Help Storage questions

[GalaxyS2Kent]

I just installed a Samsung memory card on my Galaxy S2. Fine. Now I would like to know what the memory settings MEAN! I have downloaded the PDF user guide but even with 161 pages, it's pretty useless.

When I look at Settings > Storage, I see these things but have no idea what they mean:

SD card total space 7.60 GB, Available 7.6 GB (OK, so this one is pretty obvious)

USB Storage: Total space 11.5 GB, available 11.46 GB
Device memory: Available space 1.61 GB

It's the USB I don't understand. I assume I have 1.61 GB left on the phone itself (not counting the new SD card) but how much do I have total? And can I move anything onto the SD card? Or can I download an app directly to the SD card? The PDF User Guide doesn't have this info, or at least I haven't found it in the index.

Thanks for any info.

 

[Russell Ng]

Not the first one to ask. Have a look at a couple of previous threads below;

http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...88073-how-see-whats-taking-up-my-storage.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-international/423975-internal-memory-question.html

In summary;
1) Device Memory is internal phone memory of 2GB of which apps are generally installed here. Small apps (like Angry Birds) can be fully installed here. Big apps (like Real Football) will have "exe" files here and data files in USB storage. You also need root to be able to view the files stored in this partition.
2) USB Storage is internal phone storage memory of 11.5GB that you can use whichever way you want (generally). You can access this part of the partition and arrange it the way you want to (mostly).
3) SD card is the external microSD card memory which you add to the phone yourself.

You can move some apps to SD which means you move some of the app files from the Device Memory to SD card to clear up a bit of the 2GB space to allow for more apps.

Your 16GB phone memory consist of item "1" and "2" and balance is taken up by the OS and relevant files to run the phone itself.

Cheers

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Not the first one to ask. Have a look at a couple of previous threads below;

http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...88073-how-see-whats-taking-up-my-storage.html

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-international/423975-internal-memory-question.html

Thanks, Russell, but those threads didn't give me the info I was looking for. Maybe I didn't articulate my question very well.

First, device memory: I get this and have no need to see the files. I just wanted to know how much memory I would have with nothing installed so that I'd know how I'm doing on using up this space.

Second, USB storage: I still don't understand what this is. Is it just another type of built-in memory? Is it internal (i.e. on the phone itself)? It's the word "USB" that's confusing me as I always think of that as something I'd need a USB cable to use, even though it would of course make no sense with a mobile phone. You say it's memory "that you can use whichever way you want" -- but how does that differ from device memory, then?

I have, since posting my original message, moved some apps onto the SD card I just installed. At least I think I did....... so that's pretty well sorted now. It's just the USB storage that's still confusing me.

 

[Slug]

First, device memory: I get this and have no need to see the files. I just wanted to know how much memory I would have with nothing installed so that I'd know how I'm doing on using up this space.

On a bare 'out-of-the-box' handset, approx 1.7GB if my memory (no pun intended!) serves me correctly.

Second, USB storage: I still don't understand what this is. Is it just another type of built-in memory?

Yes, it's internal flash memory. Samsung refer to it as "USB Storage" because it's accessible as a removable drive when connected to a computer via USB.

how does that differ from device memory, then?

You can't actually 'use' the device memory. Sure, the OS resides there and apps are installed to it by default, but the user can't actually access it - this "device memory" portion of the RAM isn't visible in My Files, for example.

In contrast, the "USB Storage" volume is yours to do with what you will. You can create folders, copy files and so on, and it is unaffected by factory resets, updates etc.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Thanks, Slug and Russell.

So when I install an app (like, say, Jorte, a calendar program), it's installed to the device memory. If I want to install an app to the SD card, I must move it after installing as there is no option during the installation to do so.

I suppose it's a bit of a moot question, however, as I still have 1.61 GB available space left on my device (this must be a little like a hard drive in my PC then?). The apps don't seem to be taking up too much space at all, and I really doubt I'd install much more than I already have, anyway.

 

[Russell Ng]

Memory seems plenty for me too. Just to let you know, some apps actually does install part of its data to the external microSD straight away. I noticed it when updating some apps. Anyway, you can check this if you go to "Settings/Manage Applications" and look under the On SD tab. Those apps in external microSD will be marked.