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.

help setting external microsd for gallery,music and camera

Hi, i have a problem, after some tray i have make my p6800 able to read ntfs microsd, all works fine, but now the sistem apps like gallery, camera and music ,are unable to find my media files, becouse these apps are setted to read the external microsd from the path mnt\externalsd. Now my ntfs card is in this path: mnt/mcblk1b1. How can i change the path of my external microsd for the system apps gallery music and camera? Sameone can tell me where i can find the configuration file where it is specificated the path of the memory used for those apps? What is the right path? Thx

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20869996&postcount=7
Done that on day 1 and I have not had a single issue.
Nandroid backup before modifying the file.

Hello pa64,
If I did understand correctly, I think your link´s solution is not exactly what Raziel_Sicily is asking. He/she needs a solution for the NTFS formated microSD card, not for the FAT microSD card.
In order to allow files larger than 4 Gb to be saved in the microSD, you need to use a file system that is nor FAT (ext2, ext4 or NTFS). It is not a matter of permissions.
When you format the microSD with the NTFS file system, and you force the tab to recognize it (read http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22447299&postcount=1), the problem is that the path to the microSD is changed (from mnt\externalsd to mnt/mcblk1b1), and so, system aplications like Galery, Camera or Music no longer "find" the microSD.
I´m very interested in this matter, because I think that a microSD fully operational that doesn´t have the 4 Gb limitation should be a must in our P68x0´s.
Saludos!

I see.
I do not need to have any large files in my SD-card, so I did not do the NTFS switch.
That said, the platform.xml modification might work with the NTFS format. Worth the try (do a nandroid backup first though).

Not sure you can modify the path of the microSd in the platform.xml file ...
Maybe Raziel_Sicily could give it a try (I´m not yet rooted, waiting for a CF solution with CW recovery included).
Dió!

Raziel_Sicily said:
Hi, i have a problem, after some tray i have make my p6800 able to read ntfs microsd, all works fine, but now the sistem apps like gallery, camera and music ,are unable to find my media files, becouse these apps are setted to read the external microsd from the path mnt\externalsd. Now my ntfs card is in this path: mnt/mcblk1b1. How can i change the path of my external microsd for the system apps gallery music and camera? Sameone can tell me where i can find the configuration file where it is specificated the path of the memory used for those apps? What is the right path? Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After we mounted a sd card,It will mount in a path,like mnt/xxxxxx.
Not in mnt/sdcard/extstroages/sdcard,anymore.
So,dont use system built-in apks.
You need try some other gallery,camera,music apks on market which can let you specific path of your files.
My comic viewer can do so.No matter where I put my comics,It allow me set file path manually.

Lssar said:
Hello pa64,
If I did understand correctly, I think your link´s solution is not exactly what Raziel_Sicily is asking. He/she needs a solution for the NTFS formated microSD card, not for the FAT microSD card.
In order to allow files larger than 4 Gb to be saved in the microSD, you need to use a file system that is nor FAT (ext2, ext4 or NTFS). It is not a matter of permissions.
When you format the microSD with the NTFS file system, and you force the tab to recognize it (read http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22447299&postcount=1), the problem is that the path to the microSD is changed (from mnt\externalsd to mnt/mcblk1b1), and so, system aplications like Galery, Camera or Music no longer "find" the microSD.
I´m very interested in this matter, because I think that a microSD fully operational that doesn´t have the 4 Gb limitation should be a must in our P68x0´s.
Saludos!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, this is exactly wath i mean, but my english is so bad. Now i tray to find that file an tray to tweak it. I dont want any other apps, i want mai defoult application to works

Why not use alternate apps from the Market that let you select which folders to use? Lots of them are better than stock options anyway - Quickpic is better than the defauly gallery, PowerAMP better than stock music player. Not sure about camera though... There are some good camera replacement apps in the Market so you may find one you're happy with there too.

