Hello,
I just discovered I'm even more of a ignorant farmgirl than I thought... this time it's the MiniSD card I don't know anything about.
I mean: of course you plug it in and you browse to it to add/move/remove files... but it would seem that's not enough. So, can anyone point me to a SD-on-Wiz Faq, please?
A few things I'm looking into:
- How do you get the Wiz to automatically look among SD card-based files from an app? (i.e. "Open" from Word looks into the card first)
- How do you get the camera to save pictures directly onto the SD card, so as not to waste precious device-based memory?
- What are the actual differences between installing apps onto a SD card compared to the device memory? I noticed some apps seem to behave differently according to where they are placed.
- Is there any way to create a card-based auto-multi-installer to do all the dirty work of reinstalling apps automatically after a hard reset?
I'm sure I left out several other interesting and useful things...
Thanks in advance for your contributions!
there´s some reg tweaks you can do so the wizard will store stuff on the sd-card and not in main memorey (i. e. IE cache files, Camera pics, etc.)
just search the forum you´ll find some stuff there.
For the difference between SD-Card and main storage installation. i have no idea. haven´t noticed any change in my apps. maybe just in speed of loading apps. but that´s all i noticed.
for doing backup of your apps. a lot of programms you intall on your sd card don´t need to be reinstalled after a hard reset. just need to put the shortcuts and links back in the folders.
hope i could help.
greets Freez
Making the camera save pictures to the SD card can be done by changing the settings in the camera app under options.
There is no way to automatically have all apps look on the SD card first, every app needs a change in their settings or in the registry to accomplish that.
Installing apps on the SD card has pros and cons. The pros are of course that your storage space on the device (in the ROM) gets used up less, so you can install more apps on your device. It is however not necessary to leave it as empty as possible as it was in WM 2003 SE. In WM 2003 SE (on for instance the Magician) apps were installed in RAM and the more you installed on the device, the more RAM was used up and the less RAM there was available for running apps, resulting in a slow down of the device. Furthermore running out of battery power would result in the device turning off, emptying the RAM and lossing all data and installed apps. In WM5 this is different. Since ROM is used for storage and RAM for executing only, you can fill your ROM to the max without slowing down the device. Furthermore an empty battery will mean no data loss. Concluding, there is no necessity to install as much as possible to the SD card and leave your ROM space empty.
The cons of installing to your SD card are that some apps (e.g. today-plug-ins) don't like being installed on SD card. For today plug-ins this has to do with the start-up process of the Wizard. After turing the device on or waking it from sleep, the device will first load the apps and then initialize the SD card. The device will try to load the apps on the today screen (the plug-ins that is) that are stored on the SD before the SD slot is initialized and the apps cannot be found by the device, creating glitches and problems.
Another con for me is that I like to switch between my SD with TomTom navigation maps and my SD with my mp3/movie collection. If I install most apps to SD, this means that I will have to change my SD again if during a movie or MP3 I want to use one of these apps quickly.
However, if you use only one SD for installing and not much else, this problem does of course not exist.
If your storage in ROM is not full, there is no reason to install aps to SD.
Thak you for the info so far!
Koskie: paint me 'tard... I never even saw the camera Options menu until you mentioned it...
I am about to start getting some cards and here is what I was thinking...
1. a 512 or 128MB card for everyday use. Store IE cache, ringtones, pictures, and some programs (solitaire, puzzles, monopoly etc).
2. A series of 2GB cards for music, movies and TV content when I travel. I was planing on installing TCPMP on each one to avaoid putting that in my device memory.
As far as restoring after flashing or a hard reset, I currently keep a copy of all programs, ringtones, pim backups etc on my home computer. It is organized by file type, utils, games, rings etc. so when I flash I just go through again and reinstall one by one. I've found this is easier than figuring out where to download everything all over again.
@bubism: no problem, took me a while to figure it out too, that option is well-hidden!
