Database Users

[Q] First impressions & SD card issue?

Hi,
Just Got the 7.7 3g - so far so good. Screen is as good as they say
The extra resolution defn. helps with web browsing.
Not finding any lag really.
7.7 is just about the limit for my two handed use but i would say the original 7" was a wee bit easier to handle but something with time should become more intuitive.
Just a few issues - external sd card is somewhat limited. Might be deliberate by Samsung but does not make sense.
Normal user apps cant access to the external sdcard. Using connect bot, i checked permissions and it seems that it is mounted by the os with system permissions, where as the internal sdcard is mounted as sd_rw.
This can't be correct? The only way to copy stuff to it is to use the samsung system file explorer as it has system permissions So copy to internal first then to external - this sounds like a bug?
I have not rooted this yet - might then chown to sd_rw get rid of this ?? There is a lot of entries in the vold.fstab to make sense of. Not a hacker so just looking around. A bit too early to start soft-bricking
But I take these don't have protected bootloaders so thats why we can root ?
Video playback is v.good but I am not able to throw on a bluray m2ts file (obviously with the sd card issue) and play smoothly. I found Dice player can handle m2ts by renaming it to a ts file. It then can use hardware decoding. Still drops frames but still watchable to a certain degree. For all other files mx player is still best. I have lossy transcoded some "native" blurays clips and seems that it handle high profile h264 1080p at high bitrates very well. Hoping, formatting sd card ext3/ext4 will improve things.
On the whole very impressive device - plus more ics goodies to come soon hopefully.

I've noticed some issues with the external SD card as well. Only the stock file manager can copy files from the internal storage to the external storage. I was able to transfer files to the ext. SD via Dooblou's Wifi Explorer, though. Although that would crap out a few times.
I'm hoping that we see some new ROMs with a different file system at any rate. The 4GB limit is so 1998.

Fix for external sd write issue
I've already posted a fix for this in our original thread?
davp said:
There is a fix for the write to external storage in this thread:
Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus->Galaxy Tab Plus General->unable to write files to external sd card
post #7
Requires root to apply fix.
There is a new permission that older file managers aren't asking for yet. The stock file manager knows to ask for it.
Fix worked for my P6810 wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thaloneus said:
I can't post a link to the original post on another forum that worked for me so I will quote it:
Simple solution for external sdcard write access on Android 3.2...if you're rooted
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that access either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Rooted and then applied this change.
Can write to ext sdcard !!!!
Cheers

Will apply as soon as i get tad, should be getting it today, cant wait
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

I think you have to format the sd card in the tab. I been able to transfer files no problem. Maybe its due to the mtp for the internal sd.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

will6316 said:
I think you have to format the sd card in the tab. I been able to transfer files no problem. Maybe its due to the mtp for the internal sd.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using downloaded apps or the stock File Manager app? Because I formatted the SD card in the Tab and nothing else can write to it. Now, I can drag and drop stuff from my computer via MTP, but that's not the same issue.

Ok, I'm trying to add the permission and it doesn't seem to save after a reboot. I'm rooted and made sure to mount that directory as R/W. After I edit platform.xml and reboot it simply reverts. Can anyone offer a more granular description to this n00b?
Thanks.
Edit: Nevermind. I edited the file on my computer and copied it over the original and am good to go.

burhanistan said:
Ok, I'm trying to add the permission and it doesn't seem to save after a reboot. I'm rooted and made sure to mount that directory as R/W. After I edit platform.xml and reboot it simply reverts. Can anyone offer a more granular description to this n00b?
Thanks.
Edit: Nevermind. I edited the file on my computer and copied it over the original and am good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Burhanistan. I had this problem too and did what you did to get around it. Now I can read/write to the external SD with any file explorer.

Hello,
I can access the external SD with no problem, only issue is Titanium backup showing 440Mb capacity on the external SD (32Gb card).
Anyone with the same issue? Any fix?
Thanks.

No problem for me
davp said:
I've already posted a fix for this in our original thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Things must have changed as i got my P6800 recently did the upgrade from samsung and tried to copy to external sd and no problem for me. I never tried to do it pre upgrade but maybe the upgrade fixed that. Re i can copy and paste to device from my pc when its connected - to both device and sd. I can also copy using the the stock file manager from device to sd card.

