[Q] Solution needed for external sd card 4GB limit - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi.
I need help to get my rooted Kitkat S4 i9500 stock rom 4.2.2 GNL1 to read my sd card formatted in ext4. Would anyone be so kind as to point me in the right direction here.
Basically, I use my phone to download large files greater than 4Gb off the internet & my external 32Gb card is formatted in native fat32. This poses the 4Gb file limit which is an irritation.
Am I better off with ext4 or exfat? I have formatted my external sd card in ext4 through twrp, but the rooted stockrom doesn't know it exists when the system is booted up. Will I have better luck with exfat being recognised by the phone?
Looking for a Touchwiz solution without having to resort to a custom rom.
How am I gonna get over this problem?

You can go with exFAT since its file size limit is (theoretically) 128 petabytes and, according to the Samsung user guide, "The device supports the FAT and the exFAT file systems for memory cards. When inserting a card formatted in a different file system, the device asks to reformat the memory card." The S4 doesn't support ext4-formatted MicroSD cards, so that's not an option.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
You can go with exFAT since its file size limit is (theoretically) 128 petabytes and, according to the Samsung user guide, "The device supports the FAT and the exFAT file systems for memory cards. When inserting a card formatted in a different file system, the device asks to reformat the memory card." The S4 doesn't support ext4-formatted MicroSD cards, so that's not an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Strephon, any suggestions on how I should go about formatting in exFat? TWRP doesn't have the option & I don't have a card reader. I tried Parted Magic & USB cable option, but can't seem to mount the SD card at all in this program. I'm sure there's an easy way somehow... which is probably right under my nose!

Buy a card reader for your PC and format it there. Windows Vista and later all have exFAT support included.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Buy a card reader for your PC and format it there. Windows Vista and later all have exFAT support included.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be a little excessive for a once off operation, but I think there might be a pc at my work that has a reader. Thanks though.
Seems silly Android can't just format the sd card itself....

Umm, MicroSD card readers are dirt cheap. You can get ones that plug into the USB port of a PC for around $5. I have one hanging around here somewhere, even though I don't need it as I have a laptop.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Umm, MicroSD card readers are dirt cheap. You can get ones that plug into the USB port of a PC for around $5. I have one hanging around here somewhere, even though I don't need it as I have a laptop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. Gues you right!