@dcdivenut: Good plan. Those small size cards are really cheap. Why don't you install TCPMP on your device memory? It is not too big. Or have you crammed your mem so full that you have no more place for it.
I also have all apps I ever installed still on my desktop, including a list with all the reg edits I did and all apps I have currently installed with a short explanation for most apps and installation instructions when a standard install is not good enough (e.g. TomTom 5.21)
In case a hard reset is needed,I just grab the list and install all apps again, then do all the regedits. Still a lot of work, but quicker than having to search all apps and edits online. I recommend this approach to everyone.
Hey Koskie:
Can you post that list and what to do? I have a new 8125 and miniSD card and have no idea what to use the card for. I won't be putting music, pictures or videos on it since it is a work phone.
Ski
@ Skijackz: I use my SD card for music, TomTom 5.21 maps and video's only, all my apps are installed in main (=device) mem. I have approx. 16 MB free of Storage mem. If you have no use for your SD card and your storage mem is sufficient to store your apps, you can take it out and replace it with the plastic dummy that came with it. In that way your card slot is protected against dust and dirt, but the SD card will not use any power, thereby lengthening your uptime. If you use your device for navigation, you have to use the card to store the maps on it, since they are too big for your device mem.
The list I made is partly in Dutch, especially the notes, so it might not be very useful to you. Furthermore the list is a mess, since it works through my personal filing system (copy and paste wherever my cursor happens to rest). It is a mostly chronological list, I mostly added everything I found at the end. I'll attach it anyway, perhaps you'll find it useful. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them here or through PM.
Thanks a lot for the tip on storing pics to the storage card!!! That's a real find! ....and much appreciated!!
This place is the BEST :!: :!:
Thanks Koskie!! This is a real help.
Related
I'm new to WM5 having previously had a Blue Angel running 2003SE; so far I like my new toy by am wondering about the pros and cons regrading where to install applications Storage Card versus Main Memory. Obviously, installing on Storage card keeps memory free - this is a good thing, but will applications run slower from storage card?
What expereinace can you share regarding thsi?
Thanks
Chris
In WM2003, internal storage ROM is only used to store a backup of the OS and vendor extensions, and is only read during hard resets. Volatile RAM is used to store the OS, files, and applications during regular use (unless they are installed on the SD card), and so their storage must compete with the RAM needed for running programs.
WM5 changes everything -- with WM5, the OS, applications and files always get stored in a nonvolatile storage, be it internal or external, and this is separate from the RAM. Thus battery loss does not cause you to lose installed applications or files. RAM is totally available for running programs, and is not used to store files which are rarely used. There is no more competition for RAM between stored files and running programs.
The WM5 OS and applications running in the background will always use a certain amount of the 64 MB of RAM. You can free it up by removing unnecessary applications. You can also free up the non-volatile storage space by removing vendor extensions and cleaning up temporary files. See this thread, and search for "0506" in re: O2 XDA Exec ROM.
As I have not received my XDA Exec yet, I cannot comment on the speed differences between using internal storage and SD storage. Obviously both are slower than running programs stored in RAM, and depend on the speed on the storage card. But the difference between installing on a SD card and installing in the "default location" is less in WM5 than in WM2003. Installing in the default location won't reduce your available RAM, for example.
I'm sure others have opinions on how best to optimize memory.
thanks for the answer. I posed the question because I pretty much ran out of memory on my device. I have installed in Corporate mode, so don't have O2 active etc. I have just done a hard reset & will now install everything on my storage card just to see what happens
I have had a few WM5 devices. Basically install everything on a removable card. Only install on the internal storage utilities that you are likely to keep around and restrict this to a minimum and small things, like vbar, TRE, etc.
