Coming from Windows Mobile, I knew I was in for a bit of a shock. But I didn't realize it would be this bad.
You see, I have OCD when it comes to organization and cleanliness. It's pretty bad. On Windows Mobile, I had every program organized by category. I edited all the .cab files to install to "\Program Files\*CATEGORY*\App Name", and the shortcut to be installed to "\Start Menu\*CATEGORY*"
Everything was perfectly organized. On the root of my SD card, I had 2 folders - "My Documents" and "Program Files". There were no stray files on the root.
I had everything setup PERFECTLY with Sashimi so when I reflashed, I could run my script and all settings/apps would be restored.
I found the registry key for all settings and backed them up, made provisioning XMLs for all of my account settings, etc. Anything that needed to be saved between flashes would be saved to the SD card. When I flashed, everything would be back to the way it was an hour ago.
I LOVE my Evo 3D, but I'm getting incredibly frustrated with how insane the clutter is. Every app and its mother decides to make a folder on the root of my SD card. And half the time, they're empty folders. I just want to know:
1. How are settings stored in Android? In WM, there were registry keys for everything from backlight to email signatures. Where and how does Android store these settings?
2. How can I have an app completely installed on the SD card, so that if I hard-reset, all I need to do is put it's shortcut in the app drawer?
3. Are there any tools like Sashimi that streamline the hard-rest/reflash process?
4. Are apps hard coded to store files where they do? Or is there something like an XML file for the app that tells it to write to "%SDCARD%" instead of "%SDCARD\xxx"
Thanks in advance!
saumaun said:
Coming from Windows Mobile, I knew I was in for a bit of a shock. But I didn't realize it would be this bad.
You see, I have OCD when it comes to organization and cleanliness. It's pretty bad. On Windows Mobile, I had every program organized by category. I edited all the .cab files to install to "\Program Files\*CATEGORY*\App Name", and the shortcut to be installed to "\Start Menu\*CATEGORY*"
Everything was perfectly organized. On the root of my SD card, I had 2 folders - "My Documents" and "Program Files". There were no stray files on the root.
I had everything setup PERFECTLY with Sashimi so when I reflashed, I could run my script and all settings/apps would be restored.
I found the registry key for all settings and backed them up, made provisioning XMLs for all of my account settings, etc. Anything that needed to be saved between flashes would be saved to the SD card. When I flashed, everything would be back to the way it was an hour ago.
I LOVE my Evo 3D, but I'm getting incredibly frustrated with how insane the clutter is. Every app and its mother decides to make a folder on the root of my SD card. And half the time, they're empty folders. I just want to know:
1. How are settings stored in Android? In WM, there were registry keys for everything from backlight to email signatures. Where and how does Android store these settings?
2. How can I have an app completely installed on the SD card, so that if I hard-reset, all I need to do is put it's shortcut in the app drawer?
3. Are there any tools like Sashimi that streamline the hard-rest/reflash process?
4. Are apps hard coded to store files where they do? Or is there something like an XML file for the app that tells it to write to "%SDCARD%" instead of "%SDCARD\xxx"
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long story short, it won't be easy. The answers aren't likely the most technically complete, but I believe them to be accurate.
1) I know someone has the answer.
2) There is no way to install 100% to SD card.
3) Titanium Backup, MyBackup, etc.. will all backup and restore your applications and settings. You can also take a complete image of the phone, using ClockworkMod. You can then restore all or part of that image. These all require root access.
4) As far as I know, I think it can swing both ways. It would require you to extract, modify, and repack the contents of the APK.
Man do I feel your pain! I absolutely hate the way android allows apps to be installed.
Don't even get me started on the lack of quit buttons on too many apps, or the way apps that have no business running in the background constantly start themselves in the background.
What's crackalackin saumaun. I haven't seen u since ppcgeeks. That's one thing that pissed me off with android when I came from windows mobile. Have you been with android or did u finally get rid of your tp2.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
xenx said:
Long story short, it won't be easy. The answers aren't likely the most technically complete, but I believe them to be accurate.
1) I know someone has the answer.
2) There is no way to install 100% to SD card.
3) Titanium Backup, MyBackup, etc.. will all backup and restore your applications and settings. You can also take a complete image of the phone, using ClockworkMod. You can then restore all or part of that image. These all require root access.
4) As far as I know, I think it can swing both ways. It would require you to extract, modify, and repack the contents of the APK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. I'm going to be looking into those backup apps. But I fear I won't be able to do much more until the 3D is rooted.
touchprofan said:
Man do I feel your pain! I absolutely hate the way android allows apps to be installed.