Related

Help with 64GB SDcard

Just got a SanDisk microSDXC 64GB card from Amazon for my Galaxy S4. I don't want to mess anything up, so I've got a few questions.
Are these cards formatted with exFat? How can I tell? Do I need a special kernel to have it work? Will the stock kernel work?
Should I format it from within the phone before use?
Any other problems/concerns I should have before I copy all my music and ROMS over to the card?
Thanks in advance,
Foulwx...in Atlanta tonight where there really is some foul weather.
I recently purchased a 32GB SanDisk Ultra, and followed the instructions at these two links, for moving apps to the sd card:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2142844 - mini partition tool guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2285221 - link2sd and foldermount
If you have some way to connect the card to your PC, the mini partition tool guide is really easy to follow. If you don't plan on moving apps to the card, you could just toss it in the phone and format it there. I screwed up the partitions a couple of times on my own (formatted the card 5 or 6 separate times, trying out different filesystems and partition sizes), before I found the mini partition tool guide, so I don't think there's much chance of permanently ruining the card.
If you formatted the card into fat32, then it would be more compatible without modifying anything on the phone.
Foulwx said:
Just got a SanDisk microSDXC 64GB card from Amazon for my Galaxy S4. I don't want to mess anything up, so I've got a few questions.
Are these cards formatted with exFat? How can I tell? Do I need a special kernel to have it work? Will the stock kernel work?
Should I format it from within the phone before use?
Any other problems/concerns I should have before I copy all my music and ROMS over to the card?
Thanks in advance,
Foulwx...in Atlanta tonight where there really is some foul weather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can connect the microSD to your PC to determine what format it currently is. If you stick in the phone, it'll format to exFat. The exFat format can be recognized by the stock kernel as well as the agat kernel and the ktoonsez kernel.
I have the same one. Just put it in my phone and went from there. Guess it auto formats it to exfat that way.
I flashed bluKuban and had to switch to agats kernel to see it. But otherwise works well.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium
Is there an advantage to exFat over FAT32?
flu13 said:
Is there an advantage to exFat over FAT32?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exFat can have files over 4gb.
I killed my sandisk 32gb ultra card ...created the fat 32 partition and then the exfat and it won't be ready by the phone at all. When I put it into the computer it shows it only has 30.6 MB...I'm unable to format it through windows or with another app. Any help would be appreciated
majid25 said:
I killed my sandisk 32gb ultra card ...created the fat 32 partition and then the exfat and it won't be ready by the phone at all. When I put it into the computer it shows it only has 30.6 MB...I'm unable to format it through windows or with another app. Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Insert it into your phone, and format it there. That "may" fix it for you.
jj14 said:
Insert it into your phone, and format it there. That "may" fix it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not being read by the phone it doesn't even mount..
I'd try plugging it into the computer and running a partitioning program. It should see the card no matter what. Partition it to whatever format you want.
oscarthegrouch said:
I'd try plugging it into the computer and running a partitioning program. It should see the card no matter what. Partition it to whatever format you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres one computer where it sees it and I connect it through an HP printer that had an SD slot.. Windows shows it as 30.6MB and asks me to format it but the format fails. I tried SD card formatter, HP USB disk tool..I don't know what to do
OK, I loaded all my music, pictures, and roms onto my 64SDCard from my laptop. Windows says it is exFat. Booted and seems to work fine.
Then I went into OUDhs recovery to try and make a nandroid. It can't mount the external_sd. Suggestions? Do I need a different recovery or kernel? I'm on the stock kernel.
Thanks again.
Edit: I installed TWRP 2.5.0.3 and it worked fine, I think. I haven't tried a restore yet.
I finally gave up with exFat and, after some research here on XDA, used Mini Tool Partition Wizard Home Edition to format my SDCard to fat32. I just made a Nandroid with OUDhs recovery. Hopefully, everything will continue to work OK and I don't need any 4GB files on my card.