No Issues here also
I recieved the tap a week ago. Now my 32GB Sandisk SD is here.
The Tap did at the first startup and using the described 12 MB Android update via internet conn.
Until now there is no issue between writing from/to SD over PC/MTP, copying between internal and external SD. Used preinstalled Filemanager and ES File Ex.
I tried it unrooted and rooted but not before the Android update.

davp said:
Simple solution for external sdcard write access on Android 3.2...if you're rooted
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that access either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people are reporting the above procedure is no more needed, however, with several apps (like Titanium backup, and a SAMBA explorer), writing to the sdcard (extstorage/.../sdcard) is still impossible (GT6800 updated to latest samsung firmware).
I have used this procedure and can state that Titanium backup works now with the SD card.
Thanks to many reading within the XDA forum, I have found this simpler procedure :
- download / install the "Root Browser Lite" app from the android market
- add write access to group and other to the following directory: /system, /system/etc, /system/etc/permissions (with root browser Lite, press on the directory name during 3 seconds to get a contextual menu allowing to change the permissions)
- add write access to group and other to the file platform.xml in /system/etc/permissions
- use the editor of "Root Browser Lite" to modify the file platform.xml as described above (you should have two <group gid= ...> lines within the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE xml block.)
- save the file. Verify that a .bak file has been created and that the date of platform.xml changed.
- remove the write access.
- Turn off the GTAB, then turn it ON.
NB: Titanium backup still reports a erronous free size on the SD card (401MB), but backups on the sdcard work.

can't save the xlm doc
davp said:
I've already posted a fix for this in our original thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I edit the file but when I try to save it I fail because it says original saved as .....xlm.bak, but I can't find that file and the one I find is unchanged, any ideas?

There is an automated installer for the fix here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21670802
Is for the plus but worked fine for me
Sent from my SCH-I815 using Tapatalk

damm, must forget something, just followed exacty all the steps
still no writing on sd card
the automatic installer failed also

IS there a way to go into the (forgive the incorrect term) "registry" or similar, and have Android re-interpret/understand that instead of looking in "/sdcard"... it should instead look/point programs to "/mnt/sdcard/extstorages/sdcard"...
i heard that it might be called something like a "simlink" or "symbolic link"... maybe this could resolve the application installation issue to the sdcard as well as backups, transfers, etc... right now, not only do i run out of space too fast, can't install apps to the sd card, but as well, if i should run a hard reset... all my data erases! (yes, the internal "SD card" is erased in a hard reset)...
so, for all practical senses, when it says it will erase data, unless you KNOW you have copied ALL you user data to your "Real" SD Card, you will kill your data without even knowing it when you do a hard reset, even if you "thought" you were protected because "I saved my info to the SD card!"
(and yes, this was my experience today, so it's a fact.)
backup programs won't point to the sd card, (app manager, titanium, app list backup, etc)...
so unless you actively move files individually to the card (and know where to look)...
Bottom line... is there a hack/workaround on this that's not just "open up for file transfers" or is someone working on a ROM that might kill the partitioning and allow the /sdcard to actually point to a real external card?

Edited: Nevermind...

acess-rights-hell
hi forum
i would like to use the EzyKernel v1 - 23/02/2012 as in post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1513413&highlight=ezykernel
one of the prerequisites is a stock ZSKL firmware.
on the tab is/was XXKL4 AUT/CH
i successfully flashed the ZSKL2 - but that's where the nightmare started: i could not write to sdcard, busybox/superuser don't work properly, as i can't get root via su - which means to me, that there are messed up accessrights also in other places, not just the SD. the funny thing is, that i finally got the overclocking EzyKernel working, but not busybox + superuser.
does that sound familiar to anyone ?
i would really appreciate any ideas about this.
thank you
with best regards from switzerland
roland

could you please explain what "make sure you have mounted the file system r/w" means. And sorry for my noob question, but does this fix allow to install apps on the external sd card or I'm missing something.

[Q] 4.4.2 microSD card problems (N9005 rooot)

Hi,
I opened a new thread because my problem seems different from this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2607215 as I experience the same microSD card problems but that thread's fix won't work.
Brand new, out of the box, N9005. Before using it I immediately rooted it and then I immediately flsahed 4.4.2 (polish) and then re-roooted. Root is confirmed as Titanium, ROM Manager etc all work.
Evrything is fine except the microSD card:
- Android OS can see the card, mount/unmount and format.
- File Expert PRO cannot even read the card.
- Astro File mngr can read (let me edit with editors) and save but cannot rename.
- Dropsync cannot download anything onto the card.
- Dropsync can download same files on internal memory.
- Can see, edit, save, rename, delete - everything ok - if I operate via PC w/ USB.
- Apps can see the content but cannot write on it.
- Apps which rely on microSD card (but not move to ExtSD) are greyed out and don't work.
I tried 3 cards, 8GB, 32GB (class 4) and this 64GB Sandisk (class 10).
All exibit the same problem.
I formatted all the cards with rapid format in PC.
The 64GB card I also did a full, 1 hour, format in PC.
I utried both NTFS and FAT in PC.
Help! Please!