Don't even get me started on the lack of quit buttons on too many apps, or the way apps that have no business running in the background constantly start themselves in the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is definitely a pain too! I wish there was an option to close the browser so when I'm done, the next time I want to use the internet, I would be at my home page.
gmfeny said:
What's crackalackin saumaun. I haven't seen u since ppcgeeks. That's one thing that pissed me off with android when I came from windows mobile. Have you been with android or did u finally get rid of your tp2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man, it's been a long time! This is my first Android device. I just came from the TP2. In fact, it's sitting right next to me lol.
Related
Is there any app that can backup/restore the scenes to the SD card or does anyone know where and how the information is stored, DB, XML?
Would be handy once we get the ROM update.
Hopefully HTC will be able to do a non destructive update, like Nokia and others seem to be able to do.
JesperDS said:
Is there any app that can backup/restore the scenes to the SD card or does anyone know where and how the information is stored, DB, XML?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried several without any luck. Even the ones that claim to backup deskstop shortcuts, don't. They mean the android desktop, not HTC's Sense UI.
I also search for relevant XML files everywhere, using root explorer, but no luck.
So I gave up, stopped using Scenes for anything non-trivial, and replaced all my folders with Apps Organiser labels. Much better, and its config can be exported to a txt file on the SD card.
Some guides say its better to put android on a separate card but they don't mention why. What could negatively happen if you use the stock card? Also I thought android didn't have any effects on WM, so if I don't want android anymore could I just delete the android folder and have it exactly the way it was before without having to do a hard reset?
if they didnt explain why... then the first thing that cones to mind is simply read/write... an sd card like any other flash storage... can only handle a certain amount of writing... so after a while it gets worn out and becones read only.... but with casual use it could take years before that happens... but when your using it with android running off of it thats countless readwrite cycles... sure it would still last long but in the end your shorting its life span
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
What about android having any effects on the WM system?
genericq said:
What about android having any effects on the WM system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you load up haret.exe WM gets closed down and the Linux Kernel Kicks in and Android starts up... The only issue that happens is that Android handles Time differently then WM so the time will get messed up until it updates again in WM... Other then that WM gets turned off and anything that wasnt saved before you load up android will be lost... So make sure if you where working on something in WM to save it then Load up Android
I do recommend using a dedicated card for Android, but it's nothing to do with how much the card will be used or any other such nonsense.
Basically, you start with 1 folder (Android) and then the Android system creates a TON of folders on your card. If it was a card that you used for other things then you've suddenly got a hell of a lot of folders that are only relevant to Android. It's obviously your call, but it's a damn sight easier to use a dedicated card.
From my Head... Theres the Android Folder(duh).. Media Folder... tmp folder... a downloads folder... like two or three folders that start with (.) something... there the weird files that show up like F000 or something that are usless... oh and th My Documents folder from Windows... and an Applications Folder...a Zedge folder, if you use that app. So after a while it does get crowed with mostly empty folders with nothing in them.
I am new to android , being a WM ex-pat, so forgive my ignorance. Had this new phone a couple of weeks now and have encountered a big problem with it. At first it seemed fine, but after a week it ran out of internal sd memory, despite only having 250mb worth of stuff on it, the1.7 gb was full.
Cut a long ..etc. Seems sd/android/data/com.cooliris.media/cache/hires-image-cache ,is the culprit.
Every time media scanner runs it fills this cache folder with DUPLICATES (I suspect) of what has already been scanned, instead of adding only new stuff.
consequently the internal sd memory fills in less than a day.
I figured that rooting was the answer, so have successfully rooted, (with help of this forum, ) and tried using autostarts to disable media scanning , but , of course that means I cant access any media without it running. Since i havent been able to find an answer to this anywhere else, wonder if someone could tell me how to
sort this problem,?? (as its driving me nuts!!) Thanks folks.
sorry,don'know why
I don,t know why but since you know how to root then maybe this can help :
1. Install Titanium Backup from Market, the free version is suficient for the task. From backup/restore tab above, find "Gallery". Tap on it then select freeze. This means your Gallery app is still intact but won't run anymore.
2. Delete your culprit cache
3. Now as an alternative to Gallery app, you can use QuickPic from market.
Well, hope this solves your issue.
Thanks Distan7, - Took your advice and it done the trick!! (so far at least!)- (Had to get Tb full tho, as lite doesnt allow freezing!) This method beats my recent solution, hands down, which was to use prog called "gallery lock" to hide media from m.scanner, but its a long winded pain to use.! Tianium backup is a brilliant app! Many thanks for your help.
You're welcome mate, sorry I forgot that you need TB full to freeze apps. You could backup then uninstall Gallery using TB free, but I fear something bad might happen. Anyway TB is a great app with lots of useful features.
Hope the trick lasts
Hi a golden rule, as long your phone is rooted, a smart idea is that if you have TB and want to unistall a system app make sure at least to back it up before you unistall it!
Nothing is true....everything is permitted...
My Verizon Note 2 came with a glaring bad pixel and an entire line on the screen that went bad. I just got my RMA replacement unit.
