Root partitioning sd card

[AndroJOB]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Mini and I wanted to create two primary partitions on my 8 GB SD for Link2sd so that I can link the space-hogging dalvik-cache files to the SD (not into ROMs and stuff, yet ). However, when I tried to create partitions on my Ubuntu with Gparted it won't work. I don't know why, but it gives the following result:

GParted 0.6.2
Libparted 2.3
Create Primary Partition #1 (fat32, 6.78 GiB) on /dev/sdb 00:00:01 ( ERROR ) create empty partition 00:00:00 ( SUCCESS ) path: /dev/sdb1
start: 2048
end: 14221311
size: 14219264 (6.78 GiB) set partition type on /dev/sdb1 00:00:01 ( SUCCESS ) new partition type: fat32 create new fat32 file system 00:00:00 ( ERROR ) mkdosfs -F32 -v -n "Galaxy Mini" /dev/sdb1 mkdosfs 3.0.9 (31 Jan 2010)
mkdosfs: unable to open /dev/sdb1
========================================
Create Primary Partition #2 (fat32, 743.00 MiB) on /dev/sdb ========================================

Also, when I mount the SD on GParted it shows that all of it is an unallocated disk (which surprised me, because I thought you need to format it even to work on the phone). The attempt deleted my apps , so I might as well find a way to partition it first and reinstall my apps later.

 

[ocnbrze]

ok moved your thread to the rooting section for the galaxy mini s5570. folks here can hopefully help you out.

 

[yagya]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Mini and I wanted to create two primary partitions on my 8 GB SD for Link2sd so that I can link the space-hogging dalvik-cache files to the SD (not into ROMs and stuff, yet ). However, when I tried to create partitions on my Ubuntu with Gparted it won't work. I don't know why, but it gives the following result:

Also, when I mount the SD on GParted it shows that all of it is an unallocated disk (which surprised me, because I thought you need to format it even to work on the phone). The attempt deleted my apps , so I might as well find a way to partition it first and reinstall my apps later.

You are doing it the difficult way... CWM recovery can partition your sdcard for the same purpose of moving apps, dalvik cache, etc to sd-ext partition using a2sd or other scripts like link2sd. Here is a article you need to go through first Handy Informations: How to Partition an SD Card and Install Darktremor Apps2SD on Android Smart Phone?



Now this is what you do:
1. Create a FAT32 partition of all unallocated partition on your sd-card. Remember create a single primary FAT32 partition. (You can do so by deleteing all partitions on your sdcard and then you will get unallocated space, now create a single partition from the space.)

2. Put your sdcard back to your device and then reboot your device to CWM recovery.

3. Format your sd-card [optional]

4. Now follow the steps in the article above to create another partition (named sd-ext partition) on your sdcard.

5. You can use a2sd said there or leave the a2sd portition of the article.

 

[AndroJOB]

Hello Yagya,

I appreciate your effort and your blog seems to be very informative. However, I noticed that I will have to go through a number of steps - upgrade to gingerbread, flash my phone and install a custom ROM. Not that I don't have anything against ROMs, it's just that I'm not into that tinkering stuff yet.

Is there a way I can manually remove the SD card and have it partitioned elsewhere through a card reader or so?

Just out of curiosity, what is so difficult about the method I'm using?

 

[yagya]

Hello Yagya,

I appreciate your effort and your blog seems to be very informative. However, I noticed that I will have to go through a number of steps - upgrade to gingerbread, flash my phone and install a custom ROM. Not that I don't have anything against ROMs, it's just that I'm not into that tinkering stuff yet.

Is there a way I can manually remove the SD card and have it partitioned elsewhere through a card reader or so?

Just out of curiosity, what is so difficult about the method I'm using?

So, you mean you don't want to use (go to) custom rom... If yes then there is no need of partitioning your sdcard since you can't use a2sd or s2e in stock roms.

Also, you can do it manually using gparted live or Mini Tools... However you need to know how to use them.

 

[AndroJOB]

Hi, I'm back again.

