Root My EXT partition resize hell (quite long)

[SUroot]

I wanted to resize my ext3 partition to make it a bit bigger. Originally I partitioned the 512MB EXT3 using the last section of the following guide: Droid Den - Phone Guide: How To Add Apps2Sd To The HTC Desire - Droid Den ...when I had a modaco rom. I then moved on to Defrost. This was ages ago.


My idea was, nandroid backup (inc EXT), mount in recovery, and create new (bigger) ext via partition wizard (PC application - looked to work really well), restore - jobs a good one. No!

So I tried to restore nandroid. Looked to go well, all said restored successfully. Rebooted itself and hung at the HTC screen (not even boot animation).

Tried to reflash Defrost. Same

So Wiped everything and tried to format SD-EXT. Or so I thought, but clockwork wouldn't recongise the new EXT3 partition. I could not mount it either. Each time "error mounting /sd-ext/!

I thought perhaps I had done something wrong, so repeated the Partition Wizard EXT partition creation. The same problem. Except this time it skipped the restore of sd-ext. It actually went through the process last time, appearing successful.

I deleted the EXT in Partition Wizard again and reformatted the Fat 32, dropped my important files back on.

I flashed an old MoDaCo rom, just so I could get a bootable device and this worked fine. This way I could repartition using original method and if it wiped the SD (including my update.zip for clockwork) I could still get files onto my SD card.

This did work, and now I have set a larger sized EXT3 partition. I should have just done this in the first place, but don't really like pushing files out to my device like this. But since I was on a ROM I wasn't keeping and wanted to get back to Defrost ASAP, i did it this time.

Of course creating the ext and pushing files out (considering I do not have clockwork flashed as recovery -I have an engineering recovery) I could no longer boot into recovery by applying update.zip (my usual method if not using rom manager). So I had to move all my files back whilst Modaco was mounted.

Half way through the transfer, the SD card whimped out and would no longer mount. Reboot. Mounted ReadOnly. GAHHHH. If I tapped the "Mounted read only" notification and quickly clicked unmount SD card in SD settings menu, I could hit the format button. I select "Erase all data" but it appeared to do nothing. Mount and format were selectable in the SD menu, but mount wouldn't do anything. Format just repeated the above.


Rebooted. Notification "sd card safe to remove". Clicking mount repeated this cycle. Format then gave me the "preparing SD card" Notification. Plugged into PC and copied the files.

Booted to (engineering) recovery, applied update.zip (clockworkmod recovery) and restored my original Defrost nandroid backup. I was trying to decide whether to do this or to just do a flash of the rom and a titanium restore. Was not sure if the ext partition size could cause an issue with the restore of its data.

Booted up, saw my beloved normal boot animation. Something I hadn't seen for a while (the BIOS style animation). Hmmm Usually I only see this animation once. BOOTLOOP!!!!!!!!

Back into recovery, wipe data. Reboot. HTC white screen only.

Recovery. Wipe cache, Wipe data, Format SDEXT.

"No app2sd partition found". GAHHH

Format data, Format System, Format Data

Install Defrost from scratch. Nexus 1 boot animation (Well its a start).

Boot - Success. Drop my titanium backups from (i'm not sure when) back on SD) and restored quick system info. Sure enough A2SDStorage "information not available".

Reboot into recovery, mount. Partition Wizard only shows FAT 32.

Back to push files then. Repartitioned EXT3. Rebooted. Quick system info now sees partition. YAY.

Copied Clockworkmod backup files back for one final attempt at getting my last known good configuration back (with the increased EXT).

Watched the restore process intensely as my .apk's were restored to sd-ext. Looking good. Rebooted. Watched as my bios animation went to a black / blank screen. This is normal as the animation isn't as long as the boot process. A familiar home screen. Quick System info reporting new size A2SD partition and apps working normally.

YES FINALLY!!!!!!!!!


All back to normal. Feel free to laugh at my stupidity and ineptitude. I now appreciate that my sentimental connection to my engineering recovery is misplaced. Having a true flash of clockworkmod would have made this slightly less painful but all this is leading to a question.


What did YOU do today?

 

[DesirableHTC]

so what would be the easiest way to make a bigger ext-3 partition....? I have S-off if that helps...

 

[SUroot]

Feck knows now. I thought that would be the easiest way. If I break out the mistakes from above... nandroid backup, Flash a basic Rom, level the card on a pc. Create a new partition the same way as before then nandroid restore?

Got to be an easier way than that.

 

[SUroot]

Maybe backup, create a second ext partition, mount SD, delete previous ext partition, expand fat into unallocated space and restore

 

[DesirableHTC]

but when you format SD card on PC, it doesn't wipe the card of the ext3 does it? I mean, the ext is still there, but just been formatted...... I would like to erase this ext3 ptn then make a larger one, although..... thinking about it, i have more than enough space with the 512Mb that i already have....... I think i'll just leave it for now.

Cheers though

 

[Rastaman-FB]

but when you format SD card on PC, it doesn't wipe the card of the ext3 does it? I mean, the ext is still there, but just been formatted...... I would like to erase this ext3 ptn then make a larger one, although..... thinking about it, i have more than enough space with the 512Mb that i already have....... I think i'll just leave it for now.

Cheers though

pc/windows cannot read ext or format it.
you would need to use a gparted live cd or linux.

you might want a larger ext partition if you look into going the hd rom route

 

[SUroot]

Well this app did have ext as an option but it didn't work

 

[anoniemouse]

A partition bigger than 512mb on the desire would be pretty much overkill, as all installed apps still use a small portion of the on board memory.
You will be close to if not already at the maximum of useable on board ram with a 512mb ext.
The only time a larger partition would be useable is on a phone with more on board ram.

 

[Rastaman-FB]

or an hd rom where part of it is installed to ext

 

[SUroot]

A partition bigger than 512mb on the desire would be pretty much overkill, as all installed apps still use a small portion of the on board memory.
You will be close to if not already at the maximum of useable on board ram with a 512mb ext.
The only time a larger partition would be useable is on a phone with more on board ram.

I've used 320 of ext and have 90 free internal. I will be resizing the system partition by -100 and increasing the cache partition possibly by 50 if its worth it, giving an additional 50 to data. If its not worth.it, 100 to data

 

[anoniemouse]

Don't forget not all on board memory is useable for installing apps, the more you have free the better your phone runs.
A good example is i only got a class 2 memory card but i can get faultless hd video recording, only thing that makes real sense to that is i have over 100mb free on board memory.
My conclusion is the on board memory must work like a buffer to the memory card.

 

[SUroot]

I would expect that's what the 40MB /cache partition does