The disadvantage of course is that if you swap SD cards then you can't run applications until you put back in the card installed. I never have this problem as I have only 1gb card permanently in the system. I will shortly be upgrading to a 4gb card (as they are not around £100) which means this is less of a problem. Although note that in the current version of the xda exec's software the camera refuses to write to a 4gb card unless at least 2gb is full.
rgds
I too have a 1Gb card with a 4Gb on order. I'm not very bothered about the camera, but I have read about the 2Gb problem. Hopefully someone will fix this little bug, but until then I can save photos to main memory and then move them about
As a guide I install everything to a SD Card unless it's a today screen plugin or sync's in some way...
that's excatly my thought too - only things which have a today plugin go on the main memory; everything else to SD card - seems to work fine
What can I delete, or shift to the card?
Pics and music are on it already now.
Thanks in advance
hard reset and don't install stuff on phone unless vital!
That's right.
Hard reset is recommended.
But for now you can uninstall some of your large apps (see your activesync) and then reinstall them, pointing to your SD card.
Wizardragon -- What actually is the problem you are getting?? If you have installed lots of programs on your device rather than the SD Card then of course you will get low memory messages sooner or later - however I am sure you haven't put a post here for something as obvious as that. :wink:
Can you do a SOFT reset and then immediatley go and look and see what memory you have - Both types. Post the results and then we can see what the issue is.
Thanks
The problem was caused by the camera software changing back to storing on the phone and loads of surfing while I was on holiday - but I scrubbed as many programs as I could - cleared the net cache - and copied the (few) pics over- and it is now showing 15M storage and 20M program storage free.
So basically now I'd like an idea if this is about right for free resources?
I have mine around 30Mb for storage and 25Mb for programs. I still have plenty of apps installed but mostly on my storage card.
Do you have any games (apart from the builtin solataire etc) installed in main memory? They can usually take up a least a few meg unless they're basic games with no fancy graphics.
its going OK now - with the exception of the camera software being crap.
I only have the standard games now.
I have most programs installed on a card, and all 'my documents' on the card too, and yet my storage memory is down to 6.5mb and program memory is down to 15.5mb and the machine is a bit slow.
I've run SK Tools and cleared the internet caches, and this can get back a couple of mb, but not much memory is reclaimed.
A quick browse of the files does not show up anything obvious, or any large files which look like they can be deleted.
Does anyone know if there are any guides as to what files can be safely removed?
Also is it correct that even when files are installed on a card, then some files are still added to the main memory - and so the more programs installed the more main memory is taken up in any case?
I wonder how my memory has gone down, when I am very careful not to use it up?
I do have quite a few programs on the card though
Same problem
Hi, I also have the same issue. I save all my .cabs onto the storage card, yet when I use IE or TomTom I go to the memory and it slowly goes up until it maxes out at 62mb? Is TomTom or IE the issue here? I save nearly everything to my storage card and t makes no sense that it just gets used up so quickly. I have looked at programs like pocket mechanic and Memaid...Has anyone tried any of these programs and do they free up main storage memory... Is this a ROM issue...I use mUn TE. Thanks!
use Oxios Hibernate
I tend to use Tillanosoft Spacefinder to sort folders/files into size order, and see which are the biggest hogs.
Basic version is free, and the paid version adds very little, to not worth buying!
Some programs will put stuff into main memory- dll's, logs and settings etc. Usually the main culprit is Pocket IE Caches, but if you have cleared those, it ought to be OK.
TomTom, even when asked to install to a card, will place the application and voice files in main memory (= 5MB) but these can be manually copied back to the card, and the Programs link edited accordingly.
A large number of emails, calendar or contacts will also grab memory, especially if you store attachments. Don't delete the holding files though or you'll lose everything!
Wolfy: TomTom doesn't incrementally use memory, but IE does because of its cache. Go to PIE, MEnu/Options/Memory and Delete Files- see how much memory you get back! Memmaid and SK Tools do a good job in housekeeping these items.
If you add/remove a lot of applications, you may find your Application Data folder taking up a fair amount of memory- it holds dll's for safe removal of the apps, but some can be a few hundred KB. I've removed these in the past with no adverse effect, but maybe I've been lucky!
