Storage Mystery....help, please!

[GalaxyS2Kent]

I just cannot understand my storage on my Asus 300 tablet. If I look at it using the Settings > Storage > Internal Storage, it says I have 27.15 GB "total", with 25.40 GB "available". And with File Manager (on the Asus as well as with it plugged into my Windows PC and using Windows File Manager), it reports roughly the same.

However -- and this is what confuses me -- if I look at File Manager on the Asus, then click on the little icon that changes the display to "Removable" and "sdcard", then click the little tag on the SD card and select "Information", it shows my SD card is size 0.93GB. So is SD card different from "Internal Storage"? What is "Removable" (on mine is says 0.00B)?

Are my photos, etc. (that I've copied from my PC) on my SD card? If I tap the SDcard, it does appear that the files are on there, but with photos, videos, etc. it is surely more than 0.93GB!! I can't remember how big my SD card actually is. I've thought about pulling out my SD card to see what happens, but I'm too afraid I'd lose some files on it.

I've looked at the manual (TF300.pdf) but it's much too basic and has no explanation. If there is a better one anywhere, please tell me. Meamwhile, I'd love for someone to explain to me how storage works, especially as related to the SD card.

 

[SiempreTuna]

Internal storage is what's available on the device itself. SD cards are removable / external storage - i.e. they're not built into the device, though they may come in the same packaging.

Removing the SD card will not affect any of your files so long as they're not being written to when you remove the card - safest thing would be to shut down the tablet before removing the card to make sure this can't be happening.

If the files you copied from your PC are showing on the SD card, then it sounds like something is reporting the size of the SD card incorrectly. There can be lots of reasons for this and it's not necessarily something you need worry about. A reformat of the card might help.

To reformat the card you should:

- back up the contents of the SD onto your PC or tablet

- verify that the backup contains everything you expect and is readable

- reformat the SD card (preferably in the tablet)

- copy the contents of your backup onto the SD card

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Thanks for the info. It seems then that all my photos, etc. are on the INTERNAL storage and the SD card is empty. Evidently I still have plenty (25 GB) of free internal storage space left so I'm not too worried.

 

[peterc10]

I think you are both being misled by some loose terms used by Asus, or, more likely, Android. "sdcard" is not the external microSd memory card that you can put into the card slot of the tablet, nor is it the external SDcard you can put in the SD slot of the keyboard. It is fact a directory within the internal memory (and no I don't know why either!). I guess it may be that some apps require something called that and therefore Asus have supplied it - remember original Android devices needed external SD cards to function, rather than having large internal memories.

If you put a card in the slot on the tablet it is called "MicroSD" and shows below the "internal memory" in File Manager. From memory (I did it once) if you out a card in the slot in the keyboard it is called "sdcard2" or something like that and also appears below the internal memory.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, Peter is right..... I got a NEW (replaced the first one) SD card and now I have an icon for the SD card in the lower right corner of the screen. Also, ASUS calls this SD card (now that it recognizes it) the "removable memory" (or is it "removable storage"...don't have my tablet handy).

Mystery solved. Now I just have to figure out how to save pictures, etc. on the SD card rather than Internal Storage. Still have plenty of that left, however, so I'm not too concerned.

 

[peterc10]

Most apps ask you where you want to store their data (or have it as an option) and your SD card will appear as available. In reality I usually store app data on the internal memory. I use my external 32GB card to store music from my PC as well as the contents of my "my docs" folder on my PC. I wirelessly sync these using a great little app called SyncMe. But then I use my tablet as a laptop replacement for work, so that may not be what you want.