual apps that are installed. There isn't too much you can do without rooting, but you can at least go through all your apps and clear any cache files of significant size. Some of these can get pretty big over time, so you may get lucky and reclaim enough space from clearing cache alone.
Games especially tend to be very large so it's not surprising you're having trouble with those. Unfortunately if you aren't willing to root the F3 there isn't much you can do about that.
What was her old phone, and what version of Android was it running? If it was pre-4.0/ICS it would still have had the native ability to move some apps to external storage.
 
Fox Mulder said:
Some apps can have very large apk and/or data files, so on an unrooted phone with just over 1GB of storage it's very possible to run out of space depending on the actual apps that are installed. There isn't too much you can do without rooting, but you can at least go through all your apps and clear any cache files of significant size. Some of these can get pretty big over time, so you may get lucky and reclaim enough space from clearing cache alone.
Games especially tend to be very large so it's not surprising you're having trouble with those. Unfortunately if you aren't willing to root the F3 there isn't much you can do about that.
What was her old phone, and what version of Android was it running? If it was pre-4.0/ICS it would still have had the native ability to move some apps to external storage.
Click to expand...
It is an older Samsung I think. The F3 does have the ability to move apps from phone to sd card, which we have done. And as for rooting, I maybe would be more comfortable with it if I knew how it worked. A phone with 1 Gb and a 4 Gb card should not be running out of space, at least as I see it. And thus I don't see how changing permissions on a phone by modifying the programming is going to change this issue. Again like I said I don't like just getting into things just because it's cool or fun I need to know exactly what I am doing, why I am doing it, and what results I should expect. Since I never get those kind of answers on the rooting forums I refuse to do it.
 
There are games that can take 1GB all by themselves.
What exactly have you moved from the phone to the SD card? Do you realize that there is a section of internal storage that is referred to as "SD" but is NOT the external SD card? In the Android file structure it's actually called "sd0", this is still internal storage as opposed to "external sd" which is your actual removable SD card.
As I mentioned earlier Google removed the option/ability to move apps to true external storage beginning with Android 4.0.
 
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