Hi i have my HTC HD2, relativly new one, i have installed stuff ofcourse to it, and always picked memory card cause i know the internal memory aint so greate, anyway when i go into remove programs there are lots of stuff but are they the ones that are installed to internal and not external? i removed little that oly gave me like 600k more but that affect the internal.
And i know that you wondering whats the problem beside my memory is full,
the problem is i always like i said before pick to install to external cause of memory, how can then my internal be full?
like 3 of 30 stuff i could pick myself where to install.
So someone plz help me? i know i neeed to like reinstall the device and install everything again.
I have like skype, tomtom, hd2 tweak, games hdwall bu i iunistall case it didt work. etc.
sorry for my english
I think your main problem is HTCAlbum cache
go to application data-->htc-->htc album and check how much space occupies the cache folder
In some cases it's larger than 10 mb
So, if it is the problem, you can cancel the cache and then try this tip
Another possible problem could be the cache (or temp files) of other programs, such as opera, internet explorer, google maps and so on
One advice for saving more space in the internal memory:
if you don't use copilot and navipanel, you can remove the copilot folder from the folder "program files": it occupies almost 14 mb
regards
Ok i will try but it seems as the internal memry goes full everytim i insall stuff even i i pick memory card, i will soon reset it and do it over again and check + do the things you advice me to.
just questions about it
if i cancel the cache does it make album slower?
ty in advance
if i cancel the cache does it make album slower?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe a little bit...but I don't notice this problem with the mod I adviced you.
...and for your problem...
Before you think to Hard-reset your device, You have to know that when you install a program, even if you install to the microsd, a piece of the install information goes on the internal memory anyway (and occupies some memory space, obviously)
regards
ok, here is what to do;
1. install total commander to phone memory (not sd card)
2. eject sd card
3. on total commander file>find files then find files greater than the default 64k or or 1mb if you want the search to be quicker
4. click on 'size' to sort files into descending order
5. delete or copy any unwanted files
in my case i had some videos that were already on my pc, so i deleted them.
Ok i will try i have movies and pic but are they by default placed on sd card? anyway i think mine are but they arenot taking upp space on the intern? like installed programs.
forgat to quote but i answerd you xboxdevil
qllkevuoi said:
maybe a little bit...but I don't notice this problem with the mod I adviced you.
...and for your problem...
Before you think to Hard-reset your device, You have to know that when you install a program, even if you install to the microsd, a piece of the install information goes on the internal memory anyway (and occupies some memory space, obviously)
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok same as on computers, but that means they are limited stuff you can have on your phones and i mean i dont have so much, standard win 6.5 sense and changed icons, installs tweaks and some games like 10 :S thats bad, i want the at&t version wtf thanks anyway for the answers
toxicstone said:
Hi i have my HTC HD2, relativly new one, i have installed stuff ofcourse to it, and always picked memory card cause i know the internal memory aint so greate, anyway when i go into remove programs there are lots of stuff but are they the ones that are installed to internal and not external? i removed little that oly gave me like 600k more but that affect the internal.
And i know that you wondering whats the problem beside my memory is full,
the problem is i always like i said before pick to install to external cause of memory, how can then my internal be full?
like 3 of 30 stuff i could pick myself where to install.
So someone plz help me? i know i neeed to like reinstall the device and install everything again.
I have like skype, tomtom, hd2 tweak, games hdwall bu i iunistall case it
didt work. etc.
sorry for my english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never been able to understand why people won't use internal storage!
I have 27 apps installed and this leaves me with 127Mb free which would allow a further minimum of 20 more that I could install assuming an average size.
Why would I want to install to mem card?
It's slower, causes difficulties of all sorts and the internal mem was designed to be used for your apps in the first place.
Although I understand what you are saying pa49 I personally install on my sd card so that
A) I can move from one to another phone if needed or
B) If I have to hard reset then I dont have to load the apps up again when I restore a backup
C) makes backing up and restoring the phone faster and smaller
D) I make a backup of my sd card so that if somthing goes wrong its all there.
I think its a personal preference. I dont fine that my phone is slower or faster one way or the other.
InRBigness said:
Although I understand what you are saying pa49 I personally install on my sd card so that
A) I can move from one to another phone if needed or
B) If I have to hard reset then I dont have to load the apps up again when I restore a backup
C) makes backing up and restoring the phone faster and smaller
D) I make a backup of my sd card so that if somthing goes wrong its all there.
I think its a personal preference. I dont fine that my phone is slower or faster one way or the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know all these arguments.
But we don't (as a rule) use our PCs this way.
It would not be good practise to install all your PC apps on an external hard drive.
If you applied your four points you'd end up with a mess and I don't see our phones as any different.
We expect our phones to function robustly and then we go out of our way to destabalise the whole thing.
I just don't get it.
This thread
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google Mobile/thread?tid=1163588d699c01d4&hl=en
is just one example of what can happen and the problems were solved by installing on the phone mem!
"Sounds like for at least some folks, installing on phone memory successfully works around this. If you'd prefer to not use phone memory, I'd also try borrowing or buying another memory card as it is potentially due to a portion of your old memory card being corrupted." Quote from Google employee.
What should be most allarming, to those who install to mem card, is the statement, "it is potentially due to a portion of your old memory card being corrupted".
This is the very reason why I always install to phone mem, reinstall all apps after a ROM flash or hard reset and limit my mem cards to only storage of data.
It's not a personal preference.
It just makes sense.
I was wondering is there any real difference of installing apps to the storage card vs installing to the device? besides the location of the files...
would the phone run faster if installing to one vs the other ? .... anything different at all?
Or are there certain apps which make a difference and others which do not? Please advise me....
in general internal memory is faster than sd card, so programs located there would load a little faster than ones on the sd card.
On all my previous WM devices I've installed all games to the SD to save space, and all regular apps to main memory. But with so much free internal storage, I've been installing everything to the internal memory. I don't have a ton of games, maybe 100mb total, so there's plenty of room, and things load much quicker.
The other advantage (mostly with games) to installing on SD card is if you flash your device, or hard reset it, most games will run fine from SD w/o having to reinstall, so if you save the shortcuts you can get away with faster "rebuilds" after a flashing (assuming you don't use tools like Sashimi or XDA_UC, etc)
YMMV
Thanks for the info.
yeah I thought the ones on the device may load faster -but I was not able to prove it ...is there anyone out there who could ?...
also how could I save my shortcuts as you have mentioned (without using things like xda uc or sashimi-which I HAVE been using actually)....
I think I will try installing more things to the device, but I would like to hear more people on this topic....
erebusting said:
also how could I save my shortcuts as you have mentioned (without using things like xda uc or sashimi-which I HAVE been using actually)....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you could set up homepage quicklinks to your games, then export the reg key
HKLM/software/htc/manila/home (contains a series of numbered keys, each one is a home quicklink)
Use something like WinCE CAB manager to make a cab that you instal when you re flash. Hey presto, quicklinks restored, no need for backup software.
Many non-system type apps especially games just need shortcuts to run on a fresh flash/hard reset so if you just back up those icons and restore them manually or with sashimi or xdauc you're good to go. Reg keys can do any custom tweaking. Before I started using sashimi I did these backups all the time with card based installs, but now with sashimi, not so much need.
You will also save battery since the phone won't need to access the sd card. Though I don't know how much you'll save, since WM may scan or access the sd card for other purposes anyways.
aceo07 said:
You will also save battery since the phone won't need to access the sd card. Though I don't know how much you'll save, since WM may scan or access the sd card for other purposes anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice point, did not occur to me....