Same problem here, i hope you found a solution for it
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Nope! Sorry. Still searching...
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Try to use FX file explorer

i did instruction from link above, it works, i am using es explorer, enable root tools, check / and /system, replace platform.xml, set properties rw-r--r-- reboot, done
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

hillzx said:
i did instruction from link above, it works, i am using es explorer, enable root tools, check / and /system, replace platform.xml, set properties rw-r--r-- reboot, done
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the "above link" , how can I find it
Thanks

From the Note 2 thread. Unsure if this is exactly the same resolution as the above
External SD card mount point fix for kitkat roms
Im unrooted so I'm just having to wait for the 3rd party updates.

this is bull*
i don't want to root my phone in order to solve their problem .. JESUS!
it seems it's a Kikat problem, google also wants to f*ck us now.
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/58592/using-an-external-sdcard-with-kitkat

Agree... For once, I left my phone unrooted (after owning Galaxy S, S2 and Note2), and now this... I can modify the external SD with the built in file explorer, but ES File Explorer, Solid Explorer, SMS Backup & Restore and Sygic have problems writing or modifying content on the SD.
As the builtin file manager CAN access the SD, I hope it can be solved by the app devs, however, I find it strange that it is still not fixed for a lot of apps (actually none I could find in my app list), and that this is not one of the top discussions here...
I already contacted some of the support teams of the apps, but some of them indicate they are working on a fix themselves, whereas others say it can not be fixed in 3rd party apps...

I have the Sprint Note 3 running 4.4.2, and could access the SdCard from Titanium Backup. I used this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2607215 from above. I downloaded the platform.xml and used root explorer to place it in the right folder, set permission and rebooted. It worked perfectly and now I can run Titanium Backup and save it on the ExtSdCard.
Thanks

its the new kitkat ext. sdcard rules.. !
now developers have to update their apps to work with the new rules..
ES file explorer is updated,, it does work to some extent..
btw,, everythings ok with the Samsung's own file manager..

[Q] SD Card Permissions Issue

I moved my micro SD card from one S4 (GT-I9505 with GE ROM) to another S4 (an actual GT-I9505G but rooted). Afterward, I'm having a weird permission issue.
I used Titanium to restore my applications from a backup on the card without problem. I set one of the restored applications to use the CD card for its storage which just reinstates its setting on the old phone. Now it complains that it can't create directories or files. The permissions on the directories on the SD card are rwxrwx--- and they are owned by root.sdcard_r I don't know why this app was able to write before but can;t write now.
How do apps/users get assigned to groups? I didn't see an \etc\groups file.

Follow the first post here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2617921

Micro SD card issue in 4.4.2

Hi Guys,
since i have updated my note 3 to 4.4.2 its giving problem with micro SD card, developers did find the solution which works in most of the applications specially in Titanium backup. I use GoBackup Pro to backup my messages, wifi access points, call log, launcher layout etc. gobackup do not read memory card straight away. i have to use root explorer and and change permissions of /mnt/media_rw folder to rwxrwxrwx. I have to do it every full restart because permissions go back to rwxr--x--
any comment or help?

glimpsofreality said:
Hi Guys,
since i have updated my note 3 to 4.4.2 its giving problem with micro SD card, developers did find the solution which works in most of the applications specially in Titanium backup. I use GoBackup Pro to backup my messages, wifi access points, call log, launcher layout etc. gobackup do not read memory card straight away. i have to use root explorer and and change permissions of /mnt/media_rw folder to rwxrwxrwx. I have to do it every full restart because permissions go back to rwxr--x--
any comment or help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same prob, although I'm not rooted also after updating the phone to the latest Russian ROM N900XXUDNB2 still the same issue

you can root again if you lost root and write an init.d script that sets the permissions on every reboot (in case that your kenrnel has init.d support).
If not try pimp my rom and try the universal init.d support

Here's help for Titanium not backing up to External SDCard.

I have this problem since I got this phone, after looking for ages for an answer and going through heaps that didn't work I found this on another forum and figured I would post it here, hope it's ok to do this and that it helps others.
External SD Card problems (This Folder is NOT Writeable)
There is an elegant way of giving TitaniumBackup write access to the external sdcard, without having to forfeit security (as in method 3 below). Since the time of Android 4.3, Google uses a very clean security-solution by giving apps that request write access to external SD, permission only to their own folder – not to the entire card! In order to get TitaniumBackup to work without compromising security, you can simply create a folder on the external sdcard,using the following folder-structure: /storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse