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Help htc desire - insufficient memory

arkiboys

Newbie
Sep 13, 2010
30
0
Hi,
After installing an app, I always then move the installed app on to the SD card.
Now I am trying to install an app which is about 12 MB in size and the phone (htc desire) says insufficient memory.
Questions:
1- How can I free memory in my phone?
2- How do I make sure the app is installed onto the SD card straightaway so that I do not get the insufficient memory message. I do have several GB of space on the sd card.
Thanks
 
Hi,
After installing an app, I always then move the installed app on to the SD card.
Now I am trying to install an app which is about 12 MB in size and the phone (htc desire) says insufficient memory.
Questions:
1- How can I free memory in my phone?
2- How do I make sure the app is installed onto the SD card straightaway so that I do not get the insufficient memory message. I do have several GB of space on the sd card.
Thanks

Today I solved my problem by,

1. Rooting the phone
2. installing 4EXT Recovery
3. backup
4. factory reset & wipe the data
5. install dGB no frills rom

It is a long way but now I have 100MB space & phone is usable.
 
Upvote 0
If you really want to fix storage problems then root is the answer. The root memory guide, linked from the sticky post in the Desire root forum will explain what the options are.

If you don't want to root then this thread will help a bit, including making apps install to sd by default: http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=2958430. However, to avoid disappointment you should understand the limitations:

Only part of an app is moved to sd. Some elements, and all application data, remain in internal storage.

Widgets don't work if the app is moved to sd.

So moving more apps to sd will help somewhat, maybe enough, but it's not a panacea.

It might be worth checking the sizes of your current apps, especially data use, to make sure none of them are eating 10s of MB of data space. Look at all apps, not just downloaded, as system apps' data use internal storage too.
 
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No there isn't. The problem with the HTC Desire is that it is crippled by a lack of internal memory. The problem has been addressed by some clever people but it will involve you doing a bit of work. This will involve:
Rooting your phone (gives you access to the root directory)
Partitioning you SD card and creating an EXT partition.
Possible resizing the phones internal memory (if you want to drop HTC sense and utilise that space)
Flashing a rom that supports apps2sd.

The EXT partition is then seen as extra system space which alleviates the lack of memory issue.

My wife currently has my old Desire, and has around 50 apps on it without any problems at all. Prepare to do some reading and spend a night in flashing :cool:
 
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Do you know what this "free memory" option does?

The only thing I can think of for phone storage is clearing app caches - this is a useful short-term fix, but you can install an app from the Play Store to do that. Otherwise it would require uninstalling apps or removing data, which sounds unlikely.

If instead it means clearing RAM that's a different thing (and less helpful than it sounds).
 
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Do you know what this "free memory" option does?

The only thing I can think of for phone storage is clearing app caches - this is a useful short-term fix, but you can install an app from the Play Store to do that. Otherwise it would require uninstalling apps or removing data, which sounds unlikely.

If instead it means clearing RAM that's a different thing (and less helpful than it sounds).
Hi, In the store, what app do I search for to clean the memory as you explained above please?
I have astro already but not sure if it does that.
Thanks
 
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The HTC Desire is a great phone, and as I said with a little work you can make it MUCH better. I dumped HTC sense, went with Mildwild rom, repartitioned the system memory as I didn't need all that space for Mildwild. I got a class 10 card (I know the Desire only supports class 6) and set it up with an ext 4 partition.

This has given the phone a new lease of life, it doesn't even feel like a 3 year old phone. It is worth doing - there are users on here who will guide you through the process, (Probably Hadron is one of the best still using this forum) It's well worth the effort.
 
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If you have root then you can always do this:
Open cmd prompt on computer
Adb devices
Adb shell
pm setInstallLocation 2
Exit

Of course you need to enable debug mode in the settings.
This enables apps to be moved into the sd card and is the default install location. To undo it you can factory reset or just redo the steps but instead of a 2 use a 0
 
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Easy option is to buy another phone.
On stock rom you have:-
System 250MB
Cache 40MB
Data 147MB.

If you don't want to shell out on a new phone, the only long term solution to this issue is to root the device in order to get around the shortcomings. Once you do you will have a very good phone. The added advantage being is that it will not cost you anything to do, where as buying another phone will.
 
Upvote 0
Easy option is to buy another phone.
On stock rom you have:-
System 250MB
Cache 40MB
Data 147MB.

If you don't want to shell out on a new phone, the only long term solution to this issue is to root the device in order to get around the shortcomings. Once you do you will have a very good phone. The added advantage being is that it will not cost you anything to do, where as buying another phone will.
1- Can I please get a simple step by step procedures to root the device
2- disadvantages of rooting please?
 
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Is there a free memory option (Like the one in a samsung phone) in my htc desire phone? thanks

I don't know about the Desire but on my Evo V under storage there's a setting to free up space by clearing data cache, moving apps to sd and seeing what apps are taking up the most internal storage so that you can delete them if you don't really use them.
 
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Only 1 disadvantage. Voids warranty.
Gaining root access sounds daunting, but in all honesty it's only equivalent to gaining access to drive C on your PC. Once you have access to drive C you can install a different operating system, ie xp vista or windows 7 or 8. On your phone it allows you to overwrite the version of android you are running and replace it with a modded one, one supporting apps to sd which will help sort out your lack of internal memory issue.
 
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I should point out, if you do root, that itself won't allow you to have mass of space for apps, you would also either need to
A-Partition your sd card to allow apps to be moved onto it. G-parted is recommended that but that needs some setting up.
Other apps can do it, but they usually FUBAR it.

Or

B- Install a smaller rom, change your HBOOT to allow the rest of the rom space for apps.

This is more advanced though but worth it.


If you do any of these, see the guide in 'All things root'
Don't be afraid to ask for help, I understand it's daunting. Just read, re read and read again.
 
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Thanks Tyseyh, maybe I didn't make it clear enough, but the reason as you correctly say for rooting is so you can replace your operating system with one that supports moving the apps to the SD card.

This is the Rom currently running on my "wife's" phone (she never gave me a penny for it!)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1453287

As others have said, there are many roms that will do the job for you. I've just had a look for dGB on XDA but can't find it. Did it get taken down when Dan got the S3?

I also agree about GParted. It's the best piece of software for partitioning your SD card. Buy yourself a nice 16GB class 10 card. This will save you going through the hassle of trying to upgrade it at a later date.
 
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