[FIX] sandisk 64gb micro sd card

Like alot of you, I recently had alot of trouble with my sandisk 64gb micro sd card. this fix is pretty easy but it worked for me! so check it out:
you need two programs: SD formatter( can be found on the sandisk website) and easeus partiton master( you can use any program that lets you format partitions)
you will also need the sd card adapter to put you micro in, and an sd card reader
Step 1: connect your sandisk 64gb microsd card to the computer with the adapter it came with in the box. My laptop has the sd card reader built in
I dont think it will work unless you connect it this way.
Step 2: open sd formatter, it should have recognized your card if not click refresh. after its recognized click Options and set format type to full (overwrite) format the sd card. this will take a long while so you might wanna go watch tv or something?
step 3 : after its done formatting open partition master and right click on the sd card and format it to fat32. your going to have to click apply on the top right hand corner for it to work
you should be set. DONT FORMAT IN THE ANDRIOD SETTINGS. for some reason when ever i fixed the micro and tried formatting it in my phone it would mess up everything thing again.
I keep a 32 gb in my s4 now and use my 64 in my note 10.1 because i need the space there more. Let me know if this works for you!
britoskates said:
Like alot of you, I recently had alot of trouble with my sandisk 64gb micro sd card. this fix is pretty easy but it worked for me! so check it out:
you need two programs: SD formatter( can be found on the sandisk website) and easeus partiton master( you can use any program that lets you format partitions)
you will also need the sd card adapter to put you micro in, and an sd card reader
Step 1: connect your sandisk 64gb microsd card to the computer with the adapter it came with in the box. My laptop has the sd card reader built in
I dont think it will work unless you connect it this way.
Step 2: open sd formatter, it should have recognized your card if not click refresh. after its recognized click Options and set format type to full (overwrite) format the sd card. this will take a long while so you might wanna go watch tv or something?
step 3 : after its done formatting open partition master and right click on the sd card and format it to fat32. your going to have to click apply on the top right hand corner for it to work
you should be set. DONT FORMAT IN THE ANDRIOD SETTINGS. for some reason when ever i fixed the micro and tried formatting it in my phone it would mess up everything thing again.
I keep a 32 gb in my s4 now and use my 64 in my note 10.1 because i need the space there more. Let me know if this works for you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really depends on the troubles you have, most of them are some kind of incompatibility with the S4 firmware and the 64GB SD card and formating this will not help. My issue was each time i'd put music on my SD, my system status would trip to custom, also my music would not always show up at boot. This has been a recurring problem with the sandisk cards no matter how i formated it. And yes, i did use SDFormater 4.0 and still had the issue. My only solution was to get a Samsung 64GB SD and no issues since
Sometimes mine removes itself, but a media rescan or reboot fixes it. Doesn't really bother me.
I use a 64gb PNY class10 and its flawless for me.I think the issue is witg the sandisk bran.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Figured this is a good thread to post my experience.
I had a MicroSD card I thought was bad. What happened was I was formatting the device to ext4 at the time using a older microSD USB adapter i had. Basically, the microSD card reader died while it was in that process. Using a microSD > SDAdater and a built in SD card slot on my laptop I was unable to format the drive in Windows or MacOS. (I was formatting the device via the USB reader on my Desktop in Ubuntu). Ubuntu does not see my card reader on my laptop so I was unable to use that). I thought I killed it. It was a SanDisk microSDXC 64gb card.
So I ordered a new Samsung microSDXC and a new microSDXC USB card reader. I got them both. New card worked great. I decided to play with the card a bit. Using Ubuntu, gparted specifically, with the new adapter I could no create or modify partitions on the old microSD card. It would fail out every time, different errors for ext4, exFAT and Fat32. So. In Gparted I went to Device > Write new partition table.After I did that I would able to format the drive in Ubuntu to whatever filesystem I wanted, and the card works in the phone, mac, windows, everything.
Just a heads up to help any others with issues. Rewriting the partition table may help if somehow it gets corrupt because of some write fail,
I ve 2 64gb sandisk 10x microsd with Samsung S4 I9005 with Android 4.3. I formatted with android, also Windows 7 64bit with various types of sizes on laptop. However on laptop or on phone after writing some files and disk scanning, it gives many disk errors. I wonder if it is software or microsd hardware problems. There is no problem with 32 gb.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Found the Culprit!
Considering I encountered this write protect error TWICE with the exact same product, and after having read forums that show it's a common problem, I conclude that the problem is with either this specific SanDisk product or a particular batch of this product:
Exact product specs: SanDisk Ultra 64 GB MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card with Adapter (SDSDQU-064G-AFFP-A)
These carry a lifetime warranty. A word of advice: if you go for a replacement, ask for a different 64GB model, or try a different size of the same model (I got 2 x 32GB cards instead). If they insist on giving back the exact same model, I'd suggest you use that card anywhere except a smartphone!

[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--

Galaxy s5 not recognising sd card

I have a 8gb and 32 gb sandisk memory card and for some reason my S5 is not recognising them.
I have tried the 2 memory card in another phone and they work fine, maybe the memory card slot is faulty.
someone said the S5 will only accept a new memory card due to he latest software implication. is that correct
any help much appreciated.
Format it in your computer. Format it as NTFS for better performance, format it as FAT32 for best compatibility.
jopat said:
Format it in your computer. Format it as NTFS for better performance, format it as FAT32 for best compatibility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive tried formatting on both methods. but still not working or recognising it. and cant mount it as its greyed out on my S5
maybe the memory card slot is faulty or damaged.
Try at least two other different brands of microsd. If they are still unrecognizable then your fear could be correct.

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

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