Database Users

[Q] Max SD supported by recovery?

Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.

lafester said:
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.

reTARDIS said:
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 64GB card comes exFAT formatted which is likely not supported yet by the recovery you are using.
If you can mount the sd card in a Windows PC you should be able to format it to FAT32 using the Windows disk management utility.
The downside to FAT32 is the 4GB file size limit.

Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.

kyhassen said:
Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Awesome. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome

So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!

LAYGO said:
So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.

reTARDIS said:
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.

LAYGO said:
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.

reTARDIS said:
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, phone formats it as FAT32. I stuck it back in my laptop, it was working. I copied a bunch of files to it, put it back in the phone, it was working, now back in the laptop copying my 30gb of music over. It seems to be working fine in the laptop. I hate messing with formatting/copying as it is just time consuming. I remember I thought I'd be sneaky & format some discs for a Synology NAS & copy the files over via SATA. That went over like a turd in a punchbowl because as soon as I plugged that formatted/loaded drive into the NAS, it didn't recognize it . . . and I had to do it all over again!

Ok, all 30GB copied music successfully & the apps see it no problem. I hope I don't have these problems others have had with these cards.
Thanks!

[Q] exFAT external sd card problem...

I have the strangest feeling this has already been answered somewhere...but i've scoured the internet and havent found much of anything on the topic. I've read some mixed statements saying ppls sgs4 see's an external sd card formatted as exFAT, others say it isnt working for them. I've figured out a way to get the hardfloat Kali Linux ARM gui terminal working and all applications installed running in a chrooted environment...however the image size needs to be a minimum of 6gb to install all programs. I'd like to go with 8gb just to give it a little play. I have an SGH-I337 (AT&T) and am rooted, i've tried stock rom w/ stock kernel, stock rom w/ KTweaker kernel, said it supports exFAT but did not work. Also i've tried Cyanogenmod 10.1, but havent tried the KTweaker kernel w/ cyanogenmod yet. After formatting the 16gb microsd i have to exFAT and inserting it into the phone it states "Preparing SD Card"...and immediately says "SD Card is safe to remove". Anybody have any insight as to how i can get around this 4gb filesize limitation? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Here's the deal.
All cards 32gb or less (SDHC cards) come formatted in Fat32.(Part of SDHC spec) This includes a file limit of 4gb max for a single file.
All cards 64gb or more (SDXC cards which the S4 supports) come preformatted in exFat (Part of SDXC spec). This does not have a 4gb file limitation.
The stock Samsung / AT&T Firmware supports exFat. (I bought a 64gb SDXD formatted with exFat and plugged it in and worked right away). Most recoveries do to. (TWRP does at least).
However, I flashed CM10.1 onto my S4. CM10.1 does _NOT_ support exFat. Initially I backed up and reformatted my card in Fat32. Angry with the 4gb file limitation (I have many 720p and 1080p movies over 4gb..) I actually took the microSD card out, used a adapter and hooked it up to a Linux system (Ubuntu 13.04 in my case) and used gParted to format the card to EXT4 filesystem. EXT4 is a filesystem most Linux machines use and support natively. This is actually the filesystem most newer Android device use for their internal SDCard / Data partitions! I popped the card back in, CM10.1 reads it perfectly! And I was able to copy files over 4gb to the device!
So its not a hardware thing since the S4 is SDXC compatible. Just formatting / partition time issue.

I greatly appreciate the breakdown! However i do have a question, since the sgs4 supports exFAT, why does it not see it after i reformat my 16gb to exFAT? Is it because it is an SDHC and not an SDXC? Also, does the type of recovery you have installed alter what filesystem types are recognized?