I'm not rooted - I didn't want to mess around knowing I'd be returning it. So, neither Titanium Backup nor nandroid backup is available. I didn't move any apps to the external SD card, though for some apps I set the destination for new files to the external card when the default was internal.
What is the best procedure to migrate from old unit to new one? My thought was:
- Save configs for any app that allows you to save a config (e.g. Touchdown)
- Email Apps will re-sync with the servers (e.g. Touchdown, K-9)
- Most apps just re-install from Google play
- Drag and drop files on internal SD card to desktop (Windows)
- Anything on removable SD card will be fine.
Issues I'm wondering about:
- Dropbox. Should I uninstall and reinstall and let it all re-sync?
- Android settings - volume, ring tones, brightness, etc. - is there a file that saves all that? Will they get picked up if I copy a few directories from the internal storage back from Window? If so, what are those directories or files?
- Will there be hidden files on the internal storage that I need that won't be copied to Windows by drag & drop? Is there a way to save them?
- What am I missing? Anything else I should worry about? It seems simple enough, but having moved between platforms many times, there is always something that can go wrong.
Many thanks in advance for the help. I can't imagine I'm the only one with a defective unit, so hopefully this will help the next noob.
To be honest I'm sure there is a way to do what you are asking. Other than s note things which can be easily found with access to the internal storage.... For settings and whatnot I recommend just starting over it won't take that long and it is part of the fun of starting over
The reason I recommend starring over is it is easy to get way to complicated and messy trying to move things like that. I would only move app data that is vital. Good luck with your move.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
DJ1994 said:
To be honest I'm sure there is a way to do what you are asking. Other than s note things which can be easily found with access to the internal storage.... For settings and whatnot I recommend just starting over it won't take that long and it is part of the fun of starting over
The reason I recommend starring over is it is easy to get way to complicated and messy trying to move things like that. I would only move app data that is vital. Good luck with your move.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it was good advice. I was able to export and import my tasker profiles (those would have been painful to re-create), and for everything else I just did a side-by-side comparison with the old unit. Time consuming, but effective.
Does every Cyanogenmod rom allow that by default, or dit it die with version 11 or 12 being the last one?
If installing directly to SD is a no go, what good apps are there that do the transfer (and keep everything working, of course
I would recommend Link2SD.
I have used it with satisfaction on several low memory devices.
Not sure why, I find Link2SD and its options terribly confusing Well, I guess I'll need to learn.
There are a lot of guides and it's not so complex.
The best way to use it is to create a second partition on sd (consider a backup of your data on pc/otg/cloud/...).
As far as I can remember link2sd will ask you the filesystem type and then it will create some script to use it.
Then you can simply tap on an app from the list and press "link to sd".
From the apps list you can do a lot of operation like convert apps to system/user app, freeze/unfreeze, merge an updated app to rom etc. and using the filter this kind of operation will be very easy and fast.
EDIT:
On the plus (paid) version you can link also data.
If you really want to maximize the free space on the device, this option is worth the few moneys.
EDIT2:
I've always used it on other devices using AOSP based roms, I don't know if there are problems using it with MIUI.
Thanks a lot! So, if you "link" (strange choice of word, it's not actually linking if it gets completely moved to SD and nothing remaing in main storage is it, that's what confused the hell out of me), app and its data to SD, will it be exactly like it was downloaded and installed on SD right from the store, like it used to be on Android versions that supported such thing? I know Cyanogenmod 11 did that perfectly, wonder if it's CM thing by default, or did they moved to new (stupid) concept of raping the main storage in later versions
EDIT: Any chance of "linking" bloody Whatsapp to SD completely? I'm in continuous maintenance mode of my wife phone because that **** consumes the storage for all it's worth.
C64Ever said:
Thanks a lot! So, if you "link" (strange choice of word, it's not actually linking if it gets completely moved to SD and nothing remaing in main storage is it, that's what confused the hell out of me), app and its data to SD, will it be exactly like it was downloaded and installed on SD right from the store, like it used to be on Android versions that supported such thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Linking is not the same as moving.
For example, if you move to sd and then remove the sd from the device, widgets and app icons will be removed.
Maybe they will be restored when you insert your sd again, but the order could not be the same.
The same doesn't happen linking.
There are also other benefits, try googling for "link2sd faq".
C64Ever said:
EDIT: Any chance of "linking" bloody Whatsapp to SD completely? I'm in continuous maintenance mode of my wife phone because that **** consumes the storage for all it's worth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not using whatsapp so I don't know if it works.
I guess that your are talking about the "whatapp" directory on which msgs and media are store.
If link2sd can't solve your problem, I think that can try to move the whatsapp directory to sd and then manually create a link (keep the original name) on the original position.
Or you can try with apps like foldermount
EDIT:
try looking at this thread
Maybe your can try xposed app..xinternalsd..swap sdcard to be phone memory