Android help please.

Takedap

Thanks again for this. More questions though! Should I be able to see the new partition in the Settings/Device/Storage part of the system? The only difference I can see is that my SD card is now showing as being 15.7GB instead if the (nearly) 32GB that it was before.
Also, I've been linking tha apps using the "Select All" method. If I try to use the "Disable App" function, the app just seems to disappear!
I had to uninstall some of my user apps to get enough space to install Apps2SD but after moving some stuff, there still wasn't enough room to put my apps back on.
With regards to your advice not to move important system apps, it seem like almost everything is considered to be a system app! That was part of my initial moan...

esuhl

Takedap wrote: »

Thanks again for this. More questions though!

No worries -- keep 'em coming!

Takedap wrote: »

Should I be able to see the new partition in the Settings/Device/Storage part of the system? The only difference I can see is that my SD card is now showing as being 15.7GB instead if the (nearly) 32GB that it was before.

No -- Apps2SD mounts the partition as a directory (sub-folder), so you won't see the partition in the root view of a file explorer. This is just how Linux-based OSes work.

If you go in to Apps2SD, choose "Link apps to SD card", then the three vertical dots at the top right, then "Storage info", you should be able to see the directories and partitions that are in use.

Takedap wrote: »

Also, I've been linking tha apps using the "Select All" method. If I try to use the "Disable App" function, the app just seems to disappear!

Yes -- I think that's the only way it works. You need to have that box ticked to disable the app so it can be unloaded from memory and moved. The app is still available in the "app list"; it just deletes the shortcut on your home screen, and you have to manually add it back. :-/

I wonder if this is why you're not seeing the extra space. Maybe files in use haven't been moved from the original location? I'd try moving them back, and then moving them to the extra partition with the "disable app" box ticked.

Takedap wrote: »

With regards to your advice not to move important system apps, it seem like almost everything is considered to be a system app! That was part of my initial moan...

Ah; I think you misunderstand. Don't move important system apps! Stuff that sounds like your device might stop working if you move it!

Or disable them permanently, then move them. Instead of clicking the "Link/Unlink" button, click the three vertical dots and choose "Disable".

I haven't used it, but in the same menu there's a "Convert to user app" option. I presume this makes it possible to uninstall a system app if you're SURE you don't need it. Be careful, though!

I've disabled Browser, Calendar, Email, Exchange Services, Google Calendar Sync, Google Text-to-speech engine, Live lock screen service, Music, Photo Screensavers, PhotoPhase, Theme Chooser, Theme Manager Service, Themes Provider, Wallpaper Picker, Weather Provider, and Weather service.

(Browser, Email, Music and the Weather Provider and service apps aren't needed at all if you use your own browser, media player and weather service.)

If you're not sure just have a quick google to see what the system app does and whether or not you're likely to need it. Again, be careful -- if you disable something the tablet needs to function, you'll have to reinstall the operating system!

Takedap

esuhl wrote: »

No worries -- keep 'em coming!

OK. Hope you don't regret that because I've got more woes! Now got a new problem. When starting Apps2SD, I'm getting an error screen asking me if I want to continue.

The details are "2nd partition was not mounted some apps might not be detected. A soft reboot is required to mount. You can fix this issue by recreating mount script with Use normal method mount method. No/Yes"

If I press Yes, the tablet reboots but then gives the error message "Unfortunately, com.google.apps.maps has stopped" I press OK but it just goes into a loop with the message coming back after a few seconds.

I can power down & restart & then when the "2nd partition etc" message come up, I press No & the tablet boots up as normal (but, I'm assuming without mounting the partition)

I've tried restoring Maps back to it's original location but it fails.

When I access the storage info tag, it tells me that there has used 438MB so something has either been moved or created but my Internal storage show only8% free (Total 1011.2MB, Used 920.9MB, Free 90M.3MB) & my system storage say 0% Free (Total 758.6MB, Used 753.4MB, Free 5.2MB)

There's also a Phone storage (which I assume is the "internal SD card") This is 89% Free (Total 1.2 GB, used 131.7 MB, Free 1.1 GB)

And then there's the "proper" SD card with the 2 partitions. The FAT32 partition is 99% free & the ext4 partition is 92% free.

Hope this info helps.

esuhl

EDIT: Maybe read the post below first!

Takedap wrote: »

OK. Hope you don't regret that because I've got more woes!

Not at all -- I could have done with some help when I was using it for the first time!

Takedap wrote: »

Now got a new problem. When starting Apps2SD, I'm getting an error screen asking me if I want to continue.

The details are "2nd partition was not mounted some apps might not be detected. A soft reboot is required to mount. You can fix this issue by recreating mount script with Use normal method mount method. No/Yes"

That's not an error. Android doesn't mount extra partitions until after it's booted. The only way to run apps on the 2nd partition is to do a "soft reboot" after the device boots.

Actually, it looks like there are three methods to create a script to mount the 2nd partition. The "normal method" doesn't require anything extra to work, so that's what I use. If you have init.d or su.d support (because you installed some geeky Linux tools of some kind), there are other ways to create the startup script. I don't know if these remove the requirement to soft-boot.

I'd avoid creating the mount script to get the phone to soft reboot automatically until you've got everything working. That way you can choose whether to mount the 2nd partition (in case something goes wrong, like with Google Maps).

Takedap wrote: »

If I press Yes, the tablet reboots but then gives the error message "Unfortunately, com.google.apps.maps has stopped" I press OK but it just goes into a loop with the message coming back after a few seconds.

I can power down & restart & then when the "2nd partition etc" message come up, I press No & the tablet boots up as normal (but, I'm assuming without mounting the partition)

I've tried restoring Maps back to it's original location but it fails.