RawBrokerage said:
I greatly appreciate the breakdown! However i do have a question, since the sgs4 supports exFAT, why does it not see it after i reformat my 16gb to exFAT? Is it because it is an SDHC and not an SDXC? Also, does the type of recovery you have installed alter what filesystem types are recognized?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem!
As far as the spec goes, if it's formated in exFatand its SDHC it should still read it fine. Filesystem is just a filesystem. The spec just says what is used by default on cards.
One possible issue though, did you format your card in your phone? Sometimes the odd way these work the SD cards like to be formatted in the phones themselves. It worked formatting from a Computer for my ext4 case, however that does not work for all cards/phones/filesystems sometimes.

WoodburyMan said:
No problem!
As far as the spec goes, if it's formated in exFatand its SDHC it should still read it fine. Filesystem is just a filesystem. The spec just says what is used by default on cards.
One possible issue though, did you format your card in your phone? Sometimes the odd way these work the SD cards like to be formatted in the phones themselves. It worked formatting from a Computer for my ext4 case, however that does not work for all cards/phones/filesystems sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried formatting from phone, 3 different computers (one computer running Debian), cfdisk command line as well as gparted, also window's format utility. It seems though nothing is working however after going to Cyanogenmod 10.1 last night and formatting the external to ext4 the phone only displayed "Reading SD Card" then "SD Card is blank". It works perfectly fine whenever the phone formats it, it just doesnt like any other type of filesystem. It is a polariod sd card which gave me issues in the past. Hopefully i can get this resolved and post more on it. Probably just something small i'm missing :/
Anyways, thanks a million on the input!

WoodburyMan said:
Here's the deal.
The stock Samsung / AT&T Firmware supports exFat. (I bought a 64gb SDXD formatted with exFat and plugged it in and worked right away). Most recoveries do to. (TWRP does at least).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you kindly link me/us to their (TWRP) posts verifying this?
Thanks

igotroot said:
Can you kindly link me/us to their (TWRP) posts verifying this?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know there aren't and posts saying it supports it but I've used TWRP with exFAT, Ext4, and FAT32 formatted ROMS.

roms not reading 64gb sandisk sdcard
I have the 64gb sandisk ultra class 10 sdcard... and it flat out works in stock... even when I recover. But doesnt work atall using wicked rom and a couple others. ExFat is the reason... those roms dont support it...

You can use this kernel to get exFAT support on custom ROMs such as Cyanogenmod:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292341

[Q] Question about format the sd card as exFat

so I was looking at that new root post. and it request us to format the sd card to exFat.
so I was looking around in my house. and finally I found a sandisk 2GB micro sd. and I insert it to the phone, and format it. I thought it will ask me to format as exFat or something else. but it didn't. It just format by itself.
and I was thinking is there another way to format a sd card to exfat. or it is not possible for a 2G micro sd?

ksj0823 said:
so I was looking at that new root post. and it request us to format the sd card to exFat.
so I was looking around in my house. and finally I found a sandisk 2GB micro sd. and I insert it to the phone, and format it. I thought it will ask me to format as exFat or something else. but it didn't. It just format by itself.
and I was thinking is there another way to format a sd card to exfat. or it is not possible for a 2G micro sd?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google "format exfat xda" But a 2 gig is pretty small to do anything with. Bet you want to root mf3?

jd1639 said:
Google "format exfat xda" But a 2 gig is pretty small to do anything with. Bet you want to root mf3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XD you right!!!
well, I still can't find anyway to do it.

ksj0823 said:
XD you right!!!
well, I still can't find anyway to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Formatting it through the phone wont work, at least i have yet to see it done. At least on newer Android devices that wont allow you to mount the card. Essentially, formatting it while its being accessed via MTP really only erases the card, it doesnt change the file system...i believe.

cloudraker said:
Formatting it through the phone wont work, at least i have yet to see it done. At least on newer Android devices that wont allow you to mount the card. Essentially, formatting it while its being accessed via MTP really only erases the card, it doesnt change the file system...i believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put it into my phone. and connect it to my laptop. and I formatted it on the laptop. it doesn't work. so maybe I need to format it from the sd card reader or find a adapter?

ksj0823 said:
I put it into my phone. and connect it to my laptop. and I formatted it on the laptop. it doesn't work. so maybe I need to format it from the sd card reader or find a adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you need to put it in an adapter or find an older Android device that allows you to mount the SD card as storage. Those are the only methods i know that will work.