obb files to external

I did search and with the google searches I've done, can't really figure it out so thought might ask here.
When I moved applications to external sd card, i didn't realize it didn't move the application data itself (inside obb folder), which is in the android device's internal memory. So basically, I have the application (i guess equivalent to .exe for windows) on the external sd card, but the beef of it (the applicatin's data) is still on the internal memory and using up the device's memory....how can I move the data (obb folder) to external, remove it from interernal to free up space, and have it boot up / work on the android device?
i'm not advance geek so need a dummy explination

You didn't provide details of how you moved the app or even what app we are talking about. So it's impossible to give targeted advice. Which is unfortunate since you want a dumbed down, simple answer. Which can't be done without knowing those crucial details.
You can use one of the Play store apps to move the app. I'm sure that some of them would move the app data as well. Or change the app data path (folder) in the app's settings. Or reinstall the app. Or alias the current internal data location to the external card with a symbolic link. Or any number of other ways.
The simplest options there would be trying some of the Play store apps that assist in moving programs to the external data card. And if that doesn't work for some reason, then reinstall your app.
Good luck.
.

fffft said:
You didn't provide details of how you moved the app or even what app we are talking about. So it's impossible to give targeted advice. Which is unfortunate since you want a dumbed down, simple answer. Which can't be done without knowing those crucial details.
You can use one of the Play store apps to move the app. I'm sure that some of them would move the app data as well. Or change the app data path (folder) in the app's settings. Or reinstall the app. Or alias the current internal data location to the external card with a symbolic link. Or any number of other ways.
The simplest options there would be trying some of the Play store apps that assist in moving programs to the external data card. And if that doesn't work for some reason, then reinstall your app.
Good luck.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only thing I've done was root it then moved the application (move to sd card) via settings >> Application Manager. i want to do it for all apps but it's mainly due to games taking up lots of space. Reinstallng won't help cause everything that's obb just direct itsself to the internal storage, nothing i installed even gives me the option to install data into external, just only has a install button and it installs to internal memory

I'm not going to sort all of that out. It can be done if you look into the details.
The best advice that I can offer is to consider installing a custom S5 ROM like Phoenix. It has a setup option to swap the SD cards. That would mean that all of your apps that automatically install and live on the internal memory.. would actually end up on the external card. And it works perfectly.. because the apps think that they are on the internal card even though they aren't.
The source script could also be applied to your existing configuration, but doing so would not fit inside your stipulation for a simple answer.
.

by the way...
fffft said:
I'm not going to sort all of that out. It can be done if you look into the details.
The best advice that I can offer is to consider installing a custom S5 ROM like Phoenix. It has a setup option to swap the SD cards. That would mean that all of your apps that automatically install and live on the internal memory.. would actually end up on the external card. And it works perfectly.. because the apps think that they are on the internal card even though they aren't.
The source script could also be applied to your existing configuration, but doing so would not fit inside your stipulation for a simple answer.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fffft, one question here: Would it be possible to format the whole external SD card with ext4? So it would be quite simple to copy such files manually within a shell and set a softlink to the moved files? I don't understand why android stays with that fat drived file systems were softlinks are not working. Is there any reason for? So all data2SD apps have to work with specific *mounts*. I can't believe that this is fast and stable.

brachypelma said:
fffft, one question here: Would it be possible to format the whole external SD card with ext4? So it would be quite simple to copy such files manually within a shell and set a softlink to the moved files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't work unless you do a lot more prep work. The file system isn't invisible, the OS would have to interact differently with ext4 than ExFAT. The OS would balk the first time it tried to follow a symbolic link and didn't find the ExFAT structure it expects.
To make that work, you'd need to mount the card yourself, manage permissions and hide the file attributes i.e. permissions from the void manager and other housekeeping tasks. Android expects to find a case insensitive and permissionless FS. Otherwise, void will report errors to the volume manager and the OS won't recognize your card. All of which is to say that this is a more distant outlier to the requirement for a simple solution. So you'd be generating fatal errors the first time the OS tried to follow a symbolic link to your ext4 files.
So yeah you can shoehorn an ext4 card into the system with enough work. But it isn't as simple as you believe. So back to my suggestions that the OP either install a custom ROM that does what he wants or that he looks at the script that I linked him to. Or perhaps migrate to CM 11, where native support for ext4 and NTFS have been added.
.

