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Root [Virgin Mobile] Updated swap and links2sd guide.

TeachMe

Android Enthusiast
Mar 22, 2010
464
129
The idea behind the application is the same. But Link2SD has more relevant features which the Native Apps2sd lacked giving Android 1.5 and up users the chance to have a taste of what it’s like to have a big phone memory. Additional features were added by the developer to furher optimize the usage of android devices. By using Link2SD, you can move not only the application file, but also the dalvic-cache and libray files of the application. This means that data will be the only one left to consume your internal memory thus installing applications and games would be easier because you can install anything you want without worrying about the famous low memory problem. Furthermore, Link2sd covers all files even moving widgets and the unmoveable applications to the 2nd partition of your SD card.

This is a step by step guide on how you can run Link2SD on your device. This tutorial will work for both stock and cutom ROMs. For ClockWorkMod Recovery and TWRP users. Follow all the instructions carefully to eliminate possible problems.

Steps for links2sd and Internal to external Swap See below for just internal to external swap

First you have to download Mini Tool Partition Wizard Manager. You can download it HERE. MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

First you have to download Mini Tool Partition Wizard Manager. You can download it HERE.
Insert your SD card to a card reader and open it on your computer.
Back up all your files to the computer because partitioning will wipe your data.
Open Mini Tool in your computer. Locate your SD card (be careful in choosing and make sure not to choose the drive of your computer)
Right click and choose Delete.
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Right click on it again and choose Create New. Create “FAT32″ partition (This is where all your media files will go. Be sure to make it bigger than the 2nd part)
Select “Create as: PRIMARY”
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Next, create an ext4 partition . This is where your apps will go. I suggest a value of 1GB OR 2GB would be big enough but if you insist you can go as high as you want I use 4gb
Select “Create As: PRIMARY” (make sure that it is both set to primary because it will not work if it is not set to primary)
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Click the “Apply” button on the top left corner and wait for it to finish the process. Done.
Put back your SD card to your phone and switch it on.
Download and install Link2sd from Google Play Store.
Open Link2sd. You will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 and FAT32. Select ext4.
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It will say mount script created. Reboot your phone now.
Open link2sd and if the message doesn’t show up, you succeded.
Ok now to enable Swap to go with your links2sd follow the steps below
1. Install busybox if you dont have it https://db.tt/PdTTclXD if you have it goto step 2
2. boot into twrp and flash this https://db.tt/FPwQ7zzS
3.Open link2sd and Go to Link2sd>Settings>check the autolink (to automatically move apps upon installation)
For apps already installed select “Create Link” (be sure to check the three files: app, dalvic-cache and library files)

Steps Below are for Internal to External Swap only

Part 1
1. format your sd card to fat32 (if card is fat32 already and only 1 partition no need to format)
2. install busybox if you dont have it https://db.tt/PdTTclXD if you have it goto step 3
3. boot into twrp and flash this https://db.tt/FPwQ7zzS
4. reboot system and enjoy your swap.
 
@Dimmie : you can also use twrp to create a 2nd ext4 partition on your SD card too
First backup your SD card to your computer, this will wipe it.

[1]Place your sdcard in your phone

[2]Boot into recovery (these instruction use TWRP)

[3]Select Advanced, then select Partition SD Card

[4]Set the size you want for your storage space in kb (1024mb = 1gb), at least 2gb

[5]Choose EXT4

[6]Don't worry if it shows an error TWRP can't mount the 2nd partition so it thinks it errored
 
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@Dimmie : you can also use twrp to create a 2nd ext4 partition on your SD card too
First backup your SD card to your computer, this will wipe it.

[1]Place your sdcard in your phone

[2]Boot into recovery (these instruction use TWRP)

[3]Select Advanced, then select Partition SD Card

[4]Set the size you want for your storage space in kb (1024mb = 1gb), at least 2gb

[5]Choose EXT4

[6]Don't worry if it shows an error TWRP can't mount the 2nd partition so it thinks it errored

partitioned myself 4gb off of my 16gb card and the process went smoothly. Created links. Still having a few space issues (updating larger apps, installing any games).
 
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anyone know how to deal with this little bugger? i've got a 16gb card with a 4gb ext4 partition. should have plenty o' space... i've already cleared out the cache for the app a few times. what if i converted it to a user app and linking to the sd card?

Have you linked all your apps? And do you have games with large obb or data files? Those don't link.
 
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worked even better than I thought, only took removing the link to one app and bingo-bango, solved. thanx madbat!