Did you set the usb debugging before you connected the phone to the computer?

easiest way just get the 64gb samsung class 10 card on Amazon--already exFat--not that expensive and works perfectly on everything I have flashed so far--
just a thought

rugmankc said:
easiest way just get the 64gb samsung class 10 card on Amazon--already exFat--not that expensive and works perfectly on everything I have flashed so far--
just a thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not allways the case. I purchase one 2 months ago and did not had exFat. But it works perfectly.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

If you get the one here from Amazon that I am referring to it will be exFat.
Samsung Electronics 64GB Pro microSDXC Extreme Speed (UHS-1) Class 10 Memory Card (MB-MGCGB/AM)
Mine has been flawless and super fast--

Method to format a 64g sdhc

Recently I just purchased a 64G card for my S4. I have trouble in mounting the card using CWM - drive cannot be mounted.
Can I format the card in 32 FAT? Must I use the phone to format or can I use the default Win8 format option?

greeny2010 said:
Recently I just purchased a 64G card for my S4. I have trouble in mounting the card using CWM - drive cannot be mounted.
Can I format the card in 32 FAT? Must I use the phone to format or can I use the default Win8 format option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can format it to FAT32. That way seems to be supported the best across CWM and whatever ROM you're using.
Make sure it's formatted as the primary partition and you should be fine. I formatted mine externally on my Mac. You should have the same results using Windows.
When dialog fails, it's time for violence.

bleez99 said:
Yes, you can format it to FAT32. That way seems to be supported the best across CWM and whatever ROM you're using.
Make sure it's formatted as the primary partition and you should be fine. I formatted mine externally on my Mac. You should have the same results using Windows.
When dialog fails, it's time for violence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Partition Manager on my Win8 to format the card into a FAT32 media without problem. Now, my CWM can 'see' the new card.

Micro SD card wont be mounted by Samsung Tab a6

So I have a Samsung Tab a6 7 T280 wifi and I've inserted a MicroSD card (128GB). I've done this with the stock os first and I just got the message card can be removed safely. and it wouldn't let me mount it.
Now I've installed the Tinker V5.1 Stock Rom over it and it still happens. (wanted a faster os on it).
I can reformat the card with twrp to be ext4 or exFAT and it doesn't change a single thing. if I insert the sd card I get a quick preparing card and then instantly the message card can be safely removed. clicking on mount sd card in storage from settings doesn't do anything except prompt same message.

I'd try a different sdcard.

Okay, so I hope I can help, I have the SM-T280, I do not use Tinker ROM, instead I debloated my stock ROM and use an SPA kernel by @_mone. If you're trying to extend storage to your tablet, you'll need to use a PC to partition the SD card two PRIMARY partitions. I used on Windows MiniTool Partition Wizard (free), and I used a FAT32 partition and an ext2 partition. With the stock ROM/kernel I had problems using ext4 or extFAT which didn't make sense to me but it is what it is, and I used the app Apps2SD to handle all the work.
The main thing, you need to make sure your SD card has TWO (2) PRIMARY partitions.
Good luck.

zenful said:
Okay, so I hope I can help, I have the SM-T280, I do not use Tinker ROM, instead I debloated my stock ROM and use an SPA kernel by @_mone. If you're trying to extend storage to your tablet, you'll need to use a PC to partition the SD card two PRIMARY partitions. I used on Windows MiniTool Partition Wizard (free), and I used a FAT32 partition and an ext2 partition. With the stock ROM/kernel I had problems using ext4 or extFAT which didn't make sense to me but it is what it is, and I used the app Apps2SD to handle all the work.
The main thing, you need to make sure your SD card has TWO (2) PRIMARY partitions.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about the Sizes? As in one partition 60 GB the other one also 60 GB ? Or the fat32 partition 1 GB and the ext2 the rest?