I tried both Gparted and Mini Tools. Gparted seems to have a problem in being able to make the partitions in the first place. Mini Tools can make the partitions, but the problem is that my Samsung Galaxy Mini regards it as damaged and I must format it on the phone.

The problem seems to be that the phone is unable to recongize an SD card with two partitions. It will recognize a partition which has been resized to a smaller size, but that's useless if I can't have the remaining space partitioned and recognized or at least not rejected by the phone. What am I missing here?

 

[sherlock5545]

I'll ask here as it is a similar question. I have the stock rom, Gingerbread 2.3.4, is it possible to have partitioned SD card on it?

 

[yagya]

Hi, I'm back again.

I tried both Gparted and Mini Tools. Gparted seems to have a problem in being able to make the partitions in the first place. Mini Tools can make the partitions, but the problem is that my Samsung Galaxy Mini regards it as damaged and I must format it on the phone.

The problem seems to be that the phone is unable to recongize an SD card with two partitions. It will recognize a partition which has been resized to a smaller size, but that's useless if I can't have the remaining space partitioned and recognized or at least not rejected by the phone. What am I missing here?

I'll ask here as it is a similar question. I have the stock rom, Gingerbread 2.3.4, is it possible to have partitioned SD card on it?

Both of your problems seems to be similar so here is what I have to say... They is no problem on having two partitions on stock roms but the problem will be stock rom won't recognize any partition except FAT32 so either change your parition File System to FAT32 or remove it.

Also, best way to parition is to use CWM recovery as said here :
Handy Informations: How to Partition an SD Card and Install Darktremor Apps2SD on Android Smart Phone?
Paritioning with other tools is likely to cause problems if you don't have a way with it. Also, if you want to use a2sd then the simplest method is to flash a custom rom ( visit : Handy Informations or the link on my signature to know more on it ) and then install a2sd as said in the link above.

However, if you want to do so in stock rom, you can use link2sd app. For that create a second parition in your sd-card as FAT32 partition using MiniTOols and then do as said by link2sd app.

Hope all your doubts regarding partitions are clear. For more info please visit the links on my signature. Also, feel free to ask any question if you have doubts.

 

[sherlock5545]

Thanks. Well, if I flash CWM recovery on my stock rom and then format the SD to FAT32 with my computer it will be fine, right?

Is the cache saved on internal memory, or doing so, I can set them so that it will be saved on the partitioned SD?

 

[AndroJOB]

That's the problem. I have created both partitions as FAT32, to no avail. The reason I wanted to install Link2sd is because I wanted to move the dalvik-cache to the second storage so that I can save some space on the internal memory (dalvik-caches are created in the internal memory for every app, even if the app is on the sd card).

 

[yagya]

That's the problem. I have created both partitions as FAT32, to no avail. The reason I wanted to install Link2sd is because I wanted to move the dalvik-cache to the second storage so that I can save some space on the internal memory (dalvik-caches are created in the internal memory for every app, even if the app is on the sd card).

Don't know if i am getting you wrong or not? But, I think you got that wrong, with darktermor a2sd (that can be used with custom roms) you can move dalvik cache to sd-ext to too.

Thanks. Well, if I flash CWM recovery on my stock rom and then format the SD to FAT32 with my computer it will be fine, right?

Is the cache saved on internal memory, or doing so, I can set them so that it will be saved on the partitioned SD?

I hope the above answers your question too. having custom roms has this levarage so it is preferred over stock roms. You can find out more about custom roms from the link on my signature.

Yes, if you format it to FAT32 and then use Link2sd then it will work fine. I don't know with Link2sd but cache can be saved on sd parititon in other a2sd scripts so I believe it can be done in link2sd too. HHowever, I suggest a custom rom with darktermor a2sd on it.

 

[galmin]

That's the problem. I have created both partitions as FAT32, to no avail. The reason I wanted to install Link2sd is because I wanted to move the dalvik-cache to the second storage so that I can save some space on the internal memory (dalvik-caches are created in the internal memory for every app, even if the app is on the sd card).

have a read of this