External Storage path?

I'm trying to configure an app to save on my external storage card and it's asking for the path. Solid explorer gives the path as /storage/3434-3561/ but the app can't access it via that location. Does anyone know how the path to the external SD card is written?

You can try it without the trailing slash. As far as I can tell, the path is dependent on the card. I put in two different SD cards, and it was two different external paths. Which app are you having issues with?

Info
mrjeffery said:
I'm trying to configure an app to save on my external storage card and it's asking for the path. Solid explorer gives the path as /storage/3434-3561/ but the app can't access it via that location. Does anyone know how the path to the external SD card is written?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wht is the app?
/sdcard/Folder-Name >> is internal (sometimes sdcard0)
/sdcard1/Folder-Name >> is External
there is different type of Path-Name all address to same location But different name so explain more about ur App and what it want.
:good:

Geeks Empire said:
wht is the app?
/sdcard/Folder-Name >> is internal (sometimes sdcard0)
/sdcard1/Folder-Name >> is External
there is different type of Path-Name all address to same location But different name so explain more about ur App and what it want.
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app is NZB Leech+
I'm trying to set the download directory to the external SD card instead of internal.
The default internal location is /storage/emulated/0/Download/nzbdownload
I can't get it to save to the external SD using the method you described.

I think I've found a solution from the apps play store comment section:
Was contacted by developer in relation to SD Card write issues on MM. The app will allow writing to Ext SD but only to the directory created by android for the application. If no path was created for you upon app installation then simply create a folder in Android/data on Ext Sd called sic.nzb.app.donate. Eg. - The path I wrire to on Ext SD card is /storage/17FC-2D20/Android/data/sic.nzb.app.donate/files App fully functional again and one of the best on the market. Thanks to the Developer for the tip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit: Works!

Strange behavior whenever I do a external SD Card operation.

If I want to copy files, create a folder, save a picture on external SD, every time, some pop-ups like this appear, asking me to select the root of the SD. I can see this is a extra protection, but i want to know more. What kind of protection is it, how can it be controlled, disabled... because many times it actually cause problems.
What is weird (I haven't seen this before on other phones) is the structure of the storage folder. I have inside 4 folders:
emulated
sdcard0
sdcard1
usbotg
In "emulated" is a folder called "0" (zero) that seems to mirror everything that is in "sdcard0" folder.
Phone specs:
P8Lite ALE-L21 Rooted, converted to Dual SIM (B190)
Please see attached images for details of the popup.

it's there so the user can select the permission that an app has to the SD card.
For the weird structure... SDcard 0 is your phones intern memory sdcard 1 is you phones sd card
those other 2 are (and i think, i don't know for sure) just needed for android.
if you go to settings -> advaced-> memory in android 6.0 you can select the card as internal memory. this shoul take care of the permissions and should let memory be catogorized as one partition.

Lordbannakaffalatta said:
it's there so the user can select the permission that an app has to the SD card.
For the weird structure... SDcard 0 is your phones intern memory sdcard 1 is you phones sd card
those other 2 are (and i think, i don't know for sure) just needed for android.
if you go to settings -> advaced-> memory in android 6.0 you can select the card as internal memory. this shoul take care of the permissions and should let memory be catogorized as one partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have mentioned: Android 5.0.1 (not 6)
And is it there a way to disable this feature? As I said, on many occasions it causes trouble by not allowing a operation to perform properly. I suspect this feature has its own bugs too.
Thanks.

derei said:
I should have mentioned: Android 5.0.1 (not 6)
And is it there a way to disable this feature? As I said, on many occasions it causes trouble by not allowing a operation to perform properly. I suspect this feature has its own bugs too.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually it's the same.
it's not a bug it's a feature
in kitkat we had the problem of restriction for the sd card. google changed that into this mode.
where the user grants the permissions. you can disble that the same way as android 6.0
by setiing the default storage location to sd card
in android 5.1 its settings -> memory -> default storage-> sd