Panslothda said:
What about the Sizes? As in one partition 60 GB the other one also 60 GB ? Or the fat32 partition 1 GB and the ext2 the rest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FAT32 is not for large capacity storage. Use exFat. There isn't much point in having such a large ext2 partition. It's incompatible with media transfer protocols unless you use a Linux system.
This device fully supports exFAT. I use a 64gb sdcard no issues.

ashyx said:
FAT32 is not for large capacity storage. Use exFat. There isn't much point in having such a large ext2 partition. It's incompatible with media transfer protocols unless you use a Linux system.
This device fully supports exFAT. I use a 64gb sdcard no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my current one is exfat formatted. works perfectly fine on PC only thing is its 128 GB.... I mean is that maybe the issue? that its to large?

Panslothda said:
Well my current one is exfat formatted. works perfectly fine on PC only thing is its 128 GB.... I mean is that maybe the issue? that its to large?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't think so, I'm sure it supports 128gb cards.
Just partition it into to halves. First partition exfat. Leave the other unformatted and see what happens.

ashyx said:
I wouldn't think so, I'm sure it supports 128gb cards.
Just partition it into to halves. First partition exfat. Leave the other unformatted and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
partitioned into a 40 GB exFAT partition and left rest unpartitioned. Didn't change anything. if I pop it in the tablet I get a short preparing sd card notification then immediately an SD card safe to remove notification...
I'm really confused by this. The tablet is new so I doubt that it's broken but I don't know. Do you know if there's a way to check any kind of logs on Android like dmesg on Linux as an example to see what happens with the sd card?

Panslothda said:
partitioned into a 40 GB exFAT partition and left rest unpartitioned. Didn't change anything. if I pop it in the tablet I get a short preparing sd card notification then immediately an SD card safe to remove notification...
I'm really confused by this. The tablet is new so I doubt that it's broken but I don't know. Do you know if there's a way to check any kind of logs on Android like dmesg on Linux as an example to see what happens with the sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's best just try out another card to rule out the card.

ashyx said:
It's best just try out another card to rule out the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welp gotta buy one first then :/

Panslothda said:
Welp gotta buy one first then :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody can lend one for a few minutes? Or try the card in someone else device?

Panslothda said:
So I have a Samsung Tab a6 7 T280 wifi and I've inserted a MicroSD card (128GB). I've done this with the stock os first and I just got the message card can be removed safely. and it wouldn't let me mount it.
Now I've installed the Tinker V5.1 Stock Rom over it and it still happens. (wanted a faster os on it).
I can reformat the card with twrp to be ext4 or exFAT and it doesn't change a single thing. if I insert the sd card I get a quick preparing card and then instantly the message card can be safely removed. clicking on mount sd card in storage from settings doesn't do anything except prompt same message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to Samsung, the T280 will support a 256gb SD card BUT I know from experience that SD cards over 32gb can be VERY touchy. If you use a PC to remove all of the partition and then let the tablet try to do its own formatting and it still doesn't work, I'd say you have an incompatible SD card. That doesn't mean the card is bad but that it just won't work in the T280.
As an example, a Samsung EVO+ card (which can be found on eBay for $30) will probably work while a "no name" card from China, probably won't.

lewmur said:
According to Samsung, the T280 will support a 256gb SD card BUT I know from experience that SD cards over 32gb can be VERY touchy. If you use a PC to remove all of the partition and then let the tablet try to do its own formatting and it still doesn't work, I'd say you have an incompatible SD card. That doesn't mean the card is bad but that it just won't work in the T280.
As an example, a Samsung EVO+ card (which can be found on eBay for $30) will probably work while a "no name" card from China, probably won't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always use Samsung EVO cards and they always work perfectly. Price per GB they are very reasonable too.

Scandisk ultra i find ok no matter what size
Sent from my SM-T585 using XDA-Developers Legacy app