Uh-oh. That doesn't sound good.

I didn't move any Google apps to the SD card, just in case (although I did disable some). Google Maps provides location services for other apps. I wonder if the location service is being loaded early on in the boot process...?

Is the phone usable at all with the 2nd partition mounted? If so, I'd try to boot the phone, soft reboot to mount the 2nd partition, then disable location access:
https://support.google.com/android/answer/2819558?hl=en

Then try another hard, then soft reboot to see if you still get the error message. Either way, I'd then try unlinking Google Maps from the SD card via Apps2SD again (with the 2nd partition mounted).

If you get error messages, preventing files from being moved, maybe try just ticking one box at a time on the "link/unlink" screen to see if you can move the file types back individually.

If you get really stuck, it *might* be possible to use the Terminal Emulator to manually move the files back and delete the links.

Actually... if you get stuck, email the developer. She was brief, but helpful when I contacted her.

Takedap wrote: »

When I access the storage info tag, it tells me that there has used 438MB so something has either been moved or created but my Internal storage show only8% free (Total 1011.2MB, Used 920.9MB, Free 90M.3MB) & my system storage say 0% Free (Total 758.6MB, Used 753.4MB, Free 5.2MB)

There's also a Phone storage (which I assume is the "internal SD card") This is 89% Free (Total 1.2 GB, used 131.7 MB, Free 1.1 GB)

And then there's the "proper" SD card with the 2 partitions. The FAT32 partition is 99% free & the ext4 partition is 92% free.

Hope this info helps.

To be honest, I find the way that Android installs files rather complicated/confusing -- I think this is due to the way that Android runs applications in protected sandboxes for security. Anyway, it's quite different to GNU/Linux systems.

I'm not sure I'll be able to make much sense of your storage figures, I'm afraid. But when I used Apps2SD, it did always reduce the usage of the built-in system partition.

I presume you're following any on-screen messages -- like the one that says that you MUST have "USB debugging" enabled...?

esuhl

I just checked out the FAQs on the Apps2SD site. Here are a few relevant tips:

Linked apps are suddenly crashing
Use the Partition Tool to repair the SD card 2nd partition
Use "Fix permission on 2nd partition" option available in "Link apps to SD card" left navigation drawer

Apps start to crash after linking
Unlink/Don't link lib folder of apps

While installing/updating apps I'm getting 'insufficient storage available' or other errors
Follow below steps to fix this:
1) Change the app install location to Internal/Phone storage
2) Clear Play Store data and cache
3) Use the Broken app cleaner to delete left over files/folders
4) Reboot

And there are some random usage suggestions here:
http://www.apps2sd.info/suggestions.html

Takedap

esuhl wrote: »

I'm not sure I'll be able to make much sense of your storage figures, I'm afraid. But when I used Apps2SD, it did always reduce the usage of the built-in system partition.

TBH, I only really quoted the figures so that you could see that the app was actually using (or at least attempting to use) the new partition.

esuhl wrote: »

I presume you're following any on-screen messages -- like the one that says that you MUST have "USB debugging" enabled...?

Yes, I've got that bit enabled (not that I know what it means but ...)

I'll have a look at the suggestions in the new post & have a fiddle over the weekend. I'll let you know how it goes, one way or the other.

I'm still being drawn to doing a factory restore & starting again. At least this would be the easiest time to do it as I've already backed up my stuff before wiping the card. And it would clear all the caches & other stored rubbish.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

esuhl

Takedap wrote: »

Yes, I've got that bit enabled (not that I know what it means but ...)

Ha ha -- me neither. It's required for adb (the Android Device Bridge) which allows you to connect the device to a PC and run commands on the PC to control the phone, but... I have literally no idea why Apps2SD needs it. I assume it's pretty important, though. *shrug*

Takedap wrote: »

I'll have a look at the suggestions in the new post & have a fiddle over the weekend. I'll let you know how it goes, one way or the other.

No worries. Take your time. It took me a while (and a lot of reading) to get my head round how it all works. It's pretty straightforward once you know what options to use, and which boxes to tick. (And that you can ignore 95% of the options in the main menu!)

If you can stick with it, I reckon you should be able to get Apps2SD to do exactly what you want. (The only downsides being the annoying soft-reboot and having to recreate home page icons.)

Takedap wrote: »

I'm still being drawn to doing a factory restore & starting again. At least this would be the easiest time to do it as I've already backed up my stuff before wiping the card. And it would clear all the caches & other stored rubbish.

That would be a GREAT idea. I ended up wiping my phone several times when I was trying to install a custom operating system and set up Apps2SD.

If you can do a full reset and wipe everything, then you can try out all the "risky" things (like moving Google Maps), be slightly aggressive in what you move and disable, and if anything goes wrong you can just do another factory reset and start again.

This is the best way to experiment and get your head round how things work and what it's "safe" to disable.

Good luck! I think you're close to getting it all sorted.

Takedap

Just a quick thanks to everyone who has helped (especially esuhl for your time & patience) All the suggestions have helped in some way & I'm now in a much better state than when I started.
I did the factory restore & then rooted the tablet again & loaded APS2SD. I found a site that recommended which bits of the system could safely be disabled or deleted & I went though them one by one.
After confirming that everything was still working, I reloaded just the apps that I wanted & where necessary moved them to the new partition on the card (some of them actually gave the option of installing there when I reloaded them so that was a bonus.)
Anyway, the end result is that I've got rid of loads of rubbish, installed what I needed & have finished up with more spare storage than I originally started with.
Thanks again y'all....