Also go through your linked apps and make sure all the dalvik and lib files (if they have them ) are linked too. Just tap link on ones that are already linked and it will show you what files are linked. :D
 
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If you go and re-post a more condensed version of the instructions I posted about 5 months before you made this, why not at least include the instructions I gave on linking google play music cache to the sd card as well?

Oh, and I knew there was a reason I wanted you to include the instructions for linking google play music cache to the SD card....because even though google added the ability to choose internal or external, if you do the swap, you still need this method, since internal is always in '/data' (which will always be internal, even after the swap)... and the external is now the internal after the swap.

Link google play music files to a custom folder (only necessary if you used the internal 2 external swap 'Room to Roam.zip'):
1. Open the Root Browser and browse to "data/data/com.google.andriod.music/files/". You will see a folder called "music" in here (if it's not there try downloading a song from your library to your device).
2. (Optional) Before you move the folder you may want to make a bookmark to this location so that you can navigate back quickly.
3. Long press on the "music" folder and then select the move option.
4. Navigate to your SdCard0 and paste the folder.
5. Long press your newly pasted "music" folder and select the "create shortcut" option (if you don't see it you may need to scroll the menu).
6. Navigate back to the "data/data/com.google.andriod.music/files/" and paste the shortcut!

Also props go out to the people who lead us in the right directions to figure these methods out:
Big thanks to mogulbuster for pointing out "Root External 2 Internal" as an option- All I did was figure out how to get it working and wrote up instructions for it.
This eventually turned into the flashable zip for internal 2 external swap, thanks to TeachMe and JerryScript. Jerry origianally combined the link2sd mount and internal/external swap mount into a single file as part of an early version the victorious rom install.


To the community in general-I have a policy when it comes to evolving people's work, due credit is due where it is due. So thank the people who made this possible. They never asked for money, and spent a lot of hours tweaking things on the phone and writing up instructions, just to share with the community. Show some love! :)
 
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Yeah me to I linked to the page in first post of this most said can't find the link blah blah so I copied all here with a Google link I found edited pics to show ext4 instead of 2 . when I ask jerry about using his swap script on irc he said external to internal made the mount points so use it how you want. Wasn't trying to steal credit for anything. Jerry wanted no part of this post when I ask him about it when it was made the first time. Just tried to make it simple. I used a Google guide for pics and steps just to make it easy to follow. This one not yours. http://www.noypigeeks.com/android/tutorial-a-guide-to-link2sd/ i redid it all because i was really active with this phone and was gonna help people. I got my kernel done and my phone working like i need it so j can just delete this post i guess woild rather do that then being accused of credit stealing. but hey whatever.
 
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Yeah me to I linked to the page in first post of this most said can't find the link blah blah so I copied all here with a Google link I found edited pics to show ext4 instead of 2 . when I ask jerry about using his swap script on irc he said external to internal made the mount points so use it how you want. Wasn't trying to steal credit for anything. Jerry wanted no part of this post when I ask him about it when it was made the first time. Just tried to make it simple. I used a Google guide for pics and steps just to make it easy to follow. This one not yours. How to Partition SD Card and Use Link2SD in any Android Phone with Screenshots but hey whatever.

I know, that's the same guide I linked to in my original, I wasn't trying to get on you about it or imply that you did anything wrong, I appreciate what you have added to the community as well. I just think people should know how the process came about and who to thank, which includes you as well... but that goes without saying right? Since you made the post and the new repack 'Room to Roam.zip'.

Nothin' but love man, just wanted to share it, mogulbuster deserves some credit too for giving me the idea to use the internal 2 external swap program in the first place.

Edit: and Jerry may not want credit, but he deserves it. I miss the guy. Without him I wouldn't even be on this forum at all.
 
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Maybe I should have dug a little deeper to see who kicked started it all I did what I did based off that link and Jerry's original swap script. Didn't mean to leave out anyone or sound crude apologies from my end also.

All good man! Just wanted to spread the love around! Thanks for staying so active here too... I kinda disappeared for a while cause I've been busy teaching classes and working on digging into linux and coding processes... its a long road, but you gotta start somewhere!

Edit: Hey Teach, just to be clear I didn't mean anything to come off as a stab at you, that wasn't intentional at all. I have edited my posts to hopefully make it more clear that I was speaking in general on sharing the love. You've always been a great part of this community TeachMe, and I know you wouldn't want to not give credit, so I didn't mean to imply